The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: hughesy on October 28, 2010, 10:24:51 pm

Title: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on October 28, 2010, 10:24:51 pm
Ok I have to admit to having the Land Rover disease. I just love them, especially old ones. I've had many over the years all of them working vehicles not molly coddled "classic cars" as some people seem to see them. I've currently got a 1977 series 3 109 that's my everyday transport and there's a stripped down 110 in the garage waiting to be rebuilt on a new chassis. They're the perfect smallholder wheels I reckon. Anybody else into landies?
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Sandy on October 28, 2010, 11:07:32 pm
I am but sadly no money to buy one, you should see my car!!! I am not sure why I like them so much but if I came into loads of ££ I would get one beaten up a bit on the outside with a realy luch interior and BIG engine so I could bash it about and shock people!!! I can only wish  ;)
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Fleecewife on October 28, 2010, 11:53:21 pm
We used to have an old Volvo like that - the ancient roundy kind.  It looked ready for the scrappy on the outside but went like greased weasels  ;D  We also had an Irish Wolfhound at the time who sat in the back, with her head out of one window and her tail out the other side, as we bombed down the motorways.

OH and I have the Land Rover bug.  I have a 1951 Series 1 80" imported from NZ (a fraction of the cost of buying one here and no rust as they don't salt their roads), which is the farm runaround, plus OH has a couple of Series 3s, one about to be renovated, the other in full use for heavier stuff.  Then there's the one in the brambles, for parts for the other two.
You can see the Kiwi on our website www.scothebs.co.uk under 'other interests'.
Old Landrovers are desperately uncomfortable over the bumps and you have to shout to be heard, but there's nothing else like them.  Eeh - makes you proud to be British  ::)
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: cooper956 on October 29, 2010, 09:23:15 am
iv had a few  ;D s2 swb,range rover clasic se,discovery xs.discos 200 auto and many more of my m8s have passed though the place.

but curently still have 109 truck cab 2.8 td dihatsu powered beast, daily driver 2002 defender 110 double cab (replaced the disco xs this year) and last but not least a 1952 s1 80" curently in the shed waiting for me to get time to finish striping it and welding her back up  before geting her road worthy again.

then there is mmy mums freelander and my gf has a freelander (although she keeps wanting to sell it lol)
you could say i am landy mad do a bit of offroading here and there and on the farm and couldnt live without  a landy to tow everything about
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Womble on October 29, 2010, 12:35:51 pm
We've got Randy the Landy, who is an old Defender 90.

He's a bit rattly and rough round the edges, but he just has that unbeatable "go-anywhere-ability" about him!

We just had him fitted with the latest sound proofing gadgetry too. It's apparently called an "Exhaust pipe", and you'd be amazed how well it works. It's so good in fact that I can now drive around without wearing ear plugs, for the first time in months!  ;D

Womble.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Fergie on October 30, 2010, 08:18:27 pm
We're rather fond of Series Land Rovers too - I have an ex military Series 3 and a Series2A, with another awaiting restoration & yet another for spares.

They're noisy & uncomfortable, but keep on going & endear themselves to you.

John
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Sandy on October 30, 2010, 11:57:54 pm
I remember my farming friends mum picking us up from schoool in one and it was a 4 mile ride home but boy I felt sick!!! LUV UM THOU!
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: mab on October 31, 2010, 01:01:59 pm
I had a S2A 109" ex-military, 1 ton payload station-wagon. Had it from about 1998-2007. it was scraped and creased and dented (I bought it originally to 'play with'); I put a rover V8 3.5L engine in to it as the original 2.25 petrol was a bit wishy-washy. I then put a fairy overdrive in, and then ('cos of the cost of petrol) I converted to LPG. It would do 100ish  :o if you dared! (speedo only went up to 75 so that's a guess)

It was roasting in the summer; freezing in the winter (despite adding a 2nd heater from a rangerover); and when it was wet & windy it would rain on my right earhole, via the gaps around the door!

The one-ton rated leafsprings were lubricated with ground rust - the grease having been washed out years before, so they only started to work once you got a ton in the back.

Had to weld it up for every other MOT  :( , was always repairing something, or adding oil somewhere, or replacing halfshafts (rear axle wasn't designed for the V8! (or my right foot  ;) ) ), and it had a turning circle that would impress the captain of an oil tanker.

