Yay Molly's going!

[Grizzly_Adams]

Yay my 1959 Series II is going. After almost 2 years of sitting outside being left to rot by her previous owners, she's kicked up and going again.

With the help of my mate Taz we managed to get her turning over last weekend after we put up the tarp movable carport thingy around her to protect her from sun damage.

Yesterday I went over and turned her over again, then went about checking the lights and everything were working. Unfortunately whilst I was doing that she ran out of fuel :eek:

So today I picked up some more fuel and put about 10 litres in each tank, added some of the lead replacement stuff, then primed for about an hour. With still no fuel coming out of the pipe into the carburettor I was getting a little frustrated with Molly, so I decided to give her a wash to try and cheer her up.

She hadn't been washed since I got her, and the gods only know how long before that.. she was looking a little forloon. My mother (god bless her little soul) has been keeping her waste-water from the washing machine in buckets - for just such an occasion as washing a car. So I got 2 buckets (1 for the sponge and soap, one for the chamois) and gave her a good exterior clean. She looks like a new woman! :D

After that I broke for lunch.

She was so happy after the wash that - about 5 primes after coming back from lunch - fuel actually started coming out of the carburettor pipe. I quickly put her back together, jumped into the cab and turned her over. After a few sickening moment she jumped into life and idled away merrily!

I was so happy, we both were :cool:

I let her run for a bit, to lubricate her systems properly and warm up her oil a bit because I wanted to change her oil and a friend had said to warm her up first so that any gunk in the oil comes out when you drain her. She was only running on 3 out of 4 sparks (spark plug #1 needs replacing), but she puttered merrily for a good 15 mins before I turned her off so I could empty her of oil

Then I needed an ice-cream container to drain the oil into, but my Mum said "hang on, I think there's something your father use to use and may still be around". After a few seconds of digging she came out with a oil container (the like of which you buy the oil from in the shops) with one side cut out, but the lid still on. Perfect!

I jumped under Molly and gingerly undid her sump plug, only to find it wasn't done up overly tight and my elbow got a good wacking out of it. So I left her draining whilst I went upstairs and had a cup of tea. After which I came down and disposed of the used oil, put her sump plug back in and began the process of refilling her up. I used Shell Helix "for older engines" oil - 25/60w. She seemed to like it. When I got her full (or close enough to), I turned her over and let her putter for another 10 mins or so.

No problems, even appeared to be a bit less smoke (though that may have been my wishful thinking).

I know this is a long story for something that can be summed up in 2 sentences - got car started, changed the oil - but for me it's a big thing. First time I've changed oil by myself, I'm thrilled with myself to say the least. Made me feel like I've accomplished something this weekend.

Next weekend I intend to have a crack at flushing the radiator, maybe even changed the diff / gearbox oil. As the liquids in there at the moment are an unknown quantity, I want to replace them all with something I know.

I am not looking forward to the brakes though, the existing brake fluid resoviours are both empty :-\ However that, as they say, is another story..... :lol:

EDIT: One of the annoying things about her at the moment is the air filter - it's one of them there holden jobbies. I've gotta get onto one of our sponsors and price up the cost of an original item, I hate seeing that holden thing on her :huh:

[incisor]

Good Golly, Miss Molly!

well done!

[DiscoDave]

Nice one Grizzly! I've been working all weekend on my Series III but it hasn't got to the stage of turning over yet. Hopefully it will run like Molly soon!

[Phoenix]

It's always so satisfying doing work like that on a vehicle yourself :D

Although i'd recomend changing the gearbox and transfer case oils next. When we first got grover there was almost no oil in the gearbox, and too much in the transfer case :eek:

[JDNSW]

Nothing like actually hearing it run to encourage you.

It is probably unnecessary to add lead replacement to unleaded for that engine - I ran my 2a for about two years on unleaded before pulling the head off - no signs of valve seat recession. It seems that it is only a problem with this engine if run for prolonged periods at high power such as freeway driving.

As far as the aircleaner goes, you should be able to pick up one of them from any Landrover wrecker fairly cheap - there is not much demand and nothing much can go wrong with them. The same goes for the angle on top of the carburetter, but the hose could be a bit more expensive as they do deteriorate over time.
John

[4bee]

Yes it is a great feeling when it fires up & keeps running. Almost seems worth all the trouble.:D

Suggest new radiator & heater (?) hoses when you do that bit as well.

Do you know about the drain tap at the rear LH side of the donk? It may need removing & cleaning out after all this time, same as the rad drain tap. Look at your welsh plugs while you are around there in knots.

Continuing good luck.

