Series 3 SWB Nut and Bolt rebuild

LincolnSteve said:

Me too. It's embarrassing. I've been working on mine 6 years. At this rate you'll be done in 6 weeks.

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steve check out your 9% vote of fresh galv masked up from the paint ! I will name it Lincoln Steve’s rear end

Rapid progress and quality refurb looks promising, the base vehicle looks pretty sound too and well looked after , have you a pic of the 5mb , I’m just refurbing mine , I put a 200di a year ago which starts and funds really well

steve2286w said:

Rapid progress and quality refurb looks promising, the base vehicle looks pretty sound too and well looked after , have you a pic of the 5mb , I’m just refurbing mine , I put a 200di a year ago which starts and funds really well

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Hi Steve, lockdown / self isolation has speeded progress ! Engine is on route from Doncaster, palletline expected delivery on Friday! Fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed that its a good un! Will keep you posted

UpandOver said:

steve check out your 9% vote of fresh galv masked up from the paint ! I will name it Lincoln Steve’s rear end

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Gorgeous!!

Chassis all undercoated, just have to wait now for it to dry before the black top coat goes on....

Is it too late to change my mind?

LincolnSteve said:

Is it too late to change my mind?

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No, but yes, yes, but no!

I stand by my original decision. You're doing a cracking job.

The under coat on the chassis is taking a while to dry even with the heaters on in the garage. Dad walked over for a brew and gander and suggest 'why not take it outside into the sun'. Well I could never have believed it, its been outside now for a few hours and its already touch dry. At this rate it should be ready for top coat tomorrow.
Top coated all of the axle parts, email conformed that all the parts from JC will arrive Monday (seals, bearings, nuts, bolts, brake kits) think I will paint the drums with the Ali 2pk primer then top coat.

Oh forgot to mentioned that the engine turned up today!

Going so,quick , what’s the plan with the engine., it looks like a vacuum pump been fitted , you can see where engine numbers are top left on mine , the 366 identifies it as series 111 diesel, in the manual there is a supplement for the 5mb engine , here’s mine in original paint colour

right then the engine...... I had thought that I had found a Slll 5mb engine but upon closer inspection (photos off the net) I realized it wasn't... google search relayed that I had maybe bought a 'sherpa engine' or even a black cab! wow that really threw a spanner in the wallet !. Any how after being a grumpy bastard for 12hrs thinking the worse the engine turned up. Having armed myself with a wire brush I went in search for the engine number. Found it its a 10J.... right then google what the hell have I bought is it a 2.25 ? a 2.5 n/a? in fact its a very early defender / late slll 2.25 diesel 5 mb engine ..... apparently event rarer than the one that I was looking for!
The plan...... been in contact with an engine refurbisher (wont mention their name) who was very helpful who can take both my 3mb and 10j in exchange for a slll 5mb for a sum! having deliberated I recon its best if I take the head off the 10J and inspect, having turned it over by hand I recon the internals are ok, for a few hundred I can re hone, new rings, bearings, refurbed fuel pump, injectors and heater plugs I recon I got myself a belter. I'll use the timing casing from the 3 bearing so that I can fit a 8 bolt water pump to keep it looking kosher.... what do you recon ? bearing in mind my Sll is a 1983 ?
BTW found out what the vac pump is ... its a vacume brake pump, that must be for the defender setup, obvs that will be removed.

or had anyone got a slll 5 mb diesel to swap for a 10J

I would agree keep the 10j , it can’t be too dissimilar from the s3 , certainly the block and crank is the same
@jamesmartin would know
When you get a mo can you. Post some pics all around the engine to compare

Steve, block, crank, head, fuel pump is the same as a 366 Slll, the flywheel, clutch case is compatible with the gearbox, only thing that I have to swap over from the 3mb that I have is the timing chain cover where the water pump bolts too. I recon its identical to the slll 5mb engine other than the engine number! plus its younger ! win win

you could just build as a series 3 using lock assembly and head from 10j

This seems a bargain

https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/erc9446-front-timing-cover-late-series-3-petrol.html

same cover for diesel and petrol

Nice find ! will order it with the next purchase of springs and shocks - good work Steve!

A very productive day in the garage today, chassis under coat was still a bit tacky in places so decided not to pray the top coat just yet so turned my attention to the engine. First thing was to strip it of all the axillaries, then take the head off and inspect. Head off and it looks good in here, cylinder bores has very little wear, no scoring at all! Continued with getting the cams out and then the crank, again no wear on the crank, not a mark ! Result!
Spoke to a local engine builder who can polish the crank and re-hone the block and place the block and head in a hot parts washer..... I had thought of putting it in the dishwasher on a stubborn stain wash with two power ball tablets !

And after lunch my first delivery of parts arrived ! so that's tomorrow sorted, can start re assembling the axles.