1974 Series 3 SWB

[Chad79]

This is the story of our 1974 Series 3 SWB Landy.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1487/23621939624_ab42ac3043_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BZoBF7)East Coast Tassie - Mar 15 (https://flic.kr/p/BZoBF7) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

The story of our Landy starts almost 12 months ago (so it may take a while to come up to speed). However, the story of my affection for series land rovers started much earlier. As a child of the 80s, I have a penchant for old school four wheel drives. My first car was a 40 series SWB landcruiser and whilst I have progressed and upgraded to more modern (and comfortable) four wheel drives, I am constantly drawn back to the trucks of my childhood, particularly old land rovers. I still fondly remember borrowing our neighbour's 109 Stage 1 ute as a kid, what an awesome truck. I am digressing.....

This time last year, my wife and I were discussing our desired holiday plans for the year when a lap around Tasmania was thrown into the mix. It would be a new holiday destination for the both of us and somewhere we each really wanted to go.

Unfortunately, our trip planning was delayed by various things (read: life) until one day in February when I came across this ad on Gumtree -

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1573/23623194193_2846ffb62a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BZv3BB)Gumtree Ad - SWB top (https://flic.kr/p/BZv3BB) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1527/23954481390_6f3b49a5fb_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CuLYKQ)Gumtree Ad - SWB (https://flic.kr/p/CuLYKQ) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

I instantly had thoughts of lapping around the apple isle checking out the sights in an old swb landy - how good would that be?! If there was a better truck for the job, I didn't want to know about it. Whilst this idea kept a smile on my face for a good couple of hours, as reality kicked in, so did the realisation that this plan was quite unrealistic. After all, we were up here in Brisbane, and the Landy was all the way down there in Tassie. Not only that, I wasn't even sure the truck was still available. I finally convinced myself it wasn't a very good idea and left it at that....

Until I mentioned the idea, in passing, to my wife that night. Expecting her reaction to be the same as mine (although I was expecting her to come to the same conclusion as me in about 4 seconds as opposed to my 4 hours), I was most surprised when she asked me whether I had called the seller to see if the Landy was still available.

Whilst I know now that the little Landy was just the motivation we needed to get our trip planning back on track, at the time, I couldn't believe my luck (I was also concerned that my wife had lost the plot. I would worry about her well being further, just as soon as I had rung up about the Landy......).

Call made. Truck available. By the end of the week I have bought the Landy sight unseen and booked a flight to Tassie to take possession.

[Homestar]

What a great little truck. :)

So, what happened next, you can't leave the story there.... :)

[loanrangie]

Very nice, pretty much what i would want in a series vehicle.

[67hardtop]

Keep going with the story........

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

[whitehillbilly64]

looks like a few of us are waiting.

whitehillbilly

[mick88]

C'mon on Chad,
don't keep us all in suspense, we want to hear all about your trip.
How the Landy performed etc.
Nice looking vehicle, is it on gas?


Cheers, Mick.

[Dark61]

yes come on Mate - have you picked it up yet ? are you back home with it? did you drive it all the way? Did it survive the trip?
Spill the beans.
cheers,
D

[rangieman]

That is a sweet swb :D
Any thought`s on going back to a LR engine:cool:

[Chad79]

As we were still some way from finalising our lap of Tassie plans, we decided the best plan was to collect the Landy and store it until we were ready for our holiday. This plan saw me fly down to Tassie, collect the truck from the previous owner and whack it in a storage shed.

I arrived in Tassie on a drizzly February Saturday morning and immediately knew I had arrived at the right house when I saw two SWB landies in the driveway. The first was our new truck, sitting pride of place, clean as a whistle, the second, a neat series 2A with a truck cab that didn't look like it was far away from being registered. The previous owner later explained that he favoured the 2A as it was running the original 2.25 motor and was going to invest his time in that truck.

The previous owner told me what information he knew about our new truck - he had owned the Landy for about a year and had purchased it from another bloke in Tassie who had a number of other land rovers. Up until the week I collected it, the Landy had not been registered in Tasmania and was last registered, two years prior, in South Australia. Sometime before this, it has come from Queensland given the Qld compliance plates for the 202 and rear seats.

We then did a walk around the truck and the previous owner pointed a few things out to me. The main issue he had was that the steering was pretty vague, which he was disappointed in, given he had recently installed a new steering relay. He was also good enough to show me the processes for engaging high range and low range in the Landy (as this was foreign to me - given there are two stubby levers...). We then took off for a quick spin together down the road to ensure all was in order before me and the little Landy embarked on our first journey together. To the storage shed. 10 kilometres down the road.

My first impressions of the little Landy following this drive -

1. The Holden 202 is not as torquey as the big 6 cylinder diesel I was used to (read: revs are needed BEFORE releasing the clutch, not after).

2. Describing the steering as vague was being charitable.

3. Anticipating when needing to stop would be placed higher on the priority list that reaching the speed limit in the first place.

4. Cool. The little Landy had bucket loads of cool.

You couldn't take the smile off my face with a sledge hammer. What an experience it is to drive one of these magic machines - talk about engaging. I had forgotten what it was like to drive a car you actually had to drive.

I had only driven 10 kilometres on this first trip but I was already excited at the possibility of doing hundreds or even thousands more kilometres lapping around Tassie on our trip.

Unfortunately, that was the only drive I could fit in as I had just enough time for a James Boags or two and I had to get my return flight back to Brisbane.

Here are a few of the snaps I took before I tucked the Landy in the storage shed -

Love at first sight
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1449/24183296761_4f8cc9d543_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CQZHAr)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 2 (https://flic.kr/p/CQZHAr) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

Steel side steps and front bar
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/24157666932_1d9da52ee8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CNJmJQ)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 5 (https://flic.kr/p/CNJmJQ) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

Custom rear wheel carrier
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1625/24157654762_59b8bc2cf2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CNJi81)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 8 (https://flic.kr/p/CNJi81) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

16x5.5 Steel rims
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1629/23638995363_c6f20f4f40_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/C1U2Kz)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 9 (https://flic.kr/p/C1U2Kz) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

7.5R16 Recaps (Olympic tread pattern?)
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/23638984873_aa615c10c7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/C1TYCH)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 11 (https://flic.kr/p/C1TYCH) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

Holden 202
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1571/24239661626_81deaee3cf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CVYAUs)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 12 (https://flic.kr/p/CVYAUs) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

The last look I got at the little Landy for a couple of weeks.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1637/23637532494_c9f6061156_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/C1LwTG)Landy - Tassie - Feb 2015 20 (https://flic.kr/p/C1LwTG) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

[Chad79]

What a great little truck. :)

So, what happened next, you can't leave the story there.... :)

There is more to come - but this will be a slow burner. Slow truck, slow thread right?

