Thread: Crazy CRAZY Idea... Overlander anyone?

A cut down 1 tonner chassis could be used or a rear subframe as used by the orignal overlander and then takken over by Molecraft Engineering i beleive. I looked at doing a ute back in 1988 before i had thought about rangies, a rangie chassis will fit also and they are cheap as complete with diffs.

Sell both and buy a disco, good car and comfortable and practical for every day driving and for getting away for the weekend. Cars come and go all the time for car lovers like us, you may sell the HZ now and the IIa but who's to say you can't have another one of either further down the line, the disco would just suit the current situation perfectly for now. Especially if you get a Tdi disco, they are great cars.

Shamo

tub it and drop it onto the IIA.

I think you are underestimating the cost of doing a conversion like this; there are always a plethora of details that are not anticipated, the costs invariably blow out.
I can understand you being attached to your HZ, I wish I still had the XT GT Falcon I was driving in 1980 as a P-plater. And the Alfa I had a couple of years later...and the haflinger...but I digress. Have you thought of mothballing the HZ for a couple of years until you have a professional income, selling the Landy and getting something like a mid-to-late 1980's rangie, cheap as chips these days, excellent daily driver (especially if on LPG) and superbly capable 4wd.
If you are intent on the conversion project, you need to be prepared for it to be a money-pit and take up all your spare time for many months.

Don't do it! That is a lovely HZ and will only increase in value. It's a 30 yo car now. A classic!


Buy an ol landy or a FJ 40-60-80 cruiser or an old patrol if you want something to get dirty.

I would be very happy with a rangie but as a P-plater I am not allowd to have a V8 and the diesel variants are rarer than rocking horse s***

As much as I would like to modify my current car I don't think i'll be able to. I rekon that I might start looking around the wreckers for a styleside kingswood ute shell and do a conversion on that. There are a couple of RRCs at sailsbury wreckers at the moment too, most with complete drivelines. Would love coil springs but the legalities of body swapping is a bit of a grey area for me. I heard that when you register the car, it would be registered acording to the chassis number?? therefore if I plonk a kingswood ute body into a RRC chassis, the rego sticker will say "Ranger Rover 1984 Wagon" or similar

If I went down this track I would prefere to do a proper replica and stregthen the original ute chassis including around existing springer hanger mounts, gearbox crossmember and from the door to the front of the chassis rails which would include spring hangers and shock mounts for the front axle. I have seen this exact procedure replicated on a tonner over in WA (from the oldholden forum). The strengthening looks quite straightforward and well within my capabilities.

The only question is, what should i use as the donor driveline? It is easy to weld/bolt spring hanger mounts on but how much more is involved in fabricating stuff for coil springs? how many links should/would i use? I love the planning stage haha

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

tub it and drop it onto the IIA.

Do you still have that SIII chassis in your front yard? That may well come on handy haha

If you truly love the HZ put it in a shed for a few years till full time employed, (dry away from ocean) sell the sII and get an early disco, defender, RRC 87-94 to do both daily duties and weekend escapes.
If you want to go the hz body/4x4 use a RRC chassis use the 3.5 v8 and if not enough power put in a 308 or a 355 stroker holden engine vn-vr injected models with strengthened driveshafts(maxi) or (hit me )niss axles/ running gear gq model with coils. that way you could rego it as a modified Range rover.