‘Swampy’ - SIII GS ARN 30-829

[Johnno_p]

It’s about time I put some info up on what I have been doing with the series 3 I bought in January last year.

Pics of when I first got it:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/453.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/454.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/455.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/456.jpg

[Johnno_p]

I had hoped to get it on the road in time for Corowa 2017.
The brakes were almost non-existent.

Turned out the cylinders were seized and the hub seals were leaking.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/457.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/458.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/459.jpg

[Johnno_p]

As brakes are kinda important I decided to rebuild the swivels, hubs and brakes.
I’m a cabinet maker by trade and it was a great learning experience doing this but it is also part of the reason why it took so long to do.
Not having a garage to work in didn’t help either.

I was a little worried when I started disassembling the front end.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/460.jpg

But it all cleaned up well and the swivels were in excellent condition with no pitting.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/461.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/462.jpg

I got a Workshop to press in the raiko bushes and bearing seat.
Not to happy with how it was done....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/463.jpg

Luckily the marks aren’t when the seal sits so I smoothed the edges and hopes for the best.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/464.jpg

[Johnno_p]

Cleaning and reassembling

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/467.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/468.jpg

When I was pulling it all apart all the the bolts (bar one) holding the swivel to the axle tube were loose. Hopefully new nylocks will stop it happening again.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/469.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/470.jpg

New brake lines will help. The old ones were looking very tired.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/471.jpg

[Johnno_p]

Some more pics
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/c0c0440cda800a43c898f53cac6cbe92.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/d3faa4b06159e63a516e3cc77764b2ef.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/465.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/466.jpg

[Johnno_p]

Also decided to fit up some freewheeling hubs.
I’ve read a lot about the pro/cons of them but as this will be used Offroad the hubs will be engaged frequently enough to lubricate the bushes and uni’s.

First a good clean and paint before fitting.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/472.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/473.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/474.jpg

This was the only damaged part and managed to get another set for just the cost of freight to use as parts.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/475.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/476.jpg

[Johnno_p]

During this time I also got a new exhaust made and stripped the paint off the front bumper which came up like new.
Also machined the lift points to accept some shackles and painted them up.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/477.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/478.jpg

I also took the window frame and some other parts back to the original gal finish. They came up really good.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/479.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/480.jpg

[Johnno_p]

So after taking months to get the front and rear hubs back together (didn’t take enough photos during disassembly and had to read the workshop manual dozens of times as well as watching YouTube videos to work it all out), the brakes were still sh*t.
Turns out the booster was stuffed and the push rod (?) had snapped.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/7aedae4d33954277b13fc868dc9c6656.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/ff87aaa16a2d50c4452111ac610bfd77.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/d054d06c98bfd17c0abfffd35b51ef34.jpg

I ended up sending it off to Hydroboost to get reconditioned. I also need to supply them another one to use for parts due to the snapped rod. Dave from Land Rover Heaven sent one out to them for just $50. Thanks Dave [emoji106]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/c248f5c59f24b8e4d877dfda308559b2.jpg
Installed and one clean looking brake peddle
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180325/67444bbcdd0f8aecbf657b5d7921c8bf.jpg

[Johnno_p]

Lots of other little jobs completed including all new shock rubbers, new radiator and heater hoses, cleaned up the air box, fixed the wipers and washer, fixed reverse lights and replaced the tyres.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/485.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/486.jpg
I also cleaned up the steering rods, added new tie rod ends, adjusted the steering and added a new steering damper.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/487.jpg

[Johnno_p]

Did a couple of of test drives and all is working well and ready for the RWC
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/482.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/483.jpg

And now registered on club plates [emoji3][emoji108]
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/484.jpg

Like I said earlier I have never tried to do anything like this before and I’m pretty happy with the results. Great sense of achievement getting it registered for the first time since it left service.
At least now if something goes wrong with it in the bush I’ll have half an idea on how to fix it.

[Chops]

Looks great Johnno, looking forward to seeing it up close and personal. Are you heading up to Cooma in it?

[Johnno_p]

Looks great Johnno, looking forward to seeing it up close and personal. Are you heading up to Cooma in it?

Thanks.
I am going to Cooma but not in this.
I think I need to do some more work on the tuning side of things. It runs well but is using 22.22L/100Kms and the cost of fuel will be too much [emoji22]
If I can source a car trailer I’ll tow it up behind the work car (free fuel [emoji3])

[Johnno_p]

Small things
The horn wasn’t working well so I pulled it apart and it was like brand new inside!
Very well made. I cleaned up the outside, repainted it, cleaned the terminals then worked out there was an adjusting nut on it. It’s quite loud now [emoji106]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/372.jpg

[Johnno_p]

I also cleaned up the rear black out lights and repainted them.
These were also like new inside and very well made.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/369.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/370.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/371.jpg

[Johnno_p]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/367.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/368.jpg

[Landy Smurf]

Awesome work on a great rig.
You should be very proud :thumbsup:

[Johnno_p]

Awesome work on a great rig.
You should be very proud :thumbsup:

Thanks. I’m pretty happy with it.

I need to do some work on the tuning side of things. It runs great but it’s using around 22L/100s which I think is a bit excessive.
I’ve just picked up a timing light but it’s been around 30 years since I’ve used one lol