Thread: Series III V8 Special Edition????

Originally Posted by Tank

My son in Kalgoorlie has come across a 1979 Series III.
V8 Special Edition, it is a 109 2 door Series III chassis with leaf springs with full time 4WD (County) and carbied 3.5 V8.
The bloke that owns it says that that is how it came from Land Rover when new, it has V8 Special Edition badges on it.
Anyone heard of this model, any info would be helpful, Regards Frank.

Frank

Yes that is a Land Rover model, the other term for them is Series III Stage 1 and were produced up to the beginning of the County models. In Australia the Stage 1 was also available with the Isuzu 4BD1 diesel.

They are constant 4WD with the LT95 Early Range Rover transmission the same as used in the Army Perentie 6 X 6 Land Rovers. They retained the narrow track of the Series II and III Land Rovers

They are a bit of an orphan in a few little ways, with CV joints unique to the model, but the engine and other transmission parts are early Range Rover with a Salisbury 3.54 rear diff.

As the leaf sprung models go they are quite a good vehicle with a lot more power in a more reliable package than the Rover 6 cylinder and can be upgraded easily with later 3.9 or 4.6 litre Rover V8s. Their down side is fuel economy on a relatively undersized V8 if hauling weight around but LPG makes that a viable option

Hope this helps.

Dana

Frank

I omitted to mention that the regular Series III with the 2 1/4 engine (then called 2.3 litre in a badge similar to the special edition badge) continued to be available while the Stage 1 was in production.

The Stage 1 5 door station wagons also had tinted glass while the regular wagons continued with clear glass.

Diana

Diana, thanks once again for you wealth of helpful info on all things Land Rover, I did ask my son if it was a Stage 1, as a newby he couldn't say and the bloke that owns it insisted it was a Special Edition, anyway a further question or two, this model doesn't have the Viscous coupling centre diff, does it? and are the CV joints like the SIII (uni type) or proper CV joints (ball type), Thanks, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

Diana, thanks once again for you wealth of helpful info on all things Land Rover, I did ask my son if it was a Stage 1, as a newby he couldn't say and the bloke that owns it insisted it was a Special Edition, anyway a further question or two, this model doesn't have the Viscous coupling centre diff, does it? and are the CV joints like the SIII (uni type) or proper CV joints (ball type), Thanks, Regards Frank.

Stage 1s have an LT95 (4-speed) box with integral t-case. The diff lock is vacuum actuated (same principle as MD diff locks). It doesn't have the later borg warner viscous t-case.

The front axles look like series LR axles, but they have (proper) CV joints almost identical to the county type. Inner axles are 23-10 spline. Diff centre is the same as a rangie (3.54). The whole axle casing is rotated forwards so the diff points towards the t-case.

Rear axle is the same as a SIII 109", except for the 3.54 ratio.

I have a Stage 1 front axle in my IIA.

Originally Posted by Tank

Diana, thanks once again for you wealth of helpful info on all things Land Rover, ...

...Thanks, Regards Frank.

Frank you are very gracious! I try!!!

IsuzuRover has explained most of your questions, the Stage 1 terminology seems to be a bit unique to Aussie, other places merely call them Series III V8s. This may be because we're the only ones who have the 4BD1 version. My guess about the special edition name is because they were a hybridised SIII/Range Rover and in production terms there were relatively few made given that production of the regular SIII continued in parallel.

There is a recent thread on the Stage I CVs http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-...ge-rovers.html but once again it is IsuzuRover who is the wealth of knowledge.

I am using Stage 1 swivels and CVs on ENV axle casings/diffs in my Hybrid V8 SIIB.

Cheers
Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

I am using Stage 1 swivels and CVs on ENV axle casings/diffs in my Hybrid V8 SIIB

That's interesting Diana - any pics???

Why didn't you use salisburies??? Stronger and more common.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Stage 1s have an LT95 (4-speed) box with integral t-case. The diff lock is vacuum actuated (same principle as MD diff locks). It doesn't have the later borg warner viscous t-case.

The front axles look like series LR axles, but they have (proper) CV joints almost identical to the county type. Inner axles are 23-10 spline. Diff centre is the same as a rangie (3.54). The whole axle casing is rotated forwards so the diff points towards the t-case.

Rear axle is the same as a SIII 109", except for the 3.54 ratio.

I have a Stage 1 front axle in my IIA.

Thanks for that info, my son has a 79 SIII 2.25D 109, he is looking for a petrol (V8) version that he can convert to LPG, he lives and works in Kambalda just south of Kalgoorlie and the cost of diesel is making an LPG V8 look more of a proposition, if you come across anything reasonably priced over your way please let us know, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

<snip> IsuzuRover has explained most of your questions, the Stage 1 terminology seems to be a bit unique to Aussie, other places merely call them Series III V8s. <snip>

Cheers
Diana

Nah... they're called Stage 1's the world over. This is why...

Land Rover was flagging and had had a huge cash injection from the British Government to keep it going. This money was used to fund the development of the coil sprung 90 / 110.

During the development period of the 110, the SIII "Stage One" was released as an interim measure to fend off flagging sales as a result of Toyota pinching LR sales with the bigger engined Land Cruiser.

Technically the 110 was "Stage 2" of Land Rovers redevelopment, but it was never called that.

Jon

PS I'd like a nice Stage One, I think they're an important car in Land Rovers history.