[Chad79]

C'mon on Chad,
don't keep us all in suspense, we want to hear all about your trip.
How the Landy performed etc.
Nice looking vehicle, is it on gas?


Cheers, Mick.

And here I was thinking that it was a good thing to 'leave the crowd wanting more'.........

There is plenty more to come Mick. Just need to find the time to jot it all down.

Truck is not on gas, but looks like it might have been at some stage given the flange in the rear quarter panel and a few suggestive bolt holes in the rear tub.

[Chad79]

yes come on Mate - have you picked it up yet ? are you back home with it? did you drive it all the way? Did it survive the trip?
Spill the beans.
cheers,
D

The short answers are - Yes. Yes. No. Yes.

However, I think the long answers will be a better read.:D

[Chad79]

That is a sweet swb :D
Any thought`s on going back to a LR engine:cool:

Not at this stage. I have only recently caught up with the popular consensus that the LR 2.25s are preferred to the Holden 186s and 202s. I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was the other way around (or at least this was the case when I was growing up).

The 202 seems to be running well for the moment, so no plans for any imminent change.

[Dark61]

I'm loving first impression number 3.
I drove my 109 on a 40 minute trip home when I first picked it up, only ever having bounced around a paddock in one before and every time I approached a junction I prayed nothing was going to emerge from it that would necessitate me attempting to slow down. It didn't help that it then started to drizzle and I had no rubber in the wipers.
Good fun though!
cheers,
D

[mick88]

Chad,
why does it have two Blue Plates?
Is one for the engine modification and the other for the mod done on the chassis to accommodate the radiator being moved forward, or was it necessary for when it was on LPG?


Cheers, Mick.

[S3ute]

Chad,

Hello from Sherwood.

Given that your qualifications include (a) living in Queensland, (b) having a fondness for old Land Rovers and (3) actually now owning a leaf sprung model, you might find some value in joining SLOW (Series Land Rover Owners Inc). SLOW's membership is a small band of folks with an interest in keeping the old trucks going and/or poking about in them from time to time.

The club site is here on AULRO (down the list past the Gold Coast LR Club) including details of membership (a modest $25) etc. SLOW nominally meets every month or so at a pub or club around SEQ and organizes, trips, social outings and get togethers from time to time.

Check it out.

Cheers,

Neil

Acting Secretary (SLOW Inc)

[Chad79]

The Landy story continues.....

The next month or so saw us fairly busy as we mapped out our route to circumnavigate Tassie. The Landy proved to be a good tool for this planning phase. We soon realised that doing anymore than a couple of hundred kilometres at a time would be tiresome in the little Landy. This forced us to space out the trip in manageable increments, which in turn had us looking into, and at places, we may have otherwise ignored and planned to drive straight through. After all, up here, we don't think twice about knocking over 500-600kms a day if that is going to get us where we need to be.

With the framework for the trip being finalised, bookings for accommodation progressively being tended to and leave requests approved, my attention returned to the little land rover (hopefully) tucked safely away in the storage shed.

I must have read almost every thread on the interest concerning the operation and adjustment of series' steering boxes (most of which were on this forum) as I was keen to learn what steps I could take to make the steering a little less vague. I also compiled a list of spares I would buy on our return and put together a tool roll to take with me. Twice. The first time the roll weighed more than half our baggage allowance and I was told, quite clearly, that in a foot race between the sidchromes and a full wardrobe for the trip, the sidchromes would not be joining us (it appears my wife's sanity had returned....).

In amongst googling probably every conceivable search term concerning series land rovers, I had a stroke of luck. I came across a photo on the shannons website which looked remarkably like our Landy. The wheel carrier, the small drivers side wing mirror and a South Australian number plate. Could this be the same truck? A quick check with the old registration papers I had received from the previous owner and yep - it's a match. What are the chances of that? Our little Landy's history all laid out. Simply awesome.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1474/24311531265_09fa70d681_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D3jXfa)Shannons Garage 1 (https://flic.kr/p/D3jXfa) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1696/23683306914_e75e1e7c88_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/C5P92Q)Shannons Garage 2 (https://flic.kr/p/C5P92Q) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/24229022571_ef34488b4a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CV35ht)Shannons Garage 3 (https://flic.kr/p/CV35ht) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/24311528775_9d26e5206e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D3jWve)Shannons Garage 4 (https://flic.kr/p/D3jWve) by Chad79 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139198674@N06/), on Flickr

Full link to the site is here - 1974 Land Rover Series 111 - CrashGordon - Shannons Club (http://www.shannons.com.au/club/enthusiasts/crashgordon/garage/1974-land-rover-series-111/)

[Chad79]

Chad,
why does it have two Blue Plates?
Is one for the engine modification and the other for the mod done on the chassis to accommodate the radiator being moved forward, or was it necessary for when it was on LPG?


Cheers, Mick.

You are half right Mick.

Of the two mod plates under the bonnet, the first is dated March 1994 is for "LA1" which I understand to be engine installation/modification - I assume this is for the 202 (Incidentally that is another match for the history noted above from the shannons website).

The second mod plate is dated May 1994 and is for "LK1" which I understand to be for seat/seat belt installation/modification. It also provides "MOD SEATING CAPACITY: 2" - So this would be for the bucket seats (which I am still yet to identify what car they are originally out of - they are particularly comfortable though). Again this fits with the Landy's history outlined above.

There is also a further mod plate, dated July 2005, in the rear tub adjacent the rear seat for "LK1" as well as "LK2" which I understand is for child restraint installation/modification and provides "MOD SEATING CAPACITY: 4". So we are lawfully able to carry four.

Like I mentioned earlier, I assume that the Landy ran on gas at some stage. However, either it was not complianced or the mod plate has been removed.

[Chad79]

Chad,

Hello from Sherwood.

Given that your qualifications include (a) living in Queensland, (b) having a fondness for old Land Rovers and (3) actually now owning a leaf sprung model, you might find some value in joining SLOW (Series Land Rover Owners Inc). SLOW's membership is a small band of folks with an interest in keeping the old trucks going and/or poking about in them from time to time.

The club site is here on AULRO (down the list past the Gold Coast LR Club) including details of membership (a modest $25) etc. SLOW nominally meets every month or so at a pub or club around SEQ and organizes, trips, social outings and get togethers from time to time.

Check it out.

Cheers,

Neil

Acting Secretary (SLOW Inc)

Thanks Neil, that is something I will definitely look into.

I had noticed that section of the forum previously, but was concerned that the holden conversation may have made me ineligible.

