Stage One V8

[SCRover]

Was reading the article on the Stage One V8 in the most recent Rovers North mag this morning and got to thinking...

My current quandry is I'd really like to have one rover, preferably a combination of my 109 and my 110. (Well, I'd actually like to have about 5 rovers, but that's another story.) The added power of the 110 combined with the older school look, simpler mechanics and more passenger room of the 109. That's when the light bulb appeared above my head - a Stage One V8!

With that said, and I'm thinking out loud here, I'd love some thoughts on the idea. Also, there aren't too many Stage One's around, and I'm wondering whether anyone might have a reliable source for these trucks - over the pond, I'm sure.

 

[SCRover]

thinking along these lines...

http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C80983

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Wow- That is a well sorted truck for its age.
The engine bay is jam up.

"I want 5 rovers" - hence the problem. Do you really (and I mean really) enjoy any one you have ... or do you just like the mental adventure they provide when you see them? Don't get me wrong - there is plenty of merit to a mental vacation, I mean, if you can't get away to take an actual adventure, ... a mental one is better than nothing.

Having just gone from 4 rovers to two- it is somewhat liberating to be able to focus on making my personal truck ... what I envision it to be.

Not as overwhelmed!

And I digress ... back to your regularly scheduled thread.

Dendy

 

[SCRover]

Do you really (and I mean really) enjoy any one you have ... or do you just like the mental adventure they provide when you see them?

Yes, I do like the idea of 5 rovers, but, no, I don't really want, or certainly need, 5. Even having two, at this stage in my life (3 boys 7 and under), is too many because they don't get the attention I'd like to give them; hence, the idea of one rover that mixes what I like/want from the two I have.

Who knows really? Probably just the fever talking...

 

[Wander]

PT Schram (over on Discoweb) just got a stage one and already mentioned he's having questions as they have many unique parts and might be a bigger challange than he thought. If the stage one is too much trouble I would think it would be easier and manybe less $$ to get a good SIII and drop in a V8, R380 and some DI axles but you would not have to go that far.

 

[SCRover]

i hear ya.

regularly entertain the idea of selling the 110 and using some of the proceeds to build up the 109 - V8, tranny, axles, suspension, etc. hell, the 109's bones are better than the 110's at this point.

 

[Rovertrader]

you didn't tell me it came with good bones!!
Just make the Stage I. Add SBC, 700r4, and the Atlas for the LC guys(right side shafts), add a/c and have a killer reliable rig. Or send it on over trading for the 'burb, I'll get her done, and trade for the 110 Shipping on you this time though

 

[SCRover]

you didn't tell me it came with good bones!!
Just make the Stage I. Add SBC, 700r4, and the Atlas for the LC guys(right side shafts), add a/c and have a killer reliable rig. Or send it on over trading for the 'burb, I'll get her done, and trade for the 110 Shipping on you this time though

classic! Feel like I'm on "Deal of the Century" - you remember that game show?

interesting food to chew though...

oh, and yeah, the 109 got a new galv frame in ~2000! Rust-free gem hiding under there.

 

[Wander]

What's behind door # 2????

 

[evilfij]

Inferior suspension, inferior transmission, inferior interior, inferior motor.

The only thing a stage I V8 has going for it over a 110 is the front grill and headlight surrounds (unless you have some aversion to wheel flares) which can be fitted to a 110.

 

[SCRover]

yeah, been doing a lot of thinking about the best option (i recognize it is nice to have options).

i've got a NAS 110 with a 4.6 that has less than 15K on it. it's got 4.71 gears and an LT95. GBR rear, lockers F/R, on-board air (via the AC compressor). it does the low-range stuff great and is adequate for highway travel.

it does have some rust, primarily in the doors, that needs attention and the electrical needs to be sorted some (stereo is out and power is interrupted to the cig plug when i shift into reverse).

guess what i'm getting at is i pretty much already have the truck i want. perhaps the best bet is to "upgrade" to an R380, go to a HD front axle set-up, add new springs and shocks, sort out the elecrical and tend to the rust. could use proceeds from the sale of the 109 (whenever that happens) to do some of the work.

i don't know... just got a heads-up on a fully-kitted '81 Stage One in NC.

 

[leafsprung]

have a stage one I drive regularly. (3 door) Good car, like it better than the 110. Transmission (lT95 is actually burlier than the lt77 in the NAS) Doors are better than the NAS, galvanized cappings unlike the NAS. Faster than the NAS due to the fact it probably weighs half what the NAS weighs. Some later seats in the stage one and you have a nice cruiser. Dump the NAS, buy a stage one and have 40K in the bank. Easy decision.

 

[evilfij]

have a stage one I drive regularly. (3 door) Good car, like it better than the 110. Transmission (lT95 is actually burlier than the lt77 in the NAS) Doors are better than the NAS, galvanized cappings unlike the NAS. Faster than the NAS due to the fact it probably weighs half what the NAS weighs. Some later seats in the stage one and you have a nice cruiser. Dump the NAS, buy a stage one and have 40K in the bank. Easy decision.

The real comparison should be between the stage one and an early 110.

 

[DividingCreek]

lt95 in a NAS 110 ? holy retrofit batman ! don't get that one.

 

[leafsprung]

The real comparison should be between the stage one and an early 110.

Looks like he has a NAS and would be selling it for the stage one . . .