Pub Purchased Series 3 Landrover

[LouD86]

Well it all started tonight. I popped to the pub for a couple of pints with the lads. Discussing vehicles, Landrover Series' came around. We have spent this weekend rebuilding a friends 110 TD5, and next weekend is planned getting another's Series 2a back to roadworthy condition. Of course, this led me to eBay.....


.....3 minutes later, blind bid put in for a laugh, on a 1973 Landrover Series 3, in need of "Serious Restoration" - meh, I won't win it for less than £400 anyway will I???





Ohhhh st........

So, the positives, well, with the rolling exemption for road tax being changed to 40 years, it should become exempt. Its only 12 miles from home. And erm, yer thats it

The bad, well. I don't believe it runs, it looks faded (that I won't change, patina is good), I have no idea on the chassis, and its been fitted with a 2.5 NA Diesel. So trying to work out what thats from, as I only remember the 2.25, then the 200tdi, so I may have some learning to do.

Link to the eBay auction below, so you can all laugh at my random, 2 pints later purchase. Since then, 5 more pints have been consumed, and I can't decide whether ive purchased a lucky Landrover, or a pile of crumbling mess. Going to pick it up Tuesday night, so well, we will find out. THank heavens for having a 12t recovery truck at work, as I don't think the Scenic would enjoy (or legally be able to) tow it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-3-Series-/231...

So, a little bit of research before bed tonight, ill let you know Tuesday how rotten the chassis is!! Eeek

[0a]

summary of potential ownership experience?:



The best of luck!

[LouD86]

I'm secretly smiling. Im really hoping that I can get it running quickly, and if that Chassis is ok, get it for a fun winter vehicle. Ill take the back off, just leave it open roofed, and go and play. I have some 110 Alloys with great tyres on, and meh, wiring will be easy on a vehicle of that age. No bother with the bodywork, its just chassis and bulkhead I'm worried about

[Hooli]

2.5 NA is just a later NA engine as far as I remember. It came after the 2.25 NA but before the TD.

Good luck & I hope you like welding

[LouD86]

My best mate, a TD5 110 owner, is a marine welder! So, i've got a helping hand, and I have a full workshop here which is pretty handy too.

Ahh ok, I don't mind the engine being an N/A, thats perfect, less hassle or issues

[CAPP0]

Conspicuous lack of ANY chassis pictures or details in the listing!

[LouD86]

CAPP0 said:

Conspicuous lack of ANY chassis pictures or details in the listing!

Please don't, this was pointed out last night, after the purchase, by the sober one in the party. Ahh well, Chassis' aren't too hard to change!

[LewG]

Best of luck to you and I hope she doesn't turn out to be a complete rotbox. Mine has been a wonderful machine over the past 8 years or so. The 2.5 NA is as mentioned before just a diesel post 2.25 NA used in earlier 110s, 90s etc.

[Jawaman]

Another on my list. Ideally I'd like an '84 purely because it would be the same age as me.

If it wasn't for lack of space I would have one now!!

[anonymous-user]

You, OP, are a legend and a God amongst petrolheads. I bought a Series Landy from a bloke in a pub once, but it was parked outside at the time so I did actually kick the tyres first. It turned out quite well, and I sold it on a few years later after lots of fun and not too much hassle. I hope yours turns out well too!

[hidetheelephants]

The 12J 2.5 n/a is the last non-turbo unit LR made, so you've got a 5 bearing crank and cambelt rather than chain.

[anonymous-user]

If you can, maybe get a 2.25 petrol for it, which is a fine engine of its type, and sewing machine smooth compared to the diesel. A Fairey Overdrive is not a bad idea if you want to drive on road a lot (whiney as hell, though), but they go for 500 quid and upwards on eBay these days, and having one adds one more thing to break, I suppose. Freewheeeling hubs are bks, IMO, so no need for those. Most other bits quite cheap, apart from chassis and bulkhead stuff. Ex army wheels and knobbly tyres used to be cheap, but seem to have become expensive recently.