But it was still the best vehicle I've ever owned.  :D

then one day in may 2007, a drink driver passed out at the wheel of his Merc and came out of the on-coming traffic at me - Hit me head on doing 60mph and still accelerating!  >:( Crumpled the chassis (except the bits that I had welded - I used 3mm plate), Bent the front axle into a banana shape, smashed the gearbox, and pushed the floor up under the pedals - but me and the dog got out without a mark on us!!  :) Sadly though there wasn't anything to be done with the landy, except try and get the B******ds at the insurance company to give me anything like what it was worth (their first offer was £300 - excess!!  :o).

I would like another one, but I don't know if it could replace the original - I'd put a lot of work into it and knew its every nook and cranny  :-[.

mab
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: clumbaboy on October 31, 2010, 05:29:22 pm
Old Landies are great.  I've got a 1973 series 2 petrol, nicknamed the grommet, painted matt nato green, by hand, keeps washing off (previous owner) and have been offered another one for nowt as the owner wants some space back. It is a complete workhorse and looks like a chrimbo tree at night with all the different coloured lights that I have fitted for night shooting. ;D :wave:
waiting for some really cold wet weather to see if my weather proofing of my electrics was really worth it, time will tell
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Gordon M on October 31, 2010, 05:57:19 pm
I just got a new defender 90,,,,well,,,it's new to me,1995 300tdi with low mileage and very tidy for it's age. I'll need to get it waxoiled so a visit to Auchterarder is on the cards for Strathallan motors to do the work for me.
It has replaced my old 1975 series 3 109", the chassis of which needed too much welding.
Have to get a livestock trailer now but can't really afford one at the minute.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: scotelf on October 31, 2010, 06:04:49 pm
On my third! Love me landies!
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on October 31, 2010, 06:20:58 pm
We've got two, a 110 LWB ex utility hard top TD5 scruffy workhorse, which I lurrve although dont love the fact that the bottom drivers door hinge has dissolved... awaiting part for that one!
And a canvas top series II diesel which runs but is SORnd as we have converted her into a mobile water bowser for the fields! She has a 1000 litre IBC bolted onto the back truck part, on very solid planks but we still only ever fill it half/two thirds full given the weight of all that water! She is an angel of mercy!

I used to have a petrol 90 as well but sold that as couldnt afford petrol landy and a roof over my head!

They just have SOUL! And the TD5 was left last winter in -20 degrees and 3 feet of snow (we are in Cairngorms) and started first time once I dug my way in :-)))
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: OhLaLa on October 31, 2010, 06:36:09 pm
Landrover the make, not the model being mentioned here sooooooo.....

Ah! The snobbery factor! Love mine!!!!!! Who cares that they have bad press, cost WAYYYY too much, and are prone to breakdowns. If you get a good un keep ahold of it.......

 :-*   :bouquet:
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: faith0504 on October 31, 2010, 07:04:02 pm
i love mine, my partner was talking about trading her in for a newer vehicle i said NO i drive her, im happy with her, were keeping her.
she is still with us  :wave:
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: ser3dan on October 31, 2010, 07:55:53 pm
Another one here - I've got a 1998 Discovery, in fact if anyone sees a white 3 door 300Tdi Discovery heading North on Friday, give us a wave!  ;D
I rebuilt a Series 3 with a galvanised chassis, parobolic springs and polybushes. Rebuilt the engine, gearbox, axles, propshafts and sourced straight original body panels, When finished it looked like it had just rolled off the assembly line.I also had a totally original, unrestored Series 1 waiting in the wings for restoration. Unfortunately, I had to sell them when I got divorced - but there will be others, I'm sure of it!  :D
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Greenerlife on October 31, 2010, 09:06:16 pm
Spent an hour and a half digging my 90 and a trailer out of a very muddy field yesterday!  Grrrr.....  yhat'll teacj me to have road tyres!
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: waterhouse on October 31, 2010, 11:35:55 pm
In the mid 70's I looked after three diesel lwb station wagons which had been heavily used and minimally maintained. They were awful to fix and awful to drive except in heavy crud when their complete absence of power stopped them getting themselves into trouble.  Everything was adjustable but it was impossible to get it right.  For every correctly adjusted item something else went out of kilter. 

But it was those bloody awful engines that got me. Winter starting involved a Transit, jump leads and copious squirts of Easy Start.  Then we got a six cylinder petrol model and it was a transformation.  Smooth, easy starting and fast: pity about the single digit fuel consumption.

