Importing A Landy from SA to US

If you insist on a Land Rover product, buy something newer.. I am on my 2nd Range Rover, currently driving a 2013 L405, 4,4 V8 diesel.. NO problems thus far on any of them.. A buddy is a Land Cruiser man...he has had trouble like turbo failure...engaging low gear and not being able to engage high gear (brilliant in the bush, eh..?).

This car is as capable offroad as any old Land Rover product and comfy on the highway too..

RR.jpeg
 
Compare the approach and departure angle to a Series 1, no contest, from a bush capability point of view the little Landy wins all day long.

D73108AB-6536-48CD-A6A6-3FF9F2673409.jpeg
D73108AB-6536-48CD-A6A6-3FF9F2673409.jpeg


If you are serious about buying an early series Landy, here is the check list:
Go for an 86”, the 80” is very cramped for a big person.
Immediately replace the brake master cylinder and all the slaves, new drums and shoes. If it is a Series 1 update the braking system to Series 2. Replace wheel bearing seals if leaking.
Replace the clutch, pressure plate and thrust bearing.
Replace the gearbox oil seals.
Replace all the steering linkages.
Replace the spring shackle bushes and shock absorbers.
Replace the indicator and park lights with LED’s
Get the radiator reconditioned.

This sounds like a huge amount of work, it isn’t. Maybe a week in a competent garage. And quite cheap too. You will then have a delightful little car to enjoy trouble free for many years.
 
An inlaw had a side gig for several years retrofitting appropriate diesel engines into Land Cruisers since the real deal diesel Series 70 Land Cruisers couldn't be imported here to the US. As to Rovers? I got tired of re-buiilding and working on vehicles at age 19, that's about 54 years ago. Local rumor is that several Brit ex-pats with seasonal houses/properties here have sworn off their Rovers. They say most are ruined by pack rats and rodents consuming the wiring while in storage... seems the local fauna have a taste for Rover wiring insulation. :)
 
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Compare the approach and departure angle to a Series 1, no contest, from a bush capability point of view the little Landy wins all day long.

View attachment 546025View attachment 546025

If you are serious about buying an early series Landy, here is the check list:
Go for an 86”, the 80” is very cramped for a big person.
Immediately replace the brake master cylinder and all the slaves, new drums and shoes. If it is a Series 1 update the braking system to Series 2. Replace wheel bearing seals if leaking.
Replace the clutch, pressure plate and thrust bearing.
Replace the gearbox oil seals.
Replace all the steering linkages.
Replace the spring shackle bushes and shock absorbers.
Replace the indicator and park lights with LED’s
Get the radiator reconditioned.

This sounds like a huge amount of work, it isn’t. Maybe a week in a competent garage. And quite cheap too. You will then have a delightful little car to enjoy trouble free for many years.
@Kevin Peacocke
Or just replace the lands with a nice Nissan 4x4. No time in the workshop, more reliable and still go anywhere
Bob
 
One bored day in Arusha we took the work shops series ll up the side of Mount Meru that was a fun one, spent the rest of the week cleaning me undies :ROFLMAO:
We got a fair way up. The coming down was interesting :sick:
Heres a pic from the net. I’ll need to have a dig and see if I’ve still got the pics of us up there.
 

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Poor Bob did not even get one like for that snide remark:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
@Sideshow
Bob don't care. He has never seen a good land Rover. In Australia the range Rover and range Rover evoke are uses as Toorak taxis for rich house wives as a fashion statement. They don't get off road.
There's a company that sells spray on mud so you can put it on your 4x4 to impress your friends and say it's been off road.
My mechanic won't even work on a landrover and there's specialist mechanical services that only do land rovers. Dang we even have a British only auto recycler that deals in land Rover spare parts in my area. Even 2nd hand parts are pricey.
They are very agricultural in thier design and comfort is severely lacking. Fuel economy is shit compared to other 4x4s.
Why anyone would want one is beyond me.
Bob
 
@Sideshow
Bob don't care. He has never seen a good land Rover. In Australia the range Rover and range Rover evoke are uses as Toorak taxis for rich house wives as a fashion statement. They don't get off road.
There's a company that sells spray on mud so you can put it on your 4x4 to impress your friends and say it's been off road.
My mechanic won't even work on a landrover and there's specialist mechanical services that only do land rovers. Dang we even have a British only auto recycler that deals in land Rover spare parts in my area. Even 2nd hand parts are pricey.
They are very agricultural in thier design and comfort is severely lacking. Fuel economy is shit compared to other 4x4s.
Why anyone would want one is beyond me.
Bob
"spray on mud" Ha! Ha! Ha! That's what these guys here need with their lifted diesel trucks that have NEVER been on a dirt road. They wouldn't think about going up and down the sh** I have in my '02 Ford F250 7.3 diesel. But I digress. I really liked the Toyota Hilux 3.0l diesel that my PH had in Africa. You can't get them here though. I guess they might last too long and they're not an electric POS. LOL
 
I brought over the HJ75 in my avator. Bought it only looking at pics. BIG MISTAKE. I ended up completely rebuilding everything except for motor. Sourced parts from all over the world, every single part was original Toyota. Built hunting rack exactly to specs of Brent Hein's in Zim. Finished the seats in brown elephant skin brought from Zim. Almost 4 year project. If my wife ever found out what I invested it would have been ugly in my house.
Sold it when a guy caught me in a weak moment and made an offer I couldn't refuse. LOL, currently looking for another to bring over.
@Hombre any chance you have photos of the Ele seats? Would love to see that.
 
Compare the approach and departure angle to a Series 1, no contest, from a bush capability point of view the little Landy wins all day long.

View attachment 546025View attachment 546025

If you are serious about buying an early series Landy, here is the check list:
Go for an 86”, the 80” is very cramped for a big person.
Immediately replace the brake master cylinder and all the slaves, new drums and shoes. If it is a Series 1 update the braking system to Series 2. Replace wheel bearing seals if leaking.
Replace the clutch, pressure plate and thrust bearing.
Replace the gearbox oil seals.
Replace all the steering linkages.
Replace the spring shackle bushes and shock absorbers.
Replace the indicator and park lights with LED’s
Get the radiator reconditioned.

This sounds like a huge amount of work, it isn’t. Maybe a week in a competent garage. And quite cheap too. You will then have a delightful little car to enjoy trouble free for many years.
Do not forget to replace the frame.
 

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