Here we go - 1955 resto

[lyallthecrocodile]

Hi all, after a false start a few years ago on restoring my 1955 i have finally gotten stuck right into it. Have been hanging around the forum for a while and looking forward to posting the progress and learning from everyone. I get the impression that posting a lot of photos is appreciated so hope these turn out ok ;)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

That's an interesting vehicle! Its a UK built export model, quite unusual as most '55s were CKD Australian assembly.

Do you know much of it's history?

[digger]

Thanks.


This should be good to watch!...

cheers...


Oh and ....."see you in while................" (you know how it ends!):D
(C'mon I have a 4 yr old! she always says it!!)

[JDNSW]

Thank you. Your progress will be interesting. Is that a helper in the background of the first picture?

John

[Scallops]

Looking forward to a picture heavy thread! :) And you have a good shed to do the work in - I battle away in a carport with gravel beneath my feet! :eek:

[Landy Smurf]

yay another resto thread for series ones lokig forward to it
cheers tony

[Tote]

what are you using to take the paint off? an angle grinder with a flap disc?

Regards,
Tote

[lyallthecrocodile]

A few more pics of the progress, hope to keep em coming scallops; dont envy u working on gravel though! Have the tub, seat box, fuel tank and firewall out. Not sure what the disc is called i took the paint off with, but it's plastic and made by scotch i think; takes the paint off without spoiling the aluminium. Yeah that's my 8 yr old helper Rory there, he's pretty keen to see the project through! Don't know anything about the vehicle's history except it came from the northern territory, and full of red dust too!! So the plan is to run the engine/test the mechanicals soon and then strip down to the chassis. The rear chassis member has rusted out, but i have a replacement section which will really test my welding skills :eek: The front guards are cactus but i purchased a better set with the vehicle which need far less work. For the measly price of $100 (mates rates) i also bought a restored firewall from a friend. Can't wait to get out there and keep going, but have a few busy days ahead and its pretty cold at night here this time of year.

[Lakey]

Looks good! What sort of paint are you intending to use?

Lakey

[lyallthecrocodile]

Looks good! What sort of paint are you intending to use?

Lakey

not sure, don't know much about paint - or painting for that matter :eek: will have to practise on the old panels! any suggestions? not sure about the colour either. the standard green is classic but have been surfing for pics of other options. i already have a new set of seats and the darker canvas hood (from john craddock) so will have to match the seats at least.

[101RRS]

not sure about the colour either. the standard green is classic but have been surfing for pics of other options. i already have a new set of seats and the darker canvas hood (from john craddock) so will have to match the seats at least.

Most of the basic swbs in Aust will have been Bronze Green. Exceptions would have been LWB and Station wagons which most were grey.

There are exceptions of course (company/govt colours) but Bronze Green would not be far wrong if you want an original colour.

Garry

[lyallthecrocodile]

Was at my local tyre dealer today chasing up the possibility of locating/importing some RTM's when we noticed that one of my rims has 5 extra holes. Perhaps a mod to fit some other vehicle? any thoughts? Also anyone know of a source for 7.00 x 16 RTM's especially close to Adelaide. Hope to get further with the stripping down tomorrow.

[lyallthecrocodile]

Well got a bit done this arvo. Stripped out the wiring, brake lines and all the fiddly small stuff still attached to the chassis (thanks god for thin grinding discs)! Think its about time to see how he/she? runs, then tackle the engine, gearbox and sundries. Feels a bit ominous pulling it all down, a bit worried about getting it all back together without missing anything! anywho, here are some pics of the old firewall and the recond one, plus the rust in the rear chassis member, an average tailgate and the engine. just wondering whether the engine number should be the same as the chassis? chassis no. is 57162807 and the number on the block is 57115308. Also am trying to locate some RTM's 7.00 x 16's, does anyone know of an importer who's already used to getting them for forum members or is it best to find my own supplier in adelaide? cheers lyall.

[Northern Lander]

Engine is a 55 one so probably the original
Its good to see another series one being brought back to life :)
Looking forward to seeing the final incarnation, best of luck

Wardy

[easo]

That rim is interesting. Do the off side holes fit to the hub?

Easo

[slug_burner]

Looks like a replacement steering wheel might be in order.

I chickend out of stripping the whole thing down, no room and would certainly have lost stuff. But I do envy the people who have the room and patience to do a complete strip down, repair and paint as it all goes back together.

[lyallthecrocodile]

WOOHOO!! She? runs. Ran some temporary wires, filed the points, plastic fuel tank, dodgied up the exhaust and presto. Sounded great, no smoke. currently has a holley that leaks fuel everywhere (complete with hole in the bonnet for the air filter), but it runs none the less. Was a bit late to keep it running, but will test out gearbox etc tomorrow while its up on the stands. :D

[lyallthecrocodile]

Hmmm, no luck with the holley so stuck a solex on there but it (the carb) needs various bits and peices :( not sure whether to persevere with testing out the mechanicals or continue stripping it? might give the carb a bit more of a tweak otherwise will worry about it on the bench later. i dont really want to do a full motor gearbox diff etc rebuild at first if its not needed yet, but dont want to get it all together later and find that it has basic problems. what have others done when they are unsure of the mechanicals? find out prior to resto, go the whole hog and rebuild everything (funds will slow the process down a lot) or a bit of a mix of the two? anyhow keen for suggestions from those with experience. i've been told that it drives but it wasnt really in a state to drive when i got it. cheers lyall

[StuRR80]

I can't speak from a full resto experience but if my rangie's anything to go by, if your '55's been sitting around for a while unused, then I'd be going through and replacing all seals before putting it back together. I fix one on the Rangie and everything's hunky dory for a few hundred kms then another seal springs a leak.....