Can't see anyone having fond memories over the current models in forty years
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: VSS on November 01, 2010, 10:22:07 pm
When students, we had a Landrover ex military "half ton utility truck". The sort with cutaway wings that the military dropper out of helicopters.
Petrol engine thirsty, but towed like a dream. No roof, only a roll bar. Fuel tank under the drivers seat. Great fun, but not really practical for a family. Now on my second disco.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: bazzais on November 01, 2010, 10:51:08 pm
lol - Womble and your exhaust.  Its the same with me - if it falls off and it still runs - it isnt needed.

I'd love a landy but have never owned one.  The first 4x4 I bought and still have is a nissan navara and its s**t in comparison to any landy I've driven.  You may as well have a rudder instead of a steering wheel and all this fly by wire, sensor, plastic bumpers and electronic gadgetry is 'call a garage for repairs' situation every time.

The boss I used to work for as a kid helped start the west wales 4x4 club and he used to let me drive his shortened wheelbase demon around the farm.  I remember when I first drove it and I didnt want to drive down the track cos it might get scratched - he just looked over to me and said 'this is my toy, its not a car, this is what landies do' we proceeded to drive over objects I thought impossible - I particularly liked being able to pull an 'endo' on the yard with the brake bias full up front and then spin off on a sixpence with the independent rear handbrakes.  It was also strange still driving through fords with water upto the bottom of the dash.

I'd love to get into some of the white roading expeditions again with a nice landy but its a little out the mainstream now as its frowned upon by enviro warriors and do gooders.  Much like any motorsports have been marginalised these days.

Ta

Baz

Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Norfolk Newby on November 03, 2010, 12:08:18 pm
I know this is heresy - sorry!

I have a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon. Nearly 3 tons with a 4.2 litre turbocharged 6 cylinder diesel engine. It's a comfortable truck which I use to pull my horse box.

What I really wanted was something much more basic. I can manage without air conditioning, electric windows, heated seat and mirrors but the basic Landcruisers aren't sold here in the UK. Lots of them in Africa and Australia and a standar Land Rover (defender?) is isn't heavy enough (IMHO).

I read lots of worrying stories about various other brands of 4X4 (no names!) and have had a good experience with 2 Toyotas prior to this one. But all the fancy bits worry me!

I want a strong chassis, 200hp engine (diesel please), no corrosion and rubber mats inside. I can put seat protectors on if they are cloth or leather but heavy vinyl would be nice. Weight should be 2.5 to 3 tons as I don't like pulling a 3.5 ton trailer with anything much lighter than that. It can't be much heavier (eg Unimog) as I only have a car licence.

Surely that's possible.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: mab on November 03, 2010, 03:56:13 pm
Well my old longwheelbase Series 2A landrover weighed over 2.25 tons - and that was with the rover v8 which is all alloy - if you had a cast iron lump under the bonnet (and an auto box - they're heavy) I'd have thought a LWB defender should be close to 3 tons. Having said that mine was a 1 ton payload with reinforced axles leafstrings & chassis.

You could try a rangerover - the new ones are over 3 tons I think; don't know about the old ones.

Maybe the reason your Toyota and the rangerover are 3 tons is because of all the extras like air-con - so you might be stuck with the luxuries  ;) .

mab
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: waterhouse on November 03, 2010, 07:56:15 pm
Not sure why a 4wd has to be uncomfortable! 
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Fergie on November 03, 2010, 09:03:20 pm
Not sure why a 4wd has to be uncomfortable! 

 A beam axle is better off road & stronger than independent suspension, but will make the vehicle pitch from side to side on rough roads.  The older Land Rovers such as the Series 2A & 3 were designed so that in really rough conditions the driver would have to slow down to prevent them hitting their head on the roof, hence preventing damage to the vehicle.  This is one reason Land Rover took so long to adopt coil suspension - it allowed a higher speed in conditions where there was a risk to the vehicle.  They only adopted it after users demanded it, following competition from other manufacturers (and a lot of design & development).

Additionally the high centre of gravity of a 4x4 is never going to be as stable as a modern car, so there is always a compromise  in comfort & roadholding.  It's a case of horses for courses - you choose one because you need one, either for offroad or towing heavy loads.

John

Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Fergie on November 03, 2010, 09:13:09 pm
I should add that not all 4x4s are uncomfortable - some have modern suspension, but they tend to be categorised as "soft roaders" which are more suitable for the school run than heavy duty off-roading or towing.

