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#Post#: 9923--------------------------------------------------
New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: double de-crunch
Date: April 27, 2014, 12:40 am
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Hi Folks,
just thought I should introduce myself....
By trade I'm an apprentice mechanical/ electrical engineer for a
private hospital and my passion is collecting and restoring old
stationary engines, and the associated machinery - pumps,
generators etc. I've always liked the look of leaf sprung Landys
and not being able to get insurance on a van, an old Series
seemed like the perfect vehicle for our weekends away at the
steam rallies.
So, last June I bought an old Series 3 knowing nothing about
them!
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The first problem came the next day when checking the rear diff
oil level, just thought I'd get one more turn on the filler
plug.... and it dropped into the diff with a plop and a
clunk..... my introduction to Land Rover ownership!
My Series 3 was built in 1983 and has been civilian spec all
it's life, though she served until the early 2000's; being
pensioned off as a farm run about. The previous owner was with
4x4 response and during his ownership had the engine rebuilt - a
5 bearing 2.25 petrol.
Since I bought the vehicle I've been doing all the improvements
I can, she needed a bit of welding to get through the MOT but
the chassis is remarkably solid with few patches - Apart from
the outriggers which have been cut and welded up.
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The next problem was a leaky fuel tank, easily replaced.
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I then started to look at the prop shafts, at some stage I would
like to fit new ones but I started with the very front UJ, you
could measure the play in 32ths of an inch rather than
thousandths! The timing was a bit out and eventually the carb'
gaskets relented after a slight "blowback" so they were next to
be changed along with the timing.
I like to try and anticipate problems, next on the list was to
replace the ignition system, it all looked pretty ancient! The
new parts were fitted in a day, points gaped and timing checked
again.
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Even managed to find time for a bit "laning" which was great
fun! There are some fantastic byways around Sussex.
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As mentioned previously, the engine was rebuilt but the head
bolts had obviously not been re-checked. One day I arrived at
work with water seeping out between the head and block - the
bolts were very loose and soon torqued up again. I took the
opportunity to check and set valve clearances too.
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I then replaced all the coolant hoses, the jubilee clips kept
needing another turn every so often so it was time to get it
sorted - the water pump was also making horrible noises and
leaking slightly. I had the lot changing in a day, not too bad a
job but I'll take the rad' out next time.
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Now, I have serviced the Landy and regularly check oil levels,
prop shafts and so on - but usually with the transmission brake
on. There was some serious vibration above 50mph so I thought it
best to investigate, with the brake off I could lift the brake
drum a fair bit, this had resulted in knackered UJ's on the rear
prop'. It wants a new prop' really but that will have to wait.
I removed the prop-shaft, fitted new UJ's, stripped and rebuilt
the speedo' drive housing along with the brake mechanism and
re-shimmed the bearing. This seems to have done the trick. The
drive flange nut was not even finger tight when removed!
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Now we get to some proper problems! Some previous owner had
bodged in a CD player, I decided to investigate what the wires
trailing around the dash actually did. Now, working with
electrical equipment on a daily basis I should have remembered
to disconnect the battery first - it was just my luck that the
insulator piece on the rear of the aux' socket had been left out
and the ring terminals for the radio feed were loose.... they
shorted and nothing fused. "Basically" it ripped through the
loom and caught fire.....
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I have just spent the last month and a bit replacing the Main
and Hazard harness'. With careful planning it was a lot easier
than I though, there were a couple of "bugs" when finished but
it was a case of just swapping a couple of connections. Whilst
about it, the dash was stripped and cleaned, wiper motor
serviced and CB radio installed.
Before:
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After:
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Still got the horn to do....
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If you want to see more of the re-wire or any of the work on my
Landy then take a look at my Youtube Channel, "steamwally".
With WRD off the road, I took the opportunity to change the two
very front spring bushes, they were completely shot and the
difference it has made is incredible - much less "crashy" over
bumps now. I had read the horror stories about removing them,
but it took longer to jack the vehicle up I used a tapered drift
to ease the springs away from them when removing an installing
the new bushes.
