(DIR) Return Create A Forum - Home --------------------------------------------------------- Cumbria Classic Landrovers (HTM) https://cumbriaclassiclandrovers.createaforum.com --------------------------------------------------------- ***************************************************** (DIR) Return to: rebuild section ***************************************************** #Post#: 1232-------------------------------------------------- Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a wh ile....) By: dbarrow257 Date: March 23, 2015, 2:57 pm --------------------------------------------------------- Well the challenge really has been set now... As some of you may know I was interested in a series 3 lightwieght that had been residing/abandoned in a hedge for the best part of 2 decades (Last tax disc was '95). I had been contemplating it for a while and finally found the courage to try and salvage what I could from the hedge and build a 'monster'. After releasing the locked-on rear brakes and handbrake, and with the use of my own landy, we dragged what was left out of the hedge, back to our garage. This is what we recieved... From prior inspection we knew that the chassis was in rough, rough shape... I.E. We tried towing it with the rear tow ball and the rear cross member fell off. So we knew it was going to be a challenge. After locking it up for a couple of weeks, I set to and started pulling what I could of it. My first thought would be the bulkhead being riddled with rust but shockingly the structure of the bulkhead is sound, as is the drivers footwell. The passengers footwell hadn't faired as well but these are easily replacable, but this is an after-thought as you will find out. After removing the wings, the full-extent of the rust that runs rampant through the chassis was seen. Holes, holes and more holes is all I can say.. I can easily get my arm into the main chassis rail in several different places. A few weeks later again, progess has been made at pulling 'Scrappy' apart (Named due to the fact that any scrapyard would reject it). The windscreen section of the bulkead is in okay condition and will be able to be rescued. The wings can be kept (although the checker-plating will be removed) but inner wings will be required. The seat base maybe fixable but there has been many bodged attempts at fixing it with various bits of angle cut to fit, but I will endevour to fix it. Radiator grill had NO rust... I nearly fell over with shock and as for the HUGE! winch that was on the front, it is being fixed and will be fitted to my series 2A landy so I can pull you all out... of course I mean pull me out of deep snow when I envitably get stuck. Todays progress has been remarkable really... The bulkhead has been removed and on closer inspection will have to have some welding done to the bits that attach to the chassis, they have been bent at somepoint and have nearly rusted through. The petrol tank is in okay condition although it didn't want to be removed at all... The back tub is in need of serious repair, the tie down hooks have completely rusted through, there is no evidence of any under-floor cross members and it has had an impact on the rear left of the car that has bent the floor. That was around lunchtime today and the gearbox has now been removed. The axles are in servicable condition and will be kept as will diffs and props. The engine will be either scrapped or sold depending on eBay but I have no really idea if it runs, it turns over but thats all I can tell. The wiring loom has been altered by the local butcher to the extent that it is no longer usable, cut wires all over the shop, most of it missing and ALL of it was just 'gaffa-taped' together. And the engine.. well that has been the easiest option of the project so far. Range Rover 3.5 v8 EFi, although I will be running carbs (probably SU's or Weber's when I can get my mits on them). #Post#: 1233-------------------------------------------------- Re: Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a while....) By: ccladmin Date: March 24, 2015, 12:53 am --------------------------------------------------------- Great work :) From a (boring) dvla point of view you may have problems keeping it's original id It works on a points system and I think you are changing too much to get away with it I would look into this if I was you But jealous, I like lightweights #Post#: 1234-------------------------------------------------- Re: Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a while....) By: Serious Series Date: March 24, 2015, 4:59 am --------------------------------------------------------- To get it road legal you will need to use the chassis ID ie the vehicle it came off. #Post#: 1235-------------------------------------------------- Re: Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a while....) By: Serious Series Date: March 24, 2015, 5:00 am --------------------------------------------------------- To get it road legal you will need to use the chassis ID ie the vehicle it came off. #Post#: 1236-------------------------------------------------- Re: Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a while....) By: dbarrow257 Date: March 24, 2015, 5:56 am --------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure entirely how it works, but I had a trip down to the dvla center near Kendal last week and from what I describe and what I could make out of them it 'should' be okay. They said if the chassis is an identical replica it won't affect the Q points, but I will end up with about 6 through engine, suspension and gearbox. The limit they said was 8 points so hopefully it wont but you never know. I am using the original chassis number which was found fortunately, it still has the original plates to match. You guys might have a better knowledge of the history of Land rovers. The vehicle originally had a petrol engine, I know this from the plates and the chassis number when I looked it up online, but now has a diesel engine. Using your best guess, would this have been done by someone much later, or for some reason shortly after it was made? #Post#: 1240-------------------------------------------------- Re: Series 3 Lightwieght Restoration/Rebuild (Its going to take a while....) By: Serious Series Date: March 24, 2015, 1:42 pm --------------------------------------------------------- Surely the original was a leaf sprung chassis and changing to a coil sprung chassis is a no no since the points system was introduced. What vehicle is the chassis from ie range rover defender or Designa series *****************************************************