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Subject: Diesel Landrovers (was: 1990 Land Rover)
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 08:42:41 +0200
From: Paul Nash <paul@tantrum.frcs.alt.za>

Ed English asked:

Walter C. Swain replied:
> I am also looking (for an older model, a 109) and learning, but even the 

I have an '83 109" 2 1/4 diesel.  It is noisy as all get-out, underpowered
as hell, smelly, and the nicest vehicle that I have ever owned.  I can 
cruise at around 80km/hr (it gets too noisy for me above that), but speeds
drop to 50 or so up long hills.  It will, however, run all day on the 
small of an oily rag, and has enough torque that I could pull a 15-ton
Nissan truck out of a river in Zambia recently.

Maintenance is easy -- just change fuel filters & oil regularly.  None
of this electrical nonsense, and no carburettors!

If you want speed, buy a V8.  If you want torque/fuel-efficiency, get
the diesel.

------------------------------

Date: 21 Sep 94 08:19:55 EDT
From: "R. Pierce Reid" <70004.4011@compuserve.com>
Subject: Prizes at Br. Invasion

Dixon:

Yup, you talked to him... if he mentioned the problems with the restorer, that's
him...

Actually, since my dad was judging (other cars, but sill a judge nonetheless) he
did not feel it would be appropraite to enter his car, even though it was
restored.  He withdrew it from judging but left it on the field for
interest/convenience.

I wondered what vehicles won, he did not get a chance to report on the winning
Land Rovers...

Cheers, 

R. P. Reid

------------------------------

Date: 21 Sep 94 08:24:08 EDT
From: "R. Pierce Reid" <70004.4011@compuserve.com>
Subject: Concours IS silly

Dixon:

I agree with you that the concours at Stowe "is" silly.  How the he** does
anyone judge a brand new Discovery against a genuine Woolf Barnato Bentley Blue
Label?  And Ray Gentile's  Gurney Nutting PII was held in high regards because
it was TRAILERED to the meet.  

Oh well, the town rakes in cash on the event and that's all they care about, I
guess.  Believe me, anyone who comes from the single-make clubs recognizes the
silly way Br. Inv is set up.

Cheers, 

R. P. Reid

------------------------------

Date: 21 Sep 94 09:33:23 EDT
From: "R. Pierce Reid" <70004.4011@compuserve.com>
Subject: Discovery really is unstoppable?

Interesting snippet...

According to the UK AP wire, some youths smashed a Land Rovery Discovery through
a wall at a Post office near Birmingham and sprayed the postal officers with a
chemical beloeved to be ammonia...  They escaped in another vehicle.

Geez, must have been that their issue of LRO was late or something?  This is
also a switch from the U.S. where the postal employees are usually the
assailants...

Cheers, 

R. P. Reid

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 07:51:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: "walter swain (wcswain@ucdavis.edu)" <wcswain@ucdavis.edu>
Subject: Re: Please send in letters to Senators re "Desert Protection Act"

Well said, Uncle Roger.  I'm glad sombody was able to get my reaction 
into a civil statement. I enjoy wandering around the backroads of nowhere 
as much as anybody.  Sometimes I can even get paid for it.  But I place 
an even higher value on knowing that those relatively "uncivilized" areas 
will be there for my kids' kids, even if they will not have the pleasure 
of driving the roads in a vintage Land Rover.  I, like most of us, have seen 
too much longterm damage done by those who seem to care more for their 
immediate gratification than for anything else.  
  
On Tue, 20 Sep 1994, Roger Sinasohn wrote:

> I *really* don't want to get into a political or even environmental 
> discussion, but I do want to mention that there is support for this bill 
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 40 lines)]
> sinasohn@crl.com                                that none but madmen know."
> Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
> San Francisco, California                               

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 09:49:19 -0600
From: hiner@mail.utexas.edu (Greg Hiner)
Subject: Mark's 4wd Adaptors

Some more product info from Oz -

Mark's 4wd Adaptors
22 Sinclair Rd.
Dandenong 3175
Victoria, Australia
tel (03) 793-3388
international tel (613) 793-3388 fax (613) 706-8148

UK distributor
Trans Atlantic 4x4 UK, Derbys, 44773-540752

US distributor
Advance Adaptors, CA, (805) 238-7000, fax 238-4201

This company makes a variety of conversion kits so that you can put
different engines or transmissions in your Land Rover. Options as of
9.21.94.

1. Engine conversion for Land Rovers series 1, 2, 3 with standard 4 speed
transmission. They supply kits to put Holden 6 cylinder or Rover 3.5 8
cylinder into a Land Rover. 8 cylinder kit requires major firewall
modification. Holden kit includes adaptor housing, flywheel/ring gear,
spigot/pilot bearing, clutch cover plate, chassis mounts, dowels. Rover 3.5
kit includes adaptor plate, spigot/pilot bearing, spigot adaptor.

