Gazbo
Well-Known Member
Hi I do not usually post in this section of the forum, but I am interested to know how many late 80's VM diesel powered RRC's still exist in the UK, or at least those associated with LandyZone.
My reason being is that about 3 years ago now an old mate of mine bought a badly rusted neglected VM powered classic that ran and we pulled the engine out and transplanted it into his old '85 V8 Deefer County, the V8 had had it's chips and with the cost of fuel here the diesel was a prospect for keeping the County on the road.
When we did the transplant I was trying to get info from other LR forums about the VM in Australia and the USA, most respondents said we were nuts to even consider the VM, that they were rubbish, three years and 120,000 Klm later that old VM is still running and regularly doing 4,000 klm return trips to see friends in Brisbane, the VM has never been reco'd to our knowledge and will have done in excess of 350,000 klm by now in it's total life in two vehicles, the original LT77 gearbox and viscous transfer blew up eventually after 90,000 in the County and so we did some mods and fitted an LT77 out of a 93 Disco, other than that and lots of oil leaks it has been a choice that has prolonged the road life of that old County, and it still goes ok, steady pace, but ok, giving reasonable fuel economy.
I don't know for sure, but have assumed that there would have been quite a few VM powered RR in the UK or were they mainly export models, hoping someone here may know if many are still alive and kicking.
My reason being is that about 3 years ago now an old mate of mine bought a badly rusted neglected VM powered classic that ran and we pulled the engine out and transplanted it into his old '85 V8 Deefer County, the V8 had had it's chips and with the cost of fuel here the diesel was a prospect for keeping the County on the road.
When we did the transplant I was trying to get info from other LR forums about the VM in Australia and the USA, most respondents said we were nuts to even consider the VM, that they were rubbish, three years and 120,000 Klm later that old VM is still running and regularly doing 4,000 klm return trips to see friends in Brisbane, the VM has never been reco'd to our knowledge and will have done in excess of 350,000 klm by now in it's total life in two vehicles, the original LT77 gearbox and viscous transfer blew up eventually after 90,000 in the County and so we did some mods and fitted an LT77 out of a 93 Disco, other than that and lots of oil leaks it has been a choice that has prolonged the road life of that old County, and it still goes ok, steady pace, but ok, giving reasonable fuel economy.
I don't know for sure, but have assumed that there would have been quite a few VM powered RR in the UK or were they mainly export models, hoping someone here may know if many are still alive and kicking.