Slowly slowly .... another 86 on the way

[dane h]

Hi all,

A combination of intro here and beginning of the story around my 1955 - 86 resto. It's been 3 years, 3 houses and a trip to QLD (from Vic) and back for the body but its now getting close.

The family (3 landrovers - the 86, a '48 and a 'fender and 4 of the people variety) are in outer Melbourne. We have viewed and drawn on all your expertise to date and thank many for the assistance provided. Now perhaps overdue to post some back for those who are about to embark on the journey.

I thought I'd start back at the start first up and show you the arrival home. Initial thoughts of a new set of points, plugs and oil and away we go :) . Didn't take too long to come to another view :confused:

Quite a few restorations and rebuilds before (minis & sprites mostly) giving the right degree of .... how hard can it be :)

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at home

13363

hmmmm

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bit of a degrease

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hmmm again

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may as well get started.

End of chapter 1. Will gather together some pics of the stripdown.

Cheers Dane

[dane h]

well it's been a little longer than expected to load up next batch. Been busy trying to work on the car rather than fiddle with photos.

got her started and motor running well ... might make things a bit simpler

here's a few of the strip down ...

chassis nice and solid. funny how the parts start to spread out really quickly. A search for some better front guards turned up a nice set and the tub starts to scrub up ok!

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[dane h]

time for a bit of a road trip. Had the good fortune of access to family help at an aluminum fabrication factory for a couple of weeks. Only problem was in was in Nth Qld! Lots of welding, straightening and some colour back to the old girl awaited.

For what its worth all the panels for an 86 will fit in the back of a defender and on a 6x4 trailer :)

Not sure if the car had ever been outside of Vic before but its first trip to Cunumulla with me. Hopefully to return under its own steam one day.

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Kept at eye out for some spares on the way. Found a couple including this poor example. Had a nice bulkhead (better than mine started) but a few too many shotgun wounds to the body :(

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[Lost Landy]

G,day Dane, I have to say nice find indeed. Have you had a chance to look over your hard top? they usually crack where the pressing is just behind/above the drivers head and pasengers head. Mine has and need to get it welded up. Be nice to see it back on the road.

[dane h]

hi lost landy

Had a change of plan with the hard top. When I started cleaning it up I realised it needed quite some work. Not sure if it was originally off this car as the car had some fittings for a tilt.

Hardtop had a layer of red fire engine paint and a nice big hole cut in the top for a siren. Looks to be a mid life addition as the red was over the cream and the siren hole was off to the side of the central ridge in the roof.... and of course a nice big crack on one side as you mention :)

To cut a log story short decided to go down the path of a tilt

thanks

[chris1983rangie]

Nice find, would be great to see your progress, pictures etc. Does the engine Run, startup?

all the best,

Chris.:)

[dane h]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the comments. Just back in the land of internet after a couple of weeks in the centre hence the delay in responding.

When I got the car it was pretty much an unknown quantity mechanically.

Got the car running (later turned out to have a rebuilt motor, new pistons etc when I pulled the head off for a peek). Some new brake parts as well. The rest was all there but very tired. Box, diffs etc all original but a 56 model 2 litre installed.

Had the gearbox rebuilt, put in new propshafts, new arm in the steering, re-core radiator, and all of the front end .... been a bit of a journey.

A few more photos below of car midway through rebuild. All panels stripped back and painted, chassis blasted and painted. Thought I would go with another S1 colour just not the green she started life as.

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Cheers,

Dane

[chris1983rangie]

hello,

That colour is it a light grey? nice to see em in different colours....that chassi is in mint condition too! did it need much work?

