1949 Ground up Restoration

[dennisS1]

Hi all I haven’t posted anything here for a long time but have started a new restoration thinking I might post a record of it on this site may be of interest to others.
Have been posting some of this to Facebook pages so hope I am not braking any rules.
History of this restore: 1949 Sno 8664193 picked this car up a number of years ago as a completely disassembled car. Chassis and bulkhead in very good condition.

[dennisS1]

Stared with full engine rebuild, Bored to 40Th over new pistons, rings, rods, mains and big end bearings on ground shaft. New cam shaft and bushes and rockers, head ground and new intake and exhaust valves. Timing chain and gears replaced front oil seal.
Spin on oil filter replacement manufactured and fitted. Carburetor overhauled, new water pump and thermostat.

[dennisS1]

Strip box down, clean out and glass bead blast all alloy castings.
Replace all bearings, brass distance sleeve and transfer case pin, seals and install speedy sleeves.
Resurface hand brake drum and fit new shoes.
Mount up to engine with new clutch plate and pressure plate.

[grey_ghost]

I love your work Dennis. [emoji1303]

[Don 130]

Beautiful work Dennis. Nice shed too. [smilebigeye]
Don.

[5380]

Stared with full engine rebuild, Bored to 40Th over new pistons, rings, rods, mains and big end bearings on ground shaft. New cam shaft and bushes and rockers, head ground and new intake and exhaust valves. Timing chain and gears replaced front oil seal.
Spin on oil filter replacement manufactured and fitted. Carburetor overhauled, new water pump and thermostat.

Great work Dennis!
I am impressed with your method and work shop set up. Did you have to use a speedie sleeve on the rusty primary pinion shaft end? I am down to my last original AC ZS1 filter, so I am curious about your by-pass AC filter to a spin on oil filter conversion. I have seen pictures of the UK LRSOC version. I had concerns about that their design may have bled off too much oil from the cam shaft bearing oil feed. The original Rover/AC design incorporated a 1.2mm? restrictor jet in the inlet pipe union to restrict the flow and maintain oil pressure. How did you go about it?
Some pictures of your filter conversion set up would be of great interest to us 80 inch and '54 model 86/107 owners. BTW, I have a few '49 dated Solex and Lucas dated items in the shed if you have some later dated parts in your 80. The early ones have different generators and carburettor bodies to the 1950 on models.
I am happy to help if you need help identifying anything. Do you know roughly when your 80" was built?
Mike, 5380

[DieselDan]

Beautiful work Dennis. Nice shed too. [smilebigeye]
Don.My thoughts exactly!

[dennisS1]

Great work Dennis!
I am impressed with your method and work shop set up. Did you have to use a speedie sleeve on the rusty primary pinion shaft end? I am down to my last original AC ZS1 filter, so I am curious about your by-pass AC filter to a spin on oil filter conversion. I have seen pictures of the UK LRSOC version. I had concerns about that their design may have bled off too much oil from the cam shaft bearing oil feed. The original Rover/AC design incorporated a 1.2mm? restrictor jet in the inlet pipe union to restrict the flow and maintain oil pressure. How did you go about it?
Some pictures of your filter conversion set up would be of great interest to us 80 inch and '54 model 86/107 owners. BTW, I have a few '49 dated Solex and Lucas dated items in the shed if you have some later dated parts in your 80. The early ones have different generators and carburettor bodies to the 1950 on models.
I am happy to help if you need help identifying anything. Do you know roughly when your 80" was built?
Mike, 5380
Had near new input shaft and matching gear so no problem there.
Oil filter is just a copy of the units you can buy start with 95mm Alu bar and turn it to size to get the ridge pined at the back so can't turn when changing filter as for oil flow I silver solder the fitting that screws into the block on input side then drill to right size. Spin on is the same as used on used on advertised units. Drill and tap the fittings to the alu slug, May 1949 I think and NSW car.
Dennis

[whitehillbilly64]

This one came up so grabbed it for my 80 inch.

whitehillbilly

[dennisS1]

Chassis and firewall on their way to grit blaster for clean-up.

[McBrain283]

Strip box down, clean out and glass bead blast all alloy castings.
Replace all bearings, brass distance sleeve and transfer case pin, seals and install speedy sleeves.
Resurface hand brake drum and fit new shoes.
Mount up to engine with new clutch plate and pressure plate.

Hi Dennis,

I'm close to staring on the gearbox for my 1952 80" restoration.
How much effort (hours) would you say you spent on the gearbox? My assumption is that my gearbox is in relatively good condition and will only need similar work to yours

[dennisS1]

Hi, give me a call if you have any questions.
Once you have all parts ready probably 2 days to rebuild.

[dennisS1]

At last the “axels” are finished all bearings, bushes and seals have been replaced, Diffs setup, plus 2 re-chromed swivel housings.

[dennisS1]

Chassis and firewall back from blasters set up for repairs.
Any one have a paint code for good silver for the chassis?

[5380]

Strip box down, clean out and glass bead blast all alloy castings.
Replace all bearings, brass distance sleeve and transfer case pin, seals and install speedy sleeves.
Resurface hand brake drum and fit new shoes.
Mount up to engine with new clutch plate and pressure plate.

Dennis,
You are certainly making some rapid progress! Your 80 inch must have been built just a few hunded cars before Rover changed to the No.2 pale green chassis in May 1949 at around chassis no. 4500. A very desirable early Land Rover! I don't know a colour code for the silver, but if I can find anything, I will let you know. It may be worth an email to Mike Bishop at Land Rover Classic/Reborn. He probably gets lots of junk mail, but if you made your subject the chassis number of your vehicle, you may get someones attention.

Good luck!

Mike 5380

[dennisS1]

Chassis back from grid blaster, Painted silver again new springs and bushes, bolts etc