Series II MOT Prep - What to Look For?

Hi All...

First post here, so please be gentle and understanding while i bust my LR cherry...

About 6 weeks ago, a friend of mine turned up with a 1968 Series II SWB. Its a little beaten up in places, been botched in more than a few. He's had a Perkins Montego conversion, again, not to the best of standards and im now in spitting distance of getting the MOT sorted.

Brake drums and shoes, incl all the springs etc have been replaced. The cylinders have been cleaned and freed where needed. I've bled the brakes with about 50 gallons of fluid but they are still not what i would call brilliant (non servo) but i havent really got a lot of experience with something this old.

Steering seems to have a lot of play in it

Chassis looks like its been patched up in the past and as far as i can remember the previous MOT's didnt post up anything chassis related.

So, what are the best things to check and how costly to put right?

All help appreciated!

Alex

:welcome2:
brakes may need to bed in a bit if all new..

steering check all six ball joints for play and then adjust the box a little (up in the drivers side wing), a little play in each can add up to alot..

and the chassis well if you cant poke your finger through it the you should be ok

Also have a good look at the bulkhead for rot especially around the footwells and corner of the door pillar where the screen mounts, they are prone to rot here and could have been bodged with filler. You can buy all the replacement panels so if it is knackered it's not a bad job if your handy with a welder.

Whats up with the brakes?

Just dont feel 'right'. I agree that they may need bedding in, but they work as far as im concerned! He stops....

Its had a partial brake pipe renewal, i know one of the rear flexies has a scrape on it which may fail but again the work was not done incredibly well. Trying to separate the joints and unions will result in pipe damage so if push comes to shove i'll rip the whole lot out and start afresh!

Also, does it need reverse and rear fog lights fitted? I've got a worklight on the rear, but no rear fog. Not sure on the law on this age vehicle.

It does not need reverse or fog lights as it was not fitted with them originally.

By the brakes not feeling right...do they feel spongy? Have to pump them? Lots of pedal travel?

Why not stick it in for a test and then work off the failure sheet.
At least then you'll only be doing the work for a ticket and you can do the rest at your leisure.
I look at MOTs as a cheap way of getting my car up in the air and another opinion on it.

Hmm...I would rather do a thorough inspection myself rather than rely on the MOT inspector as the be-all-and-end-all of roadworthyness! With an unknown vehicle though, putting it through an MOT can be a quick way to find the main faults as you say - at least then you know roughly what you are dealing with!

Thats the plan... MOT is booked for next saturday.

Just blasted off the chassis and that doesnt look too bad... Nor does the bulkhead from what i can see.

As for the brakes, not really spongy, better than what he came with but i agree with all those who say just get the MOT sorted and work from the failure list...

How many pages of fails can a station issue at once? lol

Passed... No advisories... Well Chuffed... Transmission brake is binding a little but otherwise a clean bill of health so to speak!

well done another old beast on the road..