Should I spend more on SIII Landy

[Dayne]

I need help to try to figure out what I should do?
I have always wanted Series Landrover. So I got one.I spent $3000 on the chassis and fire wall and windows getting them to non rust of RW state. Now I have sent it to a LAndy Spec. get the RW done. (I don't have much experance with landrover) It needs all the brakes done, seatbelt fitted and washers speedo and handbrake fixed. TO get a RW done. It will cost me another $3000 to do this.

Should I cut my loses and sell it or dive in and get a RWC?

[JDNSW]

I need help to try to figure out what I should do?
I have always wanted Series Landrover. So I got one.I spent $3000 on the chassis and fire wall and windows getting them to non rust of RW state. Now I have sent it to a LAndy Spec. get the RW done. (I don't have much experance with landrover) It needs all the brakes done, seatbelt fitted and washers speedo and handbrake fixed. TO get a RW done. It will cost me another $3000 to do this.

Should I cut my loses and sell it or dive in and get a RWC?

The figure of $3000 that work seems a little high for the work described, although this depends on what state the brakes are in. Replacing all shoes, wheel cylinders and drums should be less than $1000 for parts, and there's not that much labour, speedo is probably just the cable, and the others are fairly small jobs, although small jobs add up.

The question as to whether to cut your losses will depend on what you want to do and the condition of the rest of the vehicle. One thing that is certain, is that if you spend $6000 on a S3 it will almost certainly still be worth less than this - but it may be a good vehicle that will serve you for years. But the same comment can be made about any vehicle that age - spending money on them does not give a proportionate increase in value.
John

[BigJon]

Is it the one in your avatar? Can I have it? I bet it would pass an inspection here:twisted: .

[ellard]

Hi there

My opinion - the quote your have been given seems a little costly for the brakes - for example: - I have just done up all the brakes on my series IIa Fire Tender. (will me doing all the work cost me less than $400.)

I know if the hubs are worn - they can be costly (approx $100 plus each) but there is plenty of second hand ones available.

I get sentimental towards vehciles - and usually spend more on them than what they are worth.

We are lucky within SA - we do not have roadworth checks every year.

At

[p38arover]

If the car was not fitted with seatbelts when it was manufactured, there is no requirement to now fit them (unless of course, you want them).

(That's two AULRO members in Samford. P38Ace is the other).

Ron

[Brisruss]

Hi Dayne,
I have a IIA project going at the moment and have replaced all the brake and clutch cylinders and brake pipes and it has cost me no where near that figure you have been quoted. I can dig out some costs of the parts I got if you are interested.

Where did you get the quote from?

Russ

[Phoenix]

How are you at mechanical work? i'd be inclined to get the parts and do the work myself rather than pay that much for it. That quote seems much to high to me.

[scrambler]

I did the front seat belts in my Series when I bought them - cost about $180 for 2 and a little bit of time. Since then I've located a source on the web (but am at work so don't have the link) that can supply at about $60-70 per belt (they're Australian too).

Can't comment on brakes but does seem like a lot.

I replaced my speedo with one from ebay - cost me $60 all up (cable was fine but 25% speedo error). If any speedo is good enough, you're welcome to my old one. Could be re-magnetised but don't know the cost. The car did pass RWC with the error when I bought it, but thought it might be a bit harder on a RWC for sale.

Washers no big deal.

The hand brake in mine only works in reverse anyway. This is a fair bit of mucking around as far as I can see, but will have to be done if yours doesn't work at all.

Seriously, you either decide you're spending the money (I see it as being in place of depreciation) or you sell the car and cut your losses. Mine is for sale - and I don't expect to get more than about $3000 for it without RWC and it's a V8 wagon. You definitely won't add $3000 to the value of the vehicle by spending the money, but 30 year old vehicles are money pits regardless of what sort of condition they are in when you buy them. Mine "owes" me perhaps $9000 - but I'd have lost more on depreciation if I bought a new one and sold it 2 years later, so what does it matter?

If you were going to immediately buy another just like it though, I'd say "better the devil you know." You could be up for the full $6000 on the next one as well.

Steve

[Dayne]

The quote was also for a service,and many other things listed. I'm Ok working on cars but my wife is tired of having the landy at home. Are the brakes hard to fit.

The front hub also needs replacing but to pass RW the work shop said to repack with grease and a little oil and it should last a little longer.

[Brisruss]

Yes I know what you mean with SWMBO. I can tell you a story or two about when I got mine (should I say 2) I thought I was going to get divorced. Now every one of her friends has heard the story.

The brakes are not hard to do. The hub is fairly straight forward as well. I replaced wheel bearings in the front when I did the brakes but did not bother with the back ones.