John
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: MiriMaran on November 03, 2010, 09:33:45 pm
I have a 1969 S2a and adore it, but am getting slightly nervous about getting the children to school on time when the weather gets colder.  It starts fine, but then stalls very easily.

When I broke down this summer i phoned a friend to rescue me.  He turned up in a Toyota Landcruiser with a sticker in the back window "Official Landrover recovery vehicle"  The cheek of it!! :o
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: mab on November 04, 2010, 02:57:17 pm
Well there's no denying that the modern japanese vehicles are more reliable, but on the other hand you don't need a million different special tools, and hands the size of a toddlers' to fix an old landy.

And then there's the cost of parts - you can buy seal sets for all the brake cylinders for a few pounds. That compares favorably with my mum's Hyundai when I had to replace the clutch slave cylinder (can only get the complete part)- tiny part, that fitted into the palm of my hand - which cost £140 + VAT!!  ???

mab
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: clumbaboy on November 04, 2010, 04:05:11 pm
Hi everyone
        I agree the bits for old landies are well cheap and easy to fit.  My old trooper went to kwik-fit for an oil change it took them 5 hours due to all the fiddling about with sump guards and having 2 oil filters. ;D
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on November 04, 2010, 08:58:53 pm
I should add that not all 4x4s are uncomfortable - some have modern suspension, but they tend to be categorised as "soft roaders" which are more suitable for the school run than heavy duty off-roading or towing.

John
Unless they are a discovery. Best of both worlds, comfort and "proper" Land Rover off road and towing ability.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: waterhouse on November 04, 2010, 11:57:35 pm
...but they're now packed with electronics and sensors.  I'm happy to be proved wrong but I suspect they will be too expensive to keep going some time after about 15 years old, maybe sooner.  Scrappage on you come.  The old landrover was built by blacksmiths and could be maintained by anyone with a big hammer.  Then the Japanese turned up with a version that didn't need maintenance whatever you did with it and took away much of the world market - shades of the British motorcycle industry

Landrover's fightback has been impressive but the current offerings are heavily biased towards people with a lot of money who never go off road.  While the lighter 4wd's are aimed at hairdressers. 

The comment about driving at speed reminded me about an occasion when I took a series 3 across sheep pasture during the 70's.  I was used to driving my 2CV which was imperturbable at speed on rough ground. Not so the land rover, not if you wanted to keep your teeth.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Daveravey on November 05, 2010, 01:06:49 pm
I served my apprenticeship in a landie dealer & have owned 4 in the past.

Love 'em, they're just a big meccano set... something breaks, just bolt a new bit on   ;D
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: tazbabe on November 05, 2010, 04:58:19 pm
...but they're now packed with electronics and sensors.  I'm happy to be proved wrong but I suspect they will be too expensive to keep going some time after about 15 years old, maybe sooner.  Scrappage on you come. 


i have a 22yr old pajero that is my daily drive, and i take it offroad too. comfort with durability, and fun!
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Womble on November 07, 2010, 11:18:56 pm
lol - Womble and your exhaust.  Its the same with me - if it falls off and it still runs - it isnt needed.

Well bizarrely it even passed the MOT without it, so it can't be that important surely?   ;)   Actually, I suspect they may even have stuck the emissions probe into the end that was still hanging on, despite there not being anything left of the middle section...... well it would explain the low reading at least  ;D.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: knightquest on November 08, 2010, 12:17:49 am
lol - Womble and your exhaust.  Its the same with me - if it falls off and it still runs - it isnt needed.

Well bizarrely it even passed the MOT without it, so it can't be that important surely?   ;)   Actually, I suspect they may even have stuck the emissions probe into the end that was still hanging on, despite there not being anything left of the middle section...... well it would explain the low reading at least  ;D.

 :D :D

Ian
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: faith0504 on November 12, 2010, 09:33:43 pm
please can anyone help a damsel in distress!!!!!!!!!!!

my srs light is permanently on in my landrover freelander hse td4

has anyone any idea what might be causing it? and is there anything i can try without taking it to landrover dealership?
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on November 13, 2010, 06:13:20 pm
Sorry I don't even know what srs is. My landies are still firmly in the half inch spanner and a lump hammer era.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Daveravey on November 13, 2010, 06:44:15 pm
I'm sure it's to do with the seatbelt pretensioner system.

