Series 3 project advice for a begginer!

An on going plee for advice and help!

Ok, I'm hopefully going to graduate an Engineering degree soon and while they teach us how to design car parts for the latest in formula 1 technology they don't really teach anything practical so I figured doing a nuts and bolts rebuild of an 88" Series 3 Landy would be a good place to start

However Like I said I know nothing and was hoping that you good people of the internet might help me with simple answers to simple questions (Googling this stuff brings up a million and one different answers that all disagree with each other).

The context of the project

I'm not planning on doing a period restoration, my thinking is along the lines of taking a rock solid legendary design and building myself a capable machine that is later to be used on some sort of wacky adventure (In the past I have travelled in East Africa treating tropical diseases in school children whilst dodging machete weilding pirates and lived in the west african rainforest with indigenous pygmy tribes for 2 months while studying the way they use the surrounding forest). Once I have acquired a vehicle I plan to post the progress of the project on my website which I'll explain more about later on .

So Question Number 1:

I was thinking about upgrading the suspension on a 88" Series 3 and was wondering which option people would go for:

A) Just refurb/replace the origonals anything else is asking for trouble.

B) Parabolics are the way to go, much better than the origonals and there isn't really any benefit to the massive trouble of fitting springs.

C) Springs, Springs, Springs, people lie about the upgrade being a nightmare my dog could do it and he is blind in one eye and only has 3 legs."

(Yes I would like opinions on this, was leaning towards (B) at the moment).

PARABOLICS! are the way to go, what injuin are you thinknig of putting in?

Parabolics = bollocks

Do a good search and research the subject; fitting parabolics is a compromise. Fit a set of good originals and maintain them well. Most folks thinks paras are the dogs nuts because they replaced an old, siezed and shot set of trad leafs. A good set of well looked after leafs cost well under half of a set of paras, last longer, perform better throughout the whole range of tasks you may expect them to perform.

However, clearly this is just my point of view. I'm sure that anyone with paras fitted will defend them to the end after spending all that cash on them.

how much money and time have you got?

Yup Wot Ashoo sez !

Bollix is ok if you int got far to ger home if yer bust one

But the sort o places you plannin to visit your berra off gerrin yerself some standard or uprated ones If yer carryin loads o gear.

*Big smile* Thanks for the quick replies

Ok so...

Parabolics more expensive.
Origonals less so.

About the 'whole range of tasks' perfomance. Which areas do each perform best (I assume parabolics are better for somethings since otherwise they wouldn't exist?).

Time I will have lots of money not so much, but I will hopefully have enough to upgrade those things that will make a real difference

"What injuin are you thinknig of putting in?" - Not sure yet expect a question about engine preferences later on

paras are better if you are a right lazt **** and cen't be arsed to look after yer leafs. They are a fit and forget mod. If you fall into this category then your better of just buying jap ****e in the first place and throwing it away after 5 years.

Parabolics are better off-road as they give more articulation. They also allow faster movement at high speed, thus need new dampers because the old ones can boil their oil, not designed for the higher frequency operation. This means the tyres stay in contact with the road more, always good...

The down side, they are softer and the cornering tends to roll more. The original springs are more solid, but when you go over a pot hole the tyre does not stay in contact with the road, the spring cannot respond quick enough. In theory Parabolics can. I have a set, I don't like the cornering, but off road I think they are an improvement. They are also slightly softer for those with a delicate back side...

Which Parabolic? Mine are British Springs, my mate swears by Rocky Mountain, ask 10 people, get 10 opinions...

Have a think about skimming the head and sticking a through box exhaust on it. Adds a bit to your HP, Stage II head with a Zenith carb works well if you can keep the Zenith working happily, temperamental. A K&N airfilter will again give you some more oomph, but more noise. It's all a trade off.

One thing I wish I had, external roll cage.

Hope this helps,

Rob