Interesting land rover note...

[RichP]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5256278.stm

[riverfever]

Every bit as neat as the FJ40 and if I thought I could afford one...I'd be looking there instead of a Cruiser.

[DrMoab]

Every bit as neat as the FJ40 and if I thought I could afford one...I'd be looking there instead of a Cruiser.
So you can over pay for parts and have oil leak all over your driveway? :D

[non-stick]

So you can over pay for parts and have oil leak all over your driveway? :D

You mean you don't do those things now??








:D

[riverfever]

I'd rather have the Cruiser but I do like the Rovers. Hell...I leak from every orifice as it is. The Jeep is pretty easy on the checkbook though. The Jeeps been, hands down, the most reliable and practical vehicle that I've ever owned. Her and I have always wanted something with a soft top though and we can't see paying as much for a Wrangler and having it be what I think is cookie cutter. We're saving every penny right now.

[DrMoab]

I'd rather have the Cruiser but I do like the Rovers. Hell...I leak from every orifice as it is. The Jeep is pretty easy on the checkbook though. The Jeeps been, hands down, the most reliable and practical vehicle that I've ever owned. Her and I have always wanted something with a soft top though and we can't see paying as much for a Wrangler and having it be what I think is cookie cutter. We're saving every penny right now.
Usually I don't follow the likes of Consumer Reports but they list Rovers as having one of the lowest customer satisfaction ratings.

After knowing several people who own them I now understand why.

Not a single person I have known who has bought them has been happy about that decision. Usually it seems their wives want them because they are a "status" symbol and then can't afford to keep up on the maintenance.

Granted I understand this is mostly with the newer ones but still. I have always been Leary of anything coming out of Britain.

[RichP]

Granted I understand this is mostly with the newer ones but still. I have always been Leary of anything coming out of Britain.

Hmmm, yorkshire pudding, triffle, fish n chips, on the flip side there's kidney pie and bangers.... cholestrol for the masses..
Remember the old 50's LR's were built on Jeep frames....

[Root Moose]

I'd rather have the Cruiser but I do like the Rovers. Hell...I leak from every orifice as it is. The Jeep is pretty easy on the checkbook though. The Jeeps been, hands down, the most reliable and practical vehicle that I've ever owned. Her and I have always wanted something with a soft top though and we can't see paying as much for a Wrangler and having it be what I think is cookie cutter. We're saving every penny right now.
I dragged home an old `83 Scrambler a few months ago. It's been sitting in my workshop about a month now. Not a leak under it... and yes, the drivetrain does have fluids in it. :D

A series land rover might be all right... I'd be inclined to put a real drivetrain in it though (Danas and a 'Merkan V8).

[IXNAYXJ]

A buddy of mine had an old Series II SWB. Cool little rigs. He had a bumper sticker that was just classic: "Parts falling off this car are of the finest English quality." :D

Read the second "article" from this site: http://www.sniffpetrol.com/issue055.html

It's an English automotive satire website. Pretty funny stuff usually.

-----Matt-----

[riverfever]

We're wanting an FJ40 with an EFI 350 mated to a TH350. It'll be a bit. I check all pay phones for spare change when I walk by lately. It's excellent that she's on board too.

[Rev Den]

Not a single person I have known who has bought them has been happy about that decision. Usually it seems their wives want them because they are a "status" symbol and then can't afford to keep up on the maintenance.
.

You now know someone who is happy....actuallly fing overjoyed.

Maintanance? What maintanance, EVERYTHING for 4 years, 60K is covered...even oil changes. My wife calls ahead, takes it in, picks up her FREE loaner, and come back when it is done. Has it had problems? Sure...but much less than here WJ did, and a much better built vehicle. The service department treats her well, and does not "talk down" to her like the local Jeep dealer.

This one is an 2006 LR3....the next one for her will be a Range Rover, she already has it picked out. :D

Rev

[Root Moose]

We're wanting an FJ40 with an EFI 350 mated to a TH350. It'll be a bit. I check all pay phones for spare change when I walk by lately. It's excellent that she's on board too.

Do a Dana 18 with a WARN overdrive and you can keep the offset axles (TLC or Dana if prefered). You could also do a LR LT230 with the offset axles - they are kinda like Suzuki transfer cases in that high range is reduced slightly as well. IIRC ranges from 1.2x - 1.4x. you'd be kinda in the unknown end of the envelope with that config though.

If it were me I'd be inclined to do a overdrive trans (TH700R4 probably) and a Dana 300 and "normal" axles or if you want max efficiency for high range then go with an NV 241 case. The Dana 18 is a fine case but IIRC lots of gears are meshing even in 1:1 mode. This affects fuel economy.

Lots of different options out there.

[IXNAYXJ]

The general rule of thumb with several year old Disco's is take the blue book and divide by two. Then start deducting for all the idiot-lights that are on (most have SES, ABS, HDC, etc lights on, no matter how nice they are). They're great trucks when they're new, but nearly impossible to own after a few years.

