Is it worth restoring?

[Warb]

I've just discovered that a neighbour of mine has a bunch of old Land Rovers stashed in his mechanical dumping ground. Most have been used as farm trucks or shooting hacks until they broke down, then for parts to keep others running.

I've already extracted a SWB 2A (Holden+overdrive) which should be an easy fix (it's probably better than my current SWB 2A project), and have agreed to pick over the other 8 or so 2A's to see what can be salvaged.

However I've also extracted a Series 1, pictures attached, serial number 57661035 that he was just about to take to the scrappie. This is an 86", and looks like the original motor etc. There is also another Series 1 that I haven't looked at in any detail, with a tray (?) and in poor shape with at least the rear brakes in pieces after being scavenged.

So the questions.

1/ Is it worth extracting the second vehicle (front end loader is available) for parts? I have no idea about parts availability for the Series 1, I'd never considered one before yesterday!

2/ Are there any particular things that put a Series 1 beyond sensible economic restoration?

[series1buff]

2/ Are there any particular things that put a Series 1 beyond sensible economic restoration?

Hmmm... welcome to the mad world of series 1's

That's like asking how long is a piece of string . You can sink $10K into one of these things before you know it .

If the chassis and bulkhead are sound, relatively rust free. then yes save it .....

Some parts you just have to obtain from the UK, there is no choice . The best thing is: to find 2 or 3 of them and make up one from the 3 .

[Warb]

The best thing is: to find 2 or 3 of them and make up one from the 3 .

Whilst the one pictured above may be worth saving (I haven't inspected it in detail yet), I very much doubt the other one is.

From you comment, I suppose the best plan is to drag the other one out as well - it's only about 8km up the road. If neither turn out to be worth a restoration attempt, or don't give me enough good parts to combine, I'll return to his original plan of $80 each at the scrap yard.

Should've ignored them and concentrated on the 2A's rather than opening an entire new can of worms!

[series1buff]

Don't want to put you off. If you can weld , panel beat aluminium , have the equipment to fold new aluminium panels up , spray paint, do auto electrical repairs and assemble engines and gearboxes , do carby repairs . Then yes, go for it . You will need new:

Tyres , brake linings, front axle repair kit, probably an engine rebuild , new brake pipes, new exhaust system, new seat covers , new windscreen glass, petrol tank sealed, springs reset, new wheel cylinders and master cyl., rear axle hub bearings and seals , canvas top plus about 1000 hours of labour .

[Dinty]

G'day All, Ditto plus a few more hours, it would be a shame to see them scrapped, but I know only too well that you can't save them all, maybe put it out to pasture if you have the space, some one, some where, some time, will ask "anyone know of any Series 1's and you could be in the box seat for more than $80.00 scrap, I tried to buy a S2A 88"GS for scrap value last year, but the owner was after $500.00 scrap value, I said to them 'good luck' with that, anyway the decision is yours, cheers Dennis

[Warb]

If you can weld , panel beat aluminium , have the equipment to fold new aluminium panels up , spray paint, do auto electrical repairs and assemble engines and gearboxes , do carby repairs . Then yes, go for it .

I've never tried panel beating aluminium, but the rest of it is no problem.

You will need new:

Tyres , brake linings, front axle repair kit, probably an engine rebuild , new brake pipes, new exhaust system, new seat covers , new windscreen glass, petrol tank sealed, springs reset, new wheel cylinders and master cyl., rear axle hub bearings and seals , canvas top

Out of interest, why new windscreen glass? Is there a requirement for laminated glass, or just an assumption that the existing glass will be fogged?

[Warb]

One more question. Are the wheels the same stud pattern as the 2A's? If they are I'll just put a couple of spares on it (the front tyres have rolled off the rims) and roll it in to a shed. It looks like it would be fun to do, so I'll probably start collecting bits and do it when I've finished the 2A, unless my son remembers we were going to do a Moke for him!

[series1buff]

If you can find an original glass that will pass a roadworthy ... then I would go and buy a tatts ticket , you will win it .

The wheels are the same pattern, actually, Morris-Commercial is the same too as are WW2 Bofors gun carriage rims.

For that price I would grab them...if you have the space to store them , try to keep the weather off them. At least you don't travel far to pick em up, unless your neighbour owns 3000 acres .

Mike

[Warb]

OK, decision made. The first one is already here, and I'll get the second one as well. The shed behind the vehicle in the "side view" picture isn't doing much, so it can now become the LR storage facility.....

Which just leaves the question of how many other bits I want to take from the pile of 2A's....

[Dinty]

G'day All,
All of them, and store them for me until I can get there to relieve you of them, seriously whatever you think you need, cheers mate Dennis