Anyone useing a Hi-Ratio Transfer Box?

[greenmeanie]

65-75 in a Series is dangerous. Just stay off those roads, or get an Amish red triangle and stick in on the back when you need to go on the interstate.

Why do you think 65mph in a series is dangerous? A well set up and maintained truck should do this pretty easily although it will be loud. Its no modern vehicle but accepting the age of the design and driving accordingly it should be no problem.

[TeriAnn]

65-75 in a Series is dangerous.

I think a qualifier should be inserted here.

A Series truck with very good condition steering, suspension, frame in spec, wheels in balance and professional front end alignment to within factory specs is very stable at 75. Cruised there and the truck felt very stable. Really no different than the feel of the truck at 55 MPH. But without all the above qualifiers 65-75 MPH can be a scary dangerous region. I would guess it would be almost like being in a sub just short of crush depth. You could feel the truck getting ready to disintegrate and become a collection of tumbling parts. At least that's what I thought before getting my front end aligned to within factory specs.

With a V8 & taller high range gearing I often find myself at 70+ just drifting with the flow of freeway traffic. My truck is stable enough that I don't notice the slow creep from keeping up with freeway traffic. But I'm a fanatic about steering, alignment and tyre balance. I'm also a fanatic about not out driving your brakes. So with greater speed comes greater spacing between vehicles. Way more so if you still have drum front brakes (My truck has discs).

In stock form a Series truck was designed to be a back country truck and does a very good job of being just that. Defenders were designed to be back country trucks to could venture into the big city on modern highways. If you want your Series truck to be able to comfortably visit its SUV relatives (Discos & RRs) in the big city its steering should be in top condition and the Series rig should become a little more Defender like.

But yes if your truck is out of factory spec, 65+ can be a very scary dangerous place to be.

[TedW]

I think a qualifier should be inserted here.

A Series truck with very good condition steering, suspension, frame in spec, wheels in balance and professional front end alignment to within factory specs is very stable at 75.

I agree with TeriAnn. My truck is very stable (eerily so) at 65, which is as fast as I dare to go. What scares me the most at that speed is the prospect if attempting an evasive maneuver. I fear that I would flip the truck. So I keep my wits about me and hope I don't have to hit anything, because a swerve would probably be very dangerous (to me).

[Regan]

Stable at 65 MPH

I seriously believe I will NOT be going north of 65 MPH on the freeway. I'll have a kayak on top and fairly loaded as well with fishing gear. Most of my time will be going to/from fishing site, etc. and city.

With that said, I do look to make future trips, going over 3 years, from tip of NA to tip of SA. This will be done in legs, so to speak, leaving the 88 in countries, stored ( I work and have limited vacation time). This will take place beginning in 2010 or 2011. This is the reason for asking for greater or more comfortable speed, as some highway distances will be needed. The 88 is stock now, with a few mods. I am willing to add, within reason, what is needed for cross continent trips. Heck, gas, oil, grease gun and a tool box should get me 1/2 way there!

Has anyone accomplished this in an older L.R.?
Regan

I agree with TeriAnn. My truck is very stable (eerily so) at 65, which is as fast as I dare to go. What scares me the most at that speed is the prospect if attempting an evasive maneuver. I fear that I would flip the truck. So I keep my wits about me and hope I don't have to hit anything, because a swerve would probably be very dangerous (to me).

[thixon]

Has anyone accomplished this in an older L.R.?
Regan

My first 88 was a daily driver for 7 years or so. I went everywhere in it, including all the way up the east coast.

[thixon]

Has anyone accomplished this in an older L.R.?
Regan

My first 88 was a daily driver for 7 years or so. I went everywhere in it, including all the way up the east coast. on short, regional trips (under 200 miles) I barely took any tools. Usually just a small basic kit, set of points, etc. If you keep 'em maintained, they do great.

I don't recall that truck ever stranding me. Wish I'd never sold it. Twice I drove home with severe damage. Once on a broken frame, and again with a badly blown head gasket.