A manual helps if you are a bit unsure. I have both the Haynes and the Landrover one. The net is a good tool as well. If you haven't got any manuals come and look at mine. PM me and I will give you some contact details.

We all need a big shed somewhere to store our toys in. Maybe we should setup a workshop somewhere.

Russ

[Bigbjorn]

The figure of $3000 that work seems a little high for the work described, although this depends on what state the brakes are in. Replacing all shoes, wheel cylinders and drums should be less than $1000 for parts, and there's not that much labour, speedo is probably just the cable, and the others are fairly small jobs, although small jobs add up.

The question as to whether to cut your losses will depend on what you want to do and the condition of the rest of the vehicle. One thing that is certain, is that if you spend $6000 on a S3 it will almost certainly still be worth less than this - but it may be a good vehicle that will serve you for years. But the same comment can be made about any vehicle that age - spending money on them does not give a proportionate increase in value.
John

Spot on, John. I have been around vintage, veteran, and collector cars and bikes most of my adult life. One regularly comes across a restorer who has a pretty ordinary mass produced vehicle of no great technical merit for sale for a staggering sum. This is usually justified by a statement like this " it cost me $2500 and I have spent $15000 restoring it, so it has to worth at least that. I need to/want to/should get my money back". I have never been able to convince one of these people that they have not added $15000 of value to a pretty ordinary piece of kit that may fetch, if you can find a wood duck who has not yet been relieved of his folding, maybe $4000 or $5000. They need to accept this is the cost of their hobby. As does our correspondent with the Series 3. It appears to me that he is at or just past the point of no return, where he has to finish the spend to finish the project, or back out now. If it is a real good Series 3 I would be inclined to finish it, particularly if you get the bits at the right prices and do your own work. The brakes should not be expensive, Washers from Supercheap, seatbelts from wreckers or Trading Post, the speedo is not expensive to repair and recalibrate or buy one from wrecker or TP.

[DirtyDawg]

Dayne, you said you always wanted one and you have got one $6000 is chicken feed if your going to get 5 to 10yrs of fun out of it..Series are a character vehicle..keep it I say

[BigJon]

, seatbelts from wreckers .

I don't think wreckers can sell seatbelts, except cut up to use as tow ropes. Only new belts can be fitted.

[scrambler]

I don't think wreckers can sell seatbelts, except cut up to use as tow ropes. Only new belts can be fitted.
Why by second hand belts? You'd get the lot (assuming static not inertia reel) for $160 for the three from http://www.hemco.com.au/seatbelts.html

[Dayne]

My landy doesn't have any bolt down points for the seat belts. If the vehicle was sold new with out seat belts why do you need them? Do you need a kit?

Does it need to be comp. in QLD?

[scrambler]

My landy doesn't have any bolt down points for the seat belts. If the vehicle was sold new with out seat belts why do you need them? Do you need a kit?

Does it need to be comp. in QLD?

No bolt down points? That should make it easy. Do you have 2 or 3 seats? Original should be 3.

The attachments are in the rear corner of the door opening next to the seat box and then at the rear inside corner of the outside seats (or the corners of the middle seat, whichever way you want to think of it.)

If there are none, and no sign they were ever there, you don't need them. The vehicle only needs to comply with the ADR in place when it was made, unless you modify it (e.g. fit belts) when it needs to comply with the present ADR.

If it was made without belts and you chose to fit them, then yes, will need mod plate. At least that's my understanding.

Steve

[isuzurover]

What year is the SIII??? I think it was 1974 that belts became mandatory? Either way, I registered 2 landies in QLD without belts, I just told them they were never fitted (true).

Later (after rego) when time and funds permitted I tracked down some seat belt brackets, the correct (graded bolts) and bought some belts. Technically you are supposed to get the belts approved when you fit them, but there is no record antwhere of if the vehicle has them or not - so as long as you do everything properly and as per original you will be fine.

The 3k you were quoted sounds high, but if that includes labour it may not be too bad. If you want another quote for comparison, talk to Glen at Brothers offroad (see ad usually at top of page).

Personally I would do it all myself for a fraction of the cost - brakes really aren't hard - but depends on your own circumstances.

[Blknight.aus]

Mate Im a series lover, I was teethed in one, grew up with em and Ilove em...


If youve spent the money getting the chassis and firewall squared then its a keeper. Some smart haggling and shopping at a wreckers usually will yield parts you need or I always default to www.fwd.com.au if I want new stuff.


If you have or can get your hands on a manual and have brain one about mechanics there is nothing you cant do on a series Landrover, including a total rebuild from rubber to roof.