2. Land Rover heavy duty 5 speed transmission. Modified Nissan truck
gearbox that bolts to transfer case. The rest of the drivetrain remains
stock. However the gearbox is 4 inches longer so you will have to move the
engine forward. Shift lever remains in the same place. Kit consists of
lever boot, linkages, reconditioned trans, breather hose, gear lever and
knob, gasket set, instructions. Also a 4 speed transmission is offered. In
conjunction with these transmissions they supply the following bellhousing
kits to connect various engines to these gearboxes: Holden 6 cylinder; Ford
6 Cylinder, Isuzu Diesel 2.8 & 3.9 liter; Rover V8. They do not have a kit
to attach the standard 2.25 liter Land Rover engine to these transmissions
though they say they will have one later this year. Gear ratios for 5
speed: 1st 5.03; 2nd 2.82; 3rd 1.65; 4th 1-1; 5th 0.76 (24% overdrive).

3. They also have a transfer case adaptor so you can attach a Ford Top
Loader 4 speed in conjunction with a Ford engine to Land Rover transfer
case.

4. They supply a kit so you can attach a Ford C4 or C10 auto transmission
to a Land Rover Transfer Case.

5. Range Rover engine conversions for Rovers with 4 and 5 speed
transmissions. Kits for Chevy V8, Oldsmobile V8 diesel, and Leyland 4.4
liter petrol.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 09:34:22 MST
From: DEBROWN@SRP.GOV
Subject: Splitfire plugs.

FROM:  David Brown                          Internet: debrown@srp.gov
       Computer Graphics Specialist
       AM/FM - PAB204 X-3544 - Pager:6486 External (602)275-2508 #6486
SUBJECT: Splitfire plugs.
I've tried the Splitfire plugs on a 6 cylinder Honda Goldwing
motorcycle, and they were a TOTAL waste of $36. No difference what so
ever. My mechanic said he could have saved me the $ if I'd asked him
(NOW he tells me!) and to add insult to injury, replaced them with
Autolite, which also made no difference. I've read many other posts from
people on another "offroad" mailing list and this seems to be the
consensus. Save your $, and if you absolutely NEED to spend $24 buy
something "useful" like a steering wheel cover, or seat cover, or
replacement antenna, or cup holders, or.....

Hey! Maybe you could get some synthetic oil.

cheers....

   #=====#              "Never doubt that a small group of individuals
   |___|__\___           can change the world... indeed, it's the only
   |   |   |  |          thing that ever has."
"  "`O'""""`O'"                                          -Margret Mead

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 10:35:57 -0600
From: "Peter C. Parsons" <pparsons@ppsol.com>
Subject: Defender 90 info request

Land Rover Fanatics -

by way of intro-
	It's great to see a group of people so crazed over automobiles
with personality.  And to have a support group that understands!!  I have
been adicted to to a '69 Jeep Commando for many years, despite it being 
a love-hate relationship.  The only support group interaction I have had
is waving to anyone else that was lucky enough to get their Commando running
at the same time I have.... (and once discussing the Commando on "Car talk", 
and concluding that it could 'sense fear' - like a doberman)

	So despite being a 'newbie' to Land Rovers, I do understand the devotion
to the breed.  Anyway, I am now interested in purchasing a Defender 90 (I don't
have the time/energy/support of Spouse to get into another old vehicle, but
I really like the Land Rover mystique).  I have listened in for a bit on the
LRO digest, and checked the FAQ's, but have not seen anything substantial about
the newer Defenders being sold in the U.S. 

	I would greatly appreciate hearing from people who have purchased a
new Defender 90 in the past year or so.  How is it going? What to look for?
How much did you pay?  How is it equiped?  What equipment is recommended? How
is servicing?  ANy info I can get would be great.  I am wondering how the 
heaters are, and how they behave in fairly deep snow (1 to 2 feet is sometimes
common up the four-wheel-drive road to my house).  

	Thanks again, and happy treking. 

Peter C. Parsons,

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinpoint Solutions, Inc			phone:  (303)444-7257
523 Arkansas Mtn Rd.			fax:    (303)444-4966 (NEW fax Number)
Boulder, CO  80302			email:   pparsons@ppsol.com

p.s. I have a friend that purchased a LR at the factory in about 1960, and 
drove it all over North Africa.  It was then shipped to the states, and has
been in 'restoration' for about 25 years.  I am bugging him to write up
his adventures, and post them here....
  

