I revisited your guys photos thread and it resparked interest in the idea of building a dream Rover some day. Personally I'd love probably a 2 or 4 door 109/110 pickup or troopie, but smart, rugged, easy to drive, decent mileage (aka a pleasant diesel probably) and can drive well on the freeway. But be used for work and mild/decent wheeling ie probably on 33's or something similar. Would prefer coil springs or at least up front. Anyone ever built anything like this before and if so how'd you do it and what were the good ideas and bad ones? I'd love to see what you have...

I had a '73 SIII 88 that I absolutely loved but the frame rotted out. Even though everyone told me "they are loud and noisy and drive like shit" I never listened and thought it would be like a small Nissan SUV for some reason because they are "smaller" - boy was I wrong. But I did still love that truck and I thought it drove a lot like maybe an early FJ40 or even a tractor... :)

Anywhoo, I'd be interested in your experiences, photos, stories, etc. Thanks!

Andre

When someday rolls around, repost. get a series, defenders are overpriced and over-rated. Besides isnt your FJ55 just about what you are describing that you want?

-Ike

Get a late 80s spec Defender, then called plainly just a 90 or 110. Mil spec is better. Basically think of them as a coil-sprung Series III with slightly better features and a better drivetrain.

Sigh..

Swap the cruiser axles into it and run some low travel coilovers in the front.

Boy, if you wern't so big I'd Roshambeau you...

:flipoff2:

Boy, if you wern't so big I'd Roshambeau you...


:laughing: LMAO!!! :laughing:

What does size have to do with it? By the time he gets up, you'll be long gone!!! :laughing:

LOL you guys are ruthless today, especially you mace. I am thinking something along the lines of a pickup or a troopie except (yes) I am 6'5 so I might have a little trouble fitting in there except that I did OK with my SIII '88.

Personally I don't care much about name either except I don't know a ton about coil springs so I'd prefer maybe something setup from the factory that way. Military would be great. I love the pig and it is setup great especially for a 4 door. Only thing is after riding around in some of these coil sprung 80 series cruisers, man they ride nice. LOL maybe that is my next mod..

I've seen him on the Lacrosse field....he goes down pretty easy :p

Still fairly nice to have on the same team though.

Brutal :shaking: :D

PS how is this a repost?
I have been looking around at different ideas. This is a long ways away if ever but I found this photo over on D-90.com to get an idea of what I am looking for. Think I'd fit into the cab of a 2 door? I did with my SIII 88" but barely :) Who knows if this would ever happen, but the idea would be something like a 110" coil sprung TDI 5 speed of some sort. Now I realize they make these already, maybe go via Canada, but the idea is I can't afford it now so build one or wait a few years then go that route... (?) But it sure would be sweet...

PS I think J-L might see me coming :D Are you still headed to the Rubicon for whenever that weeked was?

I think the "el tigro" on this page is a prety nice rig. :smokin: It's a hybrid between a wolf, a disco II and a 110.

http://www.flubbertje.nl

Deiselcruiserhead, you haven't mentioned what you really want/need - landrover county with Isuzu 4BD1 (same as Ben (isuzurover) on this board).

I guess these are hard to get where you are (hard enough to get in Australia).

Yes the 110's with ISUZU 3.9L 4BD1's like I have are a great truck, but they were only available in australia, so you have to build your own anywhere else in the world. It wouldn't be that hard to do though if you can get yourself a base 110. And the best part is you could use the 4HE1-XS - the engine that superseded the 4BD1-T - the XS has an intercooler, 175 Bhp (or thereabouts) and 340lb/ft of torque!!! And it is a 4.8L 4-cyl!!!

I am really happy with the 4BD1 in my truck, but I will be doing a turbo conversion when I get back to Australia. But if I ever get my hands on a cheap 4HE1 I will be putting that in the series truck (along with the 6-speed box thex come with).

When someday rolls around, repost. get a series, defenders are overpriced and over-rated. Besides isnt your FJ55 just about what you are describing that you want?

