1973 LWB Series III project photos

**easyjo** · 26th April 2016, 12:36 PM

So I picked up a Series III, holden red conversion 109 a couple of weeks ago, after wanting one for about a decade, I finally took the plunge.

First issue located, a bit of rot under the rear cross member:

After a bit of work, uncovered it to this:

Ended up taking it to a fabricators, due to lack of a welder:

Pleased with the work, also fixed up the only noticeable chassis issue on an outrigger.

A bit more work over the long weekend:

As the cross member was now partially painted, decided to clean it all up:
before:

After

Decided to do the same at the front:

Spots not wired up yet, keen to do a full rewire, as a load of the cables are quite badly corroded right now:

That's it for the moment!

Next small change is to fit defender mirrors, and the passenger mirror at least is quite useless right now.

**mick88** · 26th April 2016, 03:56 PM

Good find!
Looks to be a nice straight body and reasonably original vehicle.
Was it originally a six or four cylinder before the Holden transplant?

Cheers, Mick.

**Lionelgee** · 26th April 2016, 04:26 PM

G'day EasyJo,

It is good to see another Series III LWB being worked on. Metal fabricators who do not mind doing "small jobs" are getting increasingly harder to find. The local bloke I used to use had the sheer audacity to retire. What is worse - they even left town!

Is that a hinged holder for the rear number plate mounted on the rear cross member?

Kind Regards
Lionel

**pop058** · 26th April 2016, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day EasyJo,

It is good to see another Series III LWB being worked on. Metal fabricators who do not mind doing "small jobs" are getting increasingly harder to find. The local bloke I used to use had the sheer audacity to retire. What is worse - they even left town!

Is that a hinged holder for the rear number plate mounted on the rear cross member?

Kind Regards
Lionel

At a guess, I would say it was the one that was fitted to the original drop-down tailgate.

**Lionelgee** · 26th April 2016, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by pop058

At a guess, I would say it was the one that was fitted to the original drop-down tailgate.

Hello Paul,

Yes, that what I thought it looked like. Is that placement standard for the big single swing doors on Station Wagons?

Kind Regards
Lionel

**pop058** · 26th April 2016, 05:36 PM

IIRC the plate is beside the door underneath the tail lights

**easyjo** · 26th April 2016, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by mick88

Good find!
Looks to be a nice straight body and reasonably original vehicle.
Was it originally a six or four cylinder before the Holden transplant?

Yup, all pretty original.. Originally 6cyl, as far as I'm aware.

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day EasyJo,

It is good to see another Series III LWB being worked on. Metal fabricators who do not mind doing "small jobs" are getting increasingly harder to find. The local bloke I used to use had the sheer audacity to retire. What is worse - they even left town!

Is that a hinged holder for the rear number plate mounted on the rear cross member?

I was really quite pleased with the fabrications really, most places weren't even interested, I'll be back for sure..

The hinged holder is mounted on the cross member, yes.

Originally Posted by pop058

IIRC the plate is beside the door underneath the tail lights

Originally Posted by pop058

At a guess, I would say it was the one that was fitted to the original drop-down tailgate.

Yup, it had a drop-down tailgate for sure, so that would make sense. I'm tempted to move it over to the left hand side under the lights, as that seems to more common, also a bit more solid. Also the glass is broken in the license plate lamp, so it's a good excuse to move it over when I replace it.

**Dark61** · 27th April 2016, 08:34 AM

I like the black and gold look. Will you be changing the colour of the paint on the wheels or leaving as is? When I got my 109 I took the battery leads off the battery if I parked it up for any length of time ( I still do) as I didn't trust the wiring.
cheers,
D

**easyjo** · 27th April 2016, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Dark61

I like the black and gold look. Will you be changing the colour of the paint on the wheels or leaving as is? When I got my 109 I took the battery leads off the battery if I parked it up for any length of time ( I still do) as I didn't trust the wiring.
cheers,
D

I was tempted to paint them black, but quite keen to keep them gold now.. Still debating the best way forward for paint, but I'll probably leave that for later this year..

Good tip on the battery lead removal.. thanks

**Lionelgee** · 27th April 2016, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by easyjo

I was tempted to paint them black, but quite keen to keep them gold now.. Still debating the best way forward for paint, but I'll probably leave that for later this year..

Good tip on the battery lead removal.. thanks

Hello Easyjo,

I have a very stock Series III - apart from a previous owner fitting a Holden HQ 202 motor. Otherwise the body work is as per original.

I do not want to throw a spanner in the works - however, whether it was an optional extra, or just a range of a choice in colour from the factory - my wheel rims are silver. A lot of other 1976 Series IIIs I have seen also have silver wheel rims. Not sure what year model your Series III is so the wheel rim colour might have changed.

Your Camino Gold wheel rims may have been colour matched by a previous owner. Food for thought

Kind Regards
Lionel

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