Thread: New Toy - 1957 107" ute

It's almost looking like a Land Rover now I packed her up and moved her into another shed as we're off on a holiday for six weeks so the Disco needs to go back in the garage. Bonnet and grille are only in etch primer but it makes her look a little more loved.





Regards,

Tote

Well, after two and a half years I dragged Geraldine out of the shed and have started doing some more work on her. I bought a reproduction Solex and fitted it and she starts and runs sweetly now.
It is possible to get a series one motor to run quite happily on two cylinders, when I first fired her up I had 3 and 4 running but no combustion on the other two cylinders. A bit of head scratching, retiming and rearrangement of ignition leads and she starts and idles without touching the throttle.






The front spring that I pulled off the 86" and re bushed is completely different in the number of leaves and height. I think I may end up getting a new pair of springs if I can't find any at a reasonable price. The original has a broken eye on the front mount.

Regards,
Tote

You could try just swapping the top leaf out of the other spring?

John

The spring from the 86 is held together by flat steel sections that have been hammered over the spring pack, how do you dismantle them? A large hammer and cold chisel? although on reflection I guess I could just cut them with an angle grinder. The 107" spring has the bolt type clamps.

Good thought JD, I now have a task for this evening...........

Regards,
Tote

Top spring removed from the 86" pack



Regards,
Tote

Pushed her back in the shed today, need to get the Defender back under cover. I've done some more though, Fuel tank repainted and fitted,new gaskets on the sender and pickup. as well as new gaskets on inlet and exhaust manifolds.

I'll order some more bits and pieces and have another sprint once Christmas is done.

Regards,
Tote

A Year has gone by between extractions from the shed.....
I pulled her out this afternoon and fitted new bushes to the other front spring. I bought the press to do the balljoints on my BF RTV ute but it's just the go for doing the bushes. Changes what used to be 2 hours of cursing to a 10 minute job.

Pushing the old bush out
IMGP5456.1.jpg

And the new one in
IMGP5457.1.jpg

The Kit
IMGP5458.1.jpg

Now, what to do with those Wolf wheels and MTRs that are sitting beside the shed......
IMGP5459.1.jpg

Regards,
Tote

Tote, Noice pics of your '57 107 Ute. Where did you buy the press kit? Looks like a handy thing for any self-respecting home mechanic.

Cheers, Rob S