Thought it was time I registered and posted some questions and hopefully some solutions.
I decided 4 years ago to nut-and-bolt restore my Series 2a 88. She had 90,000 miles and every single bodge heard of on an old Landy. Bulkhead was rotten, chassis was rotten, electrics were shot, engine ran OK but had no power, gearbox was clunky etc.
So I decided I wanted her to be perfect before I start playing in forests again and thought it would take me around 6 months. Here we are more than 4 years later and I reckon I am 6 months away now.
Major things I have bought are:
- New fully galvanised chassis from Richards
- Refurbished galvanised bulkhead from Ashtree
- NOS Engine from Turners (block has never been fired), 5MB with an unleaded head
- Refurbished with longer ratios gearbox and transfer box from Syncro gearboxes
- New leaf springs, shocks etc
- Refurbished galvanised front panel from Ashtree
- New wiring loom from Autosparks (with alternator conversion more on this later)
- New copper brake pipes
- Pretty much every perishable or easily replaceable part renewed
So I started by stripping everything down / off and having the new chassis sprayed black then using that as a base.
Lesson number 1: don't throw away the "wedge" which is needed under the engine mount to align with chassis... Mine went to the skip with the old chassis and only a local Land Rover specialist saved me by finding a wedge in the back of a container. Only £5 but was a show-stopper for a few days.
Lesson number 2: remove the fuel pickup pipe from the petrol tank before throwing the old petrol tank away...
Fast forward 4 years and I now have engine/gearbox/propshafts installed, wiring loom partially installed. Bulkhead on, seatbox on, rear tub on, brake lines 95% done. I need to finish electrics, then get radiator and water in, then attach power and fuel and see if she will start...
In case such a thread is of interest I can post many many photos and lessons learned. I know I am not the first to do this but I have had a massive amount of googling to do to figure things out....
I decided 4 years ago to nut-and-bolt restore my Series 2a 88. She had 90,000 miles and every single bodge heard of on an old Landy. Bulkhead was rotten, chassis was rotten, electrics were shot, engine ran OK but had no power, gearbox was clunky etc.
So I decided I wanted her to be perfect before I start playing in forests again and thought it would take me around 6 months. Here we are more than 4 years later and I reckon I am 6 months away now.
Major things I have bought are:
- New fully galvanised chassis from Richards
- Refurbished galvanised bulkhead from Ashtree
- NOS Engine from Turners (block has never been fired), 5MB with an unleaded head
- Refurbished with longer ratios gearbox and transfer box from Syncro gearboxes
- New leaf springs, shocks etc
- Refurbished galvanised front panel from Ashtree
- New wiring loom from Autosparks (with alternator conversion more on this later)
- New copper brake pipes
- Pretty much every perishable or easily replaceable part renewed
So I started by stripping everything down / off and having the new chassis sprayed black then using that as a base.
Lesson number 1: don't throw away the "wedge" which is needed under the engine mount to align with chassis... Mine went to the skip with the old chassis and only a local Land Rover specialist saved me by finding a wedge in the back of a container. Only £5 but was a show-stopper for a few days.
Lesson number 2: remove the fuel pickup pipe from the petrol tank before throwing the old petrol tank away...
Fast forward 4 years and I now have engine/gearbox/propshafts installed, wiring loom partially installed. Bulkhead on, seatbox on, rear tub on, brake lines 95% done. I need to finish electrics, then get radiator and water in, then attach power and fuel and see if she will start...
In case such a thread is of interest I can post many many photos and lessons learned. I know I am not the first to do this but I have had a massive amount of googling to do to figure things out....