It's gonna look nice when its finished!

cheers,

chris.:cool:

[dane h]

hi chris,

colour is light grey. car was green with green chassis but i liked the look of the grey in the 107/109. went through a pile of LRO mags to find S1's in grey and matched as close as we could.

not much to do with the chassis. a small repair behind the bumper at the front on one side and a little welding on the rear cross member. This could do with replacing one day. Mostly a bit banged around but i figure it keeps some character and as there's no heavy towing planned it should work fine.

a couple more pics now its a bit closer. had her started up a couple of times but need to re-check the carby. Idles very nicely but coughs and splutters when the throttle is pressed.

anyway ... some more progress ...
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[Sleepy]

Coming along nicely Dane. Great work.:BigThumb:

[chris1983rangie]

thats great, its exciting when you start putting things back together!
thanks for the pics.

cheers,

Chris;)

[chazza]

Nice work Dane!

Slightly off-topic - have you had a new exhaust system made? I need one for my 80" but it came with nothing so I have no pattern to show the exhaust man :(

Does anyone know of an 80" exhaust supplier in Oz?

Cheers Charlie

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The mob in Melbourne used to supply them, however my one has the heat shields welded in place in the wrong alignment and the riser in the front LHS mudguard seems too long so is very low under the chassis outrigger. If we can find a manufacturer I could be convinced to remove it as a template (after getting the local exhaust place to correct the errors).

Diana

[chazza]

Thanks Diana.

Blanchards have them at a very attractive price but I suspect freight would be the killer.

I shall consider all options :)

Cheers Charlie

[dane h]

Nice work Dane!

Slightly off-topic - have you had a new exhaust system made? I need one for my 80" but it came with nothing so I have no pattern to show the exhaust man :(

Does anyone know of an 80" exhaust supplier in Oz?

Cheers Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Only needed to replace the front (middle?) section as the rest was ok. I purchased this from the place in melb but about 3 years ago. The only problem was the lack of the heat shield. I have kept this off the old pipe to use to make a new piece.

Cheers

[dane h]

been a while since an update so time to post a few more pics.

hoping to be mobile for the S1 gathering in vic early Oct but it will be tight!

lots of little jobs over the last month or so. Vents in, new mirrors on, One resurrected pork pie and one to follow :) , seats in. These have be build by an upholsterer mate. More grey in reality than pics. Foam is lighter than old dunlopillo but they look great and feel comfy!

[Lost Landy]

Wow looks great Top Stuff.

[ellard]

Hi there

Looking good buddy - thanks for the pictures.

Where did you get the soft top from - as it looks great

Wayne

[chazza]

It looks stunningly good Dane!

On the exhaust front, I bought one from Craddocks who were marginally cheaper than Blanchards. It hasn't arrived yet - price was about $140 with about the same in freight. When it wears out, at least I will have one to copy :)

Cheers Charlie

[chris1983rangie]

Hi Dane,

Thanks for your reply Re: Leaking Brakes.

hey, your Landy is coming up great nice grey colour indeed and the seats blend in very well. is that an exmoor tilt? you managed to fix it up in no time, it just goes to show how simple the series one's are........providing you got all the parts.................hehehehe.......! i couldnt of chosen a better vehicle for a first resto project.....!

let us know how you go with your brakes.

Cheers,

Chris :cool:

[disco2hse]

Gosh. From this...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/series-i-land-rover-enthusiasts-section/13363d1233753367-slowly-slowly-another-86-way-e2-dscn2996.jpg

to this.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/series-i-land-rover-enthusiasts-section/18565d1252418185-slowly-slowly-another-86-way-p9062911e.jpg

Just excellent. Well done so far.

It's great to see the old truck set up for another 60 years.

Alan

[dane h]

thanks all,

Appreciate the kind words. Like all restos its had its moments :)

To answer the questions on the hood its an Exmoor one in the sand colour. That and they grey not totally correct for an 86 but i like the combo.

Cheers

[dreamin']

Excellent work Dane

I've just started unbuilding my first 55 - seeing you and Chris at the other end of the process is confidence building - so thanks for the inspiration

2 questions - what are you doing for indicators? and are those 205R16 Super Grippers? My searches say they only come in 7.50 x 16.

Thanks again and more photos please - interior, engine bay etc

D

[Sleepy]

Very nice.