Having had a closer look tonight, I see that 'period modifications' are acceptable. I assume the holden conversion would be considered a period modification?

[Homestar]

Yes, a Holden engine conversion is a period modification. :)

[chaybra]

I may be wrong, but I thought the period modification rule had a limit on horsepower increase, I looked at getting a 161 in and the power increase was within 5hp (over) the limit...could just be a vic thing, also...how can they accurately tell, depends on the roadworthy guy and how good of a talker you are.

[mick88]

The last vicroads regs I read were "no more than a 30% horsepower increase on an engine capacity of 3 litres or less". Over 3 litres (standard donk) you can go a greater hp increase. Cannot recall exact number.
There is a lot of other criteria with it, no chassis mods etc.


Cheers, Mick.

[Homestar]

I may be wrong, but I thought the period modification rule had a limit on horsepower increase, I looked at getting a 161 in and the power increase was within 5hp (over) the limit...could just be a vic thing, also...how can they accurately tell, depends on the roadworthy guy and how good of a talker you are.

I was talking about SLOw and them accepting a Holden engine as a period mod. In Vic as far as registering one goes, if it has had the engine number of the Holden engine registered with VicRoads previously - it only used to take a phone call or visit to get an engine number changed - didn't matter what you stuck in it - then it can be re registered with that engine without issue.

If VicRoads only have a record of the original LR engine, then a full Engineers certificate is now required to get a Holden engine registered in one regardless of HP increase. The rule about a 30% power increase without a certificate from an Engineer relates to a power increase of the factory engine only.

Take the 2.6 Ltr 6 cylinder I'm doin up. Factory HP was 72... That means I can work the engine to produce 93.6 legally without an engineers certificate.

I'm hoping to get around 100 so it technically won't be legal, but how will they know? I doubt anyone testing a series Landie with an original engine - be it a 4 or 6 is going to come back from a test drive and say 'That's too powerful!' :D

The laws are there to stop people turboing or supercharging standard modern engines that can net big HP gains without approval.

[MrLandy]

Beautiful Landy Chad, so where did you go in Tas?

[S3ute]

Thanks Neil, that is something I will definitely look into.

I had noticed that section of the forum previously, but was concerned that the holden conversation may have made me ineligible.

Having had a closer look tonight, I see that 'period modifications' are acceptable. I assume the holden conversion would be considered a period modification?

Chad,

Hello again.

SLOW doesn't get too anal about alien engines in the trucks. Probably half the membership have Holden engines or something else powering their vehicles. Obviously, we think having an original and well ticking Rover engine under the bonnet would be nice - and from a heritage point of view that would be the ideal. However, we are pretty realistic about these things.

Re SLOW itself - you might like to try us out. If you look at the site under trips for February and AGM you will see that we are having a meeting at Buccan (The Ho Hars abode) that will give participants a chance to explore the subtleties of servicing a Series Land Rover, run their vehicles onto a hoist for a checkup and otherwise have a yarn with a bunch of folks whose mechanical expertise ranges from ultra-full bottle to enthusiastic novices.

On another topic - if your planned trip to the Apple Isle is still ahead of you then I would suggest you take advantage of contacting a number of AULRO folks who call the place home if you haven't done so already. Also, in a former life I found myself a ratepayer there for several years and would be happy to offer a few insights into options that might be appealing.

Cheers,

Neil

Acting Secretary SLOW Inc.

[Chad79]

The Landy story continues..... The Reunion

Finally, after what seemed like an entirety, we were boarding a plane bound for Launceston to collect our Landy and embark on our lap of Tassie. For the better part of the next 3 weeks we would be getting to enjoy the all that Tasmania had to offer, courtesy of our series 3 land rover. We were pumped.

However, on the flight down I began to worry. I thought, what if the Landy turned out to be a lemon and the holiday was ruined by constant mechanical drama or worse, it prematurely ended our holiday. For what reason, other than possibly stupidity, could I not have had this thought process until then, sitting on the plane. On route to THE holiday.

My wife must have seen the panic in my eyes and asked my concerns. Her response to the above was simple - if the Landy doesn't make it, we can just hire a car and continue our journey. Wow. What a woman (NB. I made a mental note to remind her of this statement on the off chance we ended up broken down on the side of the road in Tassie somewhere...).

With the pre-game nerves out of the way it was time to collect our truck before checking into our accommodation. Roller door lifted and, still there. There was not as much oil on the ground as I had anticipated. The old girl had dropped some coolant though. I spent some time investigating the source of all of the leaks to ensure there was nothing too serious, checked fluid levels and we were set to be on our way.. SUCCESS. Fired first time - win! We were off to fuel up and find our accommodation.

We checked in to our cottage which gave me the opportunity to give the steering box adjustment bolt a tighten and give the Landy a thorough looking over. Fluid levels. Check. Tyre pressures. Check. Battery voltage. Check. Switch functions. Mostly check (Heater fan no go). Gauge function. Check. General visual inspection. Check. On the whole pretty good. We might just make this trip after all.

Concerns allayed.

With the sun beginning to disappear we headed out for a look about Launceston. After a good look around town we grabbed a couple of drinks and a feed from a great little bar called Alchemy before retiring for the evening ready to start our adventure in the morning.

Launceston snaps -

Launceston Landy
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/465.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D1wasT)

Launceston Monkey
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/466.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CbifoG)

Launceston
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/467.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D8NXfz)

Launceston hydration
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/468.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CFG2mA)

[Chad79]

Beautiful Landy Chad, so where did you go in Tas?

We started in Launceston and fairly well did a lap. Clockwise. I'll trying to chip away at our trip write up piece by piece. However, deciphering some of my chicken scratch notes from our trip is not without its difficulties....

[Chad79]

Chad,

Hello again.

SLOW doesn't get too anal about alien engines in the trucks. Probably half the membership have Holden engines or something else powering their vehicles. Obviously, we think having an original and well ticking Rover engine under the bonnet would be nice - and from a heritage point of view that would be the ideal. However, we are pretty realistic about these things.

Re SLOW itself - you might like to try us out. If you look at the site under trips for February and AGM you will see that we are having a meeting at Buccan (The Ho Hars abode) that will give participants a chance to explore the subtleties of servicing a Series Land Rover, run their vehicles onto a hoist for a checkup and otherwise have a yarn with a bunch of folks whose mechanical expertise ranges from ultra-full bottle to enthusiastic novices.

On another topic - if your planned trip to the Apple Isle is still ahead of you then I would suggest you take advantage of contacting a number of AULRO folks who call the place home if you haven't done so already. Also, in a former life I found myself a ratepayer there for several years and would be happy to offer a few insights into options that might be appealing.

