4x4 Mag - Landy - All Mine

My Landy, "ALL MINE"

by Gill Major

It all began a few years ago when my boyfriend and I had the chance to buy a Series III SWB Land Rover from someone who was emigrating to Australia. It was cheap or should I say a BARGAIN, so we bought it. At that time it had a standard Land Rover diesel engine but as we later found out, it was a very tired diesel engine which was smokey and noisy. So out it came and in went a 2¼ petrol. This was fine, and at one time, whilst my car was off the road, was my daily transport to work, where I use to sit at my office desk and gaze out of the window at it.

The Landy already had an overdrive unit fitted, so we bought 7.50 x 16 wheels and tyres to increase the ground clearance and improve the road speed. Then we decided to try and make it a more comfortable ride, fitting new leaf springs all round, together with some seats from an MG Montego. These modifications worked and whats more we personalised OUR Landrover. Then, with my car back on the road again, the Landy sat in the drive at my parent's house all day long.

We started to go green laning and attend off-road play-days at weekends, and were amazed at just what the Landy was capable of. We traversed ditches, water, mud, you name it and the Landy tackled it - with a little bit of driving practice on our part! We were hooked and that's when it happened, you know that burble noise all those V8's make. Pure music to your ears - well, to ours anyway. So the search started to find a V8 engine. We found one, bought the 'bits' for the conversion from Jake Wright, so now all we needed to do was look around and get prices to get it fitted. What a scare ... anywhere from 1000.00 plus!!

We were a little dismayed, however, as always when it comes to off-roaders and inparticular Landrovers there's always someone to help. As it happened a friend of mine knew someone with his own garage, who already had a V8 Landy himself and he could do the job for us. So off went the Landy, V8 engine and all the 'bits'. We found out later that this was a big mistake. Yes plenty of helpful people, also plenty of helpful "botchers". This guy didn't alter the footwells and bulkhead properly, but just bashed them in to allow enough room for the conversion ring. You live and learn, so they say. Weeks later still no Landy, this time trouble with the distributor drive gears, getting hot and breaking. Something to do with the frontcover on this engine we had brought, which came out of a 101, not supplying enough oil to the distributor gears so they got hot and melting - or very nearly.

Off we went, collected our Landy and start again ! We decided to take the Landy to another garage to sort the problem out; yes it was definitely the front cover. We knew of another V8 engine that had come out of a 110, for a diesel conversion, so we bought this and it was fitted. Success! We had our V8 Landy.

The difference was unbelievable, now we really could go anywhere. Off roading became even more exciting with the 'grunt' of our very own V8 under the bonnet.
Lots of off-roading later my boyfriend and I split up and the Landy languished in his drive with only occasional outings, and without me ! For a while I thought I'd lost my beloved Landy forever. I'd tag along to Funday's but somehow it's not the same when you haven't got your own toy to play in. Anyway, following my weekend at Billing he rang and asked if I wanted to buy it from him as he couldn't afford to run it all the time. YES, YES, YES!! I jumped at the chance to have my Landy back and carry on off roading. At least now I get to do all the driving. So now it's my Landy ALL MINE !