Buying a series II what to look for

[dobbo]

Hi guys

I found a series troopie the other day. body looks o.k considering age bulkhead looks average no viewable rust apart from on the windscreen surround. Gearbox is fine, Original diesel has more blue smoke than a sigma. What other things should I be looking at? Also being a troopie can I still remove doors and roof for that alfresco experience?

Your input is greatly appreciated



Mat

[JDNSW]

Hi guys

I found a series troopie the other day. body looks o.k considering age bulkhead looks average no viewable rust apart from on the windscreen surround. Gearbox is fine, Original diesel has more blue smoke than a sigma. What other things should I be looking at? Also being a troopie can I still remove doors and roof for that alfresco experience?

Your input is greatly appreciated



Mat

Not quite sure what you mean by a troopie - this is a Toyota term, not a Landrover one, but I presume you mean a long wheelbase hardtop. If it really is a Series two you should treat it with caution - the major difference with the change to Series 2a was the change from 2.0 to 2.25 for the diesel engine, and parts for the 2.0 diesel make hens teeth look plentiful.
If, on the other hand it is a Series 2a the situation is a little better, although these engines were never really powerful enough for the lwb, although when I owned one I got as much as 36mpg on one run (usually about 30mpg).
The smoke MAY be from valve guide seals - cheap and easy to replace, but more likely points to an engine overhaul.
Things to look for - Rust in the chassis and bulkhead are the most critical things, but other points to look at would be loose shackle pins, worn spring bushes, broken spring leaves, badly worn or rusted springs - if there is enough rust to spread leaves you are looking at new springs, loose u-bolts, worn splines on the prop shafts (u-joints are cheap to replace but splines aren't). Look for poorly modified wiring. Rust in the front panel that supports the headlights can be a problem. The balls on the front axle, if the chrome is pitted will need replacing - expensive.
Apart from this all the usual things on a second hand car. Door locks are likely to need replacing but are cheap (and easy), as are most other parts - but they add up!

Assuming my identification of the type is correct, the hard top can be removed complete in about half an hour with two people to lift it (depending on how many bolts are siezed). The windscreen folds and the door tops remove in about ten minutes. There may, however, be seat belt issues, although at least in most states if it really is a Series 2 not a 2a seat belts are not legally required. While the doors CAN be removed without structural implications I am not sure of the legal position and it would certainly be foolish to drive it without either doors or seatbelts.

Hope this helps
John

[dobbo]

Thanks for the reply, i bought it this morning $500.00 I just had to have it as a project, it is a 2.25 diesel so either a series 2a or series 3. Will be used for paddock work firewood collection stuff like that. Possible club rego once fixed up. Unfortunately I cannot find info on club registration for cars on RTA website does anyone know if they still offer this service?

[4bee]

so either a series 2a or series 3.


The Data plate on the inside of the bulkhead, near the gear stick, should tell you. If it's there that is.:rolleyes:

[Lucy]

Unfortunately I cannot find info on club registration for cars on RTA website does anyone know if they still offer this service?

They do, you have to be a member of a club, look at the Landrover Owners Club of Australia (Sydney Branch) website for details: http://www.lroc.com.au/histvehicles.html

[VladTepes]

When I first saw this question:

Buying a series II what to look for

The first thing that came to mind was:

"an understanding wife".

[JDNSW]

Thanks for the reply, i bought it this morning $500.00 I just had to have it as a project, it is a 2.25 diesel so either a series 2a or series 3. Will be used for paddock work firewood collection stuff like that. Possible club rego once fixed up. Unfortunately I cannot find info on club registration for cars on RTA website does anyone know if they still offer this service?

Probably worth the $500 - usually easy to tell if it is Series 2a or 3 - Series 2a has a metal dash and instrument panel with the instruments in the centre, Series 3 has a plastic dash with instruments in front of the driver. If you are serious about doing it up it is worth getting both a workshop manual and a parts book once you have confirmed what model it is.
Have fun,
John

[dobbo]

Probably worth the $500 - usually easy to tell if it is Series 2a or 3 - Series 2a has a metal dash and instrument panel with the instruments in the centre, Series 3 has a plastic dash with instruments in front of the driver. If you are serious about doing it up it is worth getting both a workshop manual and a parts book once you have confirmed what model it is.
Have fun,
John

Thanks John I'd say a series 3 then (speedo in front of driver). I'll take some photo's when I get it and post them

Sorry about offending by using the word "troopie" what way would you term it LWB, 2 door bench seats running along the entire length of tub on both sides. I thought a wagon was a 4 door is this not the case with earlier versions

[4bee]

Also known as a 'Hardtop'.

[dobbo]

Can the top come off whilst retaining seatbelts or would it need mods to anchor points to allow this to happen

[4bee]

I suppose it depends on the type of belt you have. Inertia Reel would have a mounting up over your shoulder & use the hardtop as one fixing point. Lap sash normally comes over from the rear bulkhead, in which case I can't see why you couldn't remove the top.

But just how POs have altered things, is something again.

[JDNSW]

Thanks John I'd say a series 3 then (speedo in front of driver). I'll take some photo's when I get it and post them

Sorry about offending by using the word "troopie" what way would you term it LWB, 2 door bench seats running along the entire length of tub on both sides. I thought a wagon was a 4 door is this not the case with earlier versions

You're right wagon is four (actually five) door, and have been produced since I think 1956 Series 1. What you have, although the same layout as a Toyota Troopie is usually called a hardtop. But in my experience, having seats in the back is unusual, much more common in canvas top ones - usually ex army, which yours almost certainly is not if that is the original engine, although the army I think did get one or two diesels as experimental vehicles. Most likely it has had ex-army seats added, although they were an option for the civilian version. The hardtop and canvas tops are interchangeable - a few people use a hardtop in winter and soft top in summer.

John

[DeeJay]

When I first saw this question:

Buying a series II what to look for

The first thing that came to mind was:

"an understanding wife".

I actually thought " a good shrink"

But one better would be an "understanding rich wife" ^_^