Another Series query...

I've driven the S2a to work for a week now, and the main impression is that
it is hugely undergeared. At 60, the engine is still pulling quite well,
but the noise and general feeling of being on the edge of a disaster makes
me keep the speed down. At the same time, first gear is almost redundant -
anything other than an uphill start from stationary can be done easily in
second. So I'm looking at ways of increasing the gearing to make it more
driveable for my everyday needs. (I'm also looking at twiddling the carb -
under 15mpg! It is actually cheaper to go to work in the 4.6.)

Options so far seem to be:

1. Swap diffs for Range Rover items. Current diffs are 4.7:1, and RR are
3.54:1, so I make that an increase in gear ratio of nearly 33%. Proably
cheapest option, but raises low range gears as well. In terms of keeping
the vehicle reasonably original, it's a reversible modification.

2. Fit an overdrive - around 27% increase. More expensive. Used items are
an unknown quantity, new are nearly 700GBP. Ouch. Overdrives are standard
LR fare, so no originality issues.

3. Go to that nice Mr Ashcroft and get his high-ratio transfer box.
Increase in ratio 32% (it says in the advert), more affordable at 270GBP.
Slight ouch. Have to exchange old t/box, so not a reversible mod.

Given that I have already decided to fit some 7.50 tyres (approximately 13%
increase), what would other folks do? I'm going to wait and see what the
7.50s do to it before I make up my mind, but some sound information would be
useful while I am thinking.

Many TIA.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 17:29:43 +0000 (UTC), "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I've driven the S2a to work for a week now, and the main impression is that
>it is hugely undergeared. At 60, the engine is still pulling quite well,
>but the noise and general feeling of being on the edge of a disaster makes
>me keep the speed down. At the same time, first gear is almost redundant -
>anything other than an uphill start from stationary can be done easily in
>second. So I'm looking at ways of increasing the gearing to make it more
>driveable for my everyday needs. (I'm also looking at twiddling the carb -
>under 15mpg! It is actually cheaper to go to work in the 4.6.)
>
>Options so far seem to be:
>
>1. Swap diffs for Range Rover items. Current diffs are 4.7:1, and RR are
>3.54:1, so I make that an increase in gear ratio of nearly 33%. Proably
>cheapest option, but raises low range gears as well. In terms of keeping
>the vehicle reasonably original, it's a reversible modification.
>
>2. Fit an overdrive - around 27% increase. More expensive. Used items are
>an unknown quantity, new are nearly 700GBP. Ouch. Overdrives are standard
>LR fare, so no originality issues.
>
>3. Go to that nice Mr Ashcroft and get his high-ratio transfer box.
>Increase in ratio 32% (it says in the advert), more affordable at 270GBP.
>Slight ouch. Have to exchange old t/box, so not a reversible mod.
>
>Given that I have already decided to fit some 7.50 tyres (approximately 13%
>increase), what would other folks do? I'm going to wait and see what the
>7.50s do to it before I make up my mind, but some sound information would be
>useful while I am thinking.
>
>Many TIA.

My S2 was on 750x16, now 235/85 (very similar diameter). The gearing
is about right I'd say, although my engine is past its best.

Keeping low ratio low is only important if you are off-roading it.
When I've off-roaded mine I've spent most of the day in L1 and L2, so
I'd be loath to raise the bottom ratio any higher.

I think you can fit new gears to the existing transfer box without a
full exchange. LEGS also do a kit I think.


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'95 Discovery V8i aka "The Disco" (FOR SALE)
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

wow u get 60 with no overdrive.. blimey at 60 with overdrive mine feels like
shes gonna blow!

"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

4. Don't look here.... http://www.lrproject.com/percy/index.html




Lee D
--
________________________________
www.lrproject.com
Just a little hobby site about Landies
________________________________

Jason Hall wrote:
> wow u get 60 with no overdrive.. blimey at 60 with overdrive mine
> feels like shes gonna blow!

Actually it was 65 - well, the needle was wavering between 40 and the stop
at the top end. And it felt like 165. OK, it was probably 50. Or 45. I'l
take the GPS next time

And yes, it felt like it was going to blow. And so did I.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

Tim Hobbs wrote:

> > My S2 was on 750x16, now 235/85 (very similar diameter). The gearing
> is about right I'd say, although my engine is past its best.