Cheers,

Neil

Acting Secretary SLOW Inc.

Thanks Neil.

I signed up today.

I can't access the trips section at the moment, but when I do I'll definitely check it out. The meeting sounds like something I would enjoy.

Thanks for the invitation.

Regarding Tassie - we did go and we are already planning another trip to go back.

[The ho har's]

Hi Chad, Welcome to Landy ownership. You are most welcome to come to our AGM as Neil has invited you to. Has he given you the address yet? If not I will PM it too you :)

[harry]

great find chad97,
we love shorties!!


welcome also to shorty country.

[MarknDeb]

Gday Chad I only just saw the thread as I have not been on for a while, welcome to the island mate, hows the trip going, where are you now mate

[debruiser]

Nice little truck! looks great. Hope ur trip is going great!

[Chad79]

The story continues...

After a couple of days in Launceston, we started heading for the east (where we had some accommodation booked in St Helens) by heading south. Then north. Then north some more. Then south. Then East. Going in straight lines is so boring (and not strictly possible in our Landy...).

Most of the detours concerned visiting some wineries we wanted to see including, Josef Chromy, Leaning Church and Jansz all whilst doing our best to fill up the limited cargo space we had in the Landy with 'supplies' from each of the wineries we stopped at.

We pushed on to have a look at Bridport and had lunch at the Dunes Clubhouse at Barnbougle which put on a terrific spread. After lunch we started planning our path East. Given I wasn't sure how accurate the gauge was, nor how much juice the 202 was drinking I figured we needed fuel, especially when realised that the tank was 10 gallons and that 10 gallons was only roughly 45 litres!

With the gauge hovering somewhere near a quarter, we rolled in to Scottsdale and filled up. This was the first chance we had to review fuel figures:

Fuel Log
Location - Scottsdale
Gauge - Quarter
Tripmeter (Total) - 137mi
Odo - 74,292mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 117mi (187.2km)
Litres - 30.92 (6.8 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
17.2 6.1 16.5

Not bad. I had prepared for between 15l/100km and 20l/100km from my reading on the holden motor, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Landy Lessons Learnt on this Leg:

1. The faster you drive your Landy (or the steeper the hill) the less conducive it is for conversation in the cabin; and

2. [As a consequence of going slower in your Landy,] You get to see more of the beautiful countryside, and beautiful it is in Tasmania.

One mechanical issue raised its head on this leg. At speed, generally in third or fourth gear under power (generally going up hills), it felt like clutch was slipping. This problem had me a little worried for the rest of the trip because I couldn't figure it out. There was no issue at low revs or low gears. [I discovered, once back in Brissy, that that the metering plates in the carby had been put on backwards and when under load the 202 was being starved of fuel. Made a massive difference in performance [for a Landy] once this issue was sorted.]

Before we landed in St Helens we stopped in Pyengana to pick up some cheese to go with all the wine we had picked up. After all, we needed to start drinking it, all that added weight was affecting the performance of the Landy...

Pictures
Josef Chromy
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/258.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E4T79w)

Jansz
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/259.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E4T4Xh)

Good average speed.....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/260.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E4TU6b)

Plenty of this happened...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/261.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Efkyw2)

Picking up 'consumables'
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/262.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E7MGmU)

[Chad79]

Gday Chad I only just saw the thread as I have not been on for a while, welcome to the island mate, hows the trip going, where are you now mate

G'day mate,

Sadly we are back in Brissy now. But we have begun plotting our return. We really enjoyed our time down there!

[MarknDeb]

G'day mate,

Sadly we are back in Brissy now. But we have begun plotting our return. We really enjoyed our time down there!



Mate we came on holidays back in Dec 09 and fell in love with the place went back to Brisbane sold up and moved, still love it and will only be back in Brissy for visits never to live again

[mick88]

C'mon Chad your a bit slow with your typing.
I am enjoying the your account of the journey around the Apple Isle in the Landy and almost one month between episodes is a bit suspenseful to say the least.
Great story and 17 miles per gallon in that terrain is a reasonable fuel economy.


Cheers, Mick.

[debruiser]

Agreed, I was impressed with the fuel economy. My old 109 w/186 only ever got 18L/100km on a REALLY good day. It only got worse from there on in...

[Chad79]

C'mon Chad your a bit slow with your typing.
I am enjoying the your account of the journey around the Apple Isle in the Landy and almost one month between episodes is a bit suspenseful to say the least.
Great story and 17 miles per gallon in that terrain is a reasonable fuel economy.


Cheers, Mick.

Re slow typing - No one knows this better than me Mick. Not only haven't I been able to keep up with writing this thread - I haven't even started the Landy for a month! Hopefully things settle down soon and I keep this thread moving!

[Chad79]

Agreed, I was impressed with the fuel economy. My old 109 w/186 only ever got 18L/100km on a REALLY good day. It only got worse from there on in...

That was up there with one of the worst fuels numbers for the trip. Mainly, I think, due to the hilly country. It generally pulled better numbers (I think we averaged 15l/100km for the trip). Having said that though, we generally maxed out at 85-90km/h - so not sure if this had a lot to do with the good figures.

[debruiser]

That was up there with one of the worst fuels numbers for the trip. Mainly, I think, due to the hilly country. It generally pulled better numbers (I think we averaged 15l/100km for the trip). Having said that though, we generally maxed out at 85-90km/h - so not sure if this had a lot to do with the good figures.

Nice! Yea 18L/100km for me was at 85. If I pushed any faster you could watch the fuel gauge drop. Although things improved with the HIE ignition and MSD coil, and probably if I had spent some cash getting a new carbi it would have gotten a little better again.

I found 85 to be a nice speed to cruise along, as long as there wasn't a huge line of traffic behind us (I'd stop and let them all go past normally). Mostly I'd try to take a non-busy route so that I could just do whatever I wanted and not annoy others.

[Chad79]

Whilst I would like to say the next leg of our journey was one of my favourites, and it was, that would be suggesting that I enjoyed some parts of our trip more than the other parts, and that just isn't true. We had a ball the whole time and travelling in the landy made the trip that much more of an adventure. I don't really know how to properly capture the sentiments here. The best description I can come up with is this - I am not sure we would had considered our trip an adventure if we had been traveling in a rental Hyundai i30.

Next Leg - St Helens to Coles Bay

We awoke in St Helens to another beautiful day. The plan was to make it to Freycinet. What made this leg of the trip so enjoyable was the coastline we got to enjoy all the way down the east coast, and the many little beaches and bays we stopped off at along the way.

