It is actually quite interesting to see the differences in engineering between my small "fleet". The Fiat 500f is actually put together much
better than the landy, and both are of similar vintage as far as original design goes. The Alfa 105 coupe is in a league of its own in that respect.
You can clearly see that was an expensive car (and a 911 competitor when introduced - shame history decided it would not remain a competitor...)
the goal with the landy is to get it driving safely ASAP and improve along the way. Gearbox out planned for this summer to fix 2nd gear synchro and I
am sure there will be much more to come.
Photo Archive
Building: miles of wild uncontrolled grins
posted on 14/12/22 at 10:06 AM
working on a SWB S2 was my introduction to cars, I rebuilt mine. Areas for attention - brakes, brake hoses and clutch. double-de-clutching on the
gearbox is a necessary method as it has no synchro.
Update the headlights is good - especially for off-road and night driving.
also swapping the leaf springs for parabolic will help - everything adds costs - the biggest efficiency is swapping the massive 2.25 lump out for
something more modern with fuel injection.
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
quote:Originally posted by HowardB
working on a SWB S2 was my introduction to cars, I rebuilt mine. Areas for attention - brakes, brake hoses and clutch. double-de-clutching on the
gearbox is a necessary method as it has no synchro.
Update the headlights is good - especially for off-road and night driving.
also swapping the leaf springs for parabolic will help - everything adds costs - the biggest efficiency is swapping the massive 2.25 lump out for
something more modern with fuel injection.
Yes, lots of scope for upgrades. Clutch is also on the list, probably with an upgrade to the defender pedal setup with "helper spring". Or
an additional booster in the clutch line, let's see. Key is making it safe-ish and driveable also for the wife, hence the big brake booster and
clutch stuff. Engine upgrade is enticing but if that happens, I'll go 2wd only, loose the transfer box (blasphemy!) and chuck in a modern EDC15
controlled diesel. Something merc or BMW probably. But that's lots of cost and work for a 1000-mile-per-year hack.
Photo Archive
Building: Hatred of Loughborough's Speed Humps
posted on 14/12/22 at 02:05 PM
My 1967 ex-Military SII 109: I went for a Mazda 3.0HA when the great rebuild happened some time ago, actually a Perkins 4.182 built under licence by
the Japanese. Suits the car really well, not terribly powerful, lots of towing torque (it's my backup race car tug) but not so much it endangers
the SIII synchro box.
The only other modifications of note were 4.1 KAM differentials, a SIII wiper motor and rack, SIII steering column and a single tank conversion (with
external filler) negating the need to strip the seating out at service stations. Screw-in wheels studs went in favour of SIII hubs with pressed studs,
welded one piece rims instead of the military split-rims. Synchro gearbox required some surgery on the chassis for the clutch shaft and slave
cylinder.
Heavy restoration centred on the bulkhead, footwells, hinge posts, top vent recesses and the modifications to mount the SIII column. Chassis
didn't need much, with the MoD underseal still there. I replaced the rear and gearbox crossmembers, one outrigger, due to squaddie damage, not
rust!
Roof off in the summer, on in the winter (or when full of stuff).
It's noisy, slow, uncomfortable, poor steering, poor braking, hard work.... but then it's not a Megabusa.
Just relax, take it slow, take your time (you have no option). You are everyone's problem, not the other way around, chill.
Photo Archive
Building: Hatred of Loughborough's Speed Humps
posted on 14/12/22 at 03:58 PM
As for that movie clip, can't say I have any feelings for Ace Ventura except nausea.
Showing my age here, but The Gods Must be Crazy still brings a smile to my face. I'm into microlighting, the sequel is still quite funny (to me,
again, I'm no youngster).
Showing my age here, but The Gods Must be Crazy still brings a smile to my face. I'm into microlighting, the sequel is still quite funny (to me,
again, I'm no youngster).
The thing I really liked was Xi reaching the edge of the world to throw the bottle and yeah that's exactly what it looks like! what a
brilliant ending
Quick update: front seatbelts are almost in. Still need to clean the threads in the bulkhead, but looks like it'll all fit. New brake master and
larger booster in, required some mods to the pedal and brake pedestal. Nothing major though. Job stalled because I don't have the correct brake
line flaring kit, so ordered one and then it's game on again.
Hope to have her driving before newyears so she can move out of the garage and I can put the Fiat 500 back in which is now temporarily in storage.
Belts in, injectors out for cleaning and reconditioning (new nozzle tips). Fitted simple electric washer bottle+pump as it had a manual thing before
which of course did not work. Brake pipe flaring kit also came today, so will give that a go tonight.
Tested the injectors. All had too low cracking pressure, one was leaking (yep, that'll explain the white smoke) and one had a very bad spray
pattern.
Pulled them apart, ran 'm through the ultrasonic cleaner and put back together with genuine Bosch nozzles. Adjusted cracking pressure and they
are ready to go again. Also adjusted valve clearances whilts the injectors were out and the engine was easy to turn over.
I hope to have her running again before crimbo, but am still waiting on some new fuel hose to come.
Photo Archive
Building: Sold turboblade, back to tin tops
posted on 10/9/23 at 04:41 PM
quote:Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Having owned and completely rebuilt 5 of the things I can confidently say that is a very very very bad idea. They are horrible to drive, incredibly
noisy, dangerous in a crash, slow as feck, drink fuel like you have a hole in the tank, rust, rot and leak like nothing else. It really is your worst
possible choice...
