Advice on a series 3...

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FlyingPete said:
I sold my old 90 'White Elephant' just over a year ago. The guy I sold it to is currently rebuilding it, and at the same time liberating a disco 200tdi engine out of his 1981 109 truck cab. The series has a knackered chassis (and soon no engine) but otherwise is all there and sound enough, including freewheeling front hubs. Body has a few knocks and dents but nothing unexpected on a working truck.

He's offered me the rest of the truck for £750. My thinking is that I'd probably go back to petrol with it anyway, and do a rebuild (not necessarily a restoration) onto a galvanised chassis. Probably a few sensible upgrades to wiring etc while it's apart. Then it can be my general "potter around and do things" sort of vehicle and something Landy-based to fiddle with.

Worth a punt? I know the guy quite well and I can poke around the truck if there's anything to look for before making a decision.
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That sounds too much for a non running series with a rotten chassis.
If you have somewhere to park it off road, maybe make a low offer. That way you have all the options open to you, you can rebuild it if a chassis and engine come along at the right price. Or you can sell the axles and gearboxes if you meet someone that is looking for those.

Bear in mind, as you haven't had a chance to drive the vehicle, you have no idea how many of the other mechanical parts are knackered either.
 
suburban said:
might encourage him to start doing it himself, that's how both I and my eldest started (and I am sure a lot of others too)
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No, I've spent many a time battering my head against that particular brick wall. He's just not interested. He'll pay for it later but I've done all I can...
 
There is the old 19J out of the White Elephant.We pulled this mainly due to a random loss of oil pressure, and the fact that the 200tdi was lying around in the series. So we have two possible options as I can see it:

1. Strip down the 19J and sell it as spares. The turbo, injection pump etc are all in good condition and the cylinder head was rebuilt around 2 years ago. Use the cash from this to fund a 2.5 petrol conversion.
2. Strip down the 19J, identify the cause of the problems, and rebuild it with new bearings, piston rings etc. Put the rebuilt engine into the series. We have the radiator and all the bits to make it work in the series.

Looks like the first course of action is obvious in any case.
 
Rebuild the 19j, drop that in and run it. They are not bad engine if serviced regularly, and in a series would be a fine engine. But I am not a fan of this petrol rubbish, too much messing around fiddling with carbs/distributors and not enough black smoke out the back!
 
dag019 said:
Rebuild the 19j, drop that in and run it. They are not bad engine if serviced regularly, and in a series would be a fine engine. But I am not a fan of this petrol rubbish, too much messing around fiddling with carbs/distributors and not enough black smoke out the back!
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This is what I'm starting to think too. While the tide is turning against diesel, I think very old (40+) cars will largely avoid it. The 19J was always good enough for the 90, but was always a bit of an unknown quantity. Starting from 'new' with it and keeping on top of servicing should be a good option. Plus no one wants them, so usable bits are good and cheap.
 
Having never driven a series with a 4-speed box, how does it affect cruising speeds? In my 90 I would do 60-65-ish in 5th gear. In a series does the ratio of 4th gear restrict the speed more due to engine rpm? Not that I'd be expecting a speed machine...
 
My petrol definitely runs out of ratio before power, I'm looking at a high ratio conversion for the t'box. Cant comment on the diesels I'm afraid.
 
Rubins4 said:
My petrol definitely runs out of ratio before power, I'm looking at a high ratio conversion for the t'box. Cant comment on the diesels I'm afraid.
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Diesel flat out is about 55 which increases to 65 with an overdrive. It will go a little quicker if you are going downhill and a lot slower if you are going uphill. Cruising speed is about 50-55 and my overdrive it will sit just below 60 quite happily.
 
So with either a 2.5 petrol or a 19j in the front, should I be looking for an overdrive or high ratio kit? I'd like to trundle along at more than 50 without the engine screaming at me too much :)
 
FlyingPete said:
So with either a 2.5 petrol or a 19j in the front, should I be looking for an overdrive or high ratio kit? I'd like to trundle along at more than 50 without the engine screaming at me too much :)
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The first thing I would do it fit 7.50 tyres, this will increase the gearing but decrease the acceleration. Then drive it for a little bit to see if you can live with the cruising speed, unless I am on the motorway/dual carriageway I am rarely doing more than 50.
If you then decide that you want a little more speed I would go for an overdrive rather than higher ration gears or diffs. Although a bit more expensive in my opinion they offer greater flexibility as the low gearing is retained for when it is needed.
 
Can't comment on either the 19J or the 2.5 petrol engines but a 2.25 petrol will cruise happily at 55mph if fitted with 7.50 tyres so a 2.5 petrol should do so also. I would advise you not to go for a high ratio transfer box. I considered this option for my 109 fitted with a 200Di but was advised against doing so by Ashcrofts themselves on the grounds that power would be lacking and the vehicle would be over-geared making it unpleasant to drive. Ok in an 88 but not in a 109 was their advice... Talk to them on the 'phone yourself. I went instead for a new Roverdrive and haven't regretted it at all. Try it first without altering the gearing, you might find it to be alright as it is.
 
Extreedoc said:
I went instead for a new Roverdrive and haven't regretted it at all. Try it first without altering the gearing, you might find it to be alright as it is.
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That's probably the best way to go, and simpler than fitting a 5-speed box. Like you say, I can rebuild the truck as-is and fit an overdrive later on. Only downside is the middle passenger has to fight the many gearsticks for legroom!
 
FlyingPete said:
That's probably the best way to go, and simpler than fitting a 5-speed box. Like you say, I can rebuild the truck as-is and fit an overdrive later on. Only downside is the middle passenger has to fight the many gearsticks for legroom!
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The middle seat: strictly a 'needs must' option.
Was forgetting: yours is a 109 too, already fitted with 750s or their equivalent.
 
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