[Dayne]

Wifey here - you guys are awsome! This working on cars thing is giving me flashbacks to working on Toranas in my teens. Serioiusly I was more than a tool wench too. Although if I do say so myself I was a good tool wench anyway. I'm guessing though that I won't be replacing a diff in Col. Mustard! I hear they're pretty tough.
Anyway, looks like Col. Mustard gets to stay. The city car can run around picking up the parts (another flashback!) and we'll get him on the road in no time - dare I say aim for 3 months and do it in 3 years. So been here before!
Russ - great idea about the shed. Gold star to you! Now can we build that shed at your place? Reckon you've got room for the mess,I mean , orgainised kaos.....Shall we make it a 5 bay - just in case....

[p38arover]

I'd like this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&item=280037825567&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Ron

[Brisruss]

Russ - great idea about the shed. Gold star to you! Now can we build that shed at your place? Reckon you've got room for the mess,I mean , orgainised kaos.....Shall we make it a 5 bay - just in case....

I reckon that would be the last straw. I have a 26 perch block and can't even get a vehicle down either side. The project is under the house sideways where a pool table used to be. Not sure how we got it in but I know it has to come out the same way. My neighbour who helped me reminded me on the weekend not to put a tray on it before it comes out cause he reckons it won't come out if I do.

I must get around to posting some photos.

I know of a couple of series III's that you might get parts from. Let me know if you need to chase them.

Good decision to keep it.

Russ

[djam1]

Go for it I stopped counting at $15000 on my Series 3 Stage 1 I know I will never get my money back and I still haven't touched the body.
At least I know that it is mechanically sound and very durable just looks like c%ap.
These things will last 50 years if you build them right.

[Bigbjorn]

What year is the SIII??? I think it was 1974 that belts became mandatory? Either way, I registered 2 landies in QLD without belts, I just told them they were never fitted (true).

Later (after rego) when time and funds permitted I tracked down some seat belt brackets, the correct (graded bolts) and bought some belts. Technically you are supposed to get the belts approved when you fit them, but there is no record antwhere of if the vehicle has them or not - so as long as you do everything properly and as per original you will be fine.

The 3k you were quoted sounds high, but if that includes labour it may not be too bad. If you want another quote for comparison, talk to Glen at Brothers offroad (see ad usually at top of page).

Personally I would do it all myself for a fraction of the cost - brakes really aren't hard - but depends on your own circumstances.

Two lap/sash belts were a mandatory fitment in 1969 in passenger cars. GM-H added $9 to the car sales invoice. Belts did not attract Sales Tax. More belts were required at a later date, to all seating positions. Later still came inertia reel belts.In 1970, in Qld, seat belt use became mandatory where fitted. As usual the other states lagged behind. Currently, in Qld, a vehicle that predates the mandatory fitment date can be registered without belts. Other states require seat belts in all vehicles. A friend luckily escaped a drink driving charge on the first day of mandatory seat belt use in Qld. He was driving through Surfer's Paradise when he was waved down by a copper who was so busy giving him stick for not wearing his seatbelt that he failed to notice that Shorty was as overwrought as a newt ( at 1.00pm!).

[Dayne]

Just to let everbody know I am going to keep the SIII. I'm going to do the work at home over the next couple of mths. I'll get the parts and see how I go.

Thanks for everybodys help.

[JDNSW]

(snip) Other states require seat belts in all vehicles. (snip).

NSW does not require seat belts on all vehicles or in all positions and I doubt any other state does. I think seat belts may be required to be fitted where the vehicle is fitted with anchorages, but there is no requirement for these to be retrofitted. (A brief attempt to clarify this on the RTA website was unsuccessful - the information may be there, but I couldn't find it). There are any number of older vehicles, trucks and buses plus various tractors and other machinery that do not have them. Even school buses do not have them, nor do urban buses, and they only became compulsory in heavy trucks pretty recently, and not retrospectively.

It is certainly compulsory to wear the seat belt if fitted, and the driver is liable for his passengers.

[isuzurover]

Just to let everbody know I am going to keep the SIII. I'm going to do the work at home over the next couple of mths. I'll get the parts and see how I go.

Thanks for everybodys help.

Sounds good - we are here to help when you have technical problems - quite a few of us have been through it all before...

[Bigbjorn]

My understanding from skirmishes with the NSW RTA at Motor Registries in Sydney was that all passenger vehicles, cars etc. not buses, registered in NSW must have seat belts.

[George130]

My understanding is that NSW and ACT don't require retrofitting of seatbelts. We were hassled at the nats one year as we had 9 people in an old car. Cops couldn't book us as it was pre seatbelts and pre capacity so technically we hadn't overloaded it and we didn't require seatbelts for all occupants.