-Ike

I agree. D110s are hyped up. Take the money, buy a NEW plain steel 109 chassis, modify it for a 6AT, get it hot dipped, and build the truck around it.

Best thing I did with my rig was to start over from scratch on a mint chassis. It looks money now.

I agree. D110s are hyped up. Take the money, buy a NEW plain steel 109 chassis, modify it for a 6AT, get it hot dipped, and build the truck around it.

Best thing I did with my rig was to start over from scratch on a mint chassis. It looks money now.


Whatup J-L....how about posting that great head-on pic from before the rebuild? I love that pic.


RJ

The more and more I drive the FJ55 though the more I live it. It is similar to what I had in mind and I don't really need a troopie, just something that won't rust before my very eyes over the winter like mt FJ55 will :( I have been toying with different pickups but why not build what I really want. If I drive the piggie over the winter unfortunatly I give it two-three years before the evil rust demon I have worked so hard to try and eliminate comes back :(

And hey Rovers are aluminum, correct? The reason why I don't want to start with a 109 is they are great but loud, crappy heaters etc and while the 110s are only slightly better they are still slightly refined, right? But at the same time starting with a new chassis is a great idea... But I do want coil springs...

The more and more I drive the FJ55 though the more I live it. It is similar to what I had in mind and I don't really need a troopie, just something that won't rust before my very eyes over the winter like mt FJ55 will :( I have been toying with different pickups but why not build what I really want. If I drive the piggie over the winter unfortunatly I give it two-three years before the evil rust demon I have worked so hard to try and eliminate comes back :(

And hey Rovers are aluminum, correct? The reason why I don't want to start with a 109 is they are great but loud, crappy heaters etc and while the 110s are only slightly better they are still slightly refined, right? But at the same time starting with a new chassis is a great idea...


True, 109's are louder and less comfortable - but you can build them to be pretty comfortable, include decent heating and soundproofing. I have a 109 and a 110 (both diesels). I love both of them but they are both set up to do different things - the 110 is a DDer and a touring vehicle, the IIA is my off-road rig - but that said it is still pretty comfortable, and no noisier than an FJ55, and if it was a bit faster (cruising speed and hills) I would be just as happy to drive it long distances.

If you want the truck not to rust over winter though you will have to build it from the ground up and galvanise everything, Chassis, Door frames, Firewall, etc, etc, etc. (all this is easier to do on a series). Land Rovers will rust, just that you don't see it from the outside until the chassis is about to break in half.

I know, I had a SIII that was pretty rotted. But I do figure if I do a decent job prepping it if I start with something sound, then I can keep the rust out. The big reason is I spent all of this time and energy building the FJ55 so I want it to last. HEre is a the most recent photo, It has since been lowered a little more and ligths etc all put on. This is just a couple days out of the paint shop...

http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com/cisautoweb/fj55/061604/IMAG0264.JPG

And hey Rovers are aluminum, correct? The reason why I don't want to start with a 109 is they are great but loud, crappy heaters etc and while the 110s are only slightly better they are still slightly refined, right? But at the same time starting with a new chassis is a great idea...

Stock for stock, yes. But if you're looking for a daily driver with a comfortable highway diesel, it's either going to cost you a mint (newer 300TDI truck) or you're going to have to build it.

It's very possible to come up with a nice daily driver early truck, if you throw some bucks at it. I know some coilers that have tons of money invested in them and they're still only moderately nicer than a comparably built series truck.

I am 6 ft 3 and I fit just fine into a 109/110 cab. It's bigger than your short wheelbase SIII cab for sure. But my next daily driver rig will probably be a BJ60 :flipoff2:

I love tooling around in Grommit, our '75....get more looks than a teenage hooker with tobacco juice leaking from her breast implants...

http://www.endlessearth4wd.com/55/images/55.jpg

http://www.endlessearth4wd.com/RRC/images/IMG_0123.jpg
Pretty on the outside....

http://www.endlessearth4wd.com/AAA/images/IMG_0012.jpg
Ugly Ugly on the inside....(all better now though!!!!!)

