Meet Max

**grey_ghost** · 23rd August 2015, 11:31 AM

Hi All,

So yesterday the owner dropped off Max... I have promised SWMBO that I will not start work on Max until I finish Roger (my 1960 SWB Series II).

Today I spent some time "looking"..

I have never had a Classic before so I will be asking a lot of questions. It's hard to know what's original, what should be there, and what shouldn't be there - as I've never had one of these before...

Drivers floor - it has a repair panel already in it, which feels quite solid. My plan would be to sand it all back, remove surface rust, re-paint it.

Original owners manual - I am the 3rd owner. The original owner was "Mr D J Pimlott" from Vale Park in South Australia.

The front seats have this weird head-rest "pad" that connects - forming a second headrest:

I have already removed the skanky sheep wool covers - here is the drivers seat, naturally it's ripped... Anybody know of a good automotive re-upholsterer? The plan would be to get all 3 seats re-upholstered.

Not sure what this is on the steering column? What are those 2 switches for?

In this picture - I believe that it looks like it has an after market Cruise Control fitted? And some sort of controller for the tow bar? Any ideas?

This is the wiring in the passenger footwell.... Like all old cars I think that it has been butchered somewhat.. I believe that there is wiring for a CB Aerial, CB (power), driving lights and wiring for the tow bar out back.. I think that I need to ask a great mate of mine to help - strip out all of the excess wiring...

While looking in the passenger footwell - I noticed a small piece of PLY WOOD glued to the floor (I missed that on my first inspection). I removed the wood, to find some silicon... Removing the silicon I found...

It's not a huge hole and it was exactly where Gavin told me to check..

Here is the carpet for the rear passenger floor:

Underneath the carpet - is I suspect the original rubber/vinyl matting?

And underneath that matting - is this an original floor (it's grey and not the body colour white). It looks like a very straight original panel..

Front drivers wheel/tyre - I am hoping that the tyres have enough tread on them to pass a RWC. They look ok to me:

Rear passenger wheel - I plan to take off all 4 wheels, sand blast them and paint silver. Only light surface rust.

This is the only damaged paint that I could find so far - passenger side front quarter panel.. Not sure what to do yet - I don't really want to repaint the entire car, but I suspect trying to repaint this panel will prove almost impossible to match the original faded paint..

The owner installed the tow bar (it wasn't there when I inspected the car):

The ugly roof rack - which I will remove, but I figure I will leave it on until I am ready to start the restoration... I figure that it will protect the paint for a while longer..!

Head lining is in great nick:

Tiny bit of rust in the rear, drivers side, C-pillar:

I couldn't work out what this was at first - but I think that it is the trim panel that goes underneath the drivers door?

The owner supplied some original spare front indicator lights:

Drivers side sill panel:

I found these spare hoses underneath the drivers seat:

I am guessing that this is for the fuel filler?

Some of the original tools:

Rear boot:

Pulled up the carpet to reveal a vinyl matt with foam on the bottom. The foam is molded to fit in the floor panel:

And the floor - looks like the same grey, original floor panel?

Looks like the brake booster has been recently changed:

A few too many wires connected to the battery I think... The battery had a date of 2013 hand written on it. The owner mentioned that if you don't start the car once a week, the battery goes flat.. I suspect that some of the dodgy wiring may be the cause of that..!

I believe that this should be a windscreen washer bottle..?

THE PLAN:
Give the car a good wash and clean
Electrical - strip out wiring that isn't required.
Cooling - check all hoses in the engine bay.
Suspension - check/replace all bushes.
Engine - complete service
Diffs/gearbox - check, replace fluids
Check clutch - hopefully just needs adjusting
Check brakes / pads.
Rust - drivers side outer sill, passenger side footwell, drivers side C panel
Engine bay - tidy up
Remove roof rack
Remove bull bar
Remove all seats - get re-upholstered
Remove all carpet + matting
Sand/paint floor white - after rust repairs
Install insulation on the floor
New carpets
Remove/sand/paint - door handles
Remove/sand/paint - front + rear bumper bars
Remove/sand/paint - grill + headlight surround
Remove/sand/paint - wheels
Cut & Polish

I drove the car around the block - engine and brakes felt good. Clutch needs adjusting or (hopefully not) replacing. The take-up point on the clutch is right at the end of the travel.

The steering/suspension felt a bit floaty.. I will need to ask somebody to drive it and tell me what they think, as I've never driven one of these before...

I am not sure what to do about the various plastic pieces of trim that are broken / missing... Should I attempt to source them? Or get thin ply wood, cover in a vinyl and replace them that way... What are others doing? Suggestions?

To be honest - I can't wait to get started, but I have to finish Roger first... I think a lot of people might have this problem...

Cheers.
The Grey Ghost

MUST. Finish. Roger..

**Corgie Carrier** · 23rd August 2015, 02:20 PM

Very nice truck, the floaty feel to it is standard, you'll get used to it.

