Giving an old S3 army girl a new lease of life

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davebeccles said:
bugger. Think I bought the wrong front shocks. They said they were for a Series 3 LWB. Why are mine so much bigger?

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What you have in your hand is a front shock for a 109.

What you have sat on your drive is a one ton 109.

Yours has longer spring shackles than a 'standard' civvy 109 which means you've 'effectively' got a suspension lift fitted...

Once you get your original shocks off compare them to the new ones both fully compressed and fully extended - you might get away with them purely on the road but I doubt it. The new ones will not fully compress with the shackles and bump-stops on yours, and will 'top-out' about 2-3" early if you let a wheel drop. You might be able to fit shorter axle limit straps to stop any damage to the shock, but it'll mean reduced articulation off road...

I think I saw some other questions you posed earlier in the thread, I might even go back and make people :bored: some more :D
 
OK. Now that I've established that I have a 1 ton 109; is there anything else I need to know? I've been reading up on chassis differences but apart from the axle heights I can't find anything else different.
 
davebeccles said:
Had a good day today stripping my '78 S3 109 back so thought that I've got enough to start a thread. I've posted the odd picture over the past month or so but now I'll try and keep stuff together. Don't expect too regular updates though, too little time, too much to do........



After one day, took the grill off, very excited. Not done anything like this since I was 16 and stripped bikes and mopeds!!:D
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seriously great work mate and seems fairly solid at the front where bumper mounts, what it like on the underside? I was 8 when I first drove one identical to yours:D, I so desperately want one of these but a series 2-2a one so it's tax exempt, keep up the great work bud!
 
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flat said:
wasnt there also some IR shield that clipped over the headlights to?
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Only on the early IR equipped ones (There will be a covered switch on the dash it it was IR equipped .

Technical

Be careful IF it still has the IRR paint on it (Sort of a dull reddy browny colour)
Sanding the stuff down is pretty bad for your health if you breathe it in (Even more so than standard paint)
 
pauldg said:
What you have in your hand is a front shock for a 109.

What you have sat on your drive is a one ton 109.

Yours has longer spring shackles than a 'standard' civvy 109 which means you've 'effectively' got a suspension lift fitted...

Once you get your original shocks off compare them to the new ones both fully compressed and fully extended - you might get away with them purely on the road but I doubt it. The new ones will not fully compress with the shackles and bump-stops on yours, and will 'top-out' about 2-3" early if you let a wheel drop. You might be able to fit shorter axle limit straps to stop any damage to the shock, but it'll mean reduced articulation off road...

I think I saw some other questions you posed earlier in the thread, I might even go back and make people :bored: some more :D
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Nope it's not

It's a standard ex-military 3/4 ton Landrover with a heavy duty military chassis (extended front spring hangers with two sets on spring mounting holes )
And Aeon spring assisters on the front (sometimes fitted but not always )to help the springs with the extra loading of the radio kit)
 
mistericeman said:
Nope it's not

It's a standard ex-military 3/4 ton Landrover with a heavy duty military chassis (extended front spring hangers with two sets on spring mounting holes )
And Aeon spring assisters on the front (sometimes fitted but not always )to help the springs with the extra loading of the radio kit)
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I stand corrected (which is a place I don't mind standing at times ;) )

I was (mis)informed that the heavy duty chassis fitted with drop shackles, extended dumb irons/hangers and bump stops and heavier springs were what gave the 1ton payload.
 
blackstrat said:
+1 I've just learned something.. (courtesy of mistericeman) :)
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I wouldn't listen to me too much lol ....

1 tons were usually fitted with 900x16 tyres and wider (Extremely ebay rare ) rims .

Almost always 6 cylinder engined (VERY small number of four pot ones)

Low ratio gearbox/ transfer box to allow for heavier load AND larger tyres

Env (S2a) OR Salisbury (S3) front axles

A scalloped bell housing X member to allow clearance for the propshaft

Extended (And with an extra tie bolt) spring shackles )

Trust me you'll know IF you spot one as they have a heap more "presence" than a standard series (Even one on a HD mili chassis )

And will be rolling along at about 40/45 mph if it's on its original running gear AND probably stationary IF it's still a Sick pot lol .

Heaps ended up as tow trucks with garages ;-)
 
Update on progress. I feel that we are getting somewhere as I now have the chassis clear of all other bits and have been able to flip it to get a good look at the underside.

Engine block on the move.



Safely stowed onto pallets.



Gearbox off.



Empty space in the chassis.



Just the front axle to go.



Here goes with the front axle.



Fighting with some seized bolts.



Got them!



Ready for stripping and cleaning.



Axle off and ready for stripping.

 
Chassis on the move!

Sections of chassis from rear.













The dreaded metal worm has been busier than I anticipated!!!









Now I need to get cutting, welding and making good!
 
Looking good, the tin worm is always worse than you think!

Be careful using a scaff bar on your ratchets, do you not have a breaker bar?
 
I was thinking the chassis looked to be in good nick till I got to the last 4 photos, second to last looks to be the most difficult job, good luck with the welding
 
I'm back!!
After changing jobs, decorating, re-roofing garage, going on holiday and other activities which take me away from the old girl I am now back on track.

This weeks job was brakes. Everything cleaned up and a coat of paint for some bits (simply because I wanted to!).

Putting it all back together but it doesn't seem to sit right.
Have i fitted the springs wrong??



I think they are upside down.......
 
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