Series coiler on a Disco

[49coe]

I think that I have been bitten by the hybrid bug. I'd like to put a coil chassis under my Series III 88 and I am exploring the cut down chassis route. It seems like everyone is using Range Rover chassis' for this. Is there any reason that I couldn't use a Discovery chassis instead? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks - Jeremy

[Leslie]

No reason, it's just that there were more Rangies out there earlier.... basically, the Rangie came out in '70 (came to the US in '87), whereas the Disco came out in '89 (came to the US in '94) so, Rangies have been used longer. The chassis main rails, etc., are mostly the same. You're still going to have to mount the outriggers for the bulkhead, add a rear crossmember and fab some other mounts for attaching the rear tub to the chassis, etc.

Go for it!

[Paul 84]

No reason it won't work. Use what you have.
Very satisfying work!
Please post photos when you get started.

[mongoswede]

here is my disco cut down to 88"

[Les Parker]

Good start to the project.
Be cautius when you mount the fuel tank, you may find that the RH rear radius arm fouls the 88" fuel tank.
I see you have removed the bulkhead and body out riggers ready to weld on the Series type.
Keep us posted.
Are you going 5 speed or Auto ?

[mongoswede]

Right now I am not planning on running the stock rover fuel tanks....these details are still evolving.

Good start to the project.
Be cautius when you mount the fuel tank, you may find that the RH rear radius arm fouls the 88" fuel tank.
I see you have removed the bulkhead and body out riggers ready to weld on the Series type.
Keep us posted.
Are you going 5 speed or Auto ?

[mrdoiron]

Right now I am not planning on running the stock rover fuel tanks....these details are still evolving.

Did this one ever see further progress to report on ?

[Pete]

I have also been thinking of this. Right now I have narrowed it down to either a 95 Disco or a 1986 Toyota SR5 pickup. Leaning towards the toyota but have not fully commited. Both have solid frames/running engines and running gear.

[mongoswede]

project is patiently waiting. need to finish the 73 and sell the 68.

[bfrieck]

I've been interested in putting my IIA 88" body on a Disco chassis. However, I haven't been able to figure out how to keep the wheels from sticking out beyond the Series body. From hub face to hub face (where the wheels contact the hubs), the Disco axles measure about 6-1/2" wider than the Series axles and it doesn't look there is room to fit everything even if I go the trouble/expense of narrowing the Disco axles. The Disco chassis measures exactly the same 31" as the Series Chassis, but the coils are mounted completely outboard of the frame rails. I've thought of three solutions to the problem (1) narrow the Disco axles, (2) widen the Series body (ughhh), and (3) use wheels with enough offset to take care of the moving the road wheels back under the Series wings. Option 3 will probably look a bit funny because wheels with enough offset would look a lot like the wheels that make dual wheels work. I suppose there's a fourth option in the form of some sort of wheel well flares but I've also thought those were a bit cheesy. Any ideas?

[ArlowCT]

3.25" in each side does not sound too bad. My stocks wheels may already be that far under! Any chance a nice set of fender flares is all you will need? The wider stance would be nice off road and things like narrowing axles (custom driveshafts are had to get if you break one) or widening the body sound real expensive and time consuming.

[airbornrover]

I've been interested in putting my IIA 88" body on a Disco chassis. However, I haven't been able to figure out how to keep the wheels from sticking out beyond the Series body. From hub face to hub face (where the wheels contact the hubs), the Disco axles measure about 6-1/2" wider than the Series axles and it doesn't look there is room to fit everything even if I go the trouble/expense of narrowing the Disco axles. The Disco chassis measures exactly the same 31" as the Series Chassis, but the coils are mounted completely outboard of the frame rails. I've thought of three solutions to the problem (1) narrow the Disco axles, (2) widen the Series body (ughhh), and (3) use wheels with enough offset to take care of the moving the road wheels back under the Series wings. Option 3 will probably look a bit funny because wheels with enough offset would look a lot like the wheels that make dual wheels work. I suppose there's a fourth option in the form of some sort of wheel well flares but I've also thought those were a bit cheesy. Any ideas?

I believe there are wheels with enough of an offset to allow you to keep the tires under the body. Think they are 1ton wheels or 130 wheels?

[HybridIIA]

I would also vote for keeping the axles the stock width. I have stock coiler axles under my 109 and I know it isn't for everyone, but I like the look of the wider stance. The obvious disadvantage though, is the truck gets dirty pretty easily. You can see a photo of my 109 near the bottom of this page... http://forums.roversnorth.com/showth...ght=#post43544

[scott]

mine will have an ambulance box on the back so no wheel stick out issue there, going with what the defenders call "eye brows" on the front wheel arches.

[woza]

Hey HybridIIA. I used Disco Di diffs on my 88 but i went the parabolic spring route and I picked up a lot of fiddly issues that had to be sorted to make it all work. I only have one problem right now. I have to get rid of the body lead towards the drivers side. I suspect it is to do with the hight/thickness of the spring perches on the diffs.
What I would like to know on your '62 109LWB did you use a designa chassis. Because that is an awesome looking truck
Hey Scott I did not want to hyjack your post just curious about the coiler chassis on his truck.Good luck with your project and keep us posted with photos be interesting to see how it works