LAND ROVER SERIES 11A DORMOBILE SPRINGS

[Yellow Peril]

Good morning all,
Can i introduce myself. I have just found myself a series 11a dormobile in the scrap yard, close to my home in Otley, West yorkshire.
It is in very good condition but needs some new springs, it has been stood for a few years. Having already completed a restoration on a S11a 88″, and not being too impressed with the ride of the new springs. Could some one offer advice as to which springs would suit this, the best. I was even considering parabolics as I already have a set of four dampers for them. I am a bit worried about the handling though with all that weight.
Your ideas and experiance are most welcome. 😆

Andy

[Jonny]

Hi Andy

Welcome to the forum, yes you can fit paras, and no there isn’t a problem with weight, I’ve seen more than one Dormie on them, you may get told different but I seen these conversions and they work okay.

If you decide not to go for the para, then put back a set of standard springs. is the vehicle a 4 cyl or 6cyl, as they had different springs, the 6 cyl had a heavy duty spriny with more leaves.

John

[Yellow Peril]

thanks for the reply john,
Its a six. Do you know the part numbers for the oem springs. If I buy parabolics any sugestions to who’s I should use and which ones?
Are any Dormobiles going to eastnor or Billing this year? I would like to see what a finished example looked like.

Andy 🙄

[Jonny]

My parts book is quite old, so the number might not be correct

279678 – Drivers side
279679 – Passengers

I can’t recommend a supplier for paras, as I’ve not fitted them myself.

Sorry
John

[Jabbawocky]

Hi Andy

After restoring the springs on the 109 utility I used to have and realising how good they were, I have decided to restore the springs on Barney. they were well blown, but now they are in bits, they do not look too bad.

This is a very messy job, but well worth the effort.

You know where I am if you want to discuss this.

Mick

[Yellow Peril]

Thanks Mick, I had an idea you might reply.
On the subject of refurbishing them. Norma has had her first jet was this weekend and the springs are probably repairable. How do the rivets come out and what do you replace them with?
Spent three hours this weekend stripping and rewelding the broken drivers seat. The front pair will need to be recovered (any ideas on who should recover them welcome please.) I now have a seat that is not layed back at 45 degrees. Very clever design!! Not bad for nearly forty years old.

Thanks again.

Andy 😆

[Jabbawocky]

HI Andy

Been away building a show garden in Birmingham. You do not take out the rivets. It is easier to heat up the steel and bend the bracket straight. I then drill them and put a bolt in instead of bending them back down. Excess stell is ground off to stop the track rod hitting the front bracket. If you have no idea what I am on about, give me a call.

AS for recovering the seats, I think Phil knows a chap. I will try and find out.

Mick

[Bea]

Hi Andy, Mick

‘Bea’ is on Rocky Mountain Parabolics and they work a treat, backend feels very similar over speed humps round here as my Disco 2 on air suspension. In comparison to my other Dormobile on standard heavy duty springs the paras are far better in all forms of driving but particularly on roundabouts, Paras go round with a lot less body roll on all cornering. IMHO all paras work better with a good weighty load on, Dormobiles have got that as standard and are ideally suited to paraboloics. Mine also give about a 2″lift in comparison to the standards.

Best person for upholstery and trimming in the north is Martin Reed at Great Ayton his work is absolutly fantastic, you just have to look at the quality of the trim on his restored 1932 Rolls Royce to apreciate the skill of the craftsman. He is generally around at most of the classic car shows in the North East with his classic car, truck, caravan collection it does not take long to see the quality of his work. Tel no 01642 723610 or Mobile 07740 076064

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