Land Rover IIA 109 beach cruiser

rockcity

rockcity

everyday is a chance to get better
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Location
Greenville, NC
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I picked up a Series IIA 109 station wagon this last week.

Specs:

Right hand drive
Manual trans
3.5L V8


I ran and drove every day until it was sold about 2 years ago and parked and has sat since. Story I heard was that it spent some time in Saudi Arabia where a doctor owned it for a few years before bringing it with him back to Raleigh.


My plans are to take my time with it and just get it back up and running and make some safety upgrades. I'll put disk brakes on it, add a roll cage, and some quality seat belts. First order of business is to get it safe and reliable.

From there, I'll start working on cosmetic upgrades and things to fix the vehicle to bring it back from the dead!

The 3.5L was a little bit of a surprise as my research says that this engine in a pre 1974 Rover is rare. How rare, I have no idea, but that what the internet says. This is a plus as its already set up to easily upgrade it to the popular 5.0 rover motors.

Here are some pictures of my new toy!

:)
 
That is awesome. You are going to lift it and put bigger tires on it too...right?! That thing would look killer with a little lift and 37s. :D awesome find!
 
Can you shift with your left hand?
 
That will be a cool beach cruiser. There are a couple guys in Atlanta that are into those. I was at theit shop back in February and I believe I saw 3 of those wagons there. I'm sure you could find them with a little searching.
 
I'm not a Rover fan but I really like the old ones like these. They are very simple and virtually unchanged throughout the years, so finding parts should be fairly easy.

After some research and a little help from some gurus, this 109 is roughly a 1968 and originally came with the V6 gas motor. The 3.5l V8 was a popular swap years ago and fairly common overseas.


I'm not planning on any lift, just some stock tires and reworking the suspension for a little better ride.

To do list:
1. get it running after 2 years of sitting in a warehouse
2. upgrade the front drum brakes to disk
3. start tinkering with it and check on all of the other systems and upgrade them for safety (fuel pump is wired in and dangling by the wires on the frame rail, etc.).
4. fix door hinges as they are sagging a little
5. get a new right rear seat and frame, reupholster all 4 seats and put in a new headliner and carpet
6. get new weatherstripping
7.get the windows working
8. take her to the beach! :)
 
Yeah, going to start looking for an air system as well. That can be added after.

Need new top door halfs, new front floor (waiting until after the engine and trans upgrade), roll cage, seats mounted to cage, all new gaskets for doors, top, vents, etc., new soft top, disk brakes on the front, front boots and axle seal rebuild kit, lots of paint and Line X :D

I think I'm going with a midnight charcoal gray exterior with a black interior
 
I'm sad you're not using the rover engine. That little motor can scoot of ya know what you're doing, and parts are still readily avail, as it is the basic engine design for the buick 3.8L and the old 300/340/350 buick motors. Plus, they are very light weight


I know you can get way more power out of a modern engine, just love the old stuff
 
I was hoping to use the Rover motor but I just don't know this thing. It needs some work and will be pulled out. But, after looking at costs to keep using this motor with repairs (mostly fixing little minor issues and oil leaks), its tit for tat to use that or the modern power of a LM7. The transmission needs some work as its leaking oil as is the transfercase. The shifters need new linkage and rework a little as well. The clutch needs rework and the pedal is in need of upgrading as well. Reviewing the amount of this work and costs, its much easier and cost effective to use the LM7, 700r4, and d300 with cable shifters. Basically, I have a lot of the parts already (reworked harness and flashed ECM), cable shifter, torque converter, winters shifter for trans, etc.

Plus, I don't need to learn how to shift with my left hand and the wife can drive the auto trans :D
 
the 700r4 adapts to the d300 pretty easy since I need a TC output of a d300

I'm OK with a 4l60e other than a $525 adapter to a d300 where the 700r4 takes a "stock" adapter and a $100 spud shaft, sealed bearing and double lip seal. Honestly, I haven't looked into the 4l60e too much as its electronically controlled and requires a VSS in the AA adapter, etc. Was trying to steer away from that.

However, I'm open to cheap and easy options, figured the 700r4 is cheap and easy, especially when adapting to the d300
 
nice find. hows the frame? my wife inherited a 74 2dr when her dad passed away and ive been poking around on it. the frame is completely shot, like swiss cheese shot. i looked for a new frame, wow..... $3g for a reproduction galvanized frame. gonna have to try to find another vehicles to modify. im a little less ambitious with my motor plans tho :lol: i was thinking a 4.3 vortec or a junkyard 350... an LM7 was a close third tho haha
 
The frame, for the most part, is good. There are a couple of spots that need some repair but overall, its pretty good. Some of the body mounts need some TLC though.

The LM7 was just an easy choice. I went to the junk yard to find a headlight and tailgate for my truck and left with a motor. It was a u-pull-it yard. I walked by and the transmission was already pulled, fenders, grill, and hood was already pulled as well. So, wiring harness and 6 motor mount bolts and it was out. I just so happen to have a 15 piece ratchet set in my truck that had what I needed for the motor mounts. So, less than 2 hrs and I had the engine in the back of my truck. If it wasn't so convenient, the LM7 would have not been picked up yet. The price was hard to beat as well :D
 
Non-update update.
 
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