Steering Heavy, best tyres?

Ebbingeii · Aug 10, 2011

Hi all, got me a nice little 1974 series 111 SWB 2.5 petrol as a bit of a project.
Can you help with these issues??

Very heavy steering when parking/ low speeds? I know they're heavy but not this much!

Best tyres for easier steering and less road noise?

Best leaf springs for a smoother ride? Speed bumps everywhere near me!

Speedo is saying I'm doing around 45 50 when I know I must be doing 65 70 mph
?!

Has anyone got a diagram for the uses of all the switches on dash? only know what some do. Seem to have some newly added switches that seem to do nothing, that I can notice anyway!

Thats enough questions me thinks!

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Ross

Dr_evil · Aug 10, 2011

Ebbingeii said:
Hi all, got me a nice little 1974 series 111 SWB 2.5 petrol as a bit of a project.
Can you help with these issues??

Very heavy steering when parking/ low speeds? I know they're heavy but not this much!

Best tyres for easier steering and less road noise?

Best leaf springs for a smoother ride? Speed bumps everywhere near me!

Speedo is saying I'm doing around 45 50 when I know I must be doing 65 70 mph
?!

Has anyone got a diagram for the uses of all the switches on dash? only know what some do. Seem to have some newly added switches that seem to do nothing, that I can notice anyway!

Thats enough questions me thinks!

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Ross

Well there is no power steering

maybe you're not as strong as you thought

Better tyres ? use road tyres like Yokohama's or General Grabber UHP's just something designed for pure road use, nothing like mud terrains or if its the original soap bar tyres that would explain a lot

Leaf springs, take them apart and oil them up or buy some parabolic springs

As to the speed, I wasnt aware a 2.25 LWB would reach 70

And cant add anything to your switch problem

oxides · Aug 10, 2011

Of course a petrol swb will do 70! Bloody cheek! You might like this link - it will explain a lot, including the dash switches.
pdf Land Rover Manuals | Landroverweb.com

the mis reading speedo could be lots of things but I'd try changing the cable first.

oxides · Aug 10, 2011

Oh yes - lift the front end and see if the steering is stiff - you might need to lube the relay, box or swivels. And use sensible wheels and tyres - nothing too wide.

Dr_evil · Aug 10, 2011

haha 70 downhill only

oxides · Aug 10, 2011

No, seriously, my swb would happily keep up with motorway traffic on the flat (it's in bits at the moment) with a standard 2 1/4 petrol engine, standard swb wheels and tyres and a Zenith carb. I'm not saying it was a terribly pleasant experience (especially when the steering box started to wear badly) but it would do an indicated 80mph. Probably nearer 75 in reality.

Dr_evil · Aug 10, 2011

Mmmmm fair play, I wouldn't have expected one to be able to do that seeing as the one I drove seemed rather gutless

jamesmartin · Aug 10, 2011

i had my ex light wieght clocked at over 80 ,with old 21/4 petrol with 3.54 diffs on motorway but as all buggered head head or up hill

rustyrhinos · Aug 11, 2011

What tyres do you currently have and what size?

Get/borrow a sat nav and see what speed you are actually doing

70 not a problem in a Petrol S3

Ebbingeii · Aug 11, 2011

Thanks for the reply's. Very useful.

May get new springs & shocks.

I have 205/80 R16 at the mo, very chunky tread.

As for speed I obviously don't know the real speed but was passing cars on the A30 back into Cornwall rather easily! Didn't seem to struggle until I got to a steep hill!
Must have been around 70mph!!

Can't decide what colour to go for either. It's red at present but tatty, not to bad for a 37 year old girl though. probably paint with a roller and brush.

Thinking of some shade of green as I'm going to be using it for my gardening business.

4wheeldrive · Aug 11, 2011

series speedo's arn't the most accurate!
for suspension, for a greater ride, invest in some parabolics, but get decent ones
and with higher ratio diffs, and overdrive, a petrol series will easily push 70

Steering Heavy, best tyres?

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