Slowly slowly .... another 86 on the way

[dane h]

Hi all,

A combination of intro here and beginning of the story around my 1955 - 86 resto. It's been 3 years, 3 houses and a trip to QLD (from Vic) and back for the body but its now getting close.

The family (3 landrovers - the 86, a '48 and a 'fender and 4 of the people variety) are in outer Melbourne. We have viewed and drawn on all your expertise to date and thank many for the assistance provided. Now perhaps overdue to post some back for those who are about to embark on the journey.

I thought I'd start back at the start first up and show you the arrival home. Initial thoughts of a new set of points, plugs and oil and away we go . Didn't take too long to come to another view

Quite a few restorations and rebuilds before (minis & sprites mostly) giving the right degree of .... how hard can it be

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at home

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hmmmm

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bit of a degrease

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hmmm again

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may as well get started.

End of chapter 1. Will gather together some pics of the stripdown.

Cheers Dane

[dane h]

well it's been a little longer than expected to load up next batch. Been busy trying to work on the car rather than fiddle with photos.

got her started and motor running well ... might make things a bit simpler

here's a few of the strip down ...

chassis nice and solid. funny how the parts start to spread out really quickly. A search for some better front guards turned up a nice set and the tub starts to scrub up ok!

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[dane h]

time for a bit of a road trip. Had the good fortune of access to family help at an aluminum fabrication factory for a couple of weeks. Only problem was in was in Nth Qld! Lots of welding, straightening and some colour back to the old girl awaited.

For what its worth all the panels for an 86 will fit in the back of a defender and on a 6x4 trailer

Not sure if the car had ever been outside of Vic before but its first trip to Cunumulla with me. Hopefully to return under its own steam one day.

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Kept at eye out for some spares on the way. Found a couple including this poor example. Had a nice bulkhead (better than mine started) but a few too many shotgun wounds to the body

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[Lost Landy]

G,day Dane, I have to say nice find indeed. Have you had a chance to look over your hard top? they usually crack where the pressing is just behind/above the drivers head and pasengers head. Mine has and need to get it welded up. Be nice to see it back on the road.

[dane h]

hi lost landy

Had a change of plan with the hard top. When I started cleaning it up I realised it needed quite some work. Not sure if it was originally off this car as the car had some fittings for a tilt.

Hardtop had a layer of red fire engine paint and a nice big hole cut in the top for a siren. Looks to be a mid life addition as the red was over the cream and the siren hole was off to the side of the central ridge in the roof.... and of course a nice big crack on one side as you mention

To cut a log story short decided to go down the path of a tilt

thanks

[chris1983rangie]

Nice find, would be great to see your progress, pictures etc. Does the engine Run, startup?

all the best,

Chris.

[dane h]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the comments. Just back in the land of internet after a couple of weeks in the centre hence the delay in responding.

When I got the car it was pretty much an unknown quantity mechanically.

Got the car running (later turned out to have a rebuilt motor, new pistons etc when I pulled the head off for a peek). Some new brake parts as well. The rest was all there but very tired. Box, diffs etc all original but a 56 model 2 litre installed.

Had the gearbox rebuilt, put in new propshafts, new arm in the steering, re-core radiator, and all of the front end .... been a bit of a journey.

A few more photos below of car midway through rebuild. All panels stripped back and painted, chassis blasted and painted. Thought I would go with another S1 colour just not the green she started life as.

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Cheers,

Dane

[chris1983rangie]

hello,

That colour is it a light grey? nice to see em in different colours....that chassi is in mint condition too! did it need much work?

It's gonna look nice when its finished!

cheers,

chris.

[dane h]

hi chris,

colour is light grey. car was green with green chassis but i liked the look of the grey in the 107/109. went through a pile of LRO mags to find S1's in grey and matched as close as we could.

not much to do with the chassis. a small repair behind the bumper at the front on one side and a little welding on the rear cross member. This could do with replacing one day. Mostly a bit banged around but i figure it keeps some character and as there's no heavy towing planned it should work fine.

a couple more pics now its a bit closer. had her started up a couple of times but need to re-check the carby. Idles very nicely but coughs and splutters when the throttle is pressed.

anyway ... some more progress ...
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[Sleepy]

Coming along nicely Dane. Great work.