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  • Location
    Nashville, TN, USA

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    Web Design + Land Rover + Graphic Design + Porsche + Architecture
  1. 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.
  2. Thanks for the advice, mates! I will definitely check out my newfound options and I'll post again when I have exhausted my other avenues!
  3. Greetings mates! I am new to the Rover community, but I am going to build up truck to be my everyday driver and had some questions (that might be able to be answered!). I live in the US, so Rovers and parts are scarce. I am going to build a 110-style truck starting with either a Series IIA or III 5-door 109" and change the front clip to a Defender one. Are there any threads or websites you know of that show this process (converting the front clip) or is the conversion of the wings/bonnet/breakfast an easy bolt-on? I have driven a few older Rovers and I know they can't go fast. I want to build a mostly on-road truck that can easily go 80mph without screaming at me. I have looked at many different powertrains, but the one that stands out as the best option so far is a GM 6.2liter diesel and matching 5-speed tranny (which gets about 23 mpg highway in an 8000lb truck and will be fitted in a 4500lb Rover). This engine is also mechanical, so like the 300Tdi, it doesn't need any fancy engine computer. Does anyone have a suggestion for other non-rover powerplants? I know that Series rigs are leaf suspension, and I know I will convert to coils. What brands of running gear have you used successfully/do you recommend (old man emu comes to mind)? I had a friend tell me that LHD trucks sell for less than RHD in the UK. Is this really true? If so, do you think that there is anyone that would perform work for me (like a front clip conversion from a 90s Defender) or even just piece together a truck that has the reqts for import BEFORE the truck was sent overseas to the USA? All the other work (engine, interior, custom dash, power windows, power locks, power steering, power brakes, suspension) can be done with US-sourced aftermarket parts. All I would need from the UK is a truck with a straight body and minimal rust (and able to be moved to UK port and out of US port, so rolling chassis). I know this is a lot to digest, but I have spoken a lot in various forums about importation, and I have seen shipping rates as cheap as $1000 (and factor in fees from both ports, so it will be more like $2000), and the SIII definitely fits the bill for the 25-year-no restriction rule. Thanks in advance for anyone that reads or replies to this, as I have already made a ton of friends in the Rover community and hope to make more on lr4x4! - Ryan
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