Makes sense. +13% is quite a change and may well be enough. I wonder if
the other options (~+30%) would just be too much. Since I'm getting the
bigger wheels anyway, I'll give those a try first.
>
> Keeping low ratio low is only important if you are off-roading it.
> When I've off-roaded mine I've spent most of the day in L1 and L2, so
> I'd be loath to raise the bottom ratio any higher.

Agreed - which is why the cheapest option (RR diffs) may not be the best.
>
> I think you can fit new gears to the existing transfer box without a
> full exchange. LEGS also do a kit I think.

Thanks for the pointer - I'll give it a look.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

Richard Brookman wrote:
>
> 1. Swap diffs for Range Rover items. Current diffs are 4.7:1, and RR are
> 3.54:1, so I make that an increase in gear ratio of nearly 33%. Proably
> cheapest option, but raises low range gears as well. In terms of keeping
> the vehicle reasonably original, it's a reversible modification.

Rover 90/P5/whatever diff heads - 4.1 ratio. Still okay in the low box
(just) and combined with 750x16's makes 60mph a very happy place to be.


--
EMB
change two to number to reply

Lee_D wrote:
> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> 4. Don't look here.... http://www.lrproject.com/percy/index.html
>
>
>
>
> Lee D

Fine beast! I've bookmarked it for a proper look later.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jason Hall wrote:
> > wow u get 60 with no overdrive.. blimey at 60 with overdrive mine
> > feels like shes gonna blow!
>
> Actually it was 65 - well, the needle was wavering between 40 and the stop
> at the top end. And it felt like 165. OK, it was probably 50. Or 45.
I'l
> take the GPS next time
>
> And yes, it felt like it was going to blow. And so did I.
>

I once got 74 out of mine, 7.50s, but no o/d. The best thing was I was
overtaking a new shape RR at the time too!!

I got 70 out of a Lambretta Scooter once, downhill with the wind behind me,
generally speaking Lambrettas were quicker than Landies, with better
acceleration and petrol consumption. Didn't get far off road though with
them little wheels.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"



"Andy Warner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jason Hall wrote:
>
> I once got 74 out of mine, 7.50s, but no o/d. The best thing was I was
> overtaking a new shape RR at the time too!!
>
>

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 08:58:02 +1200, EMB <[email protected]> wrote:

>Richard Brookman wrote:
>>
>> 1. Swap diffs for Range Rover items. Current diffs are 4.7:1, and RR are
>> 3.54:1, so I make that an increase in gear ratio of nearly 33%. Proably
>> cheapest option, but raises low range gears as well. In terms of keeping
>> the vehicle reasonably original, it's a reversible modification.
>
>Rover 90/P5/whatever diff heads - 4.1 ratio. Still okay in the low box
>(just) and combined with 750x16's makes 60mph a very happy place to be.


hiya,

ive got 3.5 diffs in mine, on 7.50 x 16`s with overdrive, and my
opinion is that on its own without towing its very driveabl, 85 mph
was the top speed, untill i ran out of road, but did feel and sound
like it was about to self destruct, No problems round town at all.
but towing is a different story, pulling a 1200kg van on the flat is
no problem 60 + if i wanted it, show it a hill and she slows down (
only to be expected) but whatever happens never stop on a hill, as the
gearings all gone up its a cow bag to get it rolling up hill, clutch
slipping isnt good. suppose i could use low box untill i got to the
top then stop and go back to high.

i could put 600`s or 205`s on which would help. but as i off road
regularly i think im going to put the 4.7`s back in.

but all in all just alter things to suit.

with 205`s on, its as fast as **** , but the top ends about 60
screaming

with 750`s on its rather sluggish setting off, but the top ends brill.



andy

On Saturday, in article
<[email protected]> [email protected]
"Richard Brookman" wrote:

> Jason Hall wrote:
> > wow u get 60 with no overdrive.. blimey at 60 with overdrive mine
> > feels like shes gonna blow!
>
> Actually it was 65 - well, the needle was wavering between 40 and the stop
> at the top end. And it felt like 165. OK, it was probably 50. Or 45. I'l
> take the GPS next time
>
> And yes, it felt like it was going to blow. And so did I.