The 55 is from Oklahoma...their version of rust is a very different animal than here in Coastal New England!!!

I love tooling around in Grommit, our '75....get more looks than a teenage hooker with tobacco juice leaking from her breast implants...

http://www.endlessearth4wd.com/55/images/55.jpg

Cool RJ - wow that really is a clean FJ55!

Cool RJ - wow that really is a clean FJ55!

of the 4 it's the cleanest and most original (98k oringinal, one family owned it)....the '71 is 100% original but getting some resto work at Kina's (gotta love the 3 on the tree). The 1972 isn't too original, but is damn cool (all white, 33's, Weber, header, full safari rack...note from previous owner stuffed in the framerail....) and then the '76 is a monster...350, AA Ranger Overdrive, 35" SSR's (at paint now getting the alpine white done...)

RJ

Whatup J-L....how about posting that great head-on pic from before the rebuild? I love that pic.


RJ

Want to post it for me?

PM me if you can.

J-L

Want to post it for me?

PM me if you can.

J-L
JL you can email me andre@collegeinternetsolutions.com

JL you can email me andre@collegeinternetsolutions.com


Yeah JL, send it to Andre as he can upload it now...I won't be able to until this evening.

RJ

If you are buying a new frame not going coil is stupid.

Coil axles/suspension are getting to be so cheap now that it is probably cheaper to buy rangie axles than do brakes on series axles.

Not to mention decent brakes. Now if you are going american axles then maybe it is a different story, but coils ride/drive/flex better. The only axvantage I can see from leafs is a better turning radius if you use wider axles.

Old school.

Even the bike on the roof is old school! My old trek, who says Rockshox Indys aren't cool? :flipoff2:

This is a daily driven series. Dead now, RIP Valdez.

Old school.

Even the bike on the roof is old school! My old trek, who says Rockshox Indys aren't cool? :flipoff2:

This is a daily driven series. Dead now, RIP Valdez.

Don't make me bust out my KHS descent with Rock Shox Judy XC!!!! :D

God I love that rig!!!

If you are buying a new frame not going coil is stupid.


Have you lost it?

RR coil axles are cheap for a reason. The brakes are OK, but the internals suck! Weakest 4wd axle around. I wouldn't call these an upgrade over 10 spline leaf rover junk.

Don't make me bust out my KHS descent with Rock Shox Judy XC!!!! :D

God I love that rig!!!

A lot of people really liked that POS, I don't really know why. It was pretty reliable, but it wasn't exactly nice or bling or even well built. It was all free/cheap stuff that I combined to make my 109 into a more capable rig. It did OK off-road but the axles were way too weak.

The new truck is going to be awesome. :grinpimp:

It depends on your uses. I have no issues but I do not run 36in mich like you.

For me LWB=tow/driver

For a wheeler I like them small, so an 80in(or 88 or D90) on 32-35 with RR axles would be sufficient.

Like I said, leafs make for an easier swap, but the stock fronts are so short it really is a limiting factor. Not to mention it is much easier to swap an engine in a coil sprung frame as the front X memeber is father forward.

Ron

Yeah, I guess for a DD it wouldn't be that bad. You're right on the price. If anyone's interested I have low mile disco axles for sale in Ontario.

And I own a Series One now, so :flipoff2: I like small rovers too.

Andre, I barely fit into a Defender 90...

More than an hour ride and I have issues for the rest of the day.

And honestly, from what I have dealt with from my fathers 90 I would probably never get one. They do not ride like an 80 does..

BTW, most rovers do rust to death :D

For a wheeler I like them small, so an 80in(or 88 or D90) on 32-35 with RR axles would be sufficient.

