1973 Series III

Hallo
Thought I would start a thread in here for my new addition. Only had it a couple of weeks but am already completely enamoured with this little landy. As you can see, it's an 88. The old owner did a lot of work it and although road legal was used mostly for off-roading for his kids. It's pretty much standard about from the belly pan, new springs and the wheels.
I am planning to repaint it and will chart my progress in here so you can take the ****/admire it/ignore it as you see fit

Love the projects on here - they are very inspirational. I am hoping (ha ha) that mine won't need much doing mechanically (but it's bloody old so it probably will) so I can focus on improving my paint techniques...

This is he - taken by his old owner summer last year:

It's been many colours, red, green and blue. Will soon be Ford Bermuda Blue and VW brilliant orange (not the real Gulf colours but easy to get hold of)
Am on a limited budget as got a wee golf GTI who needs work, so will see just how cheaply this can be done... Love doing stuff myself and hopefully the sense of achievement when done will be worth all the hard work.

I have a wee question concerning stalling...
My landy has been brilliant til now - starts fab, drives fab etc... However today was a funny day with many stalling episodes (and it wasn't me and my **** driving - it was the fella and he's cool with any older cars). I have had old cars before (my earliest being 1968) so I am used to their quirky ways but a bit puzzled as we did over 80 miles bringing it home (fine), the fella uses it regularly to go to work 30 miles per day (fine) yet today we took it fishing and it was stalling all over the place.
No oil or water leaks evident, temperature fine, battery fine... If this is just because its a 37 year old car then that's ok I can be patient with it, but if a sign of something wrong I'd rather know and fix it sooner rather than the winter.
Weather here was hot (ish - its NE Scotland) and the landy had done a 15 mile stint home then stopped for 10 mins before we took it out again. Would be very grateful for any pointers please, thank you

PS The fishing was great - I caught nowt on the rod cos my back was sore so didn't use it, but I did take my crab net and caught a furious shore crab and a ling... We also saw dolphins which was ****ing fantastic! First time ever for me, and they say the best things in life are free - this really was amazing!

I would start by changing the fuel filter. Very cheap and easy to do.
Dolphins eh? Pretty cool.

Thank u RR1. It's back to normal today, but planning on doing the fuel filter on Saturday. Can't hurt! Also going to do a bit of a service (hopefully my manual will have arrived by then or it will just be oil, water, tyres and clean)

If weather is nice, doors are coming off for painting too. One of the wing mirrors has fallen off and I think it was a sign...

It's good for bits to drop off-it shows character! A basic service is a good start. You brushing or spraying the paint?

Brush painting most of it, but some of the smaller parts I'll spray.

I think it is the fuel filter that's the problem... the gas was allowed to get very low and a lot of crud has probably come up. Going to get a new filter today and probably also worth sticking some Redex in.

I also read that really old engines like mine with high mileage have a "lead memory" so its not necessary to use an additive, but if anyone can clarify whether I should or shouldn't be doing that it would be great. (Its petrol 2.25 about 140,000 miles on clock).

The lead memory wears off over time, and since you dont know the history of the engine, using an aditive is probably the best option. Its unltimately your choice. Dont mix different additives though, so if your unsure what the last people used, might be worth flushing the tank (rids the crap out too) or running it almost dry a couple of times. (obviously before the new filter is put in, its a shame to waste a new filter with tank sludge/crap)

^ Great stuff, thank you.

The fella has just gone and put £50 in it arrrgh - and it usually only gets a tenner. To be on safe side rather than mucking about with siphons and jerry cans, I'll wait to run it down again and then give a good old clean out. I am in touch with the previous owner so I can ask him what additive he has used and continue with the same. Appreciate your help.

£50!! In a petrol.... Wont take you long to run it thru!

Hi,

My advice would be to run it on straight unleaded, no additives, and not LRP.

Put the money you save into a jam-jar, and save it up until your valves fail, them buy a lead-free head. I have never met anybody who has HAD to fit a lead-free head.

THIS DOES NOT APPLY if you regrind the valves, cos that will remove all lead memory.

In 1993 I fitted a clapped engine into my Bitza. I then treated it with total neglect, though frequently I abused it. Supermarket oil, never changed the oil or filter until 2006, just before taking it to France. Used unleaded only ever since the real stuff became difficult. Sold it in 2008, last seen heading for Yorkshire, from South Wales. Tough as old boots! Er.... I never washed it in all that time either. Treat my women the same way.

602

602

^ It's ok we can wash ourselves fine, and we don't have oil or filters to change. Undies yes, but again we are usually quite adept at managing

Ta for the info, always good to get a few opinions. I found another thread on here about additives which was quite a long (inconclusive) one with about 50% of replies saying yes do use it, and about 50% saying don't bother! This is when I need a bit of experience and common sense behind me, which sadly despite my ability to wash and change my pants I am lacking a bit in Landy ways.

w3526602 said:

Hi,

My advice would be to run it on straight unleaded, no additives, and not LRP.

Put the money you save into a jam-jar, and save it up until your valves fail, them buy a lead-free head. I have never met anybody who has HAD to fit a lead-free head.

Click to expand...

Cost me £6.90 for some castrol valvemaster... that bottle full is good for 250 litres. (approx 50 gallons)

at 18mpg thats about 900 miles pr bottle. I might do 900 miles per year in mine. So.....

£276 for an unleaded head = 40 bottles of valvemaster (at current offer price)

36000 miles to be driven before ive saved up... Il be dead by then!

I use the Castrol stuff, too. Probably the most cost effective of the additives and I've not seen any significant change in the tappet settings in the last few years. I feel it's better safe than sorry.

Thank u for the info.

Fuel filter changed now and stalling problem resolved

This week I have also learned how to repair seat belt fixings. Weekend will be spent with the manual and involve lubricants and grease...

NessieB said:

Weekend will be spent with the manual and involve lubricants and grease...

Click to expand...

oooer

Certain people on this site would want pictures... Theyre that perverted. Im sure we can mostly say thanks for when there is a message on here that simply states "done" and that shall suffice.