First things first however, there is none of this "just turn the key and drive off" business in a series land rover. No sir. I was beginning to form a bit of a routine of morning checks and inspections. Truth be told, I spent a lot of the time marveling at how much real estate remained in the engine bay (you can see the ground!), even after the 202 had been put in there, and also how simple but robust the little landy had been designed. The morning checks (dreamy gazing) had begun creeping up in duration. My wife began to think that the length of time I spent inspecting the landy was directly proportional to the unreliability of our chosen vehicle for the trip.

Checks complete, everything in order (save for the little coolant leak on the top of the radiator - note made to keep an eye on the temperature gauge and check the levels each time we stopped). With that, we were off and running.

Plenty of stops as we headed south down the Tasman Highway, including a headland in Scamander (photo location from first picture in this thread), Bicheno, Friendly Beaches, Ironstone Brewery and Freycinet Marine Park, just to name a few, all before arriving at our home for the next few days in Coles Bay.

Now, the first landy issue presented itself - coolant on top of the radiator. I figured it must have been coming out through a small hole under pressure. No worries, I think to myself, I'll crack the radiator cap to reduce the pressure. Good idea? Nope. I can't get the radiator cap to budge (still can't as it turns out). Right then. Plan b - plug the hole. I'll grab some knead- it from the servo come general store. Good idea? Nope. Nothing like that in store. Convenience store in Coles Bay? Nope. No knead-it either. Bugger. They did have some gasket sealant though...

Gasket Glue + Coke Can + Stubbie (for inspiration of course) = landy repair kit.

A quick risk analysis was undertaken- if the plan doesn't work, it's the same as doing nothing. Not really an option. If the plan works, car completes trip and I have a story to tell. Decision made.

..

After a very relaxing few days in Coles Bay sightseeing and eating too much seafood, it was time to move on. Next destination - Port Arthur. But before heading off it was time to fill up-

Fuel Log
Location - Coles Bay
Gauge - 1/16
Tripmeter (Total) - 298mi
Odo - 74,453mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 161mi (257.6km)
Litres - 33.5 (7.4 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
21.8 7.7 13

(The landy really didn't like some of the hills in the national park - the fuel figures prove it!)

Pictures

Morning Checks
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/284.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FxxRfj)

Cracking Tassie East Coast
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/285.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FpatHE)

Magic Smoko Stop
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/286.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FpasV7)

It is only a little leak...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/287.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FpmCBu)

Landy repair kit
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/288.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FrD3Yv)

Running repairs
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/289.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ECtown)

(Fixed) Kind of...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/290.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EC7P1q)

Ready for the next leg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/291.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EC83Dh)

[flyinglandrover]

I cannot decide if I want to complain or not! I wait for each installment of the trip, read it, check out the pics and turn green with envy! Then hang out for the next post!
I think spacing out the installments makes it better! But the waiting still drives me mad!
Great idea, Great trip!
Keep the posts coming at whatever pace suits you!

[Chad79]

I cannot decide if I want to complain or not! I wait for each installment of the trip, read it, check out the pics and turn green with envy! Then hang out for the next post!
I think spacing out the installments makes it better! But the waiting still drives me mad!
Great idea, Great trip!
Keep the posts coming at whatever pace suits you!

Thanks mate. Don't worry, it annoys me too!

It hasn't helped that my trip notes are spread across my work diary, my iphone and the back of various Tasmanian travel brochures. Or that the trip photos are on 2 different computers and a hard drive! But probably the biggest problem of all is - every time I read the notes, or look at the photos, I can't help but start day dreaming about the trip and thinking about the next adventure!

[Chad79]

And we're back.

Next Leg - Coles Bay to Port Arthur

We were at a real risk of never leaving Coles Bay. It is a beautiful small town, there appeared to be an endless supply of seafood available at our doorstep and the people we encountered were lovely. Luckily for us, the weather gods made it a little easier to leave, as we experienced our first bad weather for the trip, a very wet and windy day. So we packed up the landy and headed for our next stop - Port Arthur.

It was on this leg of the trip we discovered that the windscreen wipers work. Which was good, because it was raining. However, we also discovered that the windscreen wipers in a series land rover (at the very least, our series land rover) don't work very well. Which is less good. Because it was raining. A lot.

It was also at this point of the trip that we realised the heater didn't work. However, given the amount of 'natural ventilation' available through the body work of the landy, I figure you'd need something a kin to a wood fire to keep things warm. In reality, it probably wasn't that cold for Tasmania. However, for a couple of Queenslanders, we found it quite fresh. Wearing long pants and a few extra layers (a novelty in itself for us Queenslanders) seemed to suffice.

As the landy was already fuelled up, we fuelled ourselves up with a final coffee from Tombolo (the local coffee shop which turns out a good brew) and headed north to re-join the A3 before heading south towards Port Arthur.

We stopped for smoko and fuel in Swansea (and took an opportunistic photo in front of the Morris General Store, which made the Landy look like it had taken a step back in time).

We also stopped in for a look at the Tasman monument in Dunalley, which is conveniently located next to the Dunalley Waterfront Cafe and Gallery. The cafe also happens to be the cellar door for Bream Creek Wineries. Given the proximity we thought we'd take the opportunity to toast Abel Tasman's naming of Van Diemen's Land. Good job Abel.

Suitably refreshed we pushed on to Port Arthur where we would be spending the next few days.

Quirky land rover fact learnt from this leg of the trip - Land rovers have holes in them. A lot of holes. When traveling at speed (okay, it's all relative - at speed for a land rover) air is forced through these holes. And in Tasmania that air is cold. Very cold. Being a Queenslander, this would usually be a good thing - air conditioning. Less so in Tasmania, when the air being forced through the house in the transmission cover is as cold as ice. At one stage I was sure my legs were going to freeze. On the plus side though, the blasts of cold air coming through the floor were acting as a demister...

Note to self, I need to find a way to plug holes on the transmission tunnel. (I'm not sure if I am running more holes than I should (maybe an overdrive was fitted at some stage of the Land Rover's life).

Fuel Log
Location - Swansea
Gauge - 1/2
Tripmeter (Total) - 382mi
Odo - 74,538mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 84mi (136km)
Litres - 21 (4.6 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
18.4 6.5 15.4

Pictures

Visibility: Average
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/307.jpg

Time travel
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/308.jpg

Tailgate tea time
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/309.jpg

Sampling the local drop
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/310.jpg

Abel Tasman Monument
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/311.jpg

Land rover driver rite of passage
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/312.jpg

[Chad79]

Next Stop - Port Arthur

We spent the next few days in Port Arthur. Our base camp for this leg was the Norfolk Bay Convict Station B&B. Whilst we didn't know it at the time we booked our stay here, our booking came complete with a complimentary historian - the owner and host - Lynton. What Lynton didn't know about Port Arthur and its rich history, probably wasn't worth knowing. He also made Jam. Really good jam. I am fairly partial to a preserve on toast for a weekend breakfast, so for this reason alone I thought Lynton was alright. His tour guide advisory service was just a bonus as far as I was concerned.