[s p a c e m a n]

'bought as a project 3 years ago and haven't had time' What could possibly go wrong?

[LouD86]

Breadvan, thank you!! And spaceman, well I did wonder. I can't get the lorry from work until Thursday, but popped up this evening to have a look (its on my way home, which is handy).

Well, Chassis has been patched in 5 places, but I couldnt get a screwdriver, aided with a hammer through anywhere! Rear crossmember is solid as a rock. All outriggers are spot on.

The bulkhead needs two minor local repairs, around the door hinges, but very minor. The engine, well it ran 3 years ago, until he towed it down his road behind another 90, in gear, and blew the coreplug out. Never got another one, so its sat there. So, thats on the list, aswell as full new fluids.

Tyres are all perishing, sidewalls have cracked, but I expected that. So new tyres, two bits of welding, get the engine running, check the lights (fingers crossed there) and in for an MOT. Its got the 2.5NA as you guys say, out of a Defender 90. Along with its gearbox, which is a bonus I hear. Uprated headlamps, and nice rear lights. Got the OE steering wheel too, and spare mirrors, spare roof, and box of spare odds and ends too. All at £364.80 odd pence. So, Im happy!!


The aim...... London to Brighton without breaking down later this year. Im going to attempt to get it on the road by my birthday, 1st may, then if it passes the MOT, ill whip the engine out, clean everything up underneath, waxoil, paint the axles etc, tidy it up. The engine bay will have a full freshen up, but the paintwork, well thats the bit the guy thought was in need of serious renevation. Im leaving it. I love the patina, I may paint up the roof though, and see if I can find a canvas tilt? Did they do it for these models?

Edited by LouD86 on Tuesday 25th March 22:36

[anonymous-user]

I was right with you up to the £364, but that 80 pence was just reckless extravagance.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, Series 3s could come with canvas tilts. There was a slightly ratty one for sale on the site below the other day -

http://www.johnrichardssurplus.co.uk/

[LouD86]

I know, utterly reckless!! I think it may have been £365.80 odd pence, jeez, going to break the bank there!! I was lovingly given £500 by my recently deceased Grandad, with the instructions to spend it on something for the future, that I would enjoy, and would give fun, laughter, and make life better. I think this is very fitting. I think a subtle sticker in rememberance to the old man, on an old wagon, will be very sensible.

I have just now on eBay, purchased a set of tyres, oops, a spotlamp bar for the roof, front and rear, and some seats for the rear sides, so I can take 4 people in modest comfort. Wow, this is building up to start emptying my wallet. This years, spontanious purchases, with no thought follow;

L322 Range Rover Vouge
D-Class ex-RNLI lifeboat
Caravan
Series 3 Landrover

I think I need to get off eBay, and behave!!

[anonymous-user]

Shortly afterwards.....

[Hooli]

Breadvan72 said:

Freewheeeling hubs are bks, IMO, so no need for those.

They also break the 4wd.

I had a S3 Ltwt with a V8 dropped in for a while. That had free wheeling hubs on & because it'd only been driven with them disengaged the front prop never turned. That meant the oil thrower on the front output shaft in the transfer box never threw any oil which means the selector shafts never got oiled & the 4wd selector fork had seized on to one of them. Several hours of swearing later I'd got the transfer box apart in situ & cleaned the rust off.

Then a couple of months later the nice new canvas tilt got nicked! To make it worse I'd already sold the car so had to knock the price of a replacement off to keep the sale.

[LouD86]

Breadvan72 said:

Shortly afterwards.....

OH my!!! No, no no no!! Bodywork is staying standard. I don't even want to lift it. The rear light bar, is to fit two working lights too, so I don't drill into the roof, the front, 4 small LED spotlamps. I do intend to do a bit of light laning in it, the extra lamps would be helpful.

I want to keep the originallity of the bodywork, and colour. Its going to be different.