Author Topic: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon  (Read 4098 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline PCB93

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 76
  • Location: Cheshire
1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« on: October 18, 2016, 04:38:11 am »
Morning all,

This is the new project, then - a Series IIA 109" Carawagon with the six-cylinder petrol engine. Whereas I turned the Series III around in a year, this is going to be more of a long-haul job. I'd been after a Carawagon for a couple of years and this was the first to come up with the spec I was ideally looking for  - cost rather more than I hoped at auction, but given that the plan is to keep and use it for the long run, I'm telling myself that that won't matter too much in the grand scheme of things!

Currently it falls into the 'derelict' category - prior to being trailered home, it hadn't moved from under a tree for eleven years and had an ecosystem of its own. It rolls without any worrying noises, and the engine turns by hand, but that's about all I can say for it at present. The bulkhead needs the usual footwells etc., but is solid in the main. I haven't had a proper look over the chassis yet, but early impressions are that a new one may well be the sensible option. The driver and passenger seats need re-covering, probably along with the main bench seat/bed. The cupboards are in good nick, and the canvas beds in the roof are okay too - I've tested them and they're holding up fine - surprisingly comfortable, too! Unfortunately the original stove is missing. Wiring looks like being the worst job once again - it's been done really badly in the past and there are block connectors everywhere. Much of it is held in place by duct tape. There's also an LPG system that hasn't been used since at least 1998 - that'll be going.

Anyway, photographs.

Arriving in the tipping down rain, which naturally stopped the instant we'd finished unloading:


Engine bay looks fairly chaotic, with all sorts of aftermarket electrics. Help. Note LPG vaporiser:


Flora and fauna:


Roof still lifts okay, albeit with much creaking:


Looking a touch happier about life post-jet-wash:


I believe the metal strips on the bonnet and wing-tops are original and once retained rubber matting of some sort:


Left things to air for a while - cable is for a de-humidifier. Attracted some funny looks from passers-by:


Main roof section still looks quite tidy inside:


Wooden side panels are badly rotted. They look straightforward enough to replace, however:


Perspex roof windows are quite 'cloudy':


Hand-pumped tap works fine still:


Roof-rack is original, I think. Plan is to replace the wooden parts and retain:


Gearbox with standard sludge coating. Unsure when the overdrive was fitted:


Both wings have some filler which is cracking. Otherwise, panels are pretty straight:


Carawagon badges are faded, but legible:


Electric hook-up where the fuel filler should be. Currently there is a military type under-seat fill tank:


Pull-out awning support above the rear door. Haven't got it to budge yet:


Paint is worn through to the metal in places:


Looks almost usable from this angle!:


Dash is mostly quite tidy, front seats less so:


Interior with roof down. Mostly in good order:


My initial plan is