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After testing the electrical bits on the drive I thought I'd go
for a quick spin to prove it out, I got two streets away and the
gear lever sheered off.... as the next job was to torque the
shackle bolts I had nothing on board but a tow rope!! Luckily, a
defender 110 driver came to my rescue and towed me home, even
helping push the Landy back onto the drive. What a gent!
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The next day I got hold of a spare selector lever and had it
fitted that evening after work, there is the usually synchro'
problems with the box' so double clutching is a lot easier now -
the lever must have been on the way out for a long time.
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Taken a few nights ago, this is how she's looking now:
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Next project is to rebuild a spare gearbox. A fellow Land Rover
and stationary engine nut drove several hundred miles to deliver
it to me in an old diesel 2A running on veg oil! My gearbox is
making some funny noises so at the moment it's treated gently in
the hope it will carry on a bit longer. I know little about
gearbox's so stripping and rebuilding one seemed the best way to
learn.
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And finally...... were off to an engine rally today with the
club. Here is one of my prized old motors, 200kg of 1930's
French iron. It's a Conord F2 for this in the know and I rebuilt
it mechanically a couple of years ago. An old Landy is the
perfect vehicle for the job and it's great rattling off to the
rallies for a weekend enjoying "playing engines", plenty of real
ale and sunshine (hopefully!)
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Apologies for the very long first post and introduction, I hope
it's of interest to someone.
Regards,
Phill.
#Post#: 9925--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: mick swb
Date: April 27, 2014, 1:34 am
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lkebtn
#Post#: 9927--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: guest11
Date: April 27, 2014, 2:34 am
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Hiya Double de-crunch,
Welcome onboard.
Some good photos there Cllpcs
Keep up the good work wdesmle
#Post#: 9928--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: goinnowherefast
Date: April 27, 2014, 3:16 am
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Nice intro!!
Welcome along wdesmle
#Post#: 9931--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: Calum
Date: April 27, 2014, 4:21 am
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Looks like it's got a good owner at last! Certainly seems to be
keeping you busy...
By the way that gearbox, or at least the bellhousing, is a IIa
item (if you didn't already know) so should keep your double de
clutching in good practice! Have to agree though that stripping
one will be the best way to learn!
I have a Douglas sat under the workbench and I WILL get round to
running it one day, but the thing is I can't stand seeing them
at shows just idling and firing once every 6 revolutions just to
keep the flywheel turning... I want mine to do a job for me (as
it did in the mill where it came from) so until I find a
suitable application under the bench it may well remain for
now...
#Post#: 9932--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: mistericeman
Date: April 27, 2014, 4:38 am
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Welcome along Phil....
Glad you found us... Looks like you've already put plenty of
work in there thsh
Told you we had a good few lovers of stationary engines and
steam etc.
Enjoy having a mooch round and joining in.
#Post#: 9937--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: hippydave
Date: April 27, 2014, 7:20 am
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Welcome along dude, you will fit right in here i have no doubt ,
good to see you giving the motor the tlc it deserves and
learning along the way like we all did when we first went into
leafer owership. it sounds like its in very good hands.
#Post#: 9943--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: comedycrew
Date: April 27, 2014, 10:55 am
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lkebtn
#Post#: 9948--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: Fluffle-Valve
Date: April 27, 2014, 1:10 pm
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Nice one there matey. I too frequent a fair few Steam Rallies in
the Northamptonshire area. I used to have a whole load of
Stationary Engines, but I've now got rid of them all. I just
enter into either the commercials or classic caravan sections
now.
Good luck with the landy. It sounds like you are a good learner
and not afraid to get your hands dirty.
#Post#: 9960--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Land Rover owner.....
DIR By: moomoo
Date: April 27, 2014, 2:21 pm
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What a lovely comprehensive intro young fellow.
Welcome aboard. lkebtn
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