Number one MOST IMPORTANT RULE of owning a LR/RR product is 'BUY A WARRANTY!'

Hopefully your LR3 will be better down the road than the Series I and II Discos and previous generation RR's (it should, it's all Ford/Jaguar stuff underneath).

-----Matt-----

[DrMoab]

You now know someone who is happy....actuallly fing overjoyed.

Maintanance? What maintanance, EVERYTHING for 4 years, 60K is covered...even oil changes. My wife calls ahead, takes it in, picks up her FREE loaner, and come back when it is done. Has it had problems? Sure...but much less than here WJ did, and a much better built vehicle. The service department treats her well, and does not "talk down" to her like the local Jeep dealer.

This one is an 2006 LR3....the next one for her will be a Range Rover, she already has it picked out. :D

Rev
I have heard stories of Chevy Vega's running forever too.

Your next one will be junk. :D

[Rev Den]

Hopefully your LR3 will be better down the road than the Series I and II Discos and previous generation RR's (it should, it's all Ford/Jaguar stuff underneath).

-----Matt-----

Totally different vehicle. I drove a new 2004, it was still on the lot, after I drove the LR3. The 2 are not even in the same class, the Disco is more of a bare bones offroader, the LR3 is just a work of art.

I have heard stories of Chevy Vega's running forever too.

Your next one will be junk. :D

Only if they get bought by DC. Then it would be no better than a Dodge truck. :D

Rev

[IXNAYXJ]

Totally different vehicle. I drove a new 2004, it was still on the lot, after I drove the LR3. The 2 are not even in the same class, the Disco is more of a bare bones offroader, the LR3 is just a work of art.Yeah, but they had solid axles.... :D

I love them, even if they are piles of shit:

http://www.truckworld.com/Travel-Adventure/98-cameltrophy/training/colo1.jpg

-----Matt-----

[DrMoab]

I love them, even if they are piles of shit:
The only reason they are still in business is attitudes like that.

If people actually looked at their track record they would have been history long ago.

[Rev Den]

I agree.....Land Rover was, what Jeep is now.

Rev

[DrMoab]

I agree.....Land Rover was, what Jeep is now.

Rev
Thats why none of us own new jeeps...eh?

[Roxtar]

I've been very happy with my Disco II.
The ones were problematic but the twos, with the BMW engines, supposedly cleared a lot of that up.
I've got no complaints.
I've heard that a lot of problems were the bells n whistles; sunroof problems, seat heaters, and the like.
I avoided a lot of that by buying a (somewhat) bare bones one.

[UNCC_99XJ]

My old man used to work at the Land Rover dealership in town as a mechanic about 7-8 years ago and swore up and down about Land Rovers.....swore up and down in a bad way that is.

[IXNAYXJ]

The ones were problematic but the twos, with the BMW engines, supposedly cleared a lot of that up.The Series II had a revised version of the old Rover 3.9 V-8 that was in the Series I. The BMW motor you're refering to is in the Range Rover (4.4 liter/286hp) only, and it has since been replaced with a Jaguar unit.

The motor in your Series II is actually an aluminum Buick 215 V-8 from the mid '50s...which might explain why it only produces 188 hp. :D

The Series IIs are lots better, and forgegoing on the fancy options surely helps, but be prepared for some expensive repairs in your future...or buy a warranty!

-----Matt-----

[OT]

My old store manager took a Range Rover on a test drive, about a month ago, and it died on him and wouldn't start back up.
So, he calls us up, at the shop, and has someone come pick him up and take him back to the dealership to pick up his truck.
When he shows up in a different truck than he left in, the salesman asked where the RR was.
HardCore told him it was at Sonic and that he needed to go get it before they have it towed away......
Needless to say, he won't be shopping at the Union Jack, anymore.......

[Ben H]

Has anyone done any research on swapping rover axles into xjs? Any links.

[Root Moose]

Has anyone done any research on swapping rover axles into xjs? Any links.

Why would you want to do that? I've never run them but I understand they are "junk". They are offset to the passenger side both front and rear too.

Land Cruiser axles, now that might be worth researching. Particularly the FJ80 stuff with the electric lockers. IIRC they are offset at both ends too but the aftermarket can make them any configuration you like.

[OT]

Why would you want to do that? I've never run them but I understand they are "junk". They are offset to the passenger side both front and rear too.

Land Cruiser axles, now that might be worth researching. Particularly the FJ80 stuff with the electric lockers. IIRC they are offset at both ends too but the aftermarket can make them any configuration you like.
AND the rear is full float.

[Ben H]

Why would you want to do that? I've never run them but I understand they are "junk". They are offset to the passenger side both front and rear too.

Land Cruiser axles, now that might be worth researching. Particularly the FJ80 stuff with the electric lockers. IIRC they are offset at both ends too but the aftermarket can make them any configuration you like.


just wondering. We drive 2 old safari's and have one for parts, but I never really gave it a thought for swapping. Thanks for saving me the research effort.