Looking for advice for a land rover series 3 buy

deegs

I’m scouting around looking for a good series 3 on a galvanised chassis.
I would be really happy if it had a more modern 200tdi engine in it as I want it economical as a daily driver and strong enough to pull my 2 ton boat + trailer combi! It would be super if it was a station wagon or safari spec (for passengers) and ideally I would love a pre 1980 model so as to avoid NCT  Dont ask for much!! My budget is about 2300 and I’d rather get a top notch chassis and engine and work on the rest as time goes by.

I came across this car and despite the fact that it is in Holland I was wondering what you think about the engine?
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C311207
I know this is not a straight swop for the original engine and so lots of mods have been made to make it fit...
I know it does not have as much pulling power as the 200tdi, but I think it has more than the original 2.25 diesel
I think it has good MPG equal to the tdi and better than the original
I do not know whether this will be more expensive to service and maintain than the tdi or original.
I have read that some parts cannot be sealed if I ever decide to go wading.. also I have heard that it is risky offroad and I think the crank shaft risks getting cracked.... (not sure on this one, perhaps it was due to the engine or driver!)

Also down the line if I decide to put a tdi back in I’m not sure how much work will be needed to re-mod it back?

Really stuck on this one....
Any thoughts?

Thanks Guys!

101sean

You'll struggle to find anything as good as that for less than €3-4000 here or the UK. That one is cheap as it's in the Netherlands and it's got a transit engine in it, probably has problems registering it.

There's plenty of advice about 200tdi conversions and it's relatively straightforward to do without the turbo, bit more if you keep it esp if it came out of a Disco. Lots of advice here http://www.glencoyne.co.uk/

They have plenty of power without the turbo and do around 30mpg but are very noisy.

deegs

despite the noise is the transit ok?

there is only one galv chassis in the uk in my range. None in Ireland's but a fab cream 88 over my budget... If it was galv chassis I'd take it!

really stuck now... Think I'll be carless by weekend

101sean

Sorry, I was referring to the noise of a 200di which can be improved with soundproofing. Have no experience of transit conversions, it's not something that's done often now with plenty of tdis around. Another common UK conversion on 88" is a Perkins Prima out of a Montego/Maestro.

While a galvanised chassis is nice, a well repaired ordinary one is fine if treated inside and out regularly.

deegs

Is there any way of knowing how long one will last by looking at it? Espcially if it has been waxoyled etc.?

For example looking at two on donedeal
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/3746759
The chassis apparantly looks good and has been wax oyled but has had a rear crossmember replaced. The bulk head needs work and passenger footwell has been replaced. I think the engine is an positive tho.

But then I am not sure how to rate it against this car
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/3774723
Seems like everything done to a high standard, and the engine looks very neat, but it is the origional engine and chassis...

Can't find a pre 1980 in my price bracket with a galv chassis... is it worth getting younger than 1980 and taking the hit on the NCT?

101sean

They both look good esp the second one but the first will have a bit more go (but not a lot!!) They seem to be commanding a fair bit of money especially if they are vintage. You do need to look at the chassis etc carefully as from around 75 -80 BL were using sh!te steel and quality control was poor.

Post 80 shouldn't put you off, majority would be DOE rather than NCT tested and if it's sound should pass easily.

deegs

deegs wrote: »

But then I am not sure how to rate it against this car
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/3774723
Seems like everything done to a high standard, and the engine looks very neat, but it is the origional engine and chassis...

Hmmm, this car is currently on english plates but the seller will register and put tax on it included in the price. It all sounds perfect, he got it a fwe months ago from the UK and reconditioned the whole thing, in the uk the front part of the chassis was replaced, so that leaves me wondering how good the back part is but it will be covered in waxoyl... I might go and have a look anyway.

Newly in is this http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/3829745 which has been on a farm all its life, it has repairs made to the chassis and absolutely everything is original. A new crossmember is included in the sale But I'll have to weld it myself... bit daunting to say the least.....

Thing is... what exactly are these cars value true value?
Is the asking fair?
Particularly as I think this is a fair price but its in the UK and an 81, (even if I had to pay NCT) http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C315019

I should say, thanks for the advice Sean, I do appreciate it! My guide in this land rover adventure (he has owned 3) is contactable sailing a yacht to the canaries...

101sean

Prices can be a bit inflated here, anything classic tends to be :rolleyes:

There's more choice in the UK as well so it's worth looking there although you have the hassle of getting it back and registering it.

Rear crossmember isn't hard to do esp if it has chassis rail extensions on it.

Sound looking one up north on 4xforum http://www.4xforum.net/index.php?topic=3398.0

SafeSurfer

I was looking at vintage pre 1980 land rover series recently and be careful if you buy a "vintage" with a replacement chassis, if importing. In Ireland the chassis is the vehicle so a pre 1980 vehicles on inspection over here could be registered in the year the new chassis was fitted.

deegs

101sean wrote: »

Prices can be a bit inflated here, anything classic tends to be :rolleyes:

There's more choice in the UK as well so it's worth looking there although you have the hassle of getting it back and registering it.

Rear crossmember isn't hard to do esp if it has chassis rail extensions on it.

Sound looking one up north on 4xforum http://www.4xforum.net/index.php?topic=3398.0

Thanks for that, I initially couldnt find that but then saw you needed 5 posts and found it eventually. I'm PM'd the seller for a bit of info. But do you really think its sound for the asking price?

The seller says

gearbox dosen't like going down into 2nd, more patches than chassis

which sends alarm bells ringing as chassis and gearbox are two of the main things id be asking about.

