Hi, My name is Morgan and please don't hate my project.
This seems to be one of the best forums on the net for landy knowledge with a very active community. I figured this would be the best place to ask questions related to what I am doing with my rover.
Ok, so I was bit a few years back with the bug and I bought a nice 74 series III 109 ex Mod. I stripped and painted it, did minor normal repairs, and drove it. About 2 years ago I swamped it in deep mud in my farm field. When I got it out started knocking, I drove it back to my shop, about 1000 feet and drained the fluids, still knocked. It didn't make sense so I pulled the pan and caked in the bottom of the pan was thick thick riverbank silt that was caked in the pan. Well my yard is clay so I assume it was the previous owner that left me with that present, or the MOD. Needless to say This started my repower.
The following in many circles considered Land Rover Blasphemy, If you wish to come to my house and explain why I should not do this, please do; but bring parts.
My goal is to basically wrap my land rover around the components that I have acquired to make a very capable expedition vehicle to the point of overkill.
To my knowledge there are very few Cummins 6BT diesel powered rovers in the US, which is a good enough reason for me to do it. Throw in a 13 speed medium truck transmission, 20:1 low gear with a NP205 gear to gear transfer case. Then down to a Dana 60/70 rears. This will allow me to choose a optimum gear for any sort of terrain.
Right now I am down to the bare frame, installing the front axle. Keeping to the expedition idea no fancy 4 link or coil springs. Leaf springs front and rear to carry heavy loads. The Dana 60 and 70 also share some parts so less spares to carry. My issue right now is drive line length of course. Even with running a defender style grille (I was thinking of making a custom Series III grill that sits flush like a defender to set it apart from all the other defender clones), I am still estimating about 6-8 inches short in the rear for prop shaft length. Right now I am thinking of extending the frame to 127" (130), staying with rover numbers and either running a truck cab and making a expedition bed, or extending the frame right between the rear fuel tank bracket and the outrigger front of the rear spring. This would let me keep the series bed in the same location on the frame, and extend the "cab" area, in the hopes a 130 canvas top will fit.
My first question for the site is,
How do the high cap pickup truck cabs work? They must use a different "back" section that makes up for the tub not being there to act to enclose the back of the cab. Is that same piece of bodywork used when making the 130 crew cab pickup? Are there any dimensional drawings of the 130 frame available?
I am really apprehensive about posting this but I need to find out Rover answers from Rover people. Where I live there's a guy with a D90 I see on the road but as far as series trucks I'm it. Theres not really any local gurus to go talk to. I just hope that you see that its not about killing a rover, as it is about making the ultimate series rover with new technology.
Here is a link to my build thread on 4btswaps.com
Any help is appreciated,
Morgan
This seems to be one of the best forums on the net for landy knowledge with a very active community. I figured this would be the best place to ask questions related to what I am doing with my rover.
Ok, so I was bit a few years back with the bug and I bought a nice 74 series III 109 ex Mod. I stripped and painted it, did minor normal repairs, and drove it. About 2 years ago I swamped it in deep mud in my farm field. When I got it out started knocking, I drove it back to my shop, about 1000 feet and drained the fluids, still knocked. It didn't make sense so I pulled the pan and caked in the bottom of the pan was thick thick riverbank silt that was caked in the pan. Well my yard is clay so I assume it was the previous owner that left me with that present, or the MOD. Needless to say This started my repower.
The following in many circles considered Land Rover Blasphemy, If you wish to come to my house and explain why I should not do this, please do; but bring parts.
My goal is to basically wrap my land rover around the components that I have acquired to make a very capable expedition vehicle to the point of overkill.
To my knowledge there are very few Cummins 6BT diesel powered rovers in the US, which is a good enough reason for me to do it. Throw in a 13 speed medium truck transmission, 20:1 low gear with a NP205 gear to gear transfer case. Then down to a Dana 60/70 rears. This will allow me to choose a optimum gear for any sort of terrain.
Right now I am down to the bare frame, installing the front axle. Keeping to the expedition idea no fancy 4 link or coil springs. Leaf springs front and rear to carry heavy loads. The Dana 60 and 70 also share some parts so less spares to carry. My issue right now is drive line length of course. Even with running a defender style grille (I was thinking of making a custom Series III grill that sits flush like a defender to set it apart from all the other defender clones), I am still estimating about 6-8 inches short in the rear for prop shaft length. Right now I am thinking of extending the frame to 127" (130), staying with rover numbers and either running a truck cab and making a expedition bed, or extending the frame right between the rear fuel tank bracket and the outrigger front of the rear spring. This would let me keep the series bed in the same location on the frame, and extend the "cab" area, in the hopes a 130 canvas top will fit.
My first question for the site is,
How do the high cap pickup truck cabs work? They must use a different "back" section that makes up for the tub not being there to act to enclose the back of the cab. Is that same piece of bodywork used when making the 130 crew cab pickup? Are there any dimensional drawings of the 130 frame available?
I am really apprehensive about posting this but I need to find out Rover answers from Rover people. Where I live there's a guy with a D90 I see on the road but as far as series trucks I'm it. Theres not really any local gurus to go talk to. I just hope that you see that its not about killing a rover, as it is about making the ultimate series rover with new technology.
Here is a link to my build thread on 4btswaps.com
Any help is appreciated,
Morgan