G'day all,
Just recently I picked up my new project, a 1970 ex-military LWB IIA in restorable condition. Paid $400 and i'm pretty happy with it

Here are some pics (click for bigger pic)




Her numbers are as follows

Build date : 11/1970
Chassi no. : 25334454G

military date : 4/12/1970
Command : STH
Census no. : 6028
Contract no. : V113697
Mileage : 21

I havent got around to checking the engine number but it appears to be original, 2.25L Petrol, which matches the calvin report for my chassi number and i havent checked the body number but it also seems original. I will post them up when i get them.

Some history
She has had a fair amount of modification done to her, mostly to meet the last roadworthy cert it went through in the mid 90s. This work included a complete rewire of the whole car, engine freshen up including extractors, electric fuel pump, stromberg carby, alternator, all new suspension involving reset springs, new bushes and shocks, freewheel hubs - in conjunction with front axel rebuild, bucket seats. But this was all over 10 years ago and the car has been sitting unused, rego lapsed for the past 3 years untill I came along. As you can see it also has a genuine Athol Hedges roof and it still has some of the pioneer tool brackets. It also has a galvanised bullbar (not pictured).

I was looking around for a good 4WD project and stumbled along this which caught my eye and the rest is history as they say. I am new to the world of land rovers, especially ex-military and i am fascinated by these. I searched around on the REMLR site and found my chassi number which matches my census number but it says my date is 1971... can someone explain???

According to REMLR by ARN is 178-230 and engine no. is 25349793K (will have to check that one).

Anyway there she is, I hope to be restoring her over the next... ahhh... how long is a piece of string???

My goal is to have her as a beach vehicle for camping/touring etc (once I get rid of the rust in the chassi YIKES )

Any info people can give as to the history of my vehicle would be greatly appreciated. I have heaps of pics too and a Video coming soon.

Cheers, Newbs

Congratulations Newbs and welcome to REMLR

Good looking project you have there... i have one from the same batch for sale at the moment... seems that G suffix makes it special

__________________
REMLR Member #176
EVL '96 Defender 110 Dualcab
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Here is the story with the video. We (my dad and I) went to go pick up the rover with car trailer etc. but we couldn't get the trailer down the owner's driveway so instead we towed the rover up out of the guy's driveway and onto the street to be loaded up and trailerd out to our property west of brisbane. Long story short it was the first time the rover had moved in over 3 years - was very emotional haha . My mate was filming, i was 'driving' the rover and dad was in the 80

Cheers Outlaw

Some other info i can give as to the military fittings - it has the dual fuel tanks with brass dipsticks, white mudflaps, windscrene tie down strap, some poineer tool brackets, cut-out guards, remanence of olive drab paint all over the chassi/drivetrain and both of those things that bolt to the rear crossmember. I think they are fuel can holders????

It does not have the dual fan belts however (yet to check if original engine) and has a regular Rover diff (maybe something to do with suffix 'G'??)

Nice find Newbs! Welcome to REMLR; are you going to keep it close to original or modify it?

Cheers Charlie

Welcome to REMLR, you'll have to fill in a membership form

As for what fittings are originally on the vehicle. Dual tanks is army, toll brackets are army, Cur guards are army. Windscreen strap is rare to still have, keep an eye on that one! The things that bolt to the rear x member may be jerry can holders, or just bumpers, depends a bit if it was modified in service and so on.

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1981, Series 3 FFR. 33-727 - Grover
1961, Series 2 Ambulance. 108-098 - Eden

Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers Mem. 129
Defence Transport Heritage Tasmania Mem. 12

You know, strictly speaking, throttling the staff is my job

Great find mate ... welcome to the part where you will never see your wallet with any money in it again ... You will have some great fun with it thats for sure ..... and always show update pics

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Cheers Mick

THE MIGHTY HAWKS 2008 PREMIERS.

Cheers fellas

Was out at the property today to work on the rover (yet to be named) and cleared up a few things. First, it does have the dual fan belts - only one is used though. And after sitting idle for 3+ years i sused out one of the fuel tanks, deemed it useable and threw some fuel in to see if any of the electrics still worked, mainly the fuel pump.

Good news is that after giving everything the once over and hooking up a battery most things still work!!!

List of working items
-fuel pump
-indicators/hazzard lights
-wiper motor (irregular)
-alternator charging light
-carby seems good, accell. pump working well
-starter motor (very good)
-oil pump functioning, I know this because it pumped oil all over the ground when i went to turn the engine over. It pumped it out of a small threaded hole where the oil filter screws in - can someone tell me what this outlet is for??? I'm stumped

Things yet to work...
-Headlights
-gauges (most)
This is mostly because the wiring behind the dash is a mess. It's all there it just has to be put back together and the original wiring diagram is useless as the wholetruck was rewired.

Biggest letdown was that the rotor button was missing!!!! grrrrr - suspect previous owner borrowed it for his other rover. Ahh well it was all going to smoothly anway...

Apart from that the engine turned over well and i am excited about getting it running within the next day or two as soon as i get the rotor button. Once she is running and moveable the strip down will begin - starting with removing the shagpile from the rear... and the rest of the rear for that matter to get to the cancerous chassi back there. I have a whole rear crossmember with sleves to attach to the chassi to replace the old crossmember as it is U/S

Plans when i started out to find a project 4by was to build a cheap (4cyl) fourby to go camping on the beach, LCMP etc. And i wanted something different to a hilux or zook. Oh and it had to be solid axle front and rear... a real 4by (no offence to IFS). The fact that my rover was ex-mil was a fluke and a good one at that, I'll definatly be keeping the shovel brackets . I don't think my build will be strictly military, mostly because being a student i can't afford to correct the many modification already done to my vehicle. I will probably paint it green though and knowing the vehicle's history makes for great bragging rights.

Cheers, Newbs

P.S. I am joining REMLR, form will be in the mail soon.

P.P.S Does anyone know where to get a wheel stud to suit my rover? I'm missing one (again suspect previous owner)

Welcome Newbs

I am amazed that it pulled so easily. The last IIa that was pulled by a Toy*#@ held it's brakes on and wouldn't turn it's wheels. Did you give ARN 178 230 some valium before the tow?

Good work on another save.

Cheers
Diana

There are a few places that stock series land rover parts, and most of them have websites. British off road up your way used to have some stuff, not sure who would be closest to you though, Incisor or uncle ho would know, or maybe even ferno.

__________________
1981, Series 3 FFR. 33-727 - Grover
1961, Series 2 Ambulance. 108-098 - Eden

Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers Mem. 129
Defence Transport Heritage Tasmania Mem. 12

You know, strictly speaking, throttling the staff is my job