Thread: Stage 1 Series III Isuzu

Originally Posted by 350RRC

On FB marketplace there is an 1983 version of the the thread title.........

does anyone know anything about this combination, esp. having the Isuzu?

cheers, DL

Ask JDNSW, he has one.

Colin

Series 3 or Stage One ?

whitehillbilly

No I don't! However!

In the mid 1970s, the Rover Division of Leyland was looking at updating the Landrover, with the last major update being Series 2 in 1958. With limited budget, the path chosen was to do this in stages funded by the then owner of Leyland (UK government). Stage 1 (and although never officially referred to as such by the company, except internally, it has stuck) was to upgrade the engine and power train by fitting the V8 and gearbox/transfer case from the newly introduced Rangerover. This required other changes, some from the fact that the Rangerover had constant four wheel drive, including fitting CVs to the front axle, and a double cardan joint to the front prop shaft. The steering box setup also had to be changed for the width of the V8. The V8 was detuned by restrictors (these days mostly removed!) below the carburettors to about 90hp. From memory, this appeared in 1979 as the Series 3 V8. Note that the Stage 1 was only made in long wheelbase (except for a possibly apochryphal batch of 44 swb). Parts special to the Stage 1, particularly the front axle, can be very hard to find. The appearance is distinctive, with the radiator support moved forward to level with the front of the mudguards, same as the coil sprung 90/110/Defender.

At the same time Leyland Australia was in talks with the Australian army about a replacement for the Series 3 Landrovers in service. They required a diesel engine, and much more power than the diesel engines available in Landrovers (turbochargers in small diesels were not established then). Looking for an available engine, Leyland Australia found that the industrial version of the Isuzu 4BD1 would fit physically in the Stage 1 replacing the V8. They made some prototypes and tested them to demonstrate to the army that they could fit this engine to the coil spring Landrovers that were coming. The results were such that Leyland Australia decided to put the Stage 1 into production for the civilian market, almost as soon as the Stage 1 appeared in Australia.

I do not know the numbers, but I would guess that sales of the Stage 1 Isuzu exceeded the V8 sales in Australia by a large margin, and the Isuzu continued on in the 110 until Australian Landrover production ceased in 1990. And, of course, it powered the Perentie, based on the 110.

Hope this helps.

Edit. Landrover production here stopped in 1990 not 1980!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

No I don't! However!

I knew you had an Isuzu, didn't remember it was a 110 rather than SIII !

Colin

Originally Posted by whitehillbilly64

Series 3 or Stage One ?

whitehillbilly

A Stage 1 is just the last iteration of the Series 3.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

A Stage 1 is just the last iteration of the Series 3.

Yes, although it only replaced the six. The four cylinder models continued to the end of Series 3 - with swb models continuing after the 110 was introduced, until they were replaced by the 90.

However, in Australia, the swb sales were so low (despite the effort with the Game) that after the introduction of the 110 in 1984 no swb Landrovers were sold until well into TD5 Defender production and then only sporadically until a bit of a boom just before the end of Defender production.

Mate Has A Stage 1.
Isuzu motor, LT95 Gearbox on Leaf Springs. Factory fitted AC.
Classic Land Rover Did an Article on the Perentie Development and Talked about the Stage ones, suggesting from memory only 200 being made with the Isuzu motor.

whitehillbilly

I have no idea of the number - but it could be that low. They were only sold for about two or three years, at a time that Landrover was losing their market to Toyota. And they would have been expensive, probably more than the V8, and were noisy and shook, compared even to the Isuzu engined 110. I recall when I first saw one at Yaringa on Westernport - it was by far the noisiest vehicle there.