With glucose levels peaking, we spent our time checking out the Port Arthur Historic Site (including an evening ghost tour of the ruins), the Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site and the Coalmine Historic Site. I am embarrassed to say that I had been completely ignorant of the significant role Port Arthur had played in our convict history. I had known Port Arthur for all the wrong reasons. The locals don't speak of the tragic event that occurred there so not as to diminish the rich history of the place.

Right, with that bit of history/culture out of the way - quirky land rover lessons learnt on this leg - of which there were two:

1. Plan your fuel stops

This tip really only concerns people who have not properly planned their fuel stops, driving a series land rover with a 45 litre fuel tank, in an area where petrol stations are sparse and the driver doesn't know where the nearest petrol station is, all while running dangerously low on fuel.

So basically, this tip really only concerns - me.

Somewhere along the line, whilst zipping (land rover translation: chugging) around Port Arthur and its surrounds, I lost track of how much fuel I had used and the gauge was perilously close to empty. Fun fact about Port Arthur - petrol stations are not in plentiful abundance. We were literally spluttering as we pulled into the general store in Premaydena.

2. Series Land Rovers save lives

Our guide from the ghost tour advised that Port Arthur (in addition to most of Tasmania) suffers an alarmingly high number of animal strikes. Mainly wallabies, possums and other marsupials. The guide said that a lot of the time, the animals get caught by the headlights, are temporarily blinded by the lights, stop in their tracks and are hit by cars because the drivers cannot pull up in time due to their speed. The guide concluded the tour by asking us all to dip our headlights if we saw an animal on the road, sound our horn and slow down on our drive home in the dark.

I informed the guide that I didn't need to follow these directions because I was driving an old land rover home. She queried why. I told her that the headlights on the landy were a couple of candle power at best, I wasn't sure if I had a working horn (or in fact a horn full stop) and given the average speed of the landy, the animals would probably have enough time to have a sit down meal before the landy got anywhere near them.

She didn't get it.

It seems you are either a land rover person or you are not.

Fuel Log
Location - Premaydena
Gauge - EMPTY
Tripmeter (Total) - 538mi
Odo - 74,693mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 155mi (248km)
Litres - 41.2 (9.1 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
17.1 6.0 16.6

Pictures

Norolk Bay Convict Station B&B
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/157.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/158.jpg

Landy Parking
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/159.jpg

Coalmine Historic Site
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/160.jpg

Land rover windbreak for smoko
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/161.jpg

Like an oasis in the desert...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/162.jpg

[Chad79]

Next Leg - Port Arthur to Hobart (READ: Landy rest stop)

The next leg of the journey took us to Hobart. This leg saw very little driving as we utilised other methods of transport to see the sights. Consequently, the little Landy earned a very well deserved break. Its reward for faultless motoring thus far was the ability to drop oil in the one place for the next 4 days - the car park of the Old Woolstore apartments.

We sampled a lot of the food, drink and culture that Hobart has to offer during our stay. Our travels took us to Mona, Salamanca markets and a large number of the eating and drinking establishments all around Hobart. We particularly liked the Elizabeth Street Pier precinct, given its proximity to our accommodation, which was convenient, given the large amount of time we spent where we were not in a state where we could lawfully operate a motor vehicle...

Driving in Hobart was also the first time we were driving the Landy in a city environment. It was an awakening experience on a few occasions - some other motorists were not familiar with the acceleration properties of a series land rover. It was also the first time on the trip that other motorists were using their horn for reasons other than acknowledging a friendly "Landy" wave...

As a consequence of the travels being largely on the foot falcon, there were very few Landy lessons to be learnt from this leg. However, there were two -

1. Know your driving environment.

City drivers are less likely to acknowledge that you are driving a "Classic" piece of motoring history and see you more as a motorist in the way of their destination. However, most situations can be defused with a smile and a calm Landy wave.

2. Series land rovers attract attention, even when stationary.

Notwithstanding the Landy was resting in the carpark of our accommodation, it attracted plenty of attention from other guests. The old truck is like a magnet and a great conversation starter. Despite me telling people how well it was running, I suspect some people were questioning my glowing reviews of its performance - especially when the Landy didn't move an inch for 4 days...

Fuel figures Fuel Log
Location - Hobart
Gauge - 1/2
Tripmeter (Total) - 629mi
Odo - 74,784mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 91mi (145.6km)
Litres - 20.5 (4.5 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
20.2 7.1 14.1

Pictures

Elizabeth Street Pier Landy
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/501.jpg

Elizabeth Street Pier
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/502.jpg

Floating Fish n Chips Shop
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/503.jpg

Lunch
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/504.jpg

Utilising a non land rover method of tranpsort
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/505.jpg

Someone knocked this up out of some left over reo...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/506.jpg

Turns out God doesn't drive a land rover...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/507.jpg

[Chad79]

Hobart to Strahan

Part 1 - Hobart to Derwent Bridge (including "Land Rover Ownership Initiation")

After a good stay in Hobart we were ready to hit the road again in the Landy. The next leg of the trip was going to take us to Strahan on the west coast. When we were planning the trip, we measured the distance from Hobart to Strahan at roughly 180km through some pretty hilly terrain. To make things a little easier on the Landy (...and our marriage) we planned a stopover in Derwent Bridge to break up the trip.

It was also on this leg of the trip that we had our "Land Rover Ownership Initiation" [READ: Mechanical Failure].

We stopped in Hamilton, which is probably a little under half way to Derwent Bridge from Hobart, and found a neat little park just off the Lyell Highway to have our morning smoko. A picnic table in the park relieved the Landy's tailgate of performing table duties on this occasion.

Shortly after our smoko stop, I noticed that the little red charge light on instrument panel was on. What was a little bit embarrassing was the fact that I had no idea how long the light had been on. What was a lot more embarrassing was the fact that I had no idea whether the light was normally on or off. Not sure as to whether the light should be on or off - I kept driving. After all, the Landy was still going.

As we continued hurtling down the road I thought to myself "I wonder what that charge light is meant to indicate?". I didn't know whether it meant that the alternator was charging or whether it meant the alternator wasn't charging? [SPOILER ALERT - It means the alternator isn't charging]

We rolled into Derwent Bridge and proceeded to check into our accommodation. From here it was onto the road house, the Hungry Wombat Cafe, for a feed of their signature beef burger. Aside from the road house and our accommodation, there was very little in town, which was good for us because I had a charge light issue to resolve.

