Thread: Series stages

Originally Posted by scrambler

"Stage 1" is an unofficial name, as stage 1 of the Land Rover re-invigoration which saw the Defender/110 and eventually all the newer models. The Factory name is "Series III V8." As mentioned it has the Carb 3.5 V8 out of the Classic Rangie of the 1970's. Essentially the same running gear as the 70's Rangies and then the County's (though theres an extra joint between motor and gearbox).

The bonnet is identical in appearance to the Deefer one. I think NM's "RR" comment comes from the raised side rails - the previous bonnets (including the Deluxe) had a convex profile while the Stage 1 and on are concave (until the 2007 model, of course)

I've never heard of a Stage 2 or Stage 3. The Stage 1 was a stop-gap cheap engineering way to get a torquey motor into the Series III ahead of the more extensive 110/County/Defender design being finalised.

The motors as originally fitted were detuned to 68HP. Of course, no-one has them in that state any more LR thought people would kill themselves if they could travel 120km/hr. There's a placard under the bonnet telling you to buy better tyres if you intend to travel 110km/hr

They will travel highway speeds comfortably and tow the rated 3.8 tonne. You can engage low range on the road and even with the highway gearing they have mountains of torque compared to a standard Series III.

Check the markets, Shorty and PM me - I'm doing crazy deals today since it DIDN'T pass its roadworthy (needs $600 of repairs).

Scrambler, detuned? 3.5 Ltr V8, 68HP, detuned?
They gave the poor bugger a lobotomy of some kind. The A12 series Datsun produced that in 1179 cc.
As for being able to travel at a staggering 60 or 70 MPH, I don't know mate.
We are talking about the Series models here.
I'll damn near reverse almost anything into a corner as fast as I can get it to go, I'll turn an aeroplane upside down at 200 Knots, but 100 KPH in a Series Landy? I've done that once, already. That's really fast man.
Will check the market. Pensioner, so finances are a little tight until after tax time.
I must say your post got my quirky sides attention. I do miss the effortless power I had in the F100, with its ex-Bathurst engine. Even in a DETUNED STATE FOR GAS that beast gave out 535 HP and could spin its rear wheels up in top at 140 KPH.
Hm, 3.5 Ltr, all alloy, retuned, yep. That sounds like a better plan than a diesel. 6,000 RPM over idle should be exciting.

Shorty.

Originally Posted by shorty943

Scrambler, detuned? 3.5 Ltr V8, 68HP, detuned?
..........

68HP is wrong - figure is 91HP, detuned by a restrictor plate below each carburetter - mostly removed by now! 68 would be less than the 2.25 petrol and only about the same as the diesel.

I regularly drive my S2a at 100kph when I go to town - only problem is it is noisy and uses a lot of fuel. If you have suitable tyres and everything is in good condition there is nothing to worry about on good roads.

John

That was actually 68 KW, not HP. And yes there were restrictor plates in carbys, mine were already removed. Another addition was a spring loaded valve on the carby butterfly which opened and allowed more air in the mixture at idle. (early LR pollution efforts) Played havoc with engine braking in low range though, and the fix was to solder them up.

I have a Series 3 Stage 1 they are a good old vehicle, I have personally driven mine at over 150 kmh on the speedo (not incredibly accurate Im sure)
Power has never been an issue fuel economy if driven sensibly is ok if driven hard is terrible.
A fulltime 4x4 Series at speed are incredibly stable, as long as the steering is in good condition but they just dont stop quickly.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

68HP is wrong - figure is 91HP, detuned by a restrictor plate below each carburetter - mostly removed by now! 68 would be less than the 2.25 petrol and only about the same as the diesel.

I regularly drive my S2a at 100kph when I go to town - only problem is it is noisy and uses a lot of fuel. If you have suitable tyres and everything is in good condition there is nothing to worry about on good roads.

John

I stand corrected. Kw not HP.

As Numpty says, the detuning efforts have been reversed on every Stage 1 I have every heard of. This brings them close to RR tune (Hmmm, which I remember as being about 92HP but which presumably must be 92Kw). Still not a rocket. But it's the torque that's impressive compared to the other LR engines.

In Europe a lot of people stuck with the 4. Ex factory, there really was very little difference in power and consequently in top speed.

djam1, when I took delivery of my Stage 1 there was a 25% speedo error I used to drive at an indicated 150km quite frequently and never less than an indicated 130 on the highway.

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

And the torque probably the factor involved in my being able to drive our Stage 1 to work one night with a seriously failing clutch. ......

Many years ago I drove my S2 through the evening peak hour in Brisbane after the slave cylinder haemhorraged. At each stop turn off engine, start in low first and execute clutchless changes through the gears, shifting into neutral and coasting on momentum when it became evident that a stop was needed. Not all that difficult for someone who learnt to drive without the benefit of synchromesh.

Stopped at the RACQ service HQ in the Valley and they refilled and bled the clutch hydraulics for me - got me home to Clayfield.

John

Anyone here use Series 3 as daily car? Saw Series on trading post the other...so tempted

Originally Posted by dearot

Anyone here use Series 3 as daily car? Saw Series on trading post the other...so tempted

Not a Series 3, but I use a S2a as my daily car, but I don't live in town. I know Walrover uses his 2a as a daily car in town, and I'll bet there are others.

You can certainly use a Series 3 as a daily car, but it is probably less suitable, particularly the lwb diesel if you do a lot of freeway driving. How inconvenient it turns out to be depends entirely on what sort of driving you do on a daily basis. The lwb has a rather large turning circle, and no models have good acceleration compared to modern 2wd cars, except perhaps the Stage 1 (V8 or Isuzu), and fuel consumption is not very good except for the rather underpowered 2.25 diesel. If well maintained reliability should not be a problem, parts are readily available and are cheap compared to modern cars. At speed all S3s are noisy (the diesels at any speed) but some attention to body seals and adding some soundproofing will certainly help.
hope this helps
John