------------------------------

From: "Russell G. Dushin" <dushinrg@pr.cyanamid.com>
Subject: Re: Traction control?
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 12:42:18 EDT

snip
> of the traction control system currently on the Range Rover LWB. This system,
> rather than using diff locks etc, instead uses the ABS system in a reverse mode
> to apply braking to the wheel that it senses is loosing traction. Kinda unique.

This is the same approach that BMW has used for the past few years....since
the early 90's at least.

ya see, there may just be some advantages to BMW ownership.

rd/nige

------------------------------

Subject: ****O I L SEALS****
From: dixon@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca (dixon kenner)
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 09:47:14 -0500

/G=Hui/S=Ben/OU2=IL02M/OU=ILBH/P=MOT/A=MOT/C=US/@email.mot.com writes:

> i need to know if anyone amongst us have the replacement part number for a 
> national oil seal for the rear hubs the one between the drive shaft and hub( 
none

        You mean the inner seal that goes in the hub assembly and fits
        against the race/distance piece on the spindle next to the backing
        plate I presume.

        The seal size is 2.312 x 3.350 x .375 and carries the National
        number 410694.  The Land Rover part number is RTC3510.  Make sure
        you get the double lipped seal and not the single or triple lipped
        seal.  The first will leak right away, the second will leak after
        self destructing.  410694 goes for all four hubs, not just the rear.

        Rgds,

        Dixon

--
dixon kenner, dixon@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca
FourFold Symmetry,            |    Ottawa Valley Land Rovers
Nepean, Ontario, Canada       |    1016 Normandy Crescent, Nepean
(OVLR's InterNet site)        |    Ontario, Canada, K2C 0L4

------------------------------

From: ccray@lulu.cc.missouri.edu
Subject: chevy engine conversions
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 13:43:10 -0500 (CDT)

Chevy engine conversion information from Scotties. (610-686-2255)
-- KIT:  cast aluminum adapter and pilot bushing (plus a
   modest conversion guide). $475
   o  the adapter fits between the LR bellhousing and the
      chevy block.
   o  the bushing goes between the flywheel on the first
      motion shaft of the transmission.
   o  the conversion guide covers misc stuff including
      alternator hookup.
-- Rover engine mounts can be used.  After the engine
   is lowered into position, you must rig/weld up some
   brackets that bolt to the block and fit the mounting
   bolt.
-- Rover clutch, pressure plate and flywheel is used.  The
   flywheel apparently bolts on (forgot to ask).
-- Can use 153CID 4cyl, 250CID 6cyl
   or v6 or v8 with same adapter.  The 4 cylinder is
   the simplest (at least for an 88) `cause no bodywork
   and things like exhaust pipe, linkages, radiator fan 
   just fit.
-- A "130 horse marine" version of the 4cyl is
   desirable cause it has extra horsepower.
   Would need a car exhaust manifold, however.
-- There is a marine alternater that has a built
   in regulator so that only one wire is needed
   Makes generator to alternator conversion simple.
-- Claims like:
   o  more power
   o  fewer oil leaks
   o  hydraulic lifters
   o  cheaper parts.
-- Can easily convert back if stock is desired.

Can any rover netters expand on this and give your
experiences and opinions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Harder                 Columbia, Missouri   314-882-2000
 
         "...you are what you drive..."
 
- 61 SIIa 88 (LULU, aka Experimental)  - 66 SIIa 88 (rebuild project)
- 69 SIIa 88 (parts)                   - 87 RR      (wife's)
- 80 MGB                               - xx
---------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 15:12:38 -0400
From: William Caloccia <caloccia@sw.stratus.com>

I was wondering is there was any interest in splitting up the mailing list
along the lines of:

1. LandRover/Defender
2. RangeRover
3. Disco

Well, if you did that then it would more or less be an attitude thing.

If you look at from the point of view of the marque, what you ought to be
doing with your rover, or even mechanically [most of the drivetrain bits
are identical, or nearly so, between the above choices], then it doesn't
make a whole lot of sense to split it up.  But you should feel free to create
the 101FC-owners, or the SeriesI-owners, the net-slugs or the rangy-registry
list. 

All I ask is that you just go off and do it without cluttering up this
list with more noise. 

 -Bill

------------------------------

Subject: Opinions on the 2.6 6cyl ? 
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 16:11:47 -0400
From: William Caloccia <caloccia@sw.stratus.com>

Well, I've got three weeks until my company car goes back, and that means
three weeks to find a Rover.

For those of you who are still days away from it, in the 
October LRO there are a few vehicles of interest to me, so this w/e I've
scheduled appointments from York to Windsor to look at some of the
offerings.