So the Landy has an aftermarket voltmeter in the dash which you think would be helpful to resolve the issue right? Wrong. The gauge ranks from -60 volts to 60 volts (apparently it is a gauge from a substation?). This helped me see there was more than 0 volts when the Landy was running but less than 15 volts. Not to worry, I had a voltmeter in my tool roll. That should be helpful right? Wrong, well, sort of. The voltmeter worked. The fella reading it didn't...

Landy off. 12.4 volts. Beauty, that's good. Landy running. 12.4 volts. That's good too, right? Astute readers will realise that this is not right. Sadly, I did not realise I should have been punching out somewhere around the 14 volt mark. Until the next day...

Landy lessons learnt on this leg -

I am an idiot.

Fuel Log
Location - Derwent Bridge
Gauge - 1/4
Tripmeter (Total) - 745mi
Odo - 74,901mi
Tripmeter (Tank) - 117mi (187.2km)
Litres - 26.1 (5.7 Gallons)

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
20.4 7.2 13.9

Pictures

Smoko stop in Hamilton
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/372.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/373.jpg

Newer shorty spotted whilst we were in Derwent Bridge
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/374.jpg

Unhelpful voltmeter
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/375.jpg

[debruiser]

7.2L/100 from a series.... wowzers.....

wait... I can't read... sorry....

Still impressive figures, I never got close to that from my 186 engined LR.

[Homestar]

7.2L/100 from a series.... wowzers.....

No, 13.9 L/100 - 7.2 Km/L. :)

[Aaron IIA]

Usage
mpg km/l l/100km
20.4 7.2 13.9


7.2L/100 from a series.... wowzers.....

Actually 13.9L/100km
Or 7.2km/L
Or 20.4mpg

Aaron

[67hardtop]

That looks like an amp meter not a volt meter.

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

[debruiser]

Actually 13.9L/100km
Or 7.2L/km
Or 20.4mpg

Aaron

yes yes... I can't read i'm sorry.

Still pretty good for a Series! although i have to say that "Frank" the SWB series 3 gets 10.5L/100km so :p but I am cheating a little there....

[debruiser]

That looks like an amp meter not a volt meter.

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

Agreed, looks like an ammeter to me....

Ammeter:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/334.jpg

Voltmeter:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/335.jpg

[Chad79]

7.2L/100 from a series.... wowzers.....

wait... I can't read... sorry....

Still impressive figures, I never got close to that from my 186 engined LR.

I'll admit, the presentation of the fuel log is a little bit lazy. It is just copied and pasted from my spreadsheet.

I was really impressed with the fuel figures the 202 produced. I was prepared for a lot worse.

(Your post did make me go and double check my calculations though......)

[Chad79]

Actually 13.9L/100km
Or 7.2L/km
Or 20.4mpg

Aaron

Or 7.2km/L...?

Talk about making me double check myself!

[Chad79]

That looks like an amp meter not a volt meter.

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

I think my post above may cover this situation....




Part 1 - Hobart to Derwent Bridge (including "Land Rover Ownership Initiation")


Landy lessons learnt on this leg -

I am an idiot.

[Chad79]

yes yes... I can't read i'm sorry.

Still pretty good for a Series! although i have to say that "Frank" the SWB series 3 gets 10.5L/100km so :p but I am cheating a little there....

I would love to throw a 200(t)di (or even a 300tdi) in our Landy - just like you have done. However, that is just a dream at this stage. The 202 will have to suffice for now.

[Chad79]

Agreed, looks like an ammeter to me....



As above.

I think we have established that I need to brush up on my auto-electrickery skills.

[debruiser]

As above.

I think we have established that I need to brush up on my auto-electrickery skills.

just trying to be helpful.....

Tdi power is the way to go! Maybe a 300tdi would be a better choice though cause replacement parts are more plentiful (something I discovered after I bought the 200tdi). But then again there could be many other options if you were happy to go common rail....

[Chad79]

I said this was going to be slow....

Hobart to Strahan

Part 2 - Derwent Bridge to Queenstown

Blissfully ignorant of the fact that the alternator in the Landy was not charging, yet still slightly troubled that the charge light was on, we left Derwent Bridge on route for Strahan.

Having looked at the map before departure, I could see that Strahan was only 120km away, and as the Landy started without any difficulty, I was confident we would make Strahan, as even at Landy speeds, we should of only been about 3 hours from our destination (or an hour or so to the next town, being Queenstown).

As we left Derwent Bridge, the scrub lining the road began to get thicker and it seemed like the road was descending. As the road kept dropping, the bush got thicker and darker. It got so dense and so dark that I needed to turn the Landy's lights on. As I flicked the switch to the first tab, the parkers, the Landy misfired, which was a first. Troubled, but not having completely registered the reason for the misfire, I flicked the switch to the next tab, parkers to lights. On this flick, the Landy spluttered again. At this point, the penny dropped - the charge light means the alternator is not charging.

So as not to raise concern (read: alert my wife to the fact that a break down was imminent), I quickly turned the lights off. Luckily, as we found out, it is fairly well downhill from Derwent Bridge to Queenstown.

I began frantically counting how many kilometres we had to try and cover, all whilst my wife was unaware we would soon be backpackers. At one stage, I was myself distracted by the scenery along the way, there were many bee hives that lined the highway and the scenery looked like something from middle earth or lord of the rings.

After a few more coughs from the Landy, I calmly asked my wife - "Any phone reception", "No", was the response. I began to wonder how long it would take me to find a family lawyer...

As the spluttering from the 202 continued, we began to climb, and it was at this point that I thought the end was imminent. However, after a short time, we rounded what was to be the final uphill pinch and the bare hills of Queenstown appeared. Maybe we were going to make it?

We were not.

It happened. We lost power. Gravity was all that was providing momentum from that point forward. Not key starting, nor clutch starting (...nor wishful thinking) would bring the 202 back to life. Our journey would end as soon as gravity had had its way with us. It was at this point that my wife became aware of the situation.

Personally, I was happy with the outcome. If I had to choose between stopping in the dense bush somewhere in the middle of Derwent Bridge and Queenstown and pulling up in front of a house on the outskirts of Queenstown, it wouldn't be much of a choice.

Feeling victorious, I noticed there was a large shed on a property to our right which had various utes and other heavy duty machinery. I was about to go for a wonder over to get the lay of the land when my wife, who had already been on google, advised there was both a coffee shop and mechanic about 900 metres from where we had come to rest. Surprisingly, she was quite upbeat about the situation. Maybe she would give me shared custody of the dog...

