1978 Series 3 109 ambulance

Owned by myself and my Dad, we bought this a few years ago as a "toy" to use for shows, tip runs, car boots, snow days and anything else really.

It came out of service in 2001 after being brought back from Cyprus. I have a lot of the military history with it.

Non original 2.25 petrol engine, rebuilt top end with brand new stage 1 gas flowed head etc etc. (still slow)

Has done 42k. Needs a few jobs doing to get it back on the road again.





Great in the snow, will go anywhere no worries.

Completely original in the back apart from a change of colour. Strechers present etc.

Failed its last MOT On two brake pipes from the master cylinder to the Bias valve in the chassis. Cant seem to get a hard pedal now. Have changed master cylinder, two brake cyliners on the front, 8 brake pipes and swapped the nipples on the front to the top (not the bottom). Still no pedal

Have tried adjusting but still nothing. Got new bleed nipples to fit now, as the old ones feel loose in the threads.

Watch this space.

Very nice

Have you checked the snail adjustors in the drums?

Is that a case of the adjusters not located properly on the shoes?

nice, any pics of the rear inside?

stevemanta said:

Is that a case of the adjusters not located properly on the shoes?

Click to expand...

Pretty much. The difference between a good hard pedal and having to pump is quite a fine adjustment. Check each adjuster will lock it's respective shoe to the drum.

After centering the shoes adjust until shoe rubs and back off one click.

The twin leaders on the front can be problematic to bleed as well. Some remove the backing plate and invert to bleed, others crack the connection on the link pipe between slaves to bleed before bleeding from the nipple (which is what I do but you need to be careful not to get fluid everywhere)

blue beasty said:

Pretty much. The difference between a good hard pedal and having to pump is quite a fine adjustment. Check each adjuster will lock it's respective shoe to the drum.

After centering the shoes adjust until shoe rubs and back off one click.

Click to expand...

Ahh. This is quite possibly something that might cause issues. When I back the adjusters off, I dont get a "click" , it just winds off.

trax said:

nice, any pics of the rear inside?

Click to expand...

Not at the moment but i'll get some if you want?

I considered putting an eberspcher(sp) night heater in, 12v ones are hard to find tho

These ambulances are like buses Everyone seems to be getting one now

Looks really nice Very tidy

stevemanta said:

Not at the moment but i'll get some if you want?

I considered putting an eberspcher(sp) night heater in, 12v ones are hard to find tho

Click to expand...

always like a pic. get yourself bandaged up with some ketchup and lay on the stretcher.. maybe even got your missus in a nurses outfit.. would make a smashing pic.

sweet how about some pics of the inside

trax said:

always like a pic. get yourself bandaged up with some ketchup and lay on the stretcher.. maybe even got your missus in a nurses outfit.. would make a smashing pic.

Click to expand...

Have used it for various cadet exercises in the moorlands including evac rescues for training purposes

And me and the missus split up on NYE so that might just be a tad difficult

stevemanta said:

Have used it for various cadet exercises in the moorlands including evac rescues for training purposes

And me and the missus split up on NYE so that might just be a tad difficult

Click to expand...

sorry to hear that mate, but surely that is the only excuse you need to post all those private pictures you took together :nopics:

stevemanta said:

Have used it for various cadet exercises in the moorlands including evac rescues for training purposes

And me and the missus split up on NYE so that might just be a tad difficult

Click to expand...

i'll get my hat on the wayout then

DiscoPol said:

sorry to hear that mate, but surely that is the only excuse you need to post all those private pictures you took together :nopics:

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Lol..

Nice motor..

DiscoPol said:

sorry to hear that mate, but surely that is the only excuse you need to post all those private pictures you took together :nopics:

Click to expand...

A Chance to have taken some would have been a good start!! Bloody women.


Oh well, change the subject before I get emotional and punch my landrover.

Well folks, This POS has returned to the great british pot holed roads! 12 months MOT was issued yesterday after having the brake lights fixed, hand brake adjusting and a brake pipe cleaned + greased.

I finally got the air out of the brakes by clamping the wheel cylinders shut with g-clamps. Someone recommended that on here, so thanks for that piece of advise

Currently looks a bit sorry for its self. But its now under going a strip down and repaint, slowly.



and pictures in the back





Should really be Green in the back, but it was a horrible colour. And I spoke to an old chap that drove these back in his time served in the Army Medical Corps and his was duck egg blue inside, so it got a lick of paint in there. The roof inside has also been replaced.


I have considered a diesel conversion, as the 2.25 is slow and thirsy. Ive got a complete 300tdi engine, but it wont be an easy fit. Might keep my eyes open for a 200tdi.

Looks great! fantastic vehicle, well done for keeping its original look

I've always wanted an ambulance...

:Cry::Cry::Cry::Cry:

Nice to see one kept as standard in the back instead of a camper conversion

Great land rover! You could just sleep on those stretchers tho