IMO an 80-inch truck is too small. Every decision is based on space (or the lack thereof), and it would be much easier/better to design a trail rig around an 88 or 90. 100 inch WB is the easiest IMO, mostly because they're easy to get (RR/Disco chassis), have all the suspension stuff already there, and give you more room to play with as far as storage and moving the drivers seat back a few inches.

Ask Briggs what he's doing. IMO it's going to turn out pretty nice all around.

IMO an 80-inch truck is too small. Every decision is based on space (or the lack thereof), and it would be much easier/better to design a trail rig around an 88 or 90. 100 inch WB is the easiest IMO, mostly because they're easy to get (RR/Disco chassis), have all the suspension stuff already there, and give you more room to play with as far as storage and moving the drivers seat back a few inches.

Ask Briggs what he's doing. IMO it's going to turn out pretty nice all around.


I think Perry Farrell said it best...."The bigger you get, the wider you spread..."

Going from an FJ40, to the XJ, then to the RRC, I've been getting bigger and bigger....and the more space I use up. The RRC will get wheeled pretty damn hard, but I'm juggling one passenger up front, Liam (due oct 1!!) in the back seat, Duncan the 93# Foxhound/Pyrenese mix out back, and Engel etc etc....if it was going to be a point and shoot rig, that would just see day trips or get traillered, it wouldn't matter. But many of last seasons trips in the XJ were 3 days out at least...

For me a 109 would rock...but then I have too much cargo room and not enough Dog/Carseat room...The RRC will work well for me but I'll need to move to the roof. Yeah I have way more room than my 40, but I survived with the 40...

In the mornin you go gunnin'
For the man who stole your water



Nice. A Dan Fan. :D

No I've never met Napoleon...but I plan to find the time...

:flipoff2:

Mace, Discos and other steel ones. the aluminum ones can in the right places, which is why I want to start with a decent one, make sure it's protected, and it should last just as long as say a Toyota. They are a little funky but like I said it would be a DDer and/or mild wheeler whereas the bulk of the wheeling will be with the SOA pig...

Boy you're bored today and can't I live this idea in peace? :D

Actually, I am bored, and you are right, if you protect it properly it will last longer than a Toyota.

However, I still think that you should slap toyota axles in it before you take it wheelin :D

Nice. A Dan Fan. :D

No I've never met Napoleon...but I plan to find the time...

:flipoff2:


Katy tried
I was halfway crucified


Jesse says he needs a pic of you pouting next to the mailbox before he'll send the synth line ;)

RJ

I am 6 ft 3 and I fit just fine into a 109/110 cab. It's bigger than your short wheelbase SIII cab for sure. But my next daily driver rig will probably be a BJ60 :flipoff2:


I second this, I am also 6ft 3 and fit into my 109 pick up without problems. (the rear firewall/bulkhead in a 109 is 6" or so further back than in an 88"). In some ways my 109 is actually more comfortable than my 110 (even though the 110 wagon has more legroom because of no rear firewall) because I fitted seats from a Mitsubishi Lancer, while the 110 still has the stock seats.

Old school.

Even the bike on the roof is old school! My old trek, who says Rockshox Indys aren't cool? :flipoff2:

This is a daily driven series. Dead now, RIP Valdez.

I used to own a set of Judy C's when I had my fisher. Then I upgraded to Marzocchi's for years but just went back to the retro Boxxer 151's on my DH bike.

Oh and the truck looks cool!

And one more thing, remember that I am the idiot that is building a DD army jeep ;)

Toyota axles and coil suspension all the way around.. 80" WB....

:D

Neat Mace, I didn't know about that project. Would like to see pics. Toy axles do rule!

lol

Here is almost how it sits right now ;)

























http://imagem.webphotos.com/1000031835/1000031835_1142003111130AM0.3992715

:laughing: Lookin' good Mace!

I am very proud of the work myself ;)

Go with the coils, much easier to deal with as a DDer. I'm the owner of the photo on page one and it does a 60+ Km highway commute each day. It could use some work to make it more comfortable but it's fine.

For the right price I'll sell it to you, I know where to get more.