I was primary looking to get a LHD 109", but most of what is out there in 
my price range would be ex-MOD, which is all right, but the best I'll do
is a soft top -- if I can find one (and most of those big advertisements in
LRO-im LIE about what they have in stock.)

So I've pretty much given up on the concept and am now considering
RHD motors - the selection gets a lot bigger and I've got a slim chance
of finding a Safari in my price range or something else that would be 
all-right.
     ------------------------------------------------------------ 
One is an '80  Safari with the 2.6 - it only got 40,000mi on it and from
the picture and owner, would seem to be a tidy motor.  It's got FWH and O/D
so the few extra horses from the 2.6 can go to some use on the m'way.
This one is at the very top of my price range. (#3000 asking)

I was talking to another fellow who said that the 2.6 was smooth enough, and
would pull on the road just fine, and was reliable even, but he still
wouldn't touch one with a barge-pole.  In part 'cause it is a bit thirstier
than the 4-pot and if you're going to use that much gas you might as well
go for the V-8 - and get the power to boot.

He also mentioned that the 2.6 in the US spec was considered underpowered so
they took the 3.0L head (all of the above from rover cars) and threw it on
for NADA, with some improvement in power.

Any 2.6L owners or former owners, etc.  have any comments on the engine ?
     ------------------------------------------------------------ 
Next stop this w/e will be to check out an L-reg rangie, (not in LRO) which
from a couple reports, is supposed to be a very well cared for example of
the breed, and would rank as a tidy motor, especially of age.  #1500
     ------------------------------------------------------------ 
Then I've got another three appts lined up for a couple 88"s and another 109"
which will take me back though lancs to the home counties on Sunday...

-B

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 19:46:27 -0700
From: Roger Sinasohn <sinasohn@crl.com>
Subject: Re: Nige

> Maybe Nige isn't such a bad "babe magnet" afterall...

My brother, the lifeguard/perpetual student, borrowed my 88" for a while 
last spring while he was working on his '74 camaro mustle car.  When he 
returned it to me, he told me he was thinking of selling the camaro and 
buying a rover, because it was much better for getting babes!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uncle Roger                         "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn@crl.com                                that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California                               

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 19:46:27 -0700
From: Roger Sinasohn <sinasohn@crl.com>
Subject: Re: Nige

> Maybe Nige isn't such a bad "babe magnet" afterall...

My brother, the lifeguard/perpetual student, borrowed my 88" for a while 
last spring while he was working on his '74 camaro mustle car.  When he 
returned it to me, he told me he was thinking of selling the camaro and 
buying a rover, because it was much better for getting babes!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uncle Roger                         "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn@crl.com                                that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California                               

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 20:55:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: James B Russell <jrussell@netcom.com>
Subject: Portland PS

Just received my thank you note for participation in the Portland meet 
from Doug Shipman and Tony Starbird which contains the final count...

"There were 85 registered Rovers on the field, 5 in the parking lot and 5 
left in the camping area - 95 total.  Even more arrived Sunday for the 
swap meet."

Alas, it didn't give a breakdown as to how many were Land-Rovers, how 
many Range Rovers, etc.  The vast majority were Land-Rovers, though.

I had a great time (I'm planning on going again next year) and after a
couple of weeks vacation in Seattle, I finally made it back down to the
San Francisco bay area late Sunday night. 

The Rover loved being "home" in Seattle.  I exchanged the steering relay,
got tires, adjusted door latches, tinkered a lot, and picked up a few of
the parts I still have up there. 

Took about seventeen hours to get back down counting fuel stops and many
rest stops.  I got a late start Saturday evening and only made it as far
as Albany (Oregon) before I had to stop for a few hours sleep curled up in
the front seat.  That meant for a long day of driving on Sunday.  As much
as I love it, a 1966 IIA 88 really isn't made for freeway travel.  Too,
though I swore I would never drive I-5 through southern Oregon and
northern California during the day in summer, I did and reaffirmed my
pledge not to again.  I've never seen the temperature hover so high for so
long and while it never got to the danger point, clearly the engine was
working very hard pushing us up the mountain grades in a hot environment. 

Overall the Rover did well with no serious problems.  The front end wheel 
alignment is really off and I scrubbed off who knows how many thousands 
of miles from the new tires.  And the joint between the exhaust manifold 
and front pipe is leaking like crazy.  But, other than that, everything 
stuck together pretty well.

It was great to see so many very different Land-Rovers and meet all the
nice folks who love/hate/tolerate these vehicles/beasts and looking 
forward to doing it again next year. 

                  Jim Russell   ====   jrussell@netcom.com
                         (Seattle -- San Francisco)            

------------------------------

  END OF LAND ROVER OWNER DIGEST 

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