SmegHead

Thinking of cutting alpine windows in my '83 SIII using a paper template here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alpine-Window-Paper-Template-for-Land-Rover-Defender/272628202064 I guess this is a template for the hole that needs to be cut, but are there any diagrams for where the window should be positioned relative to the rear wall & how far up from the roof rain gutter..? Also, I gather from various LR forums that it's key to get genuine seals that bend, as otherwise they won't fill out the curves --> water leaks. I found these seals on ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-Alpine-Window-Glazing-Rubber-Seal-Filler-4mm-DBF500030-40/172419170192 ... but have no idea about how supple they are. Can anyone confirm this will work, or recommend an alternative..? Cheers!

I will definitely wait for the overdrive before undertaking open-heart surgery. So if I understand correctly, you're suggesting that the loss of low-end grunt caused by changing from 4.7:1 to 4.1:1 diffs could be counterbalanced by reducing the low-end gearing. I have a (vague) hunch that this would mean that the gear-spacing would increase across the rev range. That sounds like a good solution - thanks Snagger! (I am still curious/hopeful that the 4.37:1 diffs would be a small enough change that the SII LR gear correction wouldn't be needed...)

Hi List. Long time lurker here. I have just got hold of a 1983 SWB Series III petrol 2.25 which I plan to use as a daily drive, and for occasional touring, holidays & greenlaning. I see that it is common to put in Range-Rover diffs as it makes motorway driving easier, but that this destroys the low-range 1st gear creep. The vehicle sits on 32" tyres, and is having an overdrive & some engine power upgrades, but reading the Ashcroft ratio calculator, I see that 70 mph will still mean ~3200 rpm, which on a long journey will still be deafening ... So, rather than putting in 3.54:1 RR diffs, I was thinking of changing to 4.37:1 or even 4.1:1 (Ashcroft supply both) . What do you think? Is low range 1st usable with 4.1:1 diffs? Will a change from 4.7:1 to 4.37:1 even be noticeable..? The crown-wheel & pinions supplied by Ashcroft have fewer teeth than the 4.7:1 set - but is it correct that the increased noise from these will be more than offset by the reduced engine revs ...? Cheers!