hmmm im just not sure

[peasey]

evening lads,im wondering if you guys could help me here,i already have a discovery and was thinking of buying a defender but while looking through ebay pages a couple of series three 88s caught my eye. i thought seeing as this is going to be my weekend toy rather than spend it all on a defender i could save myself some cash and buy a series 3 and start some of road mods at the same time.my only question is are there any limitations with the series that the defender doesnt have?for example i quite fancy a suspension lift,is this possible?also are they as capable off road in standard trim?and is it easy to put a defender front on them?go easy with me lads as im only just getting started and need pointing in the right direction :lol:  :lol:

[Big Rich]

You will never beat springs but that said parabolic springs are very good and almost like springs, and you can also have a lift.

You can fit 750 tyres.

To add a defender front swap the bonet and grill.

Everything is cheaper with a series.

Rich

oo I forgot get petrol. Diesel is sluggish.

[harryhedgehog]

Hi, Series vehicles have character.
Why buy one to make it look like a 90?

[edy]

i do love me series motors, parts are cheap if somthing goes wrong, they all have there own characters and best of all there realy easy to work on :) (well when there is no rusted bolts involved, 80% there are). i belive it is possible to get a lift, you can put parras on wich should give you about an inch, also i think it is possible to get extended shackeles for them (dont count on that one), then you have to get extended rubber hoses ect for the brakes. yep the front is prety easy to change, i havent bothered as i like the series look, plus its more money and time i could spend else-were on the car. you will get certain articulation problems if your comparing it to a defender, but  i havent come across to many. i think most series motor could go most places a defender could(not all as they defenders seam to do some crazy stuff) but personally i think it is down to driver skill, its just a bit more of a challange in a series (no diff lock ect...) if your using it as a weekend toy, try get a tax exempt series, free road tax and classic insurence so cheap to insure, the only fault i would have with the series is the 2.25L engine, it just seams to lack that bit of extra poke for getting out of bomb holes (dont get me wrong it will still go places...) i would throw a bit of a pokeyer engine in (200TDi, 300TDi, V6, V8 ect). sceen as it is a weekend toy probly a 88' would be best, although a bit more expensive (109 are good for touring, sleep in the back of em ect). just remember you wont get your power steering though, although you can fit it if you really want to. anyway i love em :D

sorry about the essay, just trying to give you as much info as poss :D

[peasey]

thanks lads you certainly are a helpful lot and just got all the info i wanted think im going to go ahead and get myself one of these as i dont want to go mad with lifts etc and only realy want sensible mods like wheels tires and suspension .just one last question about suspension and forgive me if im wrong but is it not possible to change the leaf springs for coil springs all the way round?

[harryhedgehog]

Hi Peasey, I think the answer to your question about coils / leaf springs is a no unless you swap the chassis.

As edy said series parts v. cheap as for the rest depends on your budget and what you want to do with your new toy, for less than the price of a good late s3 you could get a higher mileage Disco to mod. :D

Anyway there all big mechano kits, just that newer ones have more electrical bits & bobs to go wrong :)

[peasey]

yeah i must admit i did think about that but i just wanted a change and always wanted a more agricultural landy as the disco i have is far to refined more for the mrs sake really!! my philosophy is the less you have the less you can break  :D  :D and besides that no electic windows, power steering ,efective heater means no mrs  :lol:  :lol:  :lol: just me, my boys and mud ah pure bliss :lol:  :lol:

[harryhedgehog]

well if you want agricultural, its definately a Series vehicle then
8)

[electricbluebadger]

also i think it is possible to get extended shackeles for them (dont count on that one),

, its just a bit more of a challange in a series (no diff lock ect...)

Yep you can get longer shackles for a SWB, the LWB Mil ones are longer and can be fitted, you will know them because they hacve a bolt running through the centre (ie 3 bolts not 2)

A series does have a locked centre diff as per a defender, the only difference is that on a defender you can disengage it and you still have 4WD whereas in a series you use 2WD to eliminate issues of windup, hence the warning in the cab about running a series in 4WD on the road.

Quite agree re driver skill, Ive seen many a series leave a defender courtesy of better tyres and a more experienced driver....

Cheers Steve

[muddyjames]

Series landies rule. Wish I had kept my old one. They are useless at towing heavy trailers and caravans though.

I would advise on a petrol any day just for your ear drum sake!!!

[Keri]

Hi, Series vehicles have character.
Why buy one to make it look like a 90?

Exactly what i was thinking......

[edy]

also i think it is possible to get extended shackeles for them (dont count on that one),

, its just a bit more of a challange in a series (no diff lock ect...)

Yep you can get longer shackles for a SWB, the LWB Mil ones are longer and can be fitted, you will know them because they hacve a bolt running through the centre (ie 3 bolts not 2)

A series does have a locked centre diff as per a defender, the only difference is that on a defender you can disengage it and you still have 4WD whereas in a series you use 2WD to eliminate issues of windup, hence the warning in the cab about running a series in 4WD on the road.

Quite agree re driver skill, Ive seen many a series leave a defender courtesy of better tyres and a more experienced driver....

Cheers Steve

ahh thanks for correcting me there steve, i havent long been in this game so not leart quite everything  :D  i thought i had seen the extended shackels somwere.

to be honest about changing the leafs to coils, i wouldnt bother, tonnes of hassel for not much, dosent seam worth it, if i was you, stick to the leafes, and try them, there not overly comfortable but you will be suprised what they can do, and as steve said a lot of it is driver skill.

[hobbit]

If your not really sure go for a leafer first, learn how it operates, and if you want to progress on then look for a coiler, you dont want to really be paying out more than necessary to find out that you really dont want to go on with the thing