Does it still have the drivers sill tank? That black cap thing is the access hatch to the sill tank filler.

If you are going to wait to start the project, make sure the front carpet is removed so the floor can dry out. Check under the spare wheel for more rust due to people changing the flat tyre in the rain and putting a wet wheel in the back.

Is there any rust in the inner guards, near the brake booster and same spot on the other side?

Are you going to do a full restore or just get it running and drive it?

Also I wouldn't just check the cooling hoses, unless you know when they were replaced last I would replace all of them. It's not worth cooking an engine for the small cost of a hose kit. The last couple I have bought I got from Roverlord (on here).

Good luck, I will be watching with interest.

**grey_ghost** · 24th August 2015, 08:25 AM

Hi Corgie,

It's not going to be a full body off restoration, that's for sure - I'm about 90% the way through a 3.5 year project on a Series II complete body off restoration, and I don't feel up to another big project!

If I had to summarise the plan - pull out the interior, fix the rust, paint the floor, sound insulation, new carpets, clean-up wiring, check mechanicals, service engine, check suspension, re-upholster seats, tidy up paintwork and then enjoy!

More of a rolling restoration then a complete rebuild.

Thanks for the heads-up on the carpet - I will look at removing it this weekend. And thanks for the heads-up on the other rust spots - I didn't spot any rest there, but will have another look this weekend.

Oh - and completely silly/newbie question here (this is rather embarrassing) I did notice that there appears to be a sill tank - passenger and drivers side.. What are these tanks for? Obviously there is a petrol tank out back - so what are these sill tanks for?

Cheers,
Grey Ghost

**350RRC** · 24th August 2015, 07:34 PM

Hi GG,

The headrest treatment is original for your year, possibly to do with ADR's.

Not original for a 74 for example.

The big screw out 'bung' in the DS floor is not original. Indicates a bit of repeated use as a submarine.

Switch function on LHS side of binnacle is described in the owner's manual.

One is for driving / fog lights, the other for the interior light.

The black plastic thing is indeed a beneath sill dressing, the silver one is the tread plate.

The filter tube thing sits in the fuel filler tube, gauze end down and locks in with a twist.

cheers, DL

**350RRC** · 24th August 2015, 07:42 PM

Bit more.........

The two long bits for the jack are original but the jack isn't.

Panel above the fuel tank is original and gal, the one in the back seat area looks like primer which could well be original, but LR ran out of white paint that day.

cheers, DL

**Homestar** · 24th August 2015, 07:51 PM

Looks all pretty doable GG, not a bad purchase.

. I'll be able to tell you if it drives ok next time I'm up - it sounds normal though - they wallow around a bit, but are super comfy and you get used to it - just don't try and use it as a sports car, they don't do corners at speed very well.

Yes, looks like an aftermarket cruise control and the Hayman Reece controller is an old school electric brake controller - if it's wired in correctly, then it's worth leaving if you ever need to tow something large that has electric brakes - you won't find a better towing tug than this.

I'm sure you're more than capable of whipping that interior into great condition, and it will look a treat when it's all done.

Oh, if your clutch is toast, I have a brand new one here that I think should fit - surplus to requirements now mine runs an auto. Just whip the box out.... You've seen me do it, so you should be fine with that...

**350RRC** · 24th August 2015, 08:00 PM

Bit more again.........

Front indicator lenses and rear tail lights are 76, the dash isn't.

Air con didn't come along till the early 80's. A 76 dash should have the oil pressure, temp gauges below the horizontal seam.

Plastic lettering F & R?

Alloy 'Range Rover' plates either side of the plenum chamber cover are 76.

cheers, DL

**grey_ghost** · 24th August 2015, 08:02 PM

Hi Gav,

Once I strip out the interior - I will have a better idea on the car. I may just take you up on the clutch..

I rekon once I finish with it - it will come up pretty smick...

Must. Finish. Roger. First. Lol

**Corgie Carrier** · 25th August 2015, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Hi Corgie,

Oh - and completely silly/newbie question here (this is rather embarrassing) I did notice that there appears to be a sill tank - passenger and drivers side.. What are these tanks for? Obviously there is a petrol tank out back - so what are these sill tanks for?

Cheers,
Grey Ghost

The sill tanks are auxiliary long range tanks, yours are the kind that fill through the front floor. There should be another black cover in the passenger side floor, they unscrew and you will see the filler for the tanks. Just make sure you tip out the fuel in the nozzle before you try to insert it in the filler or you will spill some on the floor.

These tanks usually have transfer pumps to move the fuel into the rear tank, so look for a couple of switches on the dash somewhere.

Good luck with the rolling resto, I have a 77 that I will get around to one day

**bumper** · 26th August 2015, 08:10 PM

The 2 switches on the steering column one is for the interior lights and the other is the dash instrument lights. the short stick leaver is for the fog lights

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