Interesting Spin on a Series Rover

[LaneRover]

No it means that the "long nose" is goofy looking and its body modifications serve no useful purpose.

Agreed.

Now if they had used an old straight 8 or the Merlin from a WWII fighter....

But they didn't. Maybe the extra space in front of the engine is used for storage of all the stuff that you usually keep in the back of your Rover in case of breakdown

[thixon]

I'm certainly don't fall into the "has to be original category."

But I have to ask this question. Am I missing something? What's cool about this? I'd feel like an even bigger dork than I already am if I rolled up to a rover gathering in one of those things (forget about trying to explain it to someone on the street asking questions). You'd be better off buying an auburn boat tail kit, and making that into a 4x4.

I just don't get it. I'm a little thick, so someone explain this to me so I won't feel like such a doofus.

Hey Lanerover, it always makes me feel better when I see your posts. I have one truck that is'nt running. When I see that you have four your're working on, it kinda makes me feel less in a hurry to finish mine. Thanks.

[TeriAnn]

Considering the relatively high low ratio in the rover transfer case I dont agree. Low ratios give fine control on technical terrain, (even relatively tame stuff) Which is very nice. Even with 4.7 gears and the ford NP435 you only have 74:1 with the c suff on t-case. Which is a nice low range, but for really fine control or rock crawling, double that would be ideal. For comparision the popular "Marlin ultimate crawler" for toyotas gives a 2.28:1 plus a 4.70 in the transfer cases. With other wise stock gearing that gives a 149:1 low-low. The lower the ratio the finer the control. There is a point at which additional lower gearing is no longer useful, but that point is far lower than 73:1.

Stock C suffix low range first is 40.7:1 which is way too high for a lot of off road driving that I do. Its OK for easy to somewhat moderate off road trail driving and lot of folks seem happy with it as the low ratio. I hesitate to suggest a low range first gear ratio to someone without knowing where they like to drive.

You mention that 74:1 is a useful gear & even twice that would be better. My take is that this kind of gearing is only useful for hard core rock crawling and requires a non stock throttle linkage to a foot pedal. My low range first is 70:1 and I could not keep my foot steady enough to use that gear off road until I went with semi solid engine mounts and cable linkage.

I normally don't do gonzo rock crawling so for most off road travel I do, low range first doesn't get used. My second gear low range is 34.14:1 which is way too high for most of the technical work I tend to do. For the kinds of technical driving I enjoy doing, a gear around 55:1 would be about perfect. A close ratio T-18 would give a 47.1:1 low range first and a close ratio NP435 would have a low range first of 55:1 low range first with C suffix transfer case & 4.7:1 R&P.

For the kinds of off road driving I prefer to do a close ratio NP435 at 55:1 is about perfect. I wish I had known about the NP435 back in 1999 when my conversion was done. But for people who do highly technical rock crawling I agree the Granny first gear ratio as better. But just remember that ratio step between granny first and second gear is a dozy.

No it means that the "long nose" is goofy looking and its body modifications serve no useful purpose.

To me the thread topic appears to be more like a cartoonists rendering of a 1948 Willys Jeepster look alike

[thixon]

To me the thread topic appears to be more like a cartoonists rendering of a 1948 Willys Jeepster look alike

X2

There's

[leafsprung]

My take is that this kind of gearing is only useful for hard core rock crawling

Lower gears are VERY useful any technical trail with steep accents or decents, negotiating a tight trail with lots of trees, off camber sections, icy sections where you are trying not to slip a wheel etc. Low gears allow fine control of your speed. Definately not strictly for "gonzo rock crawling"

and requires a non stock throttle linkage to a foot pedal. My low range first is 70:1 and I could not keep my foot steady enough to use that gear off road until I went with semi solid engine mounts and cable linkage.

When the gears are lower the variations in throttle change your speed less. Besides if you are creeping along you dont need throttle . . .unless your gears are high enough that your engine wont pull them at idle. With 116:1 and a mechanical rod linkage, I do not have the issues you are experiencing. If you had a doubler on your t-case you would use it more than you think.