I still like them but will never get another. A Rav4, Jimmy, Shogun or even a Niva are vastly better vehicles to go for.
Funny enough every single person I have told Not to buy one has went off and got one anyway only to very quickly regret they didn't listen.
Funny story of the last one, was an IT guy at work. Got a heap, came over saying its got a blown head as it won't do more than 40mph! So I had a
shot and got up to 65mph and shouted at him "THIS IS WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE AT 65! YOU HAVE TO THRASH THE CRAP OUT IT!" it was up for sale
the next week...
[Edited on 18/2/21 by Mr Whippy]
100% right, horrible things. I had them and raced them for years, if you must get a 90/defender or an old Range Rover.
quote:Originally posted by mark chandler
100% right, horrible things. I had them and raced them for years, if you must get a 90/defender or an old Range Rover.
You're a little late ;-) It hasn't been too bad to live with so far, but I've only gotten through two tanks of fuel in the last year.
So very much OK for that kind of mileage.
Still got this, still breaking down a little every so often. Got a roof top tent, broke the fuel gauge, ran out of fuel once (yeah....). Have a new
starter on the shelf for months, not fitted yet. Put the spare on the bonnet because why not.
Still does around a 1000 miles per year or so. Very much a love/hate thing, so I'm not sure what to do with it. We'll see....
it looks lovely - think of it this way, if you didn't have it to hate, you'd have to find something else to hate. This way you at least know
what you hate, where it is and how to get away from it.
(no, i don't want to buy it. I'd love one having never owned one but don't have the time, space or mental energy to deal with one)
Photo Archive
Building: collecting bits for hillclimb Locost project
posted on 23/4/24 at 09:45 AM
Glad to see this thread revived with updates. Good too to see the poster ignored the sensible advice and went for an old Landrover anyway!
I had a Series III swb, van top, safari roof, free wheel front hubs, 2.25litre petrol. A shed. Bought with an MoT for £500 in the 1990s with the test
drive in a quarry. The only vehicle I have ever had that when I got rid of it as moving house and no longer anywhere to fix it everyone I knew were
sad I had sold it, including my other half, workmates and even some of the students I then taught. Bit like when growing a beard, many people
unprompted voiced their opinion.
Like having a Mini, 2CV or VW Beetle, a motoring experience to savour/endure/enjoy at the time and/or in retrospect.
quote:Originally posted by MikeR
you'd have to find something else to hate.
That would not be a big problem as I'm an AA (automotive Anonymous) member.... There's also an old fiat 500, classic alfa and a classic
camper. Enough hate to last me a lifetime!
Still have this, fixed the fuel gauge, fitted a new grease cap, added an awning and actually not much else.
see: new parts!
Needs a new starter motor before winter though. Oh, and bought a spare gearbox to rebuild to replace current one which either has broken 2nd gear
synchro's or is a series 2 box. Haven't checked yet :-)
Starts on the button every time. So far it actually hasn't been THAT bad and I am slowly bonding with it. I think....
I'm currently working my way through a 1967, Series 2A, 109. Bulkhead welding complete, clutch master and slave cylinders replaced, oil cooler
feed hose replaced and hard-pipe repaired, carb cleaned up, some panels stripped back and repainted. Now need to rewire (loom is mainly on garage
floor), check brakes and carry on painting. Seatbelts need fitting and some rear seats. Fuel tanks need cleaning up and repairing. Front seats need
replacing. New exhaust needed.
There is a heater, but no ducts for demisting the screen - I may put in heated screens, as they are only £174 a pair.
Running out of petrol should not happen - it's ex-military and has dual tanks with a switchover valve
Just to make things a little harder on the maintenance front, it's 24 Volt as well - and the 24V, 90A alternator is massive and very, very heavy.
Even the cable from alternator to control box is nigh on unmanageable, being armoured, heavy, having God-knows how many cores, 40mm diameter (50mm in
places) and far too long, so needing to be routed around to use up the length. A new, shorter one is nearly £300.
Then there are dozens of small things to put right.
Photo Archive
Building: Hatred of Loughborough's Speed Humps
posted on 30/8/24 at 10:12 AM
Snap... ex-military 109, 1967. Served in NI before being rested at the Signals Corps in Scotland. I saved it a long time ago from a carpet store (over
3 decades now...).
Engine went Mazda, a popular conversion at the time (3.0HA commercial, 90 bhp), voltage went to 12V, gearbox went SIII (synchro) as did the wipers and
steering column (i.e. it now has a lock). Diffs went to 3.9. Leaf springs went from 1-Ton to Station Wagon. Wheels went from military split-rim to
steel defender, allowing tubeless tyres from this century. Unlike most, I retained the single circuit non-servo brakes, they aren't actually that
bad, caveats apply.
It's the backup tow vehicle for racing activities, should the modern tug have a sensor tantrum. Totally usable in 2024 road conditions, leaving a
long, long, long, long gap to the car in front, especially towing (I do that anyway, whatever, given the antics of the now phone-distracted, drugged
and drunk drivers).
and goes zoom)
what a
brilliant ending
