Newbie Series 3 questions....

[rdaniell]

Hi all,

I've got my eye on a petrol Series 3 ex-army ute for sale in good running condition (although I haven't actually looked at it yet). It comes with a second series 3 (no motor) and I'd like to get it as my first project car, and hopefully not be spending huge amounts on it because I'm a student AND hopefully the learning curve won't be too steep with this kind of car... Besides rust, what are the major problems I should check out before considering buying it and would it be an okay deal ($1500)?

Any help/advice would be awesomely appreciated!

[DeeJay]

The 6 cyl motor in the ex army vehicles is a bit thirsty and can be troublesome. Make sure you see it running and let it idle for a minute then plant the foot on the accelerator & see if it blows out a lot of blue smoke.
If it does then the motor is very tired. When it warms up, take the radiator cap off. If it overflows a lot of coolant and there are bubbles or oil in the radiator it could be a head gasket or worse.
That said, the series vehicle is a wonderful piece of gear and will provide good service. I had one for 200,000klm and 8 years, my first vehicle too.
When I think back to the neglect it copped and the offroading I did, its a wonder it went 8 months, let alone years;).
The second vehicle, unless an army one, will probably be a 4 cyl one and the bellhousing/ firewall will be different, so you cant do a straight engine swap.
If its not running,it could be on purpose & you are taking a big risk.
Others, I trust will point out more, but the above is basic stuff.
Good Luck.

[JDNSW]

As DeeJay says about the motor.

The main worries with that model is the motor, and, as with any Landrover, chassis or bulkhead rust. The engine should be checked for a blown headgasket or worse as indicated, and also if possible check compression by turning it over with the crank handle it should have - should be even on all cylinders. These engines do not stand abuse and neglect like the fours do, and are also expensive to repair.

Whether it is worth the money depends entirely on its condition. For that sort of money I would expect no serious problems and for it to be roadworthy (including tyres), even if not registered.

Some of the likely problems include:-

Rust as mentioned
Canvas top in need of replacement (at least $1000)
Electrical problems
Exhaust problems
Gearbox needs work
Brakes need work
Front swivels need work
Needs shackle bushes
Upholstery needs repair
Seat belts need replacing
Carburetter needs overhauling
Distributor worn
New ignition harness needed
Brakes soon going to need attention
Various dings need straightening
........

None of these are particularly expensive, particularly if you do the work yourself, but they sure can add up!