29-792 = Batty

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Welcome to a preview of the latest addition to the fleet. The vehicle has the chassis number of 94324068C showing up on the nonclemature plate, the firewall panel plate near the gearsticks and also on the passenger side spring hanger. The partial engine number suggests that it is a different motor than when it first rolled off the assembly line. The engine number even defied the yellow chalk rubbed over the whole area and then the top layer wiped off with a damp cloth trick.

From the vehicle's verbal history I am only the third owner since it left the military. The second owner's mate bought the vehicle at an Army auction in Brisbane.

Apart from the usual missing blackout lights and 24 volt alternator for the radios and all radio related equipment that usually disappears off FFRs this vehicle is pretty unmolested. It still has the back scoop - the main feature that attracted me to buy Batty. Plus it still has a 2.6 litre Land Rover motor. I am not sure of the condition of the motor as it was going when it was parked in a shed last year. Batty still has the brush bar and pioneer tool brackets and numerous TAC holders; 3 on the front and 3 on the rear.

Oh and my first ever Christmas Tree on the front driver's mudguard :)

The brakes need work on each corner and the clutch hydraulics need replacing.

Here are some photographs of Batty.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Here are some photographs of different parts of Batty's Christmas Tree.

Can anyone work out what its history is from the numbers (5333) on top of the tree and from the stripes that make up the triangle? Below the triangle is a Kangaroo and below that the word "Army"

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

G'day All,

I would like to thank Paul (Pop058) for driving his Disco and trailer to pick Batty up from Murgon. :D Also for being the "eyes" of the expedition too. So thank to Paul for your time, efforts and good company during the trip.

Here are a couple of photographs of Batty parked up in its former main street in down-town Murgon in Queensland.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I tried the yellow chalk technique and waited until the sun was in the right place so I did not need the flash on the camera. I am still not 100% sure however I think I can make out some ghost images that could have the engine number as 94119575. The last three digits and the suffix are still guess work.

I tried this engine number on the REMLR website for Army Registration Numbers and it turned up that there was a 94119575 B fitted in:
ARN: 28-879 Wheel Base: 109 Year: 76/77 - Model: Series 3
Body Number: 6028 Configuration: Truck, Utility, 3/4 Ton, GS, Cargo Engine Number: 94119575B

I will try and different light and also use my wife's more modern camera to see if having more pixels helps view the worn out numbers a bit better.

Otherwise I might have to watch CSI for an episode where they use a type of acid to raise the filed-off serial numbers on guns :cool:

Can anyone let me know what the difference. parts-wise, would be between a Suffix B engine as opposed to a Suffix C engine?

How critical is it when it comes to ordering engine parts to have the correct suffix?

Oh and where does one find a Series 3 vehicle's Body Number?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[hot rover]

Hi Lionel
I would say it has been an artillery vehicle, I have 2 reasons for saying this.
(1)It has 3 Tac plate holders. This is only done by artillery I have done a lot of research and this is what I managed to work out. The one on the grill would tell what battery and who the vehicle belonged to ie. The CO or 2ic.
(2) It is a ffr and artillery use more ffrs than other corps of the army.
I hope that helps a bit.
Cheers
Rod

[Lionelgee]

Hi Lionel
I would say it has been an artillery vehicle, I have 2 reasons for saying this.
(1)It has 3 Tac plate holders. This is only done by artillery I have done a lot of research and this is what I managed to work out. The one on the grill would tell what battery and who the vehicle belonged to ie. The CO or 2ic.
(2) It is a ffr and artillery use more ffrs than other corps of the army.
I hope that helps a bit.
Cheers
Rod

Hello Rod,

Thank you for the reply and for the information about 3 Tac plates being associated with the artillery.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello Rod & All,

Thank you for the reply and for the information about 3 Tac plates being associated with the artillery.

I have attached a photograph of the "Christmas Tree"

Kind Regards
Lionel

[The ho har's]

Good score, very nice Lionel:)

Mrs hh:angel:

[hot rover]

Hi Lionel
I found some reading for you might explain what I was saying earlier. Hav a look on the REMLR site in the vehicle marking page some info there.
Cheers
Rod

[Lionelgee]

Hi Lionel
I found some reading for you might explain what I was saying earlier. Hav a look on the REMLR site in the vehicle marking page some info there.
Cheers
Rod


Hello Rod,

Thank you for the link to the document, much appreciated. I will have a closer look at the Tac plates and hit them with some wet & dry paper to see if there were any symbols painted on them - as they sometimes did.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[HowardSmall]

I downloaded the link but only got there pages re Arty. Can you give me the link to the whole publication?


