Cheapest way will probably be another block. Either option requires a full stripdown anyway really, at which point you might as well do any other work that arises (new rings? Mains?). From that photo it looks to be a 3mb block (no X bracing on front of the drain plug) which would be odd in a 1981 motor I think (unless it was one of the last 3 bearing motors, but I'd have thought they were all 5 by then?)

Looks a very nice unmolested motor though, and we'll worth spending the time to get it spot on!

Your list is like a checklist for mine. I would love to say it will get better but....

And then the real horror/family sized bag of dicks...

I drained the coolant and replaced the rusty brown stuff with some fresh...

two weeks later after I saw a drip of coolant on the sump and a dropping of the coolant...

and found that it was coming from this...



excuse the shit image I had to get the phone in there but think you can see the issue! There was no sign of this when I bought the car (Im sure we have all discovered nasty stuff we SHOULD have seen when we bought a car so Im really not after any criticism and am aware I should have found it) and I reckon you can see a smear of JB weld over the crack on the block that could have been holding for years before I made the mistake of properly maintaining my vehicle and replacing the old coolant that was of indeterminate age.

So, the question is, what to do next with the block. For now Ive put a bottle of K-seal in there and have some JB weld to re cover the crack (which is holding ok at present even in the cold weather) so I can use the car locally while I figure whether to have this block stitched (as far as I know its the original block form the car, but would take advice if anyone knows a way to confirm this) or to find a replacement block. Any experiences of having a block stitched gladly received too. This has put paid to my hopes of driving up to leafers in her, for this year at least

And that's where we are up to right now. My eventual plan is to keep it as a drivable project eventually ending with a re built engine and box that will one day end up on a galv chassis (and maybe bulkhead depending on how that is by the time I do the chassis), re painted, the whole nine yards and intend to do as much as is possible myself.

I intend to keep this thread as a document of ongoing work, maintenance and renovation. And despite all the above I love my Landy. Here is how she looked on her last drive at the weekend, cracked block and all.

Ok so what happened prior to now, well Ive taken these updates from the spreadsheet I have documenting what Ive done so far, its nearly at the point of making me cry but it feed in so Ive included it ...

Mud flaps

Dash Binnacle light bulbs
Demister Pipes
Exhaust mid section
Clevis fork for handbrake
Clutch Plate
Clutch cover
Clutch release bearing

Reconditioned Gearbox

Battery
Voltage stabiliser
O rings for hub caps
Bonnet strip
Rocker cover gasket
Prop shaft
O/s front tyre puncture repair
Dizzy cap (ducellier)
HT Lead set
Ignition Coil Bosch
Sparkplugs champion
Rotor arm (ducellier)
Fuel tank gasket set
Carburettor re build kit (weber genuine)
Hub seal
Brake shoes front

Thermostat
Temp sender (water/oil)
Drivers door handle/lock
Clutch slave cylinder
Rear door hinge rebuild kit
Wiper blade kit
Seals (door top to bottom x2)
Door tops x2 to replace the rather needy old ones


Ive worked my way through all the chases bushes replacing them all with original style jobs (that's a good time eh? everyone loves doing chassis bushes right?)

Had some rust on the chassis plated with some good steel plate (not by me and didn't photograph but will one day)

So. Exactly a year agoI bought my first Landy. A 1981 series 3 88" affectionately known as Wendy (although now known as quite a few other les flattering and more sweary names) I posted some pics of it when I joined the forum and you can see them on my profile.

Well I bought it knowing it required a gearbox rebuild for an appropriately reduced price and purchased a cheap rebuilt box off eBay and had it thrown in by a tractor mechanic at work while I re build the original one with a view to re fit it later this year.

I actually imagined that would be it and then Id just drive it and enjoy its it was "in such nice shape" having done less that 500 miles in 15 years, serviced and MOT'd every year and receipts for £2000 of parts during that time...

I was very, VERY wrong. Ive decided to document what Ive done, and what Im doing to Wendy in this thread. follow along if you're bored.

This is Wendy the day we picked her up, 19/01/19