Thread: New to Land Rovers - need help

Hi Barbone,

The vehicle looks like a Series 2 SWB Land Rover to me. And it looks like a beauty!

Without seeing the vehicle in person - the cheapest part of the project will be buying it..

I am helping a friend restore an old Landy at the moment - and I could easily see you spending a few thousand on it to get it up to road-worthy standard. (I have also restored 2 Series 2 Land Rovers over the last few years, so have some experience when talking about the $ costs involved)

You may end up having to repair/replace:
Wheel Cylinders, Flexible Brake Lines, Clutch Slave Cylinder, Brake Master/Slave Cylinder, Tyres, Battery, Blinkers, Brake Lights, Shocks, Seats, Seat Belts.

And then things like seals/gaskets/oil filters, complete fluid change, exhaust, fuel filter, spark plugs, dizzy cap, htc leads, coil, etc.

The money quickly mounts up - however you will have a fantastic vehicle once you have finished with it. You will know it inside out and have a ball in doing it!

As for panel beating - I am no expert on it, and I am lead to believe that it is harder with aluminium. I have read the it stretches when hit with a hammer, and so you need to use a special hammer and/or heat. Others on here will have a lot more knowledge than me on that subject.

You might also want to consider purchasing second-hand panels - generally there are plenty available. Look up the "Ho Hars" on this site - they are always wrecking Series land rovers.

Look out for rust in -
Rear Cross Member
Drivers / Passenger foot wells
Bulkhead (Firewall)
Mud Splash Panels
Front Dumb Irons (or spring hangers)

Everything is repairable - it just takes time and money!

Where about in Melbourne are you located?

I say - go for it, you will have a ball. It just might cost you a little more than you had planned!

Thanks for that, I'm sure it will be a steep learning curve, but an enjoyable one all the same.

The inner city, which has made finding space to undertake a restoration a bit of a challenge.

Hi Mate,

You will have a ball. And there is heaps of knowledge on this site. Good luck with finding a garage. I work in Collingwood and have spotted a Series 3, and a few Defenders lurking around the area!

Not sure if anyone is interested, but i went and viewed the car (which is in Woodend Vic), but it had some rust in the rear of the chassis, and the engine was missing two pieces, so i thought i was too much work for a first timer. But the lady said she wanted around $500 for the car, so if someone wants to buy it for parts, or as a restoration it would probably be good value (well thats what i thought at least). It is seemingly 99.5% complete.

here is the link;
1960's? Land Rover (4X4) | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Macedon Ranges - Woodend | 1066721552

Having just read the add on gumtree, I wonder what the seller bases her idea that it's 'ex military', certainly hasn't got any of the external fittings ofr a Series 2 C/R, cheers Dennis
ps barbone, don't be put off with that, and I must say it might have been a tad difficult with body damage/rust/and the plethora of other things missing or beyond repair, just keep looking something will always come along,,.

The girl selling it had no idea what it was, she told me she had driven it once when she was in Primary school (she was about 22 now) and that she wanted to put a V8 into it, and give it "monster truck wheels".

I've got one of those SWB roofs! Mine still has the makers' plate on the back but the name of the company escapes me right at this moment (it's something like Ruston's Motor Body Builders of South Australia, but don't quote me on it!). I can't work out why anyone would have been building aftermarket roofs for Series 2As in about 1965, though I know that Atholl-Hedges were doing it in Queensland about the same time too.

Dan.
Current count: 33 Series 2, 2A and 3s, Inc: 1969 88" S2A pet4 (daily driver but looks like a S3), 1968 S2B FC pet6 (resting quietly in The Plot until time and money allows), and 1974 S3 109" pet4 (TC Tracy survivor, current project, though only slowly progressing).