Choices choices... :(

Due to a change of circumstances, it looks like during the winter I'm going to have to use the S3 for my work commute of about 30 miles each way. :violin:

Currently it's a 2.5 petrol (defender engine), which for those mileages would probably bankrupt me! It's also a pickup, with a home made roll bar on the back (from some previous owner) welded to the chassis - this means there's zero storage in it so it's not the most practical of things. Due to the roll bar, I can't fit a hard top back on it Other than being a bit tatty body wise, the chassis and bulkhead are nice and solid, and in the last 18 months most of the mechanicals have been overhauled.

So - this gives me some choices to make...

1) Get the grinder out, chop of the roll cage (which seems a bit of a shame really!), fit a hard top on the back and look for a 200/300 TDI to put in it. Just how noisy is a 200TDI in a series? Would it drive you nuts on a 30 mile commute? Any other reasonably straightforward engine swaps that are a bit less agricultural?

2) As above, but fit defender / disco axles (keeping the leafs), gearbox etc so it steers and stops better, probably has a better top speed too. Lots of work though...

3) Flog it and buy a cheap defender (sub £3K). There's loads of defenders about in that price range, are they going to be really really ropey? This is probably the easiest option, but the series has a 'charm' that the defender doesn't!

Personally i'd modify the roll bar to allow you to put a hardtop on, then put a 200tdi in it.

Keep the standard gear box, maybe put an overdrive on?

Oh and if you want to change the axles, convert disco axles to take the leafs so you have discs all round.

Thanks... Any idea on the dimensions of a hard top?

I had a hardtop top series 3 with a 200 tdi and did 40 miles to work and 40 back it wernt that bad just had to set off early

fit a bikini soft top and leave the roll bar on

get a fender as whats the point of putting a 200tdi in it and running with a 4 speed box ? you'll never recover the money spent on it.

Series71 said:

get a fender as whats the point of putting a 200tdi in it and running with a 4 speed box ? you'll never recover the money spent on it.

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five speed with an od

Series71 said:

get a fender as whats the point of putting a 200tdi in it and running with a 4 speed box ? you'll never recover the money spent on it.

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you of all grumpy gits should know you dont own a series to penny pinch its a love of the vehicle and if you put a 200tdi in it doing those kind of milages it will recoup itself in around 6 months

I've got an OD that I've not fitted - got everything bar the 'special' LR tool for the star nut thing, suppose I should add it to the list of things I should do to the old girl!

CJ2a said:

you of all grumpy gits should know you dont own a series to penny pinch its a love of the vehicle and if you put a 200tdi in it doing those kind of milages it will recoup itself in around 6 months

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a tdi with a 4 speed box about an extra 5 or 6 mpg compared to original 2.25 !

Everyone to their own but like I said you wont save the money you spend in fuel unless you drive it for 100's of miles a week

=jon= said:

I've got an OD that I've not fitted - got everything bar the 'special' LR tool for the star nut thing, suppose I should add it to the list of things I should do to the old girl!

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fit the overdrive and instead of putting a tdi in put some decent seats and sound deadenin mats in it

Don't forget mine's a petrol currently - sub 20mpg (don't know exactly, never worked it out!)

RR diffs are about £40 and a half hour job, you only need the rears for now, TDi and overdrive could cost an arm and a leg and no guarantees. They'e all very old now. Cabs are cozier in the winter, although the ice can fall on your head in the morning. Fit a box in the back.

if you want a box on the back here is what i have on the back of my series 2a as a temporary until i can straighten out the rear tub and put it back on

=jon= said:

Don't forget mine's a petrol currently - sub 20mpg (don't know exactly, never worked it out!)

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I used to drive my petrol series swb to work and back for 6 months....you'll get ****ed off with it in the end ! I wouldnt want any land rover but a series BUT if I was going to use it evryday I would go over to coils,slightly better comfort and a slightly more eco engine with a 5 speed box.

Due to the crappy design of my cage I'm not sure a box like that would fit on the back - maybe down the sides over the wheelarches...

Series71 - I've got parabolics so it's not that uncomfy (apart from crashing over potholes!)

It looks like the simplest option is to keep the thing, maybe look at converting to a TDI and 5 speed box at some point in the future, if they come up at the right price. I'll look at sticking the overdrive in the shed on for the time being too

For rear storage boxes there are these ones which fit on the wheel arches in the back - http://www.barebox.co.uk/

it does not have to be that size of box it could be one that sits in the floor of the tub 3 feet wide but like 2 feet tall with a lid like mine it was just to show you what could make or do with what you have

=jon= said:

Due to the crappy design of my cage I'm not sure a box like that would fit on the back - maybe down the sides over the wheelarches...

Series71 - I've got parabolics so it's not that uncomfy (apart from crashing over potholes!)

It looks like the simplest option is to keep the thing, maybe look at converting to a TDI and 5 speed box at some point in the future, if they come up at the right price. I'll look at sticking the overdrive in the shed on for the time being too

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or see if you can get hold of a fenders 2.5 petrol carb and inlet manifold...think its a twin choke so would be better eco.

I've looked into tdi engines and boxes....bluebeasty has a 200tdi fitted to his series so hes the man to speak to.Putting in a 5 speed box is a lot of hassle....do a tinternet search and you'll find a photographic story of it....beyond me that was !

=jon= said:

Due to the crappy design of my cage I'm not sure a box like that would fit on the back - maybe down the sides over the wheelarches...

Series71 - I've got parabolics so it's not that uncomfy (apart from crashing over potholes!)

It looks like the simplest option is to keep the thing, maybe look at converting to a TDI and 5 speed box at some point in the future, if they come up at the right price. I'll look at sticking the overdrive in the shed on for the time being too

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sell me your overdrive dont put it in the shed !