Also its been hacked to make it topless so I reckon the rear door has been cut in half... http://www.4xforum.net/index.php?topic=3207.msg36807#msg36807

I guess I'll see what he says.

safesurfer,are you sure about that? I'm predominately looking for a replaced chassis but dont want a vintage car if its registered as a 2009 etc.
did you get onto the motor tax office about it?

101sean

Get the chassis number stamped in when you order a galvanised chassis or stamp the number yourself before a test and you should be OK, seen a couple of restorations where this has been done. One of the reasons it's so easy to ring an older Land Rover is that the chassis number often disappears when the RH front dumb iron is repaired leaving the only other number on a alloy plate pop rivetted to the bulkhead.....

I didn't look closely at the advert but £1100 would probably be right for a runner that needs work. Changing the top is a nut and bolt job and that looks like a drop down tailgate to me. I prefer soft tops if security isn't a worry.

deegs

If you need to stamp a chassis...
Is there a particular place on LR where it is stamped?
Is it worth buying a set of punches off ebay or would most garages have a set?

101sean

It's generally on the front RH chassis leg over the front spring hanger on a Series, locations are shown in the various manuals which can find online.

deegs

Thanks Sean, have all the manuals
Will look on ebay for the stamps

Caddyvanman

Have you ever driven a series Landrover ? leaf springs, drum brakes, No power steering and your looking to upgrade the engine.

You have to be a hardy fan to use one everyday.

Whats wrong with having to test it ever year ? small price to pay if your getting cheap tax !

Pottler

Caddyvanman wrote: »

Have you ever driven a series Landrover ? leaf springs, drum brakes, No power steering and your looking to upgrade the engine.

You have to be a hardy fan to use one everyday.

Whats wrong with having to test it ever year ? small price to pay if your getting cheap tax !

I bought one brand new in 1981. I honestly thought it was broken when I drove it home from the dealership - the words "economical" and "daily driver" are not words that spring to mind, unless you are used to a massey 165 as your normal motor (a 165 with a diesel leak.) In it's defence, it was a petrol, and also, it was tough as nails. But "daily driver"! No.

101sean

Remember buying my first one, drove it away from the dealer thinking OMG, what the feck have a bought!

Still driving them over 30 years later!

Pottler

101sean wrote: »

Remember buying my first one, drove it away from the dealer thinking OMG, what the feck have a bought!

Still driving them over 30 years later!

I kept that one 15 years, and it never failed to start, I also towed houses with it, used it axel deep in muck and water, pushed it out of ditches with spikes on a loading shovel through the back door(literally), pulled down trees with chains that would jump the jeep 3 feet off the ground and slam it back down for days on end, the kids all adored it as it was "fun" to sit on the sideways back seats and I did huge mileage in it. I actually ended up loving it, unless I needed to go any distance as it was slow, noisy, madly uneconomical(even with fuel being cheap back then) and the steering wheel was connected to the front wheels with a slinky spring(apparently:D). But I have very fond memories of it and it was a vehicle I still hold in my mind, despite having had innumerable jeeps since then.

101sean

They get under your skin don't they, I have it so bad I'm permanently poor :rolleyes:

Pottler

101sean wrote: »

They get under your skin don't they, I have it so bad I'm permanently poor :rolleyes:

I sold it to an enthusiast who wanted to restore it! Ah well. We all need some sort of vice. Could be a lot worse.

deegs

101sean wrote: »

Remember buying my first one, drove it away from the dealer thinking OMG, what the feck have a bought!

Well I bought it, and late at night in amsterdam I drove it for the first time and I also was think what the feck had I bought. Wrong side of the road, hard to control couldnt figure out any of the switches at night, glancing between dark road and printed out map/directions... I read on another forum and I thought it was an apt description... the engine sounded like a machine gun turret from the drivers seat!

I was tempted to go back to the airport...

But I drove on, and we came to terms within a few miles. By Belgium we were happy out. Entering France we were tired, but 2.5hours sleep in the back in a field by a service station gave us a rest. At dawn with the sun rising I gave her a good look over and we started to get on. As day broke over a beautiful french countryside we went on a fab drive to the south, where I tested teh suspension with a load of wine and beer... then we got on the ferry and I passed out within minutes only to wake up and take my new lady (landy?) for the final trip to Cork.

Its a shocker.. but the car does grow on you!

From Rennes, I found a classic Range rover and defender 110 and we drove in convoy for a few miles at 55mph. They started going slow on a hill so I overtook them. Later I stopped for diesel to fill up before Ireland and they passed me out, but I caught up with them at the wine depot

They took photo's of my car as I got off the ferry and later near waterford I passed a LR with roll cages and got a big wave and a flash.

Nice feeling driving the car, but (like my alfa's) I have a love hate relationship with her... bits I love and bits I hate. I suppose its better than a "normal" car that you dont hate... but also don't love...

I'm using it as a daily driver. My commute is about 25miles each way. She'll cruise at 60, but until I have given her a full service (and improved the soundproofing) I'm keeping her at 50mph approx and its a nice drive.

Great car and I'm happy, but she'll need a bit of work to make her more comfy and to prepare her for some overland trips next year

Thanks a million for all the advice (espcially Sean), it was daunting buying a car like that and so old without a viewing or test drive, but it worked out!

Pottler

Sounds like a fantastic buying trip and a great memory to treasure. Life would be dull without character and the Landys have it in spades. Swivels! Keep an eye on those front swivels, they are a bit treacherous!

SafeSurfer

Best of luck with it and many years of happy motoring. I hope the drive home will be the first of many adventures in it.

Savker

I have a series III 109 2.25 diesel. They are noisy, slow, leak oil, bad turning circle, need constant repairs, rattle, shake, vibrate, belch smoke all over town, but I love it. Basic go anywhere truck. Would sell the gaff first. I think it's some kind of virus that you pick up and can never shake.
:):):):):):):):):)