FC 101.....FC130

[101 Ron]

The bush telegraph told me there was a 101 parked in the main street of Nowra.
So I hopped into my 101 to check things out and this is what I found.
The specs are.
weight about 4.2 tonnes.
200 litre LPG
Main fuel tank 150 litres with 2 x 20 litre jerry cans.
Windscreen and door raised 5 inches.
4 litre efi rover V8 with r380 5 speed gearbox with matching transfercase.
Standard springs with air bags running 40 psi front and 70 psi rear.
Flush toilet, shower , solar, gas heater, lots of room, two fridges, stove and full size oven,full size wardrobes and it just goes on and on.
Power steering.
series 3 landy clutch master cylinder
county 110 brake master cylinder
I had a drive and it is a very interest bit of kit.
there are two short vids as well.BILD0045.jpg picture by 101Ron - Photobucket

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[ame=http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p299/101Ron/?action=view&current=CLIP0051.flv]CLIP0051.flv video by 101Ron - Photobucket[/ame]
[ame=http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p299/101Ron/?action=view&current=CLIP0052.flv]CLIP0052.flv video by 101Ron - Photobucket[/ame]
Ron

[101 Ron]

The yellow lever next to the high low tranfercase lever is for 4 wheel drive as the later transfercases dont have vacuum operation for the centre diff.
Everything on this truck was very well done.
The power steering is better and more simple than disco steering box conversions as the chassis is not cut , but a extra bracket is welded on.
It uses a series 5 BMW steering box.
The pitman arm bolts straight on and little work is required to install compared to other conversions done.
The gear shift is very tight compared to the standard 4 speed box as the
R380 box has a short throw.
Second gear starts and the cruise speed is in keeping with the vehicle.
The biggest thing is the flat handling of the 101 is changed and the springs have plently of weight to make them work.
The chassis has been extended to make the wheel base 130 inches
Pics of the steering conversion
BILD0040.jpg picture by 101Ron - Photobucket
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This machine was imported from England.
No winch

[101 Ron]

Standard engine mounts used and just cut and moved back a bit as the standard defender/disco bellhousing and transmission used as the extra chassis lenght allowed everything to be moved back.
This in turn allows a longer front tailshaft and reduces the front tailshaft buzz a bit, but it was still there if you were looking for it.

[101 Ron]

Why in the hell Landrover never developed the 101 for commerical use .
It was one of landrovers biggest mistakes.
The original drive line was very tough with the only Landrover around with bullet proof axles.
The thing above shows how a little work using off the shelf rover parts can over come the 101s faults and make a good vehicle better.
Anyone seen a cruiser or patrol around with that sort of weight and doing it reliably

[101RRS]

Not quite my cup of tea as I think the 101 is too high to be made into a camper - however the technical aspects to interest me.

Power steering is something I would want to look at later (or else I would have to go on a good diet) but having to cut things does not interest me. From your description the series 5 BMW box seems like a really good alternative. I think that the R380 would also be a good mod but I believe it is too long for a standard 101 with its engine mounted further back on the chassis than a disco.

It would be great if we could work out a solution for the front end driveshaft rumble however I have not be able to find any fixes anywhere.

Garry

[101 Ron]

My 101 has been running around with the front tailshaft off and the centre diff locked.
Yes no tailshaft buzz at all.
Two interesting things are.
I can now feel the detroit locker work a bit more on tarred roads .
After every gear change a slap occurs in the transmission.
I think now with my 101 set up the way it is and I was going to drive across Australia on tarred roads only and wanted to do some serious speed I would drop out the front shaft just for the trip.

[DODGE]

Cheers ron great pics as usual. shes a beauty. like you said that steering set up looks alot simpler than the others ive seen. the 4.0 litre would be a good upgrade for ours?

gaz

[101 Ron]

The thing was very heavy, but even with the weight I could feel the extra torque of the 4 litre motor when starting off and just off idle.
A bigger motor of any sort would make the standard 101 a weapon.