Thanks, Howard



Hi Lionel
I found some reading for you might explain what I was saying earlier. Hav a look on the REMLR site in the vehicle marking page some info there.
Cheers
Rod

[HowardSmall]

I downloaded the link but only got there pages re Arty. Can you give me the link to the whole publication?


Thanks, Howard



Hi Lionel
I found some reading for you might explain what I was saying earlier. Hav a look on the REMLR site in the vehicle marking page some info there.
Cheers
Rod

[hot rover]

I downloaded the link but only got there pages re Arty. Can you give me the link to the whole publication?


Thanks, Howard

Hi Howard
This is a copy out of the Taubet book of those 3 pages that is all I have.
Cheers
Rod

[HowardSmall]

Sorry to keep on, but what is the Taubet book?

Howard


Hi Howard
This is a copy out of the Taubet book of those 3 pages that is all I have.
Cheers
Rod

[303gunner]

Stephen TAUBERT personally published a book and later a CD-ROM of the history of vehicle markings in the Aust Army, at his own cost.


Go to The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers. Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. (http://www.remlr.com/) , then "The Library", then "Books". The book and CD contained years of work and valuable research, and were priced accordingly. Don't expect a burnt copy for free. :nazilock:

[UncleHo]

I have a copy of his book, first edition, and yes, he wrote and correlated his book at his own expense after AWM knocked back his application under the VP95 grants,he was assisted financially by the Military Jeep club of Qld and several members personally contributed myself included, he was not allowed to add anything post 1988 under the secrets act as a lot of that stuff was still in use :(

A lot of later information has come out since Michael Cecil retired.

cheers

[Lionelgee]

G'day All,

I have been doing little bits & pieces on Batty in preparation for waking the engine out of its slumber. You know the story; the previous owner said, "the engine was running when the vehicle was parked" :)

I found out that the bottom radiator hose leaks like a sieve because it must not be a genuine part and is too short. There is only enough length for the adjustable radiator clamp to barely bite on the radiator outlet. I have solved the supply of new radiator hoses issue.

Today, I investigated the broken indicator & horn stalk. Apart from the stalk being pulled off when I got Batty, there are numerous bits and pieces broken off it too. Then I traced the wires back and noticed the brown wire with the black trace - colour code "NB", is cooked. The wire was melted from the horn button all the way to the big junction inside the dash. There is no horn either mounted under the bonnet either. The other wires for the stalk are either cutoff, or there are blue wires used for a number of different connections. Why follow a standard factory colour code when there is pretty blue wire to use :mad:

I suppose it is all fairly typical of old Land Rovers. Even if I am the third owner after it was auctioned off by the government.

Luckily a couple of my spares Land Rovers have the indicator - horn stalk in place and the wiring looks pretty original. I will be able to copy off them to find out what wire goes where. :)

One day all the bits and pieces will join into a total and I will have Batty purring and mobile. I wonder if that is described as being optimistic or simply delusional :cool:

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I continue to tinker with Batty. I have been doing bits and pieces while I have a battery in to find out what is working and what is not. So far indicators and brake lights are ok.

Reverse lights are not working. I have to lift the tunnel cover off to see if there is a switch installed or even the lever and springs for the reverse light selector. Other vehicles I have had came without any reverse light parts under the tunnel cover. A job for another day.

The spotlight at the rear was disconnected - ripped out by the previous owner. However, after running some wires I managed to get it operating.

Starting the engine has not happened yet. It is a bit difficult to turn the ignition switch while checking to see if there are any sparks going from the coil, points, or plugs. Sometimes you just need two people.

Prior to this I had an introduction to Zenith Stromberg carburettors and found that the main piston was ceased. I did some research, read some articles and watched some YouTube clips. Armed with this small amount of knowledge I dismantled parts of the carby and got the piston sliding up and down again. No go. I have another carburettor on an engine that I know works so I did a swap. Still no go.

From this point I will trace the electrical circuits to the engine. I did find one of the coil connectors was literally hanging on by a couple of wires.

The starter motor cranks over smoothly, the ignition switch is operating correctly. So I will chase the wires from the ignition switch, plugs, points and coil.

My offsider should soon be available to turn the ignition tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime I will chase the headlight issue with the high beam not coming on.

Kind Regards
Lionel