Series comparo...

[zed]

I keep finding these little snips, totally unsupported, that Series II or IIA were the most, pick your adjective "robust, durable, best built" series trucks or possibly even of the land rover marque.

In the midst of rebuilding my SIII.. wondering on what basis these statements were made.

I understand that some think the throw-out bearing to be more robust, but at the same time, it has a linkage that is prone to failing slightly more than the slightly simper series III clutch. Other than that the esthetic of the plasti-dash and grille, and black vinyl over grey vinyl seats. The added convenience of a synchronized first and second gear and potentially outboard headlights depending on year.. But otherwise all but identical.. correct?

If there are things that are "faults" with the III I could remedy this while its in the garage.
I'm not one to stomach unsupported unscientific arguments or opinions on esthetics. i personally like the outboard headlights and grille/dash other than their obvious faults of being less durable than not existing.

[KevinNY]

Mostly old wives tales. The only significant change in strength was between the early suffix A transfer boxes and all the later ones when the intermediate shaft was increased in size. The people that break gearboxes will break them with whatever version they drive.

[greenmeanie]

There is a story that the metal used to fab the chassis was lower quality in the mid 70's making them more prone to rust and failure but I am not a metalurgist so wouldn't know how to verify that.

I also think that going from SIIA to SIII the chassis manufacture method went from welding four precut plates at the corners to a two piece stamped construction with a weld down the middle of the top and bottom surfaces. There are some fun arguements to be found about which is stronger.

The SIII lwb also got the Sals rear axle.

As far as the gearbox goes I understand that the early IIA had a weaker layshaft that was corrected later on. The weaker SIII thing comes about because LR apparently reduced the width of some of the gear teeth in order to fit the synchro in. Quite frankly, unless you are going for higher power engine conversion, tow, or really rag on the poor thing you are unlikely to notice the difference.

Cheers
Gregor

[zed]

AH.. well those are both supported.. even if the information isn't verified.
I too heard about the chassis steel being gleaned from belgium rather than england or wherever.. but I thought it was either much later or much earlier.
Again.. "i thoughts" don't really do it though.

Think a lot of it may be from purists that regret export to australia and the US forcing the headlight movement... and the plastidash after decades of the steel.