[ArlowCT]

We did 15,000 miles in South America over two months in a 1961 109" and the only problem we had was a faulty fuel pump at high altitude! The truck was gone though with a fine tooth comb during the year or so before the trip so everything was in great shape to begin with. Speeds ranged from 20mph in 2ed overdrive (through the Andes at 14,000ft) to full days cruising at 75mph in the flatland's of Argentina.


I agree with TeriAnn, if a truck is set up right and in good condition then you should have no problem with highway speeds. My 88" just loves to cruise at that speed, it's like it settles into the groove and rather than fighting it's self everything harmonizes and she just purrs along.

One quick easy thing to check is making sure you have full throttle at the carb with the peddle to the floor. Have someone press the gas peddle to the floor a few times while you watch the arm on the carb go up and down. Have them hold it to the floor and try to push the arm on the carb further down. If it goes down you are not getting full throttle. To get more peddle you can loosen the bolt on the peddle it's self and rotate it up on the shaft. You can also play with the (+or-) 3 rods, 4 arms, a few springs, and some bits that never seem to work right that Land Rover felt was necessary just to open the carb

[daveb]

Regularly had the 109 up above 80 with the 3 liter and hi ratio. Drove like a dream. Guess it is not for everybody. Long wheelbase helps.

People who asked how fast it would go I would tell them "H". Look at an early IIa speedo if you don't get it.

I seriously believe I will NOT be going north of 65 MPH on the freeway.

[brucejohn]

Is this the bargain it appears to be straight from Roverdrive?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LAND-ROVER-SERIES-ROVERDRIVE-NEW-BARGAIN-PRICED_W0QQitemZ250528039419QQihZ015QQcategoryZ10076QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[stomper]

Just to throw another option out there, If you don't like overdrives, and want a higher top end, without losing the low end gearing, why not consider this option.

http://www.eastcoastrover.com/5speed.html

[TeriAnn]

Just to throw another option out there, If you don't like overdrives, and want a higher top end, without losing the low end gearing, why not consider this option.
http://www.eastcoastrover.com/5speed.html

Looks like East Coast Rovers is selling the Ashcroft Series 5 speed adapter kit.

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/part_66.html

A very costly option if you don't have a nice condition R380 sitting around.

[daveb]

pretty sure they take a ltt77 too, which would be the cheaper way about it. the short bellhousing r380s disappeared altogether and now ashcroft is having parts made and building them on their own. I think they are around L900 just for the gearbox and that doesn't include a shift lever or any of the other bits you might need.

Looks like East Coast Rovers is selling the Ashcroft Series 5 speed adapter kit.

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/part_66.html

A very costly option if you don't have a nice condition R380 sitting around.

[BellaCoola]

This summer I drove 6500kms (4038miles) in 18 days up to the Canadian North in a stock 2.25 5mb petrol 1985 109.

Another of the trucks was also a 109 with a Roverdrive. If I was to do this again I would more than likely throw one of Rays Roverdrives on the truck.

The Highway speeds are decent 85-95KMH/55-65mph (it's happy zone), but the hills are the killer.

I have taken the truck up to 127kmh/78mph (GPS confirmed) but was not at all comfortable driving a 25 year old truck that fast...plus the engine was howling ...and the road was flat.

I agree with Terri-Ann that a overdrive is a great addition to a series rig.

My two cents.

www.freewebs.com/83s3109

[brucejohn]

Is this the bargain it appears to be straight from Roverdrive?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LAND-...QQcmdZViewItem

This unit is straight from the folks at Rovergear. Here is Ray's reply to a few questions I had:

The lever throw is the main difference but you won't notice it if you have not experienced the newer unit. Inside about 90% of the components are identical. My picture shows the newer black knob yours will be the classic green one. The other comment you may have seen on web discussions is rattles in the older levers but yours will be updated so no worries there. Ray
-tallgypsy

I did go ahead and plunk down the money, it ships out Monday. We'll see how a 109 2.25 petrol handles a roverdrive.

- tallgypsy

[gudjeon]

On the subject of the Roverdrive, I have always wondered what was done with the cross shaft for the park brake for LHD vehicle? I was always led to believe that the unit would be in the way of this?