Dreamin', I have 2 x 205x16 super grippers on my 107" (Need 2 more!) . I believe you can still get them - I checked about a year ago anyway.

[dreamin']

That's great news Sleepy - information on Dunlop website is pitiful. SP Road Grippers also look good, but they aren't listed at all - just a different, more road-biased Road Gripper.

I did find a cross-ply 6x16 with super gripper type pattern on tyres4u website - brand name Journey - local dealer here can supply them for $115 fitted so might have a closer look.

If you are looking for something closer to 7.00x16 for the 107, I think there is a similar one listed for about $150.

Cheers

D

[dane h]

hi dreamin,

they are 205/16 super grippers. Used to be listed on the dunlop website when i got them 2 years ago. As sleepy says, maybe still available if you check with a tyre place. If I remember most places at the time were trying to get me to fit road gripper F in the same size. These are hilux tyres and don't have the same look about them.

For indicators I have another pair of of 489 sidelamps which I will either colour amber or run amber globes. I've also made up 2 small alu plates to mount to the back of the bumper so they will sit just above the bumper without the plate visible from the front if that makes sense. Didn't want to cut extra holes in the guards. One is too good to bugger up. The other not so.

At the back have some amber 488 lamps to fit in bottom left corner of tub. Figured the tub is less pristine and like the idea of a slightly larger indicator to keep the tailgaters happy.

Cheers and enjoy the unbuild :)

will try for some more pics on the weekend

[dreamin']

Thanks Dane

I am thinking of same approach with indicators - although I do want to find out more about the stationwagon dual filament sidelight that doubled as an indicator, maybe with amber globe (or LED?) - I like the idea of only one white light on the wing. There was a thread on LRSOC re this - will see if I can find it.

Cheers

[dane h]

well finally there some 5 1/2 years after starting. Been running around on a farm for fun last year but properly licensed for the road as of this week :)

a few small running in adjustments to make but going very sweetly. Drove up to Yarra Glen today to the AOMC motoring day. A good event but only one other series vehicle in attendance.

Good chance to give it a long run .... might fast track the fitting of the Roverdrive I have in the garage :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/841.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/842.jpg

[dreamin']

Well done, Dane - must be very satisfying.

Congratulations

D

[Lost Landy]

Wow what a brilant job you have done on the 86" she looks fantastic :D
Its great to see another series 1 on the road and iam loving the gray paint that you used it makes a nice change from the usual DBG.

Quick question do you still have the hard top and if so would you be willing to sell it?

Cheers LL

[dane h]

thanks guys.

was keen to do something a little different than the usual DBG. Better suited to me leaving most of the little character bumps and dents in place.

Still have the hardtop LL but keen to hang on to it at this stage. Will let you know if this changes.

Cheers

[dreamin']

Dane

Are your tyres mounted on the original 5 inch rims, or did you use later, wider ones?

D

[dane h]

used later wider s3 type rims. i only had 2 s1 rims so originality might have to wait for another day.

[dreamin']

Thanks for the reply

Opinion seems to be that the wider rims suit the 205 tyres better. There is apparently a transitional type that is 5.5 inch wide with the extra 'depth' on the inside, so they look more like the original wheels from the outside. I have a couple of these and will try to find more if I decide to fir 205s.

Cheers

D

[back_in]

Hi All
I have 49 split rims with 205's
look good work well
no problems
cheers
Ian

[dreamin']

Thanks, Ian.

Most opinions I have seen are from people who haven't fitted them, so good to hear from someone who has.

Do you need to run them at lower pressures to keep a flat contact surface on the road?

Part of me wants to fit 6.00 x 16 cross plies for originality, but the 205 radials would seem to make better sense for actual driving on the road.

D

[back_in]

Hi
off road 15/18 psi
black top 25/30 psi
depends on load
use what you feel is best for you
too low a pressure on the black stuff could have you bouncing around a bit
more than normal
with split rims you will need gaters and tubes, and a lot of luck getting them balanced
cheers
Ian