Series III 109 Questions

I live in the states and would love to get a completely refurbished series III 109 from http://www.landrovercentre.com basically the truck is new,new engine, tranny exc. I wanted to know if a stock series III would be suitable for a daily driver, would it keep up on the highway? What's the top speed? Are there any options avaiable for a 5-speed or larger engine? I'm having trouble finding this information on the web, could you guys help me out? Thanks
Mike

Eyup mcr5h, I think that a stock series 3 109 wouldn't be up to the job of being a daily drive on the highways over in the states. The 2.25 and the 2.6 wont do a deal more than 55mph then theres the inconvenience of the 4 speed box. The option of fitting a V8 and overdrive would help though unless your lucky enough to come across a good stage 1 V8.

Regards WP.

Hi mcrr5h(?),

I currently use my SWB SIII as a daily driver and for all my long runs as well (as long as I can afford the time). However I don't drive that far each day, about 10 miles a day tops. If you give us more information on what an average day would be like for you this would help us give a more informed opinion. Just remember that it is not a modern car, even if it has had a nut and bolt rebuild, and as such requires contstant attention to keep it running well and prevent any failures. I've had mine for only 4 months and have stuck 3500 miles on it and its never missed a beat

Dave

I live in Colorado, to get to the ski resorts on the weekends, it's an hour on the highway where the speed limit is 65 mph up and down steep grades. A normal day consists of me driving on some back roads for maybe ten miles then hoping on the highway to head into town for about ten miles. Not a long drive. I like the series III and the defender 110/90 however so few were brought into the US the defenders are still very expensive so I was looking at alternatives and wanted some more info on the series III.

I may be wrong however, isn't it in you're favour if you import a Land Rover into the states if it's over 25 years old.

Regards WP.

Yes, actually you can only import and legally drive a car that is over 25 years old. It's why I was looking at the series 3 109.

mcr5h said:

Yes, actually you can only import and legally drive a car that is over 25 years old. It's why I was looking at the series 3 109.

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Cheers mcr5h, I knew there was some form of import restriction in the states. I do remember being told by my pal something along those lines. It was a long time ago though.

Regards WP.

mcr5h said:

I wanted to know if a stock series III would be suitable for a daily driver,

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Yes, my daily drive is a Series 3 109. I bought the Rover as a second car but soon realised my "normal" car wasn't leaving the drive so I got rid of it.

mcr5h said:

would it keep up on the highway? What's the top speed?

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A Petrol 2.25 engine will do about 60-65 mph top speed (if it's in good nick, a worn-out one will be slower). The diesel does about 55mph tops (downhill with a tail-wind )

mcr5h said:

Are there any options avaiable for a 5-speed or larger engine?

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If you're lucky enough to find a Stage 1 (V8) it'll go faster than you'll ever want to go in a Land Rover with drum brakes . I've not heard of a 5-speed box for 'em but there is the Fairey overdrive - quite rare but they do enable you to cruise at "high" speed rather than scream the nuts off the poor thing.

If you want the series III as a daily driver I say go for it.... I have a 1972 series III with a 2.25 petrol as my only car... If you have to do much interstate driving then I would suggest the RoverDrive overdrive by wiseowl, seems to be the strongest around and not nearly as noisy as a fairey overdrive. As well I would stock the gargage with spare parts, get yourself the green bible, and bolt a tool box in the back....

I just got a reply from http://www.landrovercentre.com and they said if I upgrade the 109 to a high preformance engine (but still the a 2.25) and get the optional 5-speed I should be good to go. I wanted to know from you guys with a 109 how do they drive? Are there drums all around? Power steering? Is the clutch a workout to use? I use to have an old beatup 79 F-350 with a 4 on the floor and I loved driving it so would it be comparable to driving something like that? I just have a little trouble dropping 27K for a truck I've never driven before, and a ticket from the US to the UK is a bit pricey for a test drive. Thanks for your help any feedback would be great.
mike

Mike,

27k Ouch. You could get a nearly new 90/110 for that kind of money. My SII SWB is in excellent condition (chassis bulkhead solid with no rust at all, well apart from the door tops) and cost less than $5000. Its first run was 800 miles and it never missed a beat. Driven sensibly these things really are reliable; you've just got to look after it.

OK to the questions:
I wanted to know from you guys with a 109 how do they drive? I drive a 88" and that's far better than I expected. I believe that the 109" is better ride wise.
Are there drums all around? Yes - but they do do the job, just make sure your hub seals aren't leaking.
Power steering? No - but there was a thread running in here where someone was going to try and fit it. I don't know how far they got.
Is the clutch a workout to use? Yes and no - Compared to a modern family car, yes; compared to an old F350, no.
I use to have an old beatup 79 F-350 with a 4 on the floor and I loved driving it so would it be comparable to driving something like that? I think it would. If you want the kind of vehicle where you want to listen to the sounds the trucks make rather than some cd or radio; smell the oils and lubes; have to check the oil each and every time you get in; get a feel for the temp so you know how much choke you'll need; be prapared to dedicate some serious time to keeping it in top order then a Seires is the wagon for you.

Do you actualy need the high performance engine? Mine is a stock 3 bearing 2.25 (with a webber carb) and while it is not a flying machine it certainly keeps up with day to day traffic. On the Motorway (Highway) it will sit at 60 mph all day and will do 70 if I wanted to thrash it.

Is there nowhere you can get a 25 year old Series in good condition and then export that. The money you save will allow you to do exactly what you want to it. Remember most of that 27k is going to be eaten up in labour charges and there is nothing too difficult on the SIII and the parts are not expensive; just look here: http://www.paddockspares.com/main.asp?category=SERIES

Hope the blurb above helps.

Dave

I would love to do it myself but I don't want it to end up taking 4 years so you think this is kind of a rip off (remember I'm in the US so not many series around and few who work on em and a 1994 defender 90 still goes for around 35K)for 27K you get:
Left Hand Drive (USA side steering)
New Galvanised steel chassis.
New or reconditioned bulkhead.
Reconditioned engine. (Turner engineering)
Including Unleaded cylinder head.
Reconditioned gearbox.
Rebuilt axles
New road springs.
New shock absorbers (dampers).
New brake linings.
All new brake pipes.
New brake cylinders (Master and slaves).
New clutch cylinders (Master and slave).
New clutch assembly.
Reconditioned axles.
All other mechanical and electrical items checked, and replace / reconditioned if necessary.
Dented or damaged body panels replaced with new.
Full respray in original colour - or colour of customers choice.
5 new tyres - customers choice of style.
New interior.
New canvas tops where fitted.
Model and body style of your choice.
Extras fitted at additional cost - as per customers request.
All necessary paperwork for importation / registration.

Where in the states are you? I am in Canada, and I think that you might be better off trying to find a local one, or at least one that has already been imported, even if it needs a little work. Most things on the Series truck you can do yourself, and usually it they do not need a lot to get past the gov. safety. Then you can take your time and do it bit by bit... just a thought.. Andrew.

There were some excellent Series 2A LWB trucks disposed of a couple of years ago by the MOD - part of the the UK strategic reserve. Excellent condition 'as new' and no real milage. They went for £3k - which for brand new series truck, unused and in concours condition is something.

I wished I bought one.

If you are spending more than £3K on a series landy you are being ripped off. Someone I know just imported a 1967 Cadilac from the US and shipping cost him £1500.