Lightweight, standard engine, standard tyres...

It'll do sixty, but it burns petrol at that speed like it was at 1970
prices.

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"History shows that the Singularity started when Sir Tim Berners-Lee
was bitten by a radioactive spider."

Andy wrote:
> >
> with 205`s on, its as fast as **** , but the top ends about 60
> screaming
>
> with 750`s on its rather sluggish setting off, but the top ends brill.
>

Sound like a plan...


--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

I have in the past been stuck behind coal lorries going up hill and for what
it is worth they wernt going any faster than a landie in low ratio.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"


"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 08:58:02 +1200, EMB <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> hiya,
>
> ive got 3.5 diffs in mine, on 7.50 x 16`s with overdrive, and my
> opinion is that on its own without towing its very driveabl, 85 mph
> was the top speed, untill i ran out of road, but did feel and sound
> like it was about to self destruct, No problems round town at all.
> but towing is a different story, pulling a 1200kg van on the flat is
> no problem 60 + if i wanted it, show it a hill and she slows down (
> only to be expected) but whatever happens never stop on a hill, as the
> gearings all gone up its a cow bag to get it rolling up hill, clutch
> slipping isnt good. suppose i could use low box untill i got to the
> top then stop and go back to high.
>
> i could put 600`s or 205`s on which would help. but as i off road
> regularly i think im going to put the 4.7`s back in.
>
> but all in all just alter things to suit.
>
> with 205`s on, its as fast as **** , but the top ends about 60
> screaming
>
> with 750`s on its rather sluggish setting off, but the top ends brill.
>
>
>
> andy

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 17:29:43 +0000 (UTC), "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I've driven the S2a to work for a week now, and the main impression is that
>it is hugely undergeared. At 60, the engine is still pulling quite well,
>but the noise and general feeling of being on the edge of a disaster makes
>me keep the speed down. At the same time, first gear is almost redundant -
>anything other than an uphill start from stationary can be done easily in
>second. So I'm looking at ways of increasing the gearing to make it more
>driveable for my everyday needs. (I'm also looking at twiddling the carb -
>under 15mpg! It is actually cheaper to go to work in the 4.6.)
>
>Options so far seem to be:
>
>1. Swap diffs for Range Rover items. Current diffs are 4.7:1, and RR are
>3.54:1, so I make that an increase in gear ratio of nearly 33%. Proably
>cheapest option, but raises low range gears as well. In terms of keeping
>the vehicle reasonably original, it's a reversible modification.
>
>2. Fit an overdrive - around 27% increase. More expensive. Used items are
>an unknown quantity, new are nearly 700GBP. Ouch. Overdrives are standard
>LR fare, so no originality issues.
>
>3. Go to that nice Mr Ashcroft and get his high-ratio transfer box.
>Increase in ratio 32% (it says in the advert), more affordable at 270GBP.
>Slight ouch. Have to exchange old t/box, so not a reversible mod.
>
>Given that I have already decided to fit some 7.50 tyres (approximately 13%
>increase), what would other folks do? I'm going to wait and see what the
>7.50s do to it before I make up my mind, but some sound information would be
>useful while I am thinking.
>
>Many TIA.

My S2 was on 750x16, now 235/85 (very similar diameter). The gearing
is about right I'd say, although my engine is past its best.

Keeping low ratio low is only important if you are off-roading it.
When I've off-roaded mine I've spent most of the day in L1 and L2, so
I'd be loath to raise the bottom ratio any higher.

I think you can fit new gears to the existing transfer box without a
full exchange. LEGS also do a kit I think.


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'95 Discovery V8i aka "The Disco" (FOR SALE)
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

I got 70 out of a Lambretta Scooter once, downhill with the wind behind me,
generally speaking Lambrettas were quicker than Landies, with better
acceleration and petrol consumption. Didn't get far off road though with
them little wheels.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"



"Andy Warner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jason Hall wrote:
>
> I once got 74 out of mine, 7.50s, but no o/d. The best thing was I was
> overtaking a new shape RR at the time too!!
>
>