Series IIA 88inch Driveablility

I Used Mine Without The Top On 2 Summers Ago To Travel 25 Miles Each Way Every Day To Work.. Its Ace U Feel Muchly Superior To Convertible Drivers An By The Time U Get To Work Ure Def Awake.. I Love Mine An Use It Still Every Day,, Theyre The Mutts !!

hi just thaught i'd add to an old thread and mention that it sound like every one's forgetin two things
1.overdrive for goin faster
2.if you need to do an emergency stop yank on the hand brake then stand on the foot brake and this is almost a sure way to lock all 4 wheels

got my s3 with over drive doing 78 (slight downhill with the wind behind) yesterday scared the crap outta me when i looked down at the speedo i didnt even think i was doing 60 coz of the noise it was the first time i used the over drive and from now on im gunna have to be carefull coz i dont wanna speed

A lot of this is confirmation of previous advice, but here's my experience:
Value for money: there can't be many other vehicles which can double as practical work vehicles while still qualifying for historic vehicle tax exemption. We use ours to pull a double horse trailer to competitions.
Overdrive : this really does transform long trips, and you can boast in the pub about 16 forward & 4 reverse gears ( although its best to use it only in top gear ).
Steering : Compared to modern 4x4's, and cars in general, the series land rover can be given a steering makeover by an average diy mechanic at incredibly low cost. New steering swivel pins, plus a full set of trackrod ends for less than £100 total should transform vagueness problems. Remember, plenty of modern vans handle OK on the same old beam axle setup, there's no reason why an old LR can't be made to steer reasonably well.
Brakes : spend some money working through the brake system, you CAN get them close to modern standards.

My '65 Series IIa is quite sorted. New braking system allows it to stop very convincingly. Galv chassis with parabolics and procomp shocks together with 235/85/R 16 AT tyres make for good handling.

The old 3 bearing engine with Weber carb and K & N filter will hit 70 mph quite happliy. The fitting of a big bore exhaust made the engine very free flowing, 70 mph easily achieved and the neighbors very angry.

23mpg is quite possible with sensible driving.

Sound proofing kits are readily available. I have the acoustic matt system in mine.

I have used nothing else for 8 years now.

Excellent, thanks guys!

... A SERIES WITHOUT THE TOP ?? LIKE MINE ! :





BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THIS SERIES STOLE SIGHTS !!

SALUTES.

Do 40/50 miles a day, every day in my 88 III. It starts, it stops (though has 11" drums), it goes (thought the V8 helps wiv that). It's narrow so gets through traffic easily, parking's easy (if a little 'energetic) & if some fecker gets all arsey in traffic, just drive towards them, they soon change their tiny minds.

Certainly as Wes said a while back they are an acquired taste, but if you acquire it nowt else'll do.

Got a nice Mazda, 2L V6, air con, electric everything & it bores me ****less driving it to work or anywhere else, even when me IIIs only giving me 16mpg it's worth every penny!

Very good thread folks, brought a smile to my face, right then my old 2A being paced by a car as the speedo stops at 70 hit just 80 mph on the straight, I seen it, believe it if you will, I know I was there.

well as i said earlier in the thread i got my s3 to 78 with over dirve and down hill with wind so i suppose 80 is possible

I can get to 65 if it put it in neutral and roll down Beacon hill.
Not bad conserdering that my 2a has all the aerodynamics of a brick.

My SIII, costs me a small fortune but parts are cheap and readily available. I drive her everday, when shes running, and everyday she makes me smile and I get out of her at work and I grin like the proverbial cheshire cat. The kids love it, the wife well I'm not to sure what she thinks any day let alone about my landy. Landys seem to be addictive I'm now thinking about driving 130 miles to pick up my grandads(deceased) Series 1 as it sits at home on the farm rotting. More money, time and effort but to drive her oneday, just once would be worth it. Series 3 2.25 petrol cruises at about 65mph, and returns about 22 mpg WITH overdrive.

Whatever the weather, no matter what problems, wherever I am You will always find me grinning behind the wheel of my SIII.

Sweets i promise you if you did 80 once you would not want to do it again.

I dunno, my III tops out at about 90 with a tail wind (speedo is GPS calibrated so I'm not just being optimistic), it's ok & I've taken bends at 80. Hard braking around 70 is 'interesting' though, it really shows up the slightest imbalance in yer stoppers!

Mr-Tomcat said:

Sweets i promise you if you did 80 once you would not want to do it again.

Click to expand...

i dont wanna do it again i have a witness it was his first time in a landie and a defender had just smashed his lil fait thingey up and we were both ****tin our selfs it was on a clear part of deul carridge way in the early hours of the mornin and was bloody noisey and hard to keep her straight

all good fun though and worth doing doing once "JUST TO TRY IT"

yeap and its one of those once only things

I had a 1962 IIA 2 1/4 petrol as my main vehicle some years' ago for a daily round-trip to work of about 50 miles on main roads and dual carriageway. It was great fun. Lots of members keep mentioning a top speed IRO 45-55mph. I'm out of touch with series Landys now, but I fitted an overdrive (which was easy to do) and it would cruise happily at over 60mph. A huge improvement on fuel consumption, though it's such a long time ago I couldn't quote any figures.

If anyone has the chance to own a IIA, I'd say take it. Yes, it's more of a vocation than a car, but it's great fun. Enjoy the simplicity.

Well it's good to hear of other one's going at a reasonable speed!

I've ditched the initial 02pm07 username for good as my old remoteranger login works fine again

I've got a website on the go for the rebuild, anyone interested might want to drop by?

GreenLandRoverRebuild - Green LandRover Rebuild

(Admin: hope linking is allowed, if not, please accept my appologies and notify me...)

Everyone - feel free to get in touch via the comments box thingy on the site which is all set up and working!

I'm delighted that other people think it's not completely crazy after all. As you'll be able to see, new parts are being put on this and an extensive overhaul is taking place...

Thanks

I have had a Series 2a since 1995. I have found it extremely enjoyable to own.
It has totally infected me with all things land rover.
At times I have driven it as everyday transport.
No, they are not as comfortable to drive as a ford KA, but they are a thousand times more fun!!
I don't get so much time to drive my 2a these days, but when I do, I have a ridiculously big grin on my face and have been known to shout and scream with joy at the wheel!!!