After a brief stint on the foot falcon, we located both the coffee shop and the local mechanic. The coffee shop was in fact the 'Tracks Cafe' inside the Queenstown Train Station (where the historical Westcoast Wilderness Railway terminates) and is where my wife perched herself (she recommends the scones!) whilst I went to deal with our mechanically challenged Landy.

The local mechanical workshop is Dilgers Central Garage. I experienced small town hospitality at its best, from the moment I stepped foot in their workshop. After explaining our predicament, I was greeted by Pete and within minutes, we were off in the workshop ute (with a new battery) to collect the Landy from its resting place.

With a fully charged battery in the Landy, the 202 fired into life and it was back to the workshop for a full examination. Unsurprisingly, Pete and John (Dilger), the workshop owner, took little time to diagnose that the alternator wasn't charging and that the reason for this fault was the regulator - it was cactus. Unfortunately, John didn't have any spares in his workshop and the part would need to be ordered in overnight from either Hobart or Burnie.

Not to worry, luckily for us, we had reciprocal rights with RACT through our RACQ cover. This meant we were put up for the night for the parts to be delivered. We took this opportunity to check out Queenstown, unfortunately, we missed the wilderness train tour to Strahan, but learnt a lot about the rich mining history of the town at the Eric Thomas Galley Museum. After a few beers at the Empire Hotel we turned in for the night.

In the morning, we walked briskly down to the workshop, excited to finally be on our way to Strahan. The spring was quickly taken out of our step when we were informed that the parts did not arrive in the overnight run. It was at this point that a voice asked, "Is that a Holden motor? I might see what I have in the shed". The voice belonged to an older local man named Dave, who had been loitering around the workshop and generally interacting with the staff and customers as if he was part of the scenery. He was. Over the past two days, I think I had seen him stick his head under the bonnet of most of the cars in and around the workshop.

Dave disappeared in the workshop ute and returned a short time later with an alternator. The regulator on the back was a match. Spanners began spinning and 10 minutes later the Landy roared into life and we were once again ready to take off to Strahan. We agreed that we would come back through Queenstown after our time in Strahan to collect the parts that were ordered for us and return Dave's regulator (...and some beers for his troubles).

How good is country hospitality?!

Pictures

Maybe we are going to make it....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/744.jpg

Queenstown
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/745.jpg

There are worse places to break down
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/746.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/747.jpg

At one stage this was the only way we were going to get to Strahan..
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/748.jpg

[mick88]

Great story Chad and you have inspired me to tour Tassie in my Series Landy, but please, maybe not quite so long between "chapters" next time! ;) Cheers, Mick.

[Ranga]

I hereby formally start the queue of those wishing to alleviate you of such a terrible vehicle, unburden you of the results of such a foolish decision to buy such a woeful purchase.

Honestly, should you ever with to part with her, let me know. I've been on the lookout for a 1974 (and only 1974) SWB for a while now.

[Chad79]

Great story Chad and you have inspired me to tour Tassie in my Series Landy, but please, maybe not quite so long between "chapters" next time! ;) Cheers, Mick.

You won't regret the decision to tour Tassie Mick. It is a top spot and, whilst I may be a little biased, I reckon a Series Landy is the perfect truck for the trip!

Re the delay between updates - I know and apologise. I was even beginning to annoy myself!

[Chad79]

I hereby formally start the queue of those wishing to alleviate you of such a terrible vehicle, unburden you of the results of such a foolish decision to buy such a woeful purchase.

Honestly, should you ever with to part with her, let me know. I've been on the lookout for a 1974 (and only 1974) SWB for a while now.

Whilst you are not the first person to chastise me for buying the Landy, nor are you the first person to offer to take it off my hands, you are the first to do both!

I'll keep you posted regarding the Landy's future. It is currently agisted on a mate's farm doing fence checks and the like.

[Ranga]

I'll keep you posted regarding the Landy's future. It is currently agisted on a mate's farm doing fence checks and the like.

Thanks... I promise you it would go to a good home :) It deerves better than boundary riding!! :p

[Chad79]

I have been distracted while trying to compile the Strahan installment of our trip.

This is the distraction.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/334.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RZ7gFu)

Click the link to watch the video Landy Beach Run Video (https://flic.kr/p/RZ7gFu)

[Gordie]

Looks like she is on the market??.......

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/veresdale-scrub/cars-vans-utes/land-rover/1141908630

[Chad79]

Looks like she is on the market??.......

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/veresdale-scrub/cars-vans-utes/land-rover/1141908630

Sadly yes, the Landy has been sold.

I sold the Landy to the owner of the farm where the Landy was being agisted. The owner is a very good mate of mine. This, I thought, was to be the perfect arrangement…

The Landy came to be housed on the farm because, unfortunately, between a combination of work commitments, renovations and having children, the Landy was not getting the attention, or use, that it deserved. With rego about to expire and my mate needing a new farm truck, we moved the Landy to the farm so he could use it.

Plans were made to turn it into a ute, so that the Landy would become a more functional farm hack. This plan was partly executed, with the acquisition of a truck cab from the Ho Hars (great guys).

My mate didn’t want to be bashing the Landy all over his property while still under my ownership, so a deal was hatched for me to sell it to him. As far as I was concerned, this was perfect, I would be able to drive the Landy, in mostly off road conditions, whenever I wanted. Perfect.

Upon reflection, this was probably the only way I would have been able to part company with the Landy. Despite its infrequent use and feelings of guilt I had every time I went under the house and looked at the old girl, I didn’t think I could actually bring myself to part with the old girl. I was resigned to the fact I was going to have the little Landy forever.

So the Landy’s life as a farm runabout had begun. However, as many others have noted, the Landy is in good touch and is probably too good to be used as a farm hack. Despite being a late comer to that party, my mate came to the same conclusion and decided to sell the old girl. He rang to tell me that after a couple of hours on Gumtree, the old girl has been sold (luckily, I didn’t know sooner, otherwise I might have bought the little Landy back myself!).

I am not sure if the new owner is aware of the thread, or if they are even on AULRO. I will continue and finish the story of our Tassie adventure and the work I did to the Landy under my ownership so there is a record of it on AULRO for future custodians of the little Landy.

I feel like I’ve done my bit in attempting to tell the story of this little Landy under our ownership and by keeping the old girl in good working order so that it can provide others with the same levels of enjoyment it has provided to us.

It definitely won’t be the last series landy we own, however, after a couple of thousand miles in the Landy, my wife may not be so quick to insist I make the call to the vendor of the next series landy I look at on gumtree.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/304.jpg

[Gordie]

Such is life my friend....I waited about 20yrs between landy's....so like the add used to say...it won't happen overnight...but it will happen.