Advice requested on used Series 3

Hi all!

I am considering buying a used 1979 Series 3 SWB soft top diesel here in South Africa. Attached should be some photos.

The air filter doesn't look original from what I have seen, but i don't know much about Series vehicles. Other bits also don't look original.

Any comment or advice from what you can see would be appreciated. Sorry the photos are a bit small, but that is how the seller sent them to me.

Thanks
John

Engine bay looks good, air filter Is none standard but if it works....
Can't see anything from the other photos as they're a bit small.

If it runs ok and doesn't have any major chassis rust ( do vehicles rust in south Africa?) then it's a goodun. It doesn't look too hacked about.

Looks like a 90/110 paper element filter in place of original oil bath type, done to make room for extra large battery.

Bloody hell, that engine bay looks nice and clean. Are you sure it's really a landy? I can't see oil anywhere

Thanks for the replies. Apparently the engine has just been rebuilt and the vehicle has been resprayed, which is why it looks so good. I will look out for chassis rust (try to see if it has been painted over) as rust can be a problem here too. More so in coastal areas.

Another thing I noticed is that it looks like some sort of cover is missing from the clutch master cylinder area. Not knowing series vehicles I don't know if that is important or not.

Yeah, they've forgot to put it back on when replacing/adjusting. Mine was the same but I found it stuffed in the dash along with shotgun shells, chewing gum and other random things. Afaik it is just to stop crap getting into it, not a big issue.

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/clutch-master-cylinder-renewal-76092.html shows you exactly what it is.

Thanks Trax. Yes looks like that is the case as the master cylinder was replaced. According to the seller both clutch and brake master and slave cylinders have been replaced.

I found elsewhere that the chassis number can be found on the right front spring hanger and inside on the bulkhead. Exactly where on the bulkhead inside the vehicle is the chassis number?

Where can I find the engine number on an original 2,286 diesel?

As you are looking at the engine from the front, the engine number is on the right hand side, at the front of the engine..

The chassis number on the bulkhead is on the vin plate not stamped on the vehicle. The plate should be y your left knee (I think). But it does wander about depending who refurbished it.

Thanks for the replies! I will hopefully have someone take a look at it this weekend.

Hi

If I may ask, how much are you paying for it?

Don't tell him! He'll get before you.

Seller wants R50 000 for it. It is expensive, but has had a lot done to it. Still waiting for an independent mechanic to have a look at it for me. Will maybe negotiate from there.

It is rare to find a diesel SWB soft top, which is why I am willing to pay for it.

Wow, that is high, but like you say, they are hard to come by in south africa, hope all is well on it and you have loads of fun with it when you buy it.

I'm quite surprised they're hard to come by in SA. I was under the impression there would be loads of them over there. I now understand why I was asked if I would consider exporting mine to SA on a recent trip to Sainsburys.

There are many Series vehicles available in South Africa, but SWB soft tops are scarce, and diesels are scarce. So the combination is scarcer still. The only other SWB with original diesel engine I remember seeing was a station wagon or hard top.