Having Defender fever and living in the USA are not good bedmates. I used to have dreams of making the ultimate Rover, looked into grey market options, and still couldn't sleep at night. After hours and hours pouring over the boards, I've realized what I want and what I can afford.
I want a Series III 109"
I will be restoring (or paying for someone to restore) a Series III. Its funny how I came to this conclusion. I drive mostly on the road, with lots of interstate driving (80mph), so I didn't consider the SIII - with its 2.25L 4banger - as an option for my daily driver. Since I don't have a garage full of tools, I can't feasibly build one from the ground up. I don't have the money for something from the big boys like ECR... you see where I am going with this. But then the pages on the engine swaps started popping up. Perkins replacements for the Series trucks. Mods and tweaks. Overdrive gears. If a Series truck had a little more oomph, I might go for that! No illegal imports, no DOT restrictions. Perfect. Researching engines, I've looked at everything Petrol (from the 2.25L to the 5.2L) and Diesel (200TDI, 300TDI) and even other brands (GM 6.2L, Chevy 302 V6, etc.) and I've weighed my options.
I want the Rover 3.9L V8 EFI mated to a R380 5-speed. Just under 200hp and over 200ft-lbs of torque. I believe it can drive on the highway now, don't you?
The body style... I love everything Rover, but there are things on a Series truck that I dislike cosmetically. 1) Recessed breakfast. 2) Split windscreen. 3) No roll down windows! 4)Lack of fender flares of any type. Yes, these things are all matter of opinion, but these things matter to me. The simple solution, I found through reading, was to bolt up Defender parts! Now, I can handle some nut-and-bolt work. All I need are the wings, bonnet, and breakfast (and their odds and sods) to make this Series truck sneer like all those 110's I've envied. Check. Next, the windscreen. After looking up details, the Defender windscreen fits just fine. It can't get any easier! Third are those windows, but with the way that most doors rust, I can just... swap on Defender 1-piece doors and adjust the door-catch to fit. Last, the fender flares. Such an easy addition and can be added in a few hours. This is starting to make me excited. But. What about the ROT and the RUST? Who wants leaf springs? Ah... the answer is in coilover Series chassis. There are many threads dedicated to this, and it definitely has helped. Brakes? Disc brake conversion, anybody? If I'm feeling really bold, there are even power-steering conversions.
What about that spartan interior? Since I love bare bones things, it is fitting. Simple. Functional. Minimalist. The few problems I ran into, such as where to mount the hi-fi and speakers, are easily solved with Defender trim pieces. A/C? Sourced from Defender parts. Alpine windows and sunroof/vent can be found in fiberglass form by LaSalle. The other bits sort of fall into place.
All of these things have me in a state of nirvana. When I came onto the scene seriously wanting to build a Rover (after admiring for years), I hadn't done all my homework. I just had mountains of questions. Thanks to the good people of the messageboards, I have my solutions and have configured my dream Rover for a lot less than that $120,000 ECR 110 Wagon.
Wait, wait, wait. Can't I get a NAS D90 for $30,000? Yes. Can I fit my entire life into the confines of a D90? ...HA! No way. Can I afford a NAS 110 (read: $50,000)? Not all at once. That's the beauty of the 109. Honestly, I'd be happy to buy someone's Series III that has restored the body condition and already done the engine conversion, drive it a while, swap out the front body panels, drive it for a few more years, and gradually build it up.
All of this because 110's are scarce as hen's teeth in the States. If anyone knows of a Series that has had a 3.9 EFI put in (other than builds on ECR) and is for sale, PM them my way.
Please, criticize me and give advice as you see fit. I am eager to see what the forumites think of my plan.