I'd take it to your dealer & have them reset the codes as the system has found a fault.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: faith0504 on November 13, 2010, 07:00:43 pm
thank you  :wave:
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: waterhouse on November 14, 2010, 01:21:51 am
I think SRS is supplementary restraint system otherwise known as airbags.  We had the warning light repeatedly coming on and it was poor connections in the wiring loom.  Took forever to find.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on November 14, 2010, 08:47:04 am
I've just got my 1977 series 3 109 back on the road after fitting a turbo diesel engine in place of the original 2286cc lump. All I can say is "WOW". I don't know why I didn't do it ages ago, it absolutely flies. It will go up the hill outside my place in top gear now where I used to be in 2nd ;D
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: waterhouse on November 14, 2010, 02:19:23 pm
Well done! 

I have no happy memories of that engine at all.  I had no power and was a pig to start in winter.  When the engine pull-to-stop broke off we used to have to stall it to park.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Womble on November 15, 2010, 07:36:49 am
>We had to stall it to park....

LOL!  I'm showing my ignorance here, but can somebody confirm how you actually stop a diesel engine, i.e. what action is it that the system takes to make it stop so quickly?  Is it just the fuel stop solenoid, or other things as well?
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: Fergie on November 15, 2010, 09:06:14 pm
>We had to stall it to park....

LOL!  I'm showing my ignorance here, but can somebody confirm how you actually stop a diesel engine, i.e. what action is it that the system takes to make it stop so quickly?  Is it just the fuel stop solenoid, or other things as well?

You cut off the fuel supply to stop the engine.  On older diesels, such as Series 2A Land Rovers, (or tractors) this is by pulling a stop cable connected to the injector pump, on newer cars an electric solenoid will do the job when the ignition key is switched off.  Either way, the fuel injection is cut off and the engine stops immediately.

John
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: ellied on November 16, 2010, 08:04:18 am
I have two Discos - technically anyway.. the 1993 (last of the 200s) has been lying at the mechanic's up the road for a couple of years on a SORN as the welding to get through its MOT would have been more than the vehicle was worth.  It also had no clip to keep the gearstick centred so changing gears started between 1-2 and finding 3 and 5 at the right time was a matter of trial, guesswork and luck  ;)  I loved it too much to take his offer of £100 to scrap it and keep meaning to phone one of those numbers in the Scottish Farmer that advertise for old Landies in any condition or, if I do find somewhere to move to, to have it as a "field tractor".  Problem is the tyres have probably gone meantime sitting there so long  ::)

My current one is a TD5 (02) which I was lucky to get very cheaply due to high mileage and lack of a service book, but knowing where it had been cared for (same mechanic).  The guy it came from had a business and I reckon had also written it down on his tax so it was effectively paid for.  It has been fab these last couple of years but now I don't have an income its maintenance costs and fuel are a bit scary  :o

Problem is after a Disco I find sitting in wee cars very scary too - can't see out of my gate or over the hedge to get out on the main road and I'm just used to having it to get about.  In winter I do need it to get hay etc to my hill ponies as the lane up there isn't always gritted and can be knee deep in snow for a week or two at a time, last year particularly so..  Theoretically I also need it to tow as I sold my wee Fiat Punto commuting car and my 7.5 tonne Bedford TL horsebox to get the first Disco, but I can't get my head around towing due to the gate angles here so I never did get the stock trailer I planned to ::)

Maybe when I move.. ;)
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on November 16, 2010, 07:47:14 pm
Hey ellied put the old disco on ebay. You'll get 500 quid for it no problem. Or strip it and sell the parts yourself. Engine 250 to 400 quid for a tdi, gearbox and transfer box 100 quid, all the electrical bits will sell easy etc, etc. Then scrap the chassis and bodyshell for another 150 quid or so. The bloke who offered you 100 quid for it was taking the piss.
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: ellied on November 17, 2010, 10:31:16 am
Thanks Hughesy I am waiting for it to be delivered home on a trailer and will then advertise it as it is - my mechanical skills to strip it are non existent but I'll see if I can get £500 as that will keep the current Disco on the road a bit longer, thanks :)
Title: Re: Land Rovers
Post by: hughesy on November 17, 2010, 04:35:46 pm
Stick it on ebay. Be honest about what's wrong with it and make it clear it's being sold for "spares or repair" and that the buyer will need to collect it. It'll sell no problem.