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Thread: The REAL cost of restoring a Series Land Rover

  1. #1
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    The REAL cost of restoring a Series Land Rover

    Hello folks!


    When I first started the Barney project last year I recall thinking “I should be able to get this on the road for a couple of grand and I’ll have a really cool, fun truck to run about in”. (???) Hahaha… I’d like to think I was not alone in this flight of the imagination and a few of you may recognize my utter naivety in themselves when they first stumbled into Land-Rover-Land.

    But nothing risked, nothing gained, so I threw my $500 down on the farmers table with a grin from ear to ear and started to make plans to bring it home. But before long I found out I had something a little special here; I had, without any knowledge at all, found a vehicle built in that small 1958 window when Land Rover were using up the last few hundred 2 litre engines in the then brand new Series 2 body/chassis. I had number 79!

    Well, this news changed things a bit for me and, with some gentle prodding from a few forum members, and the good wife, I decided that this old truck needed a bit better treatment than a lick of paint and some boot black on the tyres. So I opted to do a total restore, including the engine, which these days was no more than a lump of rust abandoned in the paddock many decades ago. Even at that point I had no idea what the eventual cost would be; but, put it this way – I seen several similarly restored trucks to what I was aiming for on the market in the $10G-$12G range and I thought they “were dreamin”.

    I dutifully put $10,000 in the fighting fund sure that that would cover it – wouldn’t it?
    As it turns out – nowhere near it, the engine rebuild cost more than that… and it was around this point I was starting to realize just how deep I had got myself in with this project. It was going to cost many times what I had originally thought. The glow was wearing off and reality was setting in, do I chuck it in and try to sell off what I had done so far, or do I plug on with it and see it out?.. but then I looked at it this way – if it costs me $20-$25 K (and it looks very like it might…) I’ll have a mostly new, very cool truck for the price of a Hyundai sedan. But it’s more than that; I’m really enjoying this journey. I have a truck that I’ve touched, thought about and sweated over every single nut and bolt and part on it. I’ve blackened my finger-nails and bloodied my knuckles on it; I’ve drunk much beer by it puzzling over the best way to achieve a required result, and it’s educated me. It’s a journey and I’ve a long way to go.

    In that light it was a pretty easy decision -I’m going to finish this thing!!

    Anyhow… I’m really just rambling on… it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything so I thought I’d just post this.

    Peter.

  2. #2
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    I think a lot of people get into a full Land Rover rebuild without realising the costs which rapidly rise if you have to farm work out because you can't do some of it yourself.
    I've seen a few Series Land Rovers up for sale in a thousand parts. Someone buys it full of enthusiasm, takes it apart, finds a few horrors, starts spending money, loses momentum & it gets sold off in bits down the track (or worse it gets scrapped).

    I've been lucky with most of mine, no major engine problems, can do most of the work myself and I'm not looking at a 'full rebuild' but I can still see where the costs start to mount up if you're not careful. Mind you, if I look back, they are taking far longer than expected to get back on the road.......

    I think that this thread should be a 'sticky' so that people getting their first Series Land Rover get an insight into what it can cost.

    Best of luck with Barney.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  3. #3
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    $10.000 Engine rebuild ????
    Thank God for Forums and Local Knowledge.

    whitehillbilly

  4. #4
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    I would like to think very few people rebuild these things for money,
    which really means they rebuild them for pleasure,,
    which is a positive health thing,,
    and that can only be a good thing.
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

  5. #5
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    There is no way I am adding up the receipts for what I have spent on the Series 3!! Ignorance is bliss, (sort of).

    Cheers,

  6. #6
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    Very good thread!
    And lets not forget the whole infrastructure associated with a rebuild or the modifications. Tools, costs for sand blasting and so on.
    Unfortunately (or fortunately!) people have different standards of craftsmanship. So I expect posts to follow soon from people claiming about doing things on a fraction, achieving similar results. Similar, just not the same......m

  7. #7
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    I'm onto my 3rd 10K engine build,,
    luckily only one was a land Rover ,,
    the other two raced as designedl!!
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

  8. #8
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    Thanks, I think.

    Guys - I am just getting into my restoration and am at the stage where I realise my budget is not enough but don't yet know where it will end up. I was hoping for something less than $20k.

    One of my cost blow outs has been a realisation that if I am going to all this effort I should buy the best quality parts I can find. The gearbox was the start.

    But as you say, it is the journey not the destination. I am enjoying the process, learning something new and researching the history of the vehicles. I even bought a copy of the Leyland Brothers DVD on their 1960's across Australia journey because they were driving Series 2s.

    Cheers
    Angus

  9. #9
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    I find spending time and money on the fleet is rather good for my mental health! I do; however; keep little track of the money spent.

  10. #10
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    Not just Landrovers, but for most cars, restoration will cost far more than the vehicle will be worth when you finish the process.

    It is not unusual though for Landrover restorations to end up with a vehicle that is literally better than when it left the factory - often far better paint and panel finish, and things like updated wiring, lights, electrics, modified exhaust, increased compression, electronic ignition, stainless steel bolts, sleeved hydraulic cylinders etc, all of which add considerably to the cost.

    The other thing to note is that any work that you do yourself is going to be a lot cheaper than paying someone to do it. Obviously, some people have skills and equipment (including good workspace) that others don't, but many have had a fulfilling time learning new skills and knowledge, and saving a lot of money at the same time.

    Thinking carefully about what you need to replace as opposed to refurbish or just leave it as it is will also do a lot towards keeping a lid on costs.

    But even if you do your utmost in cost control (and who does?), you are almost certain to find at the end of the day that you have a vehicle that you have spent far more on than you can sell it for.

    Wait! Think for a moment! You paid $500 for your Landrover five years ago, spent $20,000, and it is now worth $5,500. How different is this from the new car you spent $50,000 on five years ago and is now worth $35,000?
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

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