[dreamin']

The plan for my 55 86 is to strip it right down to bare chassis, fix the rusty bits, then put it all back together, replacing all seals, rubber and wire as I go. Engine runs fine, but compression a bit low, so will take the head off and get someone who knows what they're doing to have a look.

I only get a couple of hours on this each week (between work, kids, all the other projects, etc) but try to knock off a little job each time. It's going to take ages, but I'm down to the chassis now and have learned heaps along the way. Lots of little bags of broken bolts, all carefully labelled.

Have found most things I need so far on ebay and online. If you have time, you can save money by knowing what you need and searching or waiting for it to turn up. The web is great for this.

And make sure you have a proper workshop manual and parts catalogue. $100 spent on these up front is well worth the investment, I have found.

Hope this helps - good luck with yours

D

[chazza]

I agree with the others - best to investigate now and find out what is wrong with it.

Currently I am restoring a S1 where everything is being painted polished and made as perfect as possible, but at the same time I am making an outwardly-scruffy ute of my S3. For both machines I have adopted the policy of inspecting repairing and being prepared to replace: axle seals, bearings and the surfaces seals run on; likewise the seals on gearboxes and engines; most of the suspension parts; anything in the brake system including the steel pipes; ball joints; relay and anything else in the steering system exhibiting wear.

I think I am getting just as much enjoyment on the scruffy S3 as the pristine S1 :D

Check out Paddock in the UK for the fast moving parts at ridiculously cheap prices and Craddocks in the UK for less common S1 bits, along with PA Blanchard; Dunsfold; Brookwells and LR Spares,

Cheers Charlie

[lyallthecrocodile]

Well very happy, the extra tinkering with the solex has paid off. made a temporary spacer gasket under the carby, plugged some leaks and reattached the vacuum advance and it runs great :D water pumps seems ok too. slight problem with the 4wd lock but is probably just sticky; and i think the starter motor is making some slight noise as if its not completely disengaging everytime. other than that diffs, gearbox etc all seem serviceable. so will proceed to pull everything off down to the chassis (after a good clean first). cheers for those sites chazza, will check them out. I have used john craddock, i bought a complete resto kit from them and am very happy with it :D cant wait to put those seats in!!

[lyallthecrocodile]

Well decided to give everything a clean before proceeding, so here is before

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/1261.jpg[/IMG]

and after thanks to three cans of oven cleaner ;)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/1262.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/1263.jpg

feeling inspired now! OK got the hang of photobucket, so posts should look a whole lot better. having pics in the post rather than thumbnails looks a lot nicer.

[lyallthecrocodile]

me and some cheap child labour managed to get the engine and gearbox out today

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/928.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/929.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/930.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/931.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/932.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/933.jpg

looking forward to a date with the sandblasters soon...:p

[ellard]

Hi there

Many thanks for the pictures - its a good looking chassis (the oven cleaner worked a treat)

All the best

Wayne

[lyallthecrocodile]

Hi all, haven't had much time to work on the rover lately as i've been working away accumulating funds for new shiny bits :) have taken the rear diff and suspension off and that just leaves the front to get it to a bare chassis. Was searching the forum re. suspension and found that someone mentioned that the mob in melbourne's suspension seemed a bit too firm. any suggestions on best place to buy new suspension (mine are a bit past it) and what is the best option for shocks? thanks lyall.

[marc]

Hi all, haven't had much time to work on the rover lately as i've been working away accumulating funds for new shiny bits :) have taken the rear diff and suspension off and that just leaves the front to get it to a bare chassis. Was searching the forum re. suspension and found that someone mentioned that the mob in melbourne's suspension seemed a bit too firm. any suggestions on best place to buy new suspension (mine are a bit past it) and what is the best option for shocks? thanks lyall.

g,day watching with intrest as you go.pix are great now, dont now how to do that myself yet, still lernin computers. "to the point" just spoke to sean at roverparts, about parabolics for the front of my 55s1 107 $341+pos.will raise the front around 2" back maybe 4" standerd sets are cheaper. looks like a chrissy present for me and the old girl. (the car) cheers marc

[Sideroad]

I would suspect the drilled holes would match the pattern of the old FJ holden (and old VWs) as they were close-ish to the rover PCD. The reason could have been to have a universal spare to match a trailer.
Both my father and I have old trailers that I have this stud pattern and in a serious pinch you could fit a rover wheel but only as an emergency as the rover wheel would be so much bigger on the one side of the trailer.


Was at my local tyre dealer today chasing up the possibility of locating/importing some RTM's when we noticed that one of my rims has 5 extra holes. Perhaps a mod to fit some other vehicle? any thoughts? Also anyone know of a source for 7.00 x 16 RTM's especially close to Adelaide. Hope to get further with the stripping down tomorrow.

[chris1983rangie]

hi, your project is comming along well! great to see the young fella in there helping i bet when he turns 18 hed be driving your landy!
the 1955's are proving popular this year!
cheers Chris

[ellard]

Hi there Chris

I agree - its great to see the young ones getting some quality time with there parents and most importantly to the vintage scene.

Well done.

As for your comments Chazza


I think I am getting just as much enjoyment on the scruffy S3 as the pristine S1 :D



I have some well restored cars within the shed, but I still get so much enjoyment with driving around the un-restored 1954 86"

All the best

[lyallthecrocodile]

thanks, yeah the comment about the rim perhaps being a universal spare makes a lot of sense. I think i'm sold on that one. Haven't done much for a few weeks but have some funds now to continue on....