Vehicle & Technical > Series Land Rovers
Series 3 Upgrade and Modernisation and a road trip!!
Porny:
Series 3 Upgrade and Modernisation
Not my Land Rover, but I've offered to do the work around my normal job.
I'm sure he will be along shortly but the Series belongs to Johnathan (Ser3 J). He is currently in Afghanistan, but the aim is to have the Land Rover finished for his return around September time.
The Land Rover:
A very nice Series 3 Station Wagon.
All very standard Series - i.e. 2¼ petrol, 4 speed gearbox, overdrive etc etc.
It all started with the purchase of a set of jump leads (and the sale of his Disco to my brother), a few questions :wink: and it evolved from there.
The current plan (which may change considerably when I've sent Johnathan some pics) is for the following spec:
Disco 200Tdi Engine
Defender spec LT77s Gearbox
Series Transfer box with adaptor kit to fit the above gear box (so keeping part time four wheel drive)
Custom Stainless steel exhaust
Full Internal Roll Cage (custom made)
Rear Bulkhead removal
Twin Fuel Tanks (but with external filler on both sides)
Military Spec gearbox crossmember
Four Point Front Harnesses (to suit Johnathans very nice tracker/cobra reclining seats)
Front and rear battery points – anderson plugs (and a set of jump leads)
Deep Dish LR 2b Steel wheels
Swing away wheel carrier
Period looking snorkel
And a few bits I've missed
Basically the aim is to create a sleeper/Q car Series 3 - that has the appearance of a Series 3.but is very different underneath!! But all done in an 'as factory' style.
Ian
Porny:
Part 1 collection of the Land Rover:
Lets look at the logistics:
Johnathan is currently in Afghanistan so quite a few thousand miles away, the Series 3 is in Elgin and I live in the Midlands which are not close either!!
So a plan was hatched. The original idea was for me to fly up to Scotland but due to me choosing a Bank Holiday weekend, the cost shot up considerably. So plan B - go up on the train, and drive the S3 home (hoping that it made it!!)
On paper the train journey didn't look too bad - 10.5 hours and two changes. Plenty of time to read a book (and various LR mags).
If only it was that simple, but I won't bore everyone with the details (including having to sit next to a woman with bladder problems) - I finally got to Elgin train station (in a Taxi) at 12.20am over two hours later than stated on my ticket.
At least I didn't have to wait long for Johnathans lovely wife Hannah to pick me up. (Note to self it's blinking cold in Scotland at 12.20am!!!)
Morning came and the Series 3 was prepared for the jounery south.
Wheels on, fluids checked and a visit to the petrol station and we on the move.
After Edinburgh the normal route would be down the motorway, but instead I headed the A68 and stopped Nr Lincoln over night at my girlfriends parents. The A roads seemed a better option than the monotonous motorway.
So 456 miles later (or just over 10 hours of Driving) I arrived in Brigg/
Monday afternoon saw the last bit of the drive only 117 miles and I was home.
So 573 miles in two days and the Land Rover had performed faultlessly throughout!! (apart the Speedo and fuel gauge deciding they didn't want to work!!) Not bad for an old Series 3 that has been layed up for a few months!!
So now the fun begins!!!
Ser3 J:
Well,
What can I say? Those pictures make my truck look far too good! And it amazes me how green everything is back at home. :wink:
Iv been in this hot and dusty place for 3 months now and this crazy plan has been building (It must be the sun). Ian has gone above and beyond to travel way (way) up north and survived the trip back.
So now it starts... Watch this space. A first look has revealed a few 'issues' - not least a slightly ropey rear chassis :roll:
Some may ask - what am I (Or rather Ian 8) ) doing throwing all this work (and money :oops: ) at a regular old Ser 3? Simple - I want a leaf sprung little truck that will last another 20 years that I can fix with a handful of spanners!
Ian - Over to you mate!! 8)
Bob Ajob:
Sounds a very interesting project, keep us posted !! With piccies of course :)
Porny:
Part 2 Inspection:
Hrmm.... amazing what waxoil and hammerite can hide!!!
First job was to have a good look round the Land Rover (and have a good poke) to find all the good and bad points.
On the plus side:
The Series 3 is probably one of the better ones I've driven. The steering wheel is actually connected to the wheels lol :lol: and it doesn't have loads of free play/slack.
All the running gear appears to be fine, the engine runs as sweet as, and all the gears work as they should (bit irrelevant though, as all being changed).
Body work wise... apart from a couple of 'character' dents, it is very straight and fairly original - even the doors shut very well and are not rotten!!
The bulkhead has a few blisters, but nothing that can't be sorted out before they get any worse.
And then the chassis.... and the not so good points.
As shown in the photographs, the rear crossmember is well past its best, as is the drivers front chassis leg and some of the passenger front chassis leg (usual place behind the bumper). One of the rear spring mounts has been bodged up in the past and the main rails do have considerable surface rust - and in places are thin, especially around the fuel tank (allows mud/dirt to collect).
Before I started poking it, the crossmember looked fine - apart from flaking paint... is amazing what thick paint will hide!
So - we could fit a new rear crossmember (or even plate the existing one - although it is starting to blow apart as well), new front chassis legs and patch up everywhere else needed - and we would end up with a serviceable, but not 100% perfect chassis - that will last a good few years. Parts wise, all the main bits would come to about £100 – plus any additional steelwork. But it would take a while to get the whole chassis up to a good standard.
Or the second option, although more expensive in the short term, is to fit a replacement brand new galvanised chassis. This will then probably outlast the rest of the LR lol....
Johnathan has already decided that he wanted a full internal roll cage, and there is no point in welding a cage onto a rusty chassis!!
To do it properly if you're fitting a cage the chassis (and the metal you're welding to) needs to be 100% spot on - or if the worse did happen you will very quickly find any weak spots in the chassis :shock:
There is also the added benefit that the chassis can be made with a military spec gearbox crossmember (along with a couple of other modifications) which will cut down the things I need to do - and thus time taken.
After considering all the options, Johnathan has decided the best long term solution is to go with a brand new chassis... the plan is to keep the Series for a long time - so he is taking the philosophy do it once, do it right.
So just need to order one now, and the strip down can commence.
Ian
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