My Project: 1957 109" Series I Flat Tray

[Jock The Rock]

Well on Wednesday I picked up my 1957 (I think) Series I 109" Flat Tray :D

Very happy lad

It has the original motor and gearbox in it, both work very smoothly but leak a hell of a lot of oil. I picked it up and put 2L of oil in the motor, then got to Melbourne and found there was none in the gearbox. So in went some for that :D

Many thanks to Sleepy :BigThumb: :twobeers: who picked me up from the airport then drove me up to Gisborne. And then ushered me back through Melbourne to the ferry, all in reasonably heavy traffic. I would have been buggered without you mate, Thanks :)

Anyway back to the Landy. I was under the impression it was original but when we got up it was obvious it had been restored once before a few years ago. The paintwork outside is a bit average, but inside it's still good. The bad news is the further and further away I got from the seller the more rust I found in the bulkhead :( so that will have to come out and be treated. Unless it is past it, if it is does anyone have a bulkhead to suit? I may be up for a new chassis too, have to have a closer look at that one.

Driving it down from Gisborne was a dream, the steering is amazingly light. Unlike my Series IIA (could be a problem with the IIA :( ), the gears are good and I could hold 70-80km most of the way along the free way.

Once I hit Tassie it was a bit annoying as I had no windsreen wipers :o and it poured with rain most of the way home :(

My original plans for it were to re register it and use it as it is, without to much restoration. Saves me buying a trailer. But now I've found the rust I'm urring on a slow rebuild to former glory

Not sure yet I'll keep you posted. And for those that helped out before I'll try and track down the Chassis number in the morning :)

Heres some photos courtesy of Sleepy :)

Oh and the exhaust note on this thing is just sweet :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/645.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/646.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/647.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/06/1427.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/648.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/649.jpg
Bit interesing I know :p

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/650.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/651.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/652.jpg

And as soon as the Landy got home it was pressed into service helping a mate clean up trees :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/653.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/654.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/570.jpg

Feel free to ad anything I missed Sleepy :)

I hope you all like pics :p

[Lost Landy]

Its a shame your so far south as I could have sold you the bits you may need, as i have 3 1/2 109" LWB series 1s. 2 have rust free chassis & firewalls.

[Sleepy]

It was a fun day Jock - Happy to help.
Yes Melbourne is like that everyday (and worse :() you're lucky not to have to deal with traffic like that.

I reckon the chassis should be ok - I am pretty confident any problems should be repairable. Not as confident with the firewall although I have seen much worse.

The dodgiest bit was that near side outrigger with the exhaust passing through it - that one may need some work.

You're right about that motor it seems to pull very well and has a great sound - and didn't blow any smoke. (I'm jealous - I really want a 2l spread bore now :) )

She looked very straight. Love those seats too.

Great to see you put it to use too. :D

Keep us posted on your progress!

Edit - and those springs - How many leaves did I count? 12?

[Jock The Rock]

It was a fun day Jock - Happy to help.
Yes Melbourne is like that everyday (and worse :() you're lucky not to have to deal with traffic like that.

I reckon the chassis should be ok - I am pretty confident any problems should be repairable. Not as confident with the firewall although I have seen much worse.

The dodgiest bit was that near side outrigger with the exhaust passing through it - that one may need some work.

You're right about that motor it seems to pull very well and has a great sound - and didn't blow any smoke. (I'm jealous - I really want a 2l spread bore now :) )

She looked very straight. Love those seats too.

Great to see you put it to use too. :D

Keep us posted on your progress!

Edit - and those springs - How many leaves did I count? 12?

I hope to have a closer look all over it tomorrow. I got home that day, parked it on the front lawn then had to pack and dash down the midlands so I haven't had a chance to do anything on it since I got it home :(

I'll have to buy some seals and a RAVE CD and get to work on the oil leaks. I'm keen to get it on the road as soon as I can :)

I've just been thinking about that exhuast, I'll have a look tomorrow but do you reckon it is supposed to exit the engine bay where it does?

And lastly yesterday I went to a clearing sale down the Midlands, guess what was up for grabs. Yep a Series I. Think it may have been a 86" or 88" with a hard top and unfortunately a Holden 6 in it :( but it did have a decent firewall. So there I was thinking bargain bargain bargain and rubbing my little hands together. But bidding started at $1500 and went all the way down to $500. In the end it had a reserve of $1500 :o I don't think it was really worth that much, but would have been nice, it also had a PTO on the back and a huge drawbar

[chazza]

Nice find Jock!

Those springs look to be well knackered; might be time to buy a new set :D

Cheers Charlie

[olmate]

Well done mate - she looks like a good find :D:D:D A set of new springs as said and you wont know yourself ;)

[JDNSW]

Looks quite nice, but I think you have touched on the main problem with Series 1s - they are all over fifty!

That tray is certainly not original, but does look quite suitable.

John

[Jock The Rock]

Thanks for the replies fellas :)

Just one other thing ;) when I picked it up the lady owner had named it Barbie. Just to annoy her husband :(

I'm trying to think of a name for him. I told a mate about it and he suggested Ken, but doesn't really sound right. My other series is called Burt

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Pedro_The_Swift]

keep the tray:cool:

those rear springs are amazing:eek:

[Defender=1st]

Awesome looking series 1 jock, will have to come up for a squiz sometime, got that SI paper work to drop up anyways.

[easo]

Mate that tray is just great!

[Dingo63]

Neat looking bus mate, hope to see her around soon ;)

[Larry]

.............. My other series is called Burt

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Ernie?????:angel:

Sorry, someone had to say it.:D

[Jock The Rock]

Ernie?????:angel:

Sorry, someone had to say it.:D

Funny you should say that :p

I had a thread on it, was going to be called Barney but I changed it to Ernie :D