Some very basic questions

I have recently bought a 88" petrol land rover series III and whilst it is in reasonable condition, I would like to attempt to tidy it up over the next 12 months or so. Plan is to do some very basic things and run it over the winter and then come the Spring have a look at some bigger jobs.

So questions:

At the moment it is on 16" 8-spoke (disco) steel wheels. I am not a fan and have picked up some standard wheels that I am in the process of giving a light refurb to.

I want the LR to look fairly original so I assume that the best colour to paint the wheels would be Limestone to achieve this?

Also, I have limited headroom in my garage and this combined with the desire to have it look orginal suggest that i should be going for 6.00 tyres - since these seem to be very difficult to get hold of are 205/80 the modern equivalent.

I believe that the cooling system now incorporates a kenlow fan. Whatever it is, the fan seems to be "in" the whole time (from switching the ignition on) is this a feature of this type of fan or could someone in the past have made a bodged fix of a broken thermostat/solenoid?

All the gauges work with the exception of the temp gauge - where can I get info about fault finding and tracing the problem?

The throttle pedal is quite weak and on occassion so weak that the throttle will stay open even when I have taken my foot off the pedal. I assume that the fix for this is a new throttle spring but I am having a devil of a job finding one. Also is the spring located under the car rather than in the footwell as the brake and clutch pedal springs are?

Apologies for posting questions that most of you will find very basic but this is my first foray into any sort of car maintenance (planning first oil change for the weekend).

Hi mate and welcome, I've recently got a series 3, so unfortunately don't have any answers but if you don't mind, I'll stalk your thread for some answers to my own questions.

Jamie

600x16 tyres are available and I think look right on the swb but they're quite hard to find. 205/80 should be the modern equivalent but make sure they can be fitted with tubes as not all can. The standard rims haven't got the ridge to hold on a tubeless tyre and probably won't hold the air.
A 2 1/4 engine shouldn't need a Kenlowe fan so put the one back on the pulley. The temp gauge should work if the fuel gauge does - they are fed from the same regulator behind the dash. You might need to replace the sender or check the wiring.
The throttle spring is on the linkage on the engine side of the bulkhead and it's fairly springy - check it's mounted properly and the linkages are lubricated.

You'll need this pdf Land Rover Manuals | Landroverweb.com
There's a copy of the parts book somewhere on the forum, too.
It's a good idea to search the forum before asking questions 'cos some of them crop up frequently and annoy the old farts who frequent this forum (i.e. me)

breifly, cos the info's out there, theres 2 springs on the throttle. one on the linkage as the rod exits drivers footwell, one on the carb its self. if its not returning you need to isolate the linkages and find the tight spots and address these, unless the springs buggered or not there.
all sorts of fans have been fitted / botched on with various methods of controlling them.
depends how standard you want it as to what wirings been added / butchered.
same with the temp gauge, would short sender to earth and see if gauge moves. if not, investigate wiring.
wheels never bothered me, as long as they go round and pass an mot its good. dont know what size will fit yours, i run 750x16 with whatever rubber i can get on them.

I don't think 750x16 fit the standard swb rims - you need the slightly wider lwb ones if I remember correctly. What width rims have you got hold of?

oxides said:

I don't think 750x16 fit the standard swb rims - you need the slightly wider lwb ones if I remember correctly. What width rims have you got hold of?

Click to expand...

erm, they do.
but i run lwb rims now.

I know its not brill but when I want the landy in the garage I let the tyres down a bit, lower pro's would be a better bet.
A proper series fan as mentioned would be better, however if you want the leccy fan to work proper you need a electrical thermostat, volkswagen passat I think it was, they have a top hose with a thermostat inline, if you adapted one of these to fit you'd instantly have your 'stat, you'd probably need a relay as well to handle the load.
Find the wire for the temp sender on the engine, usually at the top front on the 'stat housing, then unplug it and connect the wire to the engine, turn the ign on and the temp guage should go to max, if not theres a fault in the wiring or the guage.
Cant help you with the throttle, I sold my petty engine.

Not Passat

Welcome Stitch88...

New to all this stuff myself so completely understand your position.... from my short time on here I've found everybody really helpful, so long as you don't mind a bit of **** taking, but it's all good humour and mean't in the right way!!!

Found that most of the questions I have have been asked time and time again, so well worth a search first, but no matter how basic the question I ask I've always had good honest advice in return

if nothing else hope you have fun on here, and with the landy?

Cheers