After lurking around here for a while reading other peoples posts, I think its time to put a thread of my own up.
My series 3 has been laid up for about 4 years and is overdue a minor refurb and putting back on the road.
To set the scene ..
It had a crude ground up restoration about 10 years ago, which involved fitting a replacement chassis, 2.5td (19J) engine and a defender front panel / bonnet. A few pics (sorry not many as I was on a film camera at the time) of this work can be seen below.
Chassis after welding and partial painting
Springs and Axles fitted
Bulkhead, backtub, engine & gearbox fitted
Doors & a wing on
Finally in use (October 2004)
It gained its first MOT in December 2003, I ran it for a about 18 months and then killed the engine (found hairline cracks in 3 pistons). The engine was rebuilt with new pistons, but by this time Id bought a discovery (Ebay & beer dont mix!!!) and kind of never really used the Series 3 much afterwards.
It made it out to a few trials and laning days however, but the nail in the coffin was a trip to Tong in winter 2008 about 3 days before the MOT expired. It was then abandoned at the back of the workshop without even having the mud washed off it.
This then fast forwards to last weekend where it was exhumed from its resting place and the initial findings will be in the next instalment.
My series 3 has been laid up for about 4 years and is overdue a minor refurb and putting back on the road.
To set the scene ..
It had a crude ground up restoration about 10 years ago, which involved fitting a replacement chassis, 2.5td (19J) engine and a defender front panel / bonnet. A few pics (sorry not many as I was on a film camera at the time) of this work can be seen below.
Chassis after welding and partial painting

Springs and Axles fitted

Bulkhead, backtub, engine & gearbox fitted

Doors & a wing on

Finally in use (October 2004)

It gained its first MOT in December 2003, I ran it for a about 18 months and then killed the engine (found hairline cracks in 3 pistons). The engine was rebuilt with new pistons, but by this time Id bought a discovery (Ebay & beer dont mix!!!) and kind of never really used the Series 3 much afterwards.
It made it out to a few trials and laning days however, but the nail in the coffin was a trip to Tong in winter 2008 about 3 days before the MOT expired. It was then abandoned at the back of the workshop without even having the mud washed off it.
This then fast forwards to last weekend where it was exhumed from its resting place and the initial findings will be in the next instalment.