Where to start on a Series III?

Hi folks,

New to the Series forum! Basically I have acquired a SWB 1980 Series III 2.25 petrol. It is not in current running condition and I was given another battery (not exactly brand new but is OK) and a starter motor along with it, which isnt enough to turn the engine.

I would love to take this on as a project eek: ) and get it up and running about like it once was as my friend used to use it daily. He said its been sitting in his drive for about 2+ years.

CAn you give me some motivation on where to start and where/what are the most likely faults in an attempt to get it running again?

Many thanks

Dom

You need to check that the chassis and bulkhead are solid first as these are the bits that rot the worst, and everything else bolts to them.

As Mikebeetle said, chassis and bulkhead, if these are rotton then its big cash....

After that, sort out engine, after doing oil and water change, plus filters, then get it going, once thats sorted do the gearbox and diff oils... If you cant get it going, why not? engine shagged? Easy and cheap to replace piston rings/vlaves etc, more expensive for a recon lump, most of the work can be done without taking engine out...

From there electrics, get all the lights working etc..

Then onto brakes, replace all the shoes and springs, and pos drums and wheel cylinders, bleed it all carefully as they can be a bugger...Not forgetting handbrake as well.

Thats pretty much the basics..... From there MOT and fingers crossed it will pass..

My advice is this: If you are thinking of restoring a Land Rover mainly because you want a working Land Rover and think this will be a cheap way to get one, then think again, because buying an MOTd Land Rover will very likely cost much less. Do a restoration because you like tinkering in the garage for hours on end. It's very satisfying when the job is done.

As to getting the engine running... Check that it's not seized by putting a big spanner on the crankshaft pulley nut and turn it clockwise. The starter solenoid may well have packed up - try jamming an old spanner accross the two big terminals and see if it starts (mind it's out of gear!). If the starter is trying to turn the engine then watch the wiring for smoke as somebody turns the key - that will locate a bad connection, and don't forget the earth strap which runs from the chassis to the bellhousing. The points might need cleaning up and the carb will probably need to be stripped down and cleaned up. They are tough old engines so it will probably go.

Thanks for your replies.

I do have a working land rover already ( a classic which as it happens im having gearbox probs with!). Its just he was tempted to just scrap it, but i just couldnt let him do it!! I do like the challenge, and like you said I know I will feel great working on getting bits done, ive lost many bits of skin off my knuckles working on the Range Rover and im sure the Landy wont disappoint!!

Many thanks

It's a righteous thing to save a neglected Land-Rover: get stuck in!

Pleased to say I have got the old girl going! I found out that it had actually been stagnant for 3+ years!! Proves how tough these engines really are!

So thought I'd follow up with what I did to get the engine going for anyone trying to do the same:

I first managed to turn the engine using a crowbar jammed into the front of where the crankshaft pulley nut is to see if it was seized. Stiff. I followed fenby's advice by checking the wires and straps. The solenoid was ok. Believe it or not the engine wanted to turn at this point but was very weak. I tired jump staring it, but whilst it turned with a bit more enthusiasm, nothing.

I took out the spark plugs and I was advised to put a few drops of engine oil down there which I did. The plugs had heavy black carbon deposits (which I think means rich fuel mixture??). I span the engine without the plugs in before replacing them with new ones.

From this stage I wasn't getting much further but seemed very close to starting when it was connected to the range rover. I checked the earth strap from the negativer terminal to the chasis which was ok. I couldn't actually find another earth strap from the engine or associated components onto the chassis at this point and even had the starter motor off to re-test it (I assumed ((dont know why!!)) that this was earthed through its body by being bolted on).

I checked the fuel pump was working, changed the fuel pipe and put fresh fuel in (I can't seem to find four star anywhere? does anyone do it now? I just used unleaded and put additive).

I had help from a more mechanical minded neighbour from now. We checked and cleaned the points in the distributor and re-did the gap.

Tested seperatly we checked the battery as the engine just had no life in it when not jumped by another vehicle. It was ok, and at this point my neighbour pointed out that hidden behind view of the wing bolted onto the chasis was a broken off earth cable! No wonder it wasn't turning. A walk down to the motor spares shop soon had us with a new earth strap bolted onto the starter motor to the chasis. Again we tried and she roared into life, choking hafl the town with smoke.......and then she cut out.

There was a slight fault with the choke cable whereby it wasnt opening and closing the butterfly valve at the top of the carb, choking the engine with no air. A little more tinkering with the spring that holds it onto the movement of the cable and away she went again, purring away beautifully like she had done previously.

Now its a full service and a clean up and an attempt at the MOT!

(woah, apologees for the essay but just had to share my success!! and it may be usefull to someone like me!)

Domod said:

From this stage I wasn't getting much further but seemed very close to starting when it was connected to the range rover. I checked the earth strap from the negativer terminal to the chasis which was ok. I couldn't actually find another earth strap from the engine or associated components onto the chassis at this point and even had the starter motor off to re-test it (I assumed ((dont know why!!)) that this was earthed through its body by being bolted on).

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There should be an earth strap from one of the starter bolts to the chassis. Often it is not replaced when the engine or starter motor is changed, and can cause all sorts of troubles, but they may not show until it gets a bit cold and the battery gets a bit down, so it doesn't get connected to the engine change job done in the summer!

yep thats exactly what had happened. I think the starter motor had actually been replaced about 3 times and in that time it must have rusted and snapped as there was very little of it left!
Dont know if I was lucky then to get away with no trouble from that! what a tough old engine I have!

nice one!! cheers for the update, its given me a bit of enthooosiasim to get out and do some tinkering..... i've got a runner, just got to get a road legal runner!!