First off, Hello from Virginia.
Quick background. I'm a Chevy guy, with a wrecked M1009 Diesel Blazer in the driveway (no good deed goes unpunished), and a failed several year search for a 1969-1975 full convertible blazer that wasn't a total basket case rust wise.
Recently the option of a Series Land Rover came to my attention, and I was completely shocked at the availability of these trucks here in the states. Not only that, but in my limited searches up to this point I've found that swapping the 6.2 diesel into these trucks is not unheard of, possibly common.
So I suppose this is my noob request for answers to the following questions I could think of, and by all means, school me on anything I failed to think of, and is important.
1. are there any years/models of series trucks I should avoid?
2. are these trucks equipped with aluminum bodies?
3. are there common rust issues?
4. how strong are the drive train components? in relation to chevy 1 ton gear (IE NP 205 transfer cases/ SM465 and NV4500 transmissions / Dana 60 and Dana 70 HD DRW axles)
5. are all series trucks (including "pickup" versions) fully convertible?
6. what are the specs on the factory diesel in a 109 wheelbase 1975 series III?? is that a good/reliable engine?
7. what are the drive train components in these trucks?
8. Ive heard that the electrical systems on these trucks are unreliable, any truth to this? if so, how bad a mess are the harnesses typically?
9. aside from a simple swap from spring-under-axle to spring-over-axle, are there lift kits available for these trucks (some chevy habits never die)
10. Just how expensive are these trucks to own/operate/maintain, keeping in mind I'm a fairly experienced wrench spinner, but don't currently know how to weld or do body work (why my K5 is dead).
I think 10 questions is a good place to start, Thanks so much for any and all advice y'all see fit to give.
skal.
Quick background. I'm a Chevy guy, with a wrecked M1009 Diesel Blazer in the driveway (no good deed goes unpunished), and a failed several year search for a 1969-1975 full convertible blazer that wasn't a total basket case rust wise.
Recently the option of a Series Land Rover came to my attention, and I was completely shocked at the availability of these trucks here in the states. Not only that, but in my limited searches up to this point I've found that swapping the 6.2 diesel into these trucks is not unheard of, possibly common.
So I suppose this is my noob request for answers to the following questions I could think of, and by all means, school me on anything I failed to think of, and is important.
1. are there any years/models of series trucks I should avoid?
2. are these trucks equipped with aluminum bodies?
3. are there common rust issues?
4. how strong are the drive train components? in relation to chevy 1 ton gear (IE NP 205 transfer cases/ SM465 and NV4500 transmissions / Dana 60 and Dana 70 HD DRW axles)
5. are all series trucks (including "pickup" versions) fully convertible?
6. what are the specs on the factory diesel in a 109 wheelbase 1975 series III?? is that a good/reliable engine?
7. what are the drive train components in these trucks?
8. Ive heard that the electrical systems on these trucks are unreliable, any truth to this? if so, how bad a mess are the harnesses typically?
9. aside from a simple swap from spring-under-axle to spring-over-axle, are there lift kits available for these trucks (some chevy habits never die)
10. Just how expensive are these trucks to own/operate/maintain, keeping in mind I'm a fairly experienced wrench spinner, but don't currently know how to weld or do body work (why my K5 is dead).
I think 10 questions is a good place to start, Thanks so much for any and all advice y'all see fit to give.
skal.