Where to find a good project

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new to all this

new to all this

Well-Known Member
Posts
244
Location
East Sussex
I have been looking recently at getting into land rovers and I cannot help but think that it is a bit of mine field.

I am trying to decide what to buy as my first vehicle and I am swaying towards a tax exempt series. I have also looked at some defenders but think by budget of £500-£1000 will mean that I will stick with the series.

I am just looking for advice as to what to go for and whether I am being realistic on price. I dont mind doing some mechanics myself but would be looking for something where the chassis and bulkhead are in good order and that will drive away.

I will use the vehicle as a second vehicle and will do some light off roading to start with but mainly to drive on tarmac for now.

Also - where do people find the best buys. I have been scouring ebay but there arent many about and the local garages etc seem to charge a fair whack for series landrovers which is fine if you want a completed project but not if you are starting out. Any ideas????:confused:
 
£1k will get you a good(ish) Series. £500 will get you a right ****ter! You're right, chassis and bulkhead are pretty much everything. If they're OK, everything else is pretty much big meccano!

You'll pay a premium for a tax exempt motor & you'll be getting a much older car so more chance of it being a rust bucket. I wouldn't get hung up on the tax thing, what you could save in tax you could easily shell out on maintenance of an older vehicle.

Ebay (though people seem to think just because they're putting it on ebay it's gunna be worth more!), Autotrader, Fish4 & your local paper are all worth scouring & just be prepared to see a lot & walk away a lot. ;)
 
I had started to think that the tax exemption might be a false economy and also it will throw up more examples to consider.

Am I right to think that Defenders at this price (£1k) are to be avoided?

Can you also help with the benefits and problems with the various Series vehicles ie II IIA and III, obviously age but what else? I see a lot of series III and was thinking of looking at those.
 
A Series III would be your best bet, parts are plentiful & cheap & there's lots about in fair condition. You get synchro on all gears (cue barrage from the purists! :rolleyes: ), but other than that it's mainly just that a III will be younger so you've more chance of finding a good and cheap one.

Oh, and Daft, shut yer trap! ;)
 
I sold a totally shot Defender for £1k. There's not many other motors you could still get a grand for with a shot transfer box, chassis comprising of mainly crumbly oxidised steel and questionable gearbox.............so, no, for that money, not a Defender!
 
Thanks for your comments. I think I will stick with Series III. Jus got to find one now.

Any difference from petrol or diesel? will not be covering a lot of miles. Just wondered if there were draw backs in terms of maintainance.

I appreciate your time.

Thanks
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
I cun't help it if yu like gerrin peeps cheap series - can I?:eek:
Click to expand...

Like? FEKIN like. I din't like it, I still dun't like it, I rarely like you FFS! And yes I am busy, not that it's any of your fekin concern. Ah just thought ahd invest a few moments helping a noob rather than saying "do a search". So shut yer trap.

Er, be at yours 7pm Friday? :rolleyes:
 
new to all this said:
Thanks for your comments. I think I will stick with Series III. Jus got to find one now.

Any difference from petrol or diesel? will not be covering a lot of miles. Just wondered if there were draw backs in terms of maintainance.

I appreciate your time.

Thanks
Click to expand...

In case you int lost interest following the fred hijack.

The petrol 2 1/4s drink it so are expensive even with an overdrive fitted.

The doozuls are noisy, unbelievably slow, usually smokey on start up, reasonably economical even without an overdrive, but I gorra say, I love 'em!

Me old doosul III used to pootle along at 50/55mph all day long without complaint & I'd have another one like a shot.................do like me V8 now tho'. ;)
 
Thanks.

I intend to do mainly town and contry driving so not really bothered about going over 55mph.

On another thread I was told to spend a bit more and get a defender? I think I will stick with my budget and get a series III diesel.

Not sure what is going on with Mad the Hat Man? His link keeps directing me to a service costs thread? who knows? I dont.

:confused:
 
haha the mad hat man was hijacking your thread and talking to grippa. Never mind him :D :D Stick with the series!!! I'm being pulled towards the series now, I was originally looking for a disco! Never mind eh :D
 
I think you are very wise to be thinking along the lines of getting a vehicle with a good chassis. Having gone down that route a few years ago I think that major chassis repairs are a waste of time - it is difficult, time consuming and nasty work and the welding can distort the chassis. I think that an unfinished project with a new chassis is a good way to go. I bought one for £350 on eBay a few years ago (no engine or gearbox). If you live in a rural area, asking around a few farms might turn up something. You could try some farm sales. Repairs to the footwells and pillars of the bulkhead are not too difficult, but underneath the windscreen is a different story. If you are not doing many miles a 2 1/4 petrol might be a better option than a diesel as they are very simple and robust. Diesel engines can be very expensive to repair if the fuel injection system goes wrong.
 
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