OK guys, heres how it goes, this is the plan for my new project. let me know what you think.

base vehicle: 1971 land rover 88"

engine: tuned chevy 350 (325 hp 375 ft lbs)

trans: TH350 with low-rpm lockup converter and manual valvebody

transfer: dana 300 w/ teralow 4:1 and twin stick kit

axles: front- rev. rotation 60 from 79 F350, 4.56 gears, detroit locker, 35 spline stubs. narrowed a bit. rear- 60 with 4.56 gears and DL, narrowed a bit. obviously 35 spline

suspension: spring over leaf using standard Land Rover leaf springs, modify front frame horns to accept rear springs on the front, custom shock towers w/ RS9014s. shooting for a 1300 or better on 23 deg ramp

tires: 38x12.5R16.5 TSLs on hummer beadlock rims

body: fenders trimmed a lot with 1.25" dia tube around opening, soft top year round (new england winter baby! yeah! :flipoff2 <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> 2.5" dia tube 6 pt roll cage, chassis mounted, corbeau seats, 4 point harnesses (no crotch strap- gotta save the jewels <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> )

misc: wheelbase will be 88", maybe 90", hoping for the truck to be stable at all speeds, on and off road, and kick my friends ass in his 5.0 mustang <IMG SRC="smilies/flipoff.gif" border="0">

so what do you guys think???

i'd shoot for a longer WB, at least 95 inches.....brad

thanks brad. 95" sounds doable, theres room to cut the fenders! heheh

oh yeah, TOP!

Why narrow the axles/ just adds extra cost/work. With the Hummer rims, you will be narrow enough.Plus wider is more stable, like you wanted.

Sean

good point, ill have to run a few more measurements before finalizing anything like that. and you can always narrow the axles after the truck is on the road, cant really un-narrow them (besides it would be a fawkin huge waste of cash and time)

if your gonna run a d300 x case and a ford dana 60 front your gonna have to swap tubes cause d300 is pass side drop while that 60 is drivers side drop. guess you could narrow it at the same time.
later
bob

I dont have a problem with swapping tubes. I'm going to have these axles stripped anyways for rebuild/painting.

come on everybody.... <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

i need to get some more feedback so i can start collecting parts soon

stop drinking and start thinking! <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0">

if you want all around performance I wouldnt go with a low stall converter, probably stick with a passanger car model. i think it would work fine offroad but get off the line alot better on road. Also I think you are expecting way to much from those leaf springs. I would plan on upgrading to something a little more substantial to handle all that extra unsprung weight and to get the flex/control you want.

I would go with deeper gears if you aren't going to be street driving it a lot. Look in to a 700R4, instead of the TH-threefiddy. I don't know a hell of a lot about old rovers, but I would think they have narrow leaf packs, with about 8-12 leaves per pack. If that is the case I would try and find a different source for springs. How much does the rig weigh? Just my 0.02 <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

I would go with a larger tire. I'd say at least 39.5. And might step the gears up to 5.13's.

The auto swap sounds good. If you are going to stick with the auto and that much torque, I would go with 5.13's, a 480LE, and an Atlas II to handle the torque. coming through the 375 ft lbs and then the torque converter to a D300. whew!!! Sounds iffy. Especially with the Tera-Low.

I don't know what the size difference between the TH350 and the 480LE but the OD will be nice. I wouldn't put a 700R4 in myself. Just my opinion and BTW, you asked. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: SweetCJ7 ]

PS

I still want to get more info on the hummer rims before I go there. With those rims, what tires size can you expect to get away with before rubbing on your springs w/o sacrificing turning radius?

Those Mustangs are pretty FAST, could be hard to beat with a rover on 38"s
ericfilar@fatcity

Originally posted by FatCity:
<STRONG>Those Mustangs are pretty fast</STRONG>

<IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

Anyways, the setup you have described should be great. I have a 4.0/999 (2.74:1 first gear)/300 (4:1 kit) and 4.56 gears with 38.5" SX's It goes over anything and everything I could ever want but sometimes stopping it in low range is impossible. I am currently going to switch to hydraboost to get some more braking power. You dont have to gear the autos like the stick shift guys do. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

-Keep the 60s full width for stability.
-Go with 5.13s if you're driving it on road
-Go with 5.38s if its offroad only (lowest RR R/P for D60)
-D300 is not up to the task of an auto (2:1 reduction), 4:1 in the tcase, and 5.13 gears. (THINK ATLAS <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">) Especially when used with 375ft/lbs.
-Use a tranny with overdrive if you're on road at all...your gas tank will appreciate it.
-Use the least amount of lift necessary to fit tires you want to run
-Cut the fenders for added clearance
-It will be squirrely with an 88" wheelbase so go longer 93"-97" (especially with full width axles.

Why do you want to use hummer rims? Any particular reason? I'd personally go with some MRT beadlocks if I were building it. And its really doubtful that you will be able to beat your friends Mustang with tires that big unless the rig weighs next to nothing.

thanks guys, just ran out and got some measurements on the springs. they are 45.5" eye to eye, and are 11 leaf. sprung over with a heavy ass axle like a 60 i think they should flex well... whattya you think? and as to the 4L80 and atlas... the simple answer is that i dont have the money! heheh and the 80 is too long for my WB, now going to be 95-96". you guys really dont think that the TH350 and D300 will take the torque? now Im thinking about 42's too, they seem like the ideal compromise of height and width. i'm shooting for weight of under 5250 lbs, remember rover body is all aluminum. doable? keeping the axles full width seems like a good idea, esp w/ the hummer rims. also like the idea of the longer WB.

thanks

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