Is there a place here for modified ex army Land Rovers?

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Hello everyone,

Is there a place here for modified ex army Land Rovers?

I've modified my 1978 SIII 109 GS to a point where it's hardly recognisable as an old army truck, but it does still have all the tags and such.

While the purists may shudder at the thought, I'm left to ponder if others may yet find some interest in what I've done as they too may have crossed over and modified their ex army Series vehicles away from specification.

Holden engine conversions seem to be popular, as are Nissan gearbox conversions, and some have opted to go for high speed transfer boxes and/or high speed diffs. I've personally seen many ex army Land Rovers which have been treated to one or more of these modifications.

Perhaps I'll be burned at the stake for it, but I've gone the whole shebang and now run a worked Holden 202, Nissan 5 speed overdive, high speed transfer box and high speed diffs.

This is a very good combination and would surprise/shock some people I think.

[FFRMAN]

HI,

Works for me, my take is it's your vehicle and you can modify as you like, the main thing is it's still alive and being well looked after. A modified Land Rover section might be a good idea.

Regards
Scott

[Carzee]

A good idea.
Seems Land Rover customers always mod. Including the army. The Aussie Army (thru ADE) modded and tested... and modded again. Land Rover themselves took up some of their mods... and remember the V8 mod that came later. The word versatile was used in all the Landy promotions from the beginning.

[Ellard]

Hi there

Initally I was shocked - but..........................

it's your vehicle and you can modify as you like, the main thing is it's still alive and being well looked after. A modified Land Rover section might be a good idea.

Agreed.....

Wayne

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This is my 1978 Series 3, 109 GS.

Second image was taken in 2010 at the Parkes Radio Telescope at Parkes NSW.
This was a few months prior to the second total rebuild.
That’s my wife Julia standing beside the 109, and as you can see, she’s a short person, hence the mods to assist her entry and exit to and from the vehicle. I resisted those mods for years and years but she just wouldn’t shut up about it, and in the end I caved and just did them to get some peace and quiet.

[fc101]

Why not - we have just about every other brand on a landie site so why not a modified landie.

Garry

[Carzee]

Well thats well done! I had a S3 109 HT years back and it was nowhere as nice. Yours looks like new. The window mesh takes me back: memories of mums Kingswood and me on L plates.

[FFRMAN]

This is my ex army series III.

Very nice, thanks for putting up, twin tanks on a S3, did you add that as well?

Regards

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Very nice, thanks for putting up, twin tanks on a S3, did you add that as well?

Regards
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Yes, I fitted the passenger side fuel filler and set it all up ready to lift another 72 ltr military tank into place just as soon as it arrived back in Victoria from where I had it stored in Brisbane. I also have a big aluminium rear tank sitting here ready to go in as well.

The tanks and my No.5 trailer arrived in Melbourne last night and are here with me as we speak, so it's just a matter of making up 1x "L" shaped plate and welding it into place (on the front outrigger) and the second tank can then be fitted. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours when the time comes.

* I found this picture just now, and I recall taking it during the second total rebuild.
I was asked why I wasn’t removing the olive drab paint from the fuel filler behind the drivers seat and I just said that I decided to leave it green as that was the only part that wasn’t restored/repainted and it was necessary to leave it green in order to remind me of the vehicles heritage as well as to remind me of the crazy amount of work that had been done during the 2 rebuilds.

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 The window mesh takes me back: memories of mums Kingswood and me on L plates.

I still have the mesh and visor which were made and fitted during the rebuild, but I removed them quick smart as they made too much noise and will require some thought/modification before going back on.

[Vixen]

You've done  a really good job on that  Looks great 

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Thanks for all the positive comments.

Like I said, it's highly modified and doesn't perform like a regular SIII, but I've gone to quite some lengths to retain the SIII profile/shape.

[Ellard]

Have to say it - It is way to clean to be a landrover engine bay

[Carzee]

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Like I said, it's highly modified and doesn't perform like a regular SIII, but I've gone to quite some lengths to retain the SIII profile/shape.

Clean enough to be 'as new'.
I'm curious though. Could you explain to me, using short words for the mechanically challenged, whats going on with the top radiator hose and whats the box leftover from a Dr Who show in the rear passenger side of the bay -- a air cleaner?

[DennisM]

I have no idea what the unit is in the top radiator hose, as it has a rad/cap on the radiator???maybe another fill point??, the box arrangement "Dr Who" is the std heater box as fitted to all S3, cheers Dennis