[LandyAndy]

Well done Grizzly
Looks like the start of an unhealthy relationship.
Sooner or later you will get the "You spend more time in that bloody shed with Molly than you do with me":D :D :D :D
Let us know when you cop it,we can all share a laugh with you.
Andrew

[Grizzly_Adams]

Thanks for the encouragement and thoughts guys, it really was a great feeling :D

As for the missus, yeah well she's feeling it already as the Series II is parked at Mum's place (we barely have enough room here for the Defender) so I spent the weekend there :cool: Well I did come home at night, but it was after dinner :eek:

Thanks for the heads-up on the drain tap 4bee, though I have no idea what you are referring to right now. I am sure it will become apparent soon enough :eek:

I've got the oils for the gearbox and transfer, so I can change those. It's just that I don't expect to see her moving from her carport for at least another month so I figured I'd do the radiator first :) Oh well depending how much work it is I may end up doing it all 1 weekend, then again I guess I should get a workshop manual so I have a better idea what I am supposedly doing :huh:

It really was a great sound to hear her putter along. I am hoping to have her roadworthy by summer so I can drive her to work and save the km's on the Defender... I'll still take the Defender when it's cold though, she's got a better heater :D

[VladTepes]

Well done mate, Congrats.

Is your series 2 an ex-mil or civvie model ?


You'll have to giveme a look at her sometime, I;m not far from Taz I beleive. Wouldn't mind a gander at a few of his rigs too....

[fernockulated]

:rolleyes: good to hear about another "golden oldie" up and running again,as for your air cleaner.................just so happens that i have an oil bath jobbie left behind from my old "moby"it was removed due to holden carby being fitted and hoses didnt fit so it was taken out,if your interested, I am at Spicers Gap,near Aratula:cool:

[UncleHo]

G'day Grizzly Adams :)

Congrats on getting Molly running, the Taz that you speak about is he the one with the 2B landy :question: as I met him last year when he had his vehicle at a display in Brisbane, It might be worth you getting a copy of the "Haynes series 2,2a,&3 4Cylinder Petrol" workshop book as it has good Illustrations and is easy to read and understand, I.E. it is designed for the handyman, and is not in engineers speak ;) this book will give you enough info and confidence to totally strip and rebuild a vehicle:) It might be worth while to put some brake fluid in the reserviour as the centre sectionof the Res. is for the Clutch master cylinder, the flexible rubber hose on it, half way to the Slave cylinder has a habit of collapsing internally and stopping the fluid, this is indicated by an almost solid clutch pedal, (hose is same length as rear brake flexible hose) You will get much satifaction from doing things your self, and it is good work stress relief, NOTE I didn't say STRESS FREE:D just take your time and work at your own pace, If you have any problems that is what the Forum is for:) and Ferno even has a genuine oil filter, if you have a Holden Carby on it there is away to get the correct elbow to fit.

[Grizzly_Adams]

Hiya all.

Vlad Molly is an ex-civvy model. Currently with a hardtop but it looks like she came from the factory with a softtop and that's what I hope to put back on her eventually. Actually she had a softtop when I first had her a few years back, but in the meantime someone has swapped on a hardtop that looks to be in moderately good condition.

Vlad if you're just over the hornibrook then yes you are pretty close to Taz, and yes Uncle Ho he's the one with the 2B FC. In fact he's got 3 of them, 1 running and 2 going towards making another 1. Not sure I could bring us all over to his place to have a gander at his rigs, I'd have to try and be tactful about it. Maybe organising a trip somewhere and I could introduce him around :cool:

Thanks for the advice Uncle Ho - I was at M.R. Auto the other day and noticed they had one of those manuals for sale. Figured I'd pick it up next time I was there, and when I was there yesterday they didn't have it! D'oh!:o Hopefully it'll be on the shelf when I'm there next Wednesday.

Thanks for the offer ferno, you have a PM :D

[fernockulated]

:rolleyes: Hmmmmm,Hayes manual you say,guess what i just found down beside my desk here,one green Haynes manual,series II,IIa & III,1958 to 1984 2286cc,4 cyl petrol,88 &109 in wheelbase
As i no longer have a series truck I may be persuaded to part with it:rolleyes: ,once again all donations to the "lets get some muddies for thumper fund",greatly appreciated:rolleyes: :D :D :D :cool:

[Blknight.aus]

Mate if youve still got the original battery box with the round mount on it for an oil bath filter I can help you with that, I got lucky on a wreckers scroungs, the young bloke didnt know what they were and i got 4 for $5 a few years back (lucky his stingy old man wasnt around) Ive got 2 left if ya havent already got that sorted, and since I just got my "was trying to kill it with WVO and WCO" diesel's injectors back and Im transplanting that into FrankenRover I Guess I wont be needing my zenith Carby anymore... I could probabley be encouraged to part with it.

Dave

"In a Landrover the other car is your crumple zone"

[Grizzly_Adams]

Thanks for the offer mate, I'm not sure if I have that or not and I'm a bit busy at the moment preparing for a trip to the Cape starting next Sat. I'll get back to you in a month or so if that's ok :-)