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The Old Landrover Arms
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#Post#: 33678--------------------------------------------------
The Merc Rover
DIR By: Landie Les
Date: October 30, 2015, 4:16 pm
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This was one of those vehicles that I never planned to buy. It
was quite literally an abandoned project, found in the garage of
a block of flats where the developer had gone broke and done a
runner. The receivers wanted it cleared out and not being able
to establish any previous owners and checking with the police to
make sure it wasn't stolen or wanted in connection with any
crime it was sold to a freind of mine who got to hear about it -
for £1.00 The powers that be determined he couldn't keep it,
something to do with a van, a tractor an MGB and another Land
Rover on the drive. So some more pounds changed hands and it
became mine and I now have the v5 as well.
2 things attracted me to it, It is the same age as me and it has
a 5 pot Merc Diesel engine from the old 300G barge. These
engines are Legendary, noted for notching up a million kilometre
or so by German Cabies, I like things that are a little bit
different. Originally I planned to pull the engine out and put
it in my Series One Truck but on closer inspection, this little
truck didn't seem to bad. Under the badly painted Dulux garden
gate green body work there is a good chassis, all the
mechanicals seem to work as they should so I thought I would fix
the old girl up and get it through an MOT. In addition to that
my wife has taken a fancy to it, which makes life easier.
It is a 1964 2a, although it has gained a set of late 2 a wings,
which will stay for the time being.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/605/22513278312_1d87f101fc_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AiqrhU
There is plenty to do, a wiring meltdown to sort, the fan has
chewed up the radiator, it doesn't stop and the exhaust pipe
needs some attention.
The chequer plate isn't to my taste, but will need to stay for a
while as it covers a multitude of sins, I don't mind the Alfa
Romeo seats ( as long as they are not harbouring the Alfa rust
bug), but I really don't like those seatbelts.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/625/22501133866_c6e1b9df99_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AhmcaU
HTML https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5774/21905926203_fc25c7c525_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/znKAEP
HTML https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5692/22527085325_160c340245_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AjDcCR
This is what is under the bonnet and it sounds very nice, none
of the vibration of a Rover 2.25D either.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/21905759713_13224a14d0_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/znJKbi
#Post#: 33679--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: Landie Les
Date: October 30, 2015, 4:44 pm
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To get the engine to fit the number one crossmember has been
modified to get the rad to move forward.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/740/21904687524_ed268c1927_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/znDfsh
It seems that the rad wasn't bolted in, so the fan has had a go
at it and the bottom hose has been rubbing on the alternator
pulley.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/22513915102_f406f475ed_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AitGA3
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/657/22538545991_899bd04077_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AkDWux
So after finding the other 2 series 3 radiators I have about
also leak like colanders I invested in a new one. I tracked a
replacement fan down , which turned out to be a Mk 1 escort
item. I don't know how well this is going to do at cooling. The
inner wings have been hacked out and I wonder if this suggests
some cooling problems in the past, but the mechanical fan was a
cheap option and You have to start somewhere. A new bottom hose
was fabricated from a series 3 bottem hose and a shortened top
hose, just using the 90 degree bend, linked with a bit of copper
pipe. One of the support legs from the battery tray was cut away
to keep the hose away from the alternator pulley. With a little
more work I think I can keep the battery under the bonnet on a
permament basis, by moving the whole tray to the right.
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/773/22527031045_c1db0c3d85_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/AjCVuZ
New rad in place.
I decided with the electrics the best thing to do was rip it all
out and start again. A collection of melted wires and bodged
work arounds to sort out did not seem like an electrical system
I wanted to wast time with.
HTML https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5651/22513684892_bc818a1273_c.jpg
HTML https://flic.kr/p/Aisw9U
Unexpectedly it took a couple of hours to get to this point.
#Post#: 33680--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: comedycrew
Date: October 30, 2015, 4:45 pm
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That engine looks quite at home there, got to be better than a
4203 perkins.
#Post#: 33683--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: Vidal
Date: October 30, 2015, 5:07 pm
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Thats great! And an engine made before Merc started to go
downhill, some of the new smaller Mercs have Renault engines in
don't ya know! whstle
#Post#: 33684--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: jonny
Date: October 30, 2015, 5:20 pm
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thats ace. Something real different
#Post#: 33686--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: B20wnx
Date: October 30, 2015, 5:54 pm
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Fantastic find, £1 think at that price I would have bought
another two.
#Post#: 33690--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: moomoo
Date: October 31, 2015, 2:42 am
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Brilliant bud,something different that's well worth having. You
clearly have the know how to make the best of a truly great
project.
Power to you! wdesmle
#Post#: 33694--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: divie
Date: October 31, 2015, 3:54 am
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Very nice, I would have taken that on.
#Post#: 33695--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Merc Rover
DIR By: Willy Eckerslyke
Date: October 31, 2015, 4:04 am
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That does look nice, I do like a proper period conversion, and
it looks so much more 'period' than a 200Tdi.
On a note of caution though, a V5c doesn't denote ownership. If
a rightful owner resurfaces/gets out of prison/etc they could
reclaim it. Just keep that in mind before spending too much time
or money. Someone has gone to an awful lot of trouble putting it
together and might be overjoyed when it turns up on the internet
years after they thought they lost it.
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