Hello everyone, I am looking at a 1980 109 series III and am not sure what to expect or look at/for. tell me your thoughts. It has right hand drive (I'm in Maryland). Sale sign says it was imported from Australia in 2005 and has Perkins Super diesel conversion. It has two-door with Safari rooftop. I'm still researching. Odometer says 33k but that could be rolled over already (probably). Owner is asking $7500. So what do you think?
Hello everyone, I am looking at a 1980 109 series III and am not sure what to expect or look at/for. tell me your thoughts. It has right hand drive (I'm in Maryland). Sale sign says it was imported from Australia in 2005 and has Perkins Super diesel conversion. It has two-door with Safari rooftop. I'm still researching. Odometer says 33k but that could be rolled over already (probably). Owner is asking $7500. So what do you think?
Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life.
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Condition is EVERYTHING. It doesn't take years of owning one of these trucks to spot rust, and rust is the biggest deal breaker. Two door 109s aren't as desirable to many, though I have one and love it, but I have a 4 door and an 88 also. All LR frames eventually rot out, and it usually shows up first around the rear crossmember and rearmost rear spring mounts. I usualy espect frame rot when I look at them, and to me, if the rest of the truck is good, i.e. very good skins, unmolested dash, and most important to me, a sound bulkhead, I don't get scared off. Frames are available, bulkheads aren't. It may sound daunting, but reframing a series truck is just labor and time consuming, but not at all technical. Bulkhead repair is another story. Very few parts for these trucks are unavailable, but they can be expensive, so do alittle homework after you've given it a good lookover, the initial price isn't bad, but adding alot of replacement parts can make it alot more expensive.
The Perkins 4-108 and 4-236 are great engines and go forever. Perkins is probably the most common of the transplants and are well suited to a series truck.
thanks fellas, I'll look at it again soon. It looks at me like a lost puppy dog everyday as I drive by it to/from work. I have a weakness for old and different vehicles.
Get underneath the truck and start beating the piss outta the chassis...everywhere. If rust flakes fall out and it starts falling apart, it has a rotten chassis. In that case, the overall value of the vehicle is reduced to about $1000~1200 bucks (that much b/c of being a 109 and having the diesel engine).
Check the bulkhead for rust. Once again, engage hammer.
If you start seeing lots of rust, then pass. If part of it is rusted, then the rest of it is probably also rusted. You don't want to deal with this.
The perkins, while bulletproof and powerful will be slower than grandpa trying to wheel his wheelchair down the steps to grab a beer outta the fridge. Decide if you can live with this. Just BS'ing around town in it, it'll be fine. On the interstates is where it'll be rough.
Drive it! Does it feel like it is about to fall apart? Hard starting? Grinding gears? Slipping clutch?
Assuming the truck is in good shape (AKA, everything works, nothing shot, etc) then yeah, $7500 sounds about right. Of course you can probably knock 500 or even a grand off that through negotiations.
On the bright side of owning a 109. You can sleep in the back. Ever try to setup a tent at night in the rain? Miserable. In a 109, just crawl in the back, unroll and go.
Noise canceling earphones. BUY THESE. TRUST ME. You will have tunes to rock out to and you won't be deaf upon arrival.
If truck has original suspension, fudge that! Get Rocky Mountain springs and new shocks.
New seats, procure these. Your butt and back will thank you.
Upgrade seatbelts. A pair out of a disco/RRC will be perfect since they are EXACTLY the same as the aftermarket 3 points.
Anti-burst latches on the door. Upgrade to these. Otherwise your doors will open at the most miserable times.
Buy a bag to put your door tops in.
Begin doing upper body exercises and lifting weights. Then you'll have a chance at turning the steering wheel. Oh, and 109s don't turn worth a CRAP. I mean, Jesus Hector Christ they have like, a 50 ft turning radius. Prepare to do many 7 point turns.
Steering wheel cover, procure.
RHD = FTW. If you notice, the right hand footwell is bigger than the LH footwell. Also the exhaust is on the LH side. So the LH side is cramped and gets hot. Forget that. Oh, get used to going through drive-thru's backwards. A tip: when doing this, if you are smoking a cigar, then everyone will naturally think you are a badass. This is preferred.
Want to wheel this rig? Install a detroit locker into the rear axle. It is easy (lunchbox style) and will make off roading awesome. I know the pansy discovery and RR boys get all upset about detroit lockers but in a 109, you can't tell it is in there. Sure, she will pop once every year, but that is it. Won't unload, throwing you into the next lane or anything stupid like that. Only time you'll notice it on the street is when you are doing a U-turn and get on the skinny pedal.
Drain fuel tank. Probably has water in it, FYI. It is diesel.
If you experience snow, get an engine warmer. I saw some at JC Whitney that just stick onto the bottom of the oil pan. This would be good enough. Remember it is an old diesel engine, not a new Jetta TDI that automatically turns on the glow plugs when you open the door. The older diesels will take a bit to get started but once going, they are good to go.
A series truck is slow. If you are always in a hurry to get places, get something else.
You can tow with a 109, and tow comfortably. I've towed a Nissan 240SX, RX-7 and a civic with mine. Now don't expect to cruise on the highway with something that heavy but for around town, good enough.
Nice thing about a series, they are super safe vehicles. Also people see you coming and get out of your way.
It'll leak. Best bet is to buy gear oil by the gallon and get the little gear oil pump.
Off road...eh. An 88 is better but if you've got skillz, then the 109 can surprise everyone. I usually follow around Jeep TJs on 33" tires.
Once again, thanks for all the info. I know I"m definately not rushing into this one. I might end up trading one jalopy (1941 pickup) for another then. It's been fun and interesting learning about the LR's.
There I said it...and just before the long story about taking a year to rebuild much of it to get it road worthy.
Though it is certainly a love / damn that needs to be fixed kinda relationship.
If you are not handy with fixing old rigs or not tolerent of things not working be careful. But you mentioned having a '41 truck...so you must be just a sick as the rest of us.
Rust sucks...the rest is easy and most parts are readily available.
They are making aftermarket bulkheads now...but they run over $1000.
There are many puppies that need a home...make sure you get a good one.
Slow? Slower than that actually. But driving through the bank drive through window the wrong way while belching diesel exhaust? Priceless!!
I wouldn't trade my 109" for anything...and the offers come in all the time when people see me driving it. Some have followed me home to make offers; while others just bark offers while in traffic. That is the only downside to owning a Series Land Rover...they get a lot of attention (more than my 1968 Firebird Convertible - hey, a guys gotta do burnouts too ya know!).
Just my $.02
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Road rage would cease to exist if everyone drove a 109" 2.25L diesel.
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considering a S3 109
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