"New" '77 Series III

[coltsphan]

Hey all. I just got my first Land Rover. A '77 Series III 109" 2.6L. She has a solid frame and is in pretty good shape. Getting a new head gasket this weekend. What are the things I should go ahead and change out to make it as reliable as possible? What about a disc brake conversion? Seat belts? I have so many questions. Looking forward to being hooked on my Land Rover.

Also, how do I add pics??

Thanks!!!

[TSR53]

Welcome to the Rovers North forum. Here is how you post photos.

http://www.roversnorth.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2895

[greenmeanie]

Hey all. I just got my first Land Rover. A '77 Series III 109" 2.6L. She has a solid frame and is in pretty good shape. Getting a new head gasket this weekend. What are the things I should go ahead and change out to make it as reliable as possible? What about a disc brake conversion? Seat belts? I have so many questions. Looking forward to being hooked on my Land Rover.

Also, how do I add pics??

Thanks!!!

Buy the manual and perform a major service on all systems to ensure they are up to snuff. On a 2.6L this especially means setting the valves. Drive it to get used to the truck before you open your wallet. You'll quickly determine what needs work and what are just quirks of a 30+ year old truck.

Seat belts are an obvious upgrade requirement. I also like to swap in high back seats as I have family experience of the result of a rear end shunt. What is now a persistent debilitating injury would have been deadly in standard series seats.

Post in the series technical section and you'll get way more answers.

[graniterover]

What are the things I should go ahead and change out to make it as reliable as possible?

You can start with changing out the 2.6.

[msggunny]

Hey all. I just got my first Land Rover. A '77 Series III 109" 2.6L. She has a solid frame and is in pretty good shape. Getting a new head gasket this weekend. What are the things I should go ahead and change out to make it as reliable as possible? What about a disc brake conversion? Seat belts? I have so many questions. Looking forward to being hooked on my Land Rover.

Also, how do I add pics??

Thanks!!!

Find the search button at the top of the forum. Plug in what you are looking for as far as your questions above.

This place has tons of knowledge but try searching for answers before asking, believe me your not the first to ask those!

Good luck and have fun.

O, and get rid of the 6cyl.

[coltsphan]

OK. Change the 2.6 to what? i saw a thread with alink to site that does 4cyl GM motors. Any other suggestions?

[msggunny]

OK. Change the 2.6 to what? i saw a thread with alink to site that does 4cyl GM motors. Any other suggestions?

Info for ya: http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/#engine

[Wander]

The 6 cyl bulkhead will allow some more engine swap options if that is the way you go. The is a guy that did Mercedes diesel swaps in an 88 and a 109 and he used the 6 bulkhead to make for a better fit. He also changed out a ton of other stuff but that's him.

Is your's LHD or RHD? I recently saw a 3.9 V8 swap in a IIa 109 that looked very nice-and sounded mean. It was much easier as a RHD but even swapping LHD for RHD that isn't that difficult.
The site posted above is full of great info related to Series Rovers.

[coltsphan]

Pics

Here are some pics of the old girl.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4622646947/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4622645681/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4623249484/

[yank]

The photo link does not work.

[coltsphan]

Fixed

I fixed the pics. Sorry.

[mongoswede]

Here are some pics of the old girl.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4622646947/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4622645681/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50441608@N08/4623249484/

Roof rack or bed spring?

[Cutter]

nice rig, I like the performance exhaust/muffler! welcome to roverdom! I saw your posts in the technical forums, glad you sorted out the ignition. Despite what people seem to think of it, I quite like the 2.6 engine, its got the extra juice that the 2.25 is lacking, esp when paired with the high output transfer box or overdrive. It is hard to get parts but not impossible. There are certainly little quirks to the engine that you will slowly come to learn. Definitely get the green bible, the haynes will be worthless for the 2.6 but for general stuff is fine.

[coltsphan]

Yea I know the exhaust is totally custom! Having a new exhaust this week.