1970 Land Rover 88 Series IIA 4X4: Sticking To Its Roots

[@frglee]

Very good, interesting discussion. One reason the diesel Landies are so popular on UK farms is that they can use 'red diesel' fuel oil which isn't taxed in the UK. Many farms have their own red diesel tank for the tractors as well as other machinery. Where I live in rural Scotland, ancient Land Rovers are everywhere, used hard every day, whether it be trecking up a rocky track up the hill to take hay up for the animals in the Winter, or towing a small trailer down to the stock market 20 miles distant. Or maybe a trip down to the village shop to pick up supplies, picking up spare parts and farm supplies from the nearest town, or doing some fencing in the fields. Covered in mud, dents all over but vital to everyday small farm work. I wonder how many other vehicles are so long lived?

[@jeepersdelight]

Jason from Maryland here I'm the Parts Director of a Full Service Land Rover shop in the DC Metro area. I can source these old parts fyi. I have 3 of these Rovers on the Premises now, and we currently have multiple Restorations in process.

[@michaeliandolo2252]

Jason - have an early Defendr and live on the Eastern Shore. How can I contact you?

[@williamfawkes8379]

One of my greatest laments is that I didn't snag one of these in the early 90s when they were all but forgotten and could be had for a song. I would love to snag a pickup from a field in Scotland.

[@undrcoverlouky]

The Queen has not only driven every generation of Land Rover, but she could also work on the older ones. She was a mechanic in the war. There is a famous story of the Queen and Prince Philip on safari in Africa when their driver could not start their Land Rover. She got out, tinkered a bit, and started the car!

[@craigdavidson2278]

Land rovers are an education.....owning one taught me how to be a mechanic. Love them to bits, owning one will be a love hate relationship.....but the love bit wins in the end.

[@ashtonthornes1418]

They make every journey fun... if you have young children too, the joy in their faces riding in the back of a Landrover is priceless....

[@mikewysko2268]

From back in the days when British engineering was at the top of the game.🇬🇧

[@williamkeith8944]

Top of the game when the bar was set low.

[@ashtonthornes1418]

Sadly British Leyland ruined that.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

i learned a classic land rover, far from being posh, quiet and smooth, can be a rattly, jouncy, banger.

[@andynixon2820]

I had a diesel series 2 a and it was a fantastic vehicle and really loved it . If you're used to a comfortable , quiet and swift modern vehicle the driving experience may come as a shock but once enjoyed they become adictive.

[@garthpaul6216]

Land Rover - when you want some new slippers - like you last ones.

[@markrossow6303]

Interesting bit: Hand brake lever works Brake #5 in these. A drum brake at back of transfer case. That is taken from the original jeep, Willys MB. My Dad bought a '43 MB in 1972 (3rd Owner: U.S. Army in North Africa + a Mexican stone quarry + Dad) See me in profile pic as it came from quarry. Next summer it got School Bus _Orange_ heavy paint at County Paint Shed, near Dad's home town up north. That School Bus paint that lasted until ~2012 and was some sort of favor for the Deputy Sheriff, I suspect = my Grandpa. Dad still owns it; added a 1950s USMC trailer a few years ago. I learned to drive on it, starting out in Lo Range. Lo 1 needs zer0 throttle off the line so no stalls. So 2017, I bought a 1995 Land Rover Discovery 1. August 1994 build, so mid-model year in between wiring diagrams. Last year for the 5-spd in U.S. Unfortunately the 5 and 6 cylinder Diesels / Turbo-Diesels did not come to U.S., so mine is 3.9 L V8 gas. Solid axles both ends, for same roll height both ends, so much better handling than independent-front-only trucks that feel flipp-y. I have seen 2 flipped Isuzu Troopers, and hated an empty-rear F150 company truck. This Disco came to me trail-rashed all down passenger side, with obv. replacement front fender bolted on. Perfect -- hang the tandem bike off the passenger side. The (2) sunroofs had blocked drain tubes so headliner & footwell carpet bad. Tear out. Rust at footwells under carpet. Repair like a sheet steel building + zinc-rich paint, 'cause it is Body on Frame. Hit & Run in parking lot bent hood. Aluminum; can't rust; just straighten-ish with Jorgensen Clamp so shuts tight. Also broke Glass headlight. Replacement is $130, from Czech Republic. Have to jury rig beam alignment screws and use a stainless steel zip tie, due to bent steel behind headlight. Also bent steel-but-thin-at-ends bumper. (Clearly designed for straight-on crashes, not an impact lined up on a front tire. Thinking it was a cube truck backing up, that hit with a corner.) Pull some 6-inch channel steel out of the under-porch lumber-rack. 1910 ship's ladder stringer from The Cobb Building (worth a Googling). Erection-bolt 6-inch steel angles to the chassis ends, with the H.S. Daughter's "help" in bolting ("hold the bolt roll" ) and portaband cutting the angle + channel steel, and in angle- grinding a radius at ends of channel flanges. And then a friend welds angles to frame + channel to angles. Then time for The Daughter to "help" cut / plane / router / Penofin Marine Oil a Western Red cedar 4x4 to nest in the channel steel, lag-bolted "blind" from the hidden rear, and held gapped with plastic shims for drainage/ventilation, so if I bump you it will be Wood, like an old time towtruck front bumper with wood to push. In driving off road or in snow , Toggling Open vs Closed _Center Diff_ is awesome for Traction vs. Tight turning radius on slop. Lo Range Open Center Diff is awesome for trailer maneuvering. Can even Triple-Clutch to change Lo to Hi while moving -- don't tell Solihull... . And lately I am teaching The Daughter how to drive on it. Lo 1 = No Stalls, but very Tractor-like. Lo 2 = easier than Hi 1 to start off the line in, but is closer to road speed.

[@mikewysko2268]

Installing some noise dampening Dynamat would improve the driving\passenger experience.

[@calsurflance5598]

Lol! I have some on the doors , roof, and under hood/bonnet, on my 1966 S2A. It doesn’t do much.🤦🏼‍♂️😂

[@resistanceisfutile3920]

Whenever I see one of these, I think of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom - With Marlin Perkins

[@markrossow6303]

used to watch that, on AFN in West Germany

[@pbertf24]

Love your intro !

[@campwalosi4256]

Enjoyed this one especially...what makes an icon? Ask the man who drives one...

[@jonathanporter3239]

The return of Sean

[@danam0228]

pretty sweet

[@CRsunsout]

The British were never at the top with cats

[@CRsunsout]

Cars sorry

[@dkendr6793]

@@CRsunsout Cats, too. Otherwise known as Jaguars.

[@georgepom328]

Britain in the 60s we made some of the best cars, in the 70s we made some of the worst

[@dkendr6793]

@@georgepom328 I had a '69 Triumph TR6 and a '69 Jag E-Type in the mid-70's. The Triumph was reliable; the Jag wasn't. Maybe their previous owners had something to do with that.

[@georgepom328]

@@dkendr6793 like my uncle had a 68 e type its never gone wrong its luck ig