DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Old Leafsprung Land Rovers
HTML https://ollr.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Members' Motors
*****************************************************
#Post#: 56800--------------------------------------------------
Amazing Journey
By: Drew Date: April 11, 2013, 1:09 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Another Leafer...another Who title. But it was a pretty amazing
journey which brought this l;attest acquisition about. Nothing
spectacular about the driving...just one of those episodes when
one thinks, "I must have been OK to some folk for this 'what
goes around, comes around' thing to happen to me.
Got a mail last week from Scruff, informing me he'd passed on my
e-mail address to David Lovejoy of LRM. DL has a Dutch friend
living in France who had a load of Land-Rover bits to dispose of
and the enquiry was as to wether-or-not I'd be interested...a
question with a default positive answer. But, as it happens,
this man of the Netherlands is actually already registered on
here, he being 'Arjan' We got directly in touch and discussed
what the deal was, and I was pretty knocked back, to be honest.
Think gearboxes, wheels, axles, blingy bumpers and...err...a
full motor. Now consider all that as being completely free for
collection, only three hours drive away.
Drew's involved!
Here's the motor; a very original and late 88" S3 diesel...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0017_zps4b4754a9.jpg[/img]
Inside (parts all stacked in the back) just needs hanging back
on the bulkhead. There's an unused 109" full tilt there too
(might look good on 'Acid Queen' for a non-rivet counter
super-psychedelia look with the 'Java Green' ;D). Also, an
equally unused oil-cooler rad...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0019_zpse021ef72.jpg[/img]
Clean and tidy engine bay...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0021_zps747c3418.jpg[/img]
Cute 5mb...original red block...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0023_zps3ac8ec55.jpg[/img]
BL/AR period box ticked for Drew with this little sticker. The
rad-cap is similarly branded...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0022_zps97887559.jpg[/img]
After the dash, seats and a heater matrix are re-fitted, then a
suitable battery plonked into the tray, this motor is ready to
go. The chassis has previously been welded, but has a good echo
to the knock, and the bulkhead is of the kind of solid quality
where the pillars are in such a strong state, the doors still
hit home on their strikers like the day the motor left Solihull.
There will be no de-characterization of this bus. A return to
the original catflap door format (with a, hopefully, similarly
patina'd tailgate) is the only change to be made. After that,
it's the daily driver and worker, sharing jobs with the 2B
'Naked Eye' once that is re-engined, smartened and ready for
heavy-weight tasks.
A great addition to the fleet!
That, though, is not all I filled the trailer with.
Couple of random gearboxes and a strengthened case Rover rear
axle...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0016_zps99234fcf.jpg[/img]
Couple of door-tops, XTRM protection and the a winch-mounting
plate which was originally mounted, with winch, on the front of
'Amazing Journey', plus a hard-core cow-catcher bar with
incorporated bumper...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0015_zps9b021695.jpg[/img]
Then, at the last bits of yesterday's well-loaded Ifor; some
half-decent doors, a TACR nudge-bar, and...yes...four pukka FC
rims (not your ANR 130" rims)...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Amazing%20Journey/DSC_0014_zpsd23e8282.jpg[/img]
There's another load to come, which includes a truck-cab, 6-cyl
gearbox, front axle, 2.25 diesel engine, wheels, wheels, wheels,
a tidy Brownchurch roof-rack for a truck-cab (direct to 'Tommy',
I think), plus whatever other bits Arjan sees fit to give in an
effort to make room for his major hangar building project.
To say this is Series Land-Rover camaraderie at its best is to
speak in words of understatement without equal. And as Arjan
rarely, if ever, speaks in terms of cash exchange, I have
offered my back and arms to aid him in his building plans. But
most of all and of paramount importance to me, Arjan and his
wife, Ellen, are human beings of the greatest warmth, raining a
hearty welcome on my son and myself for our time at their spread
in the Auvergne, and having met them has made me richer in ways
far beyond the material. Yes, I've more stuff to come...but I'm
better looking forward to meeting these great people again.
Apologies that this motor intro was a bit more than the
presentation of a set of wheels...but any less would have done
the day and the sentiment of free giving no justice.
Arjan, I thank you. 'Amazing Journey' will soon chew the roads
again.
#Post#: 56802--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: NUGGETT Date: April 11, 2013, 1:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Nice, very nice - a blue niab!
2.25d - have fun. 8)
#Post#: 56810--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: hippydave Date: April 11, 2013, 2:38 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Great stuff Drew.
#Post#: 56835--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: AlexB Date: April 11, 2013, 3:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
My take on this is
what goes around - comes around. It's karma.
Now if you were a complete arse who didn't give a shit for your
fellow man and leafer........................
#Post#: 56857--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: mr.scruff Date: April 12, 2013, 3:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
:thumbs:
88" diesel... ace!
#Post#: 56865--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: Wooden Date: April 12, 2013, 5:42 am
---------------------------------------------------------
-ditto-
The 2.25 diesel is a gem of a power-plant.
8)
#Post#: 56892--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: parksy64 Date: April 12, 2013, 10:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Happy days!
Chuffed for you my man :thumbs:
Is the truck cab roof any good? :rolleye0012:
That cow shunter front bumper arrangement would probably go
better on the FC than the TACR one......
#Post#: 56895--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: billhook Date: April 12, 2013, 11:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
WoW. Like all your Christmas's come at once then. Great photos.
:giddy:
#Post#: 56897--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: Drew Date: April 12, 2013, 11:20 am
---------------------------------------------------------
And I don't even believe in Christmas or any faith celebration,
Bill...or didn't ;D
Truck cab roof is above average/good and complete with window
locks, Alex. The only off-putter for some may be what appears to
have been a beacon hole (easily patch-uppable).
Channel felts may benefit from replacement...didn't pay that
much attention, but will when it's over here in a week-or-so.
If you can arrange for me an upper cat flap and/or a S3 binnacle
with clocks (switches aren't important, but wouldn't be sniffed
away), I'd consider it fair trade.
#Post#: 56903--------------------------------------------------
Re: Amazing Journey
By: NUGGETT Date: April 12, 2013, 11:45 am
---------------------------------------------------------
You can have your original one back if you want Drew; of course
it isn't the correct colour now ( well it is actually - DBG).
It got treated to a new seal, locking handle, bit of weld and
the bits to attach to the hard top.
Didn't suit the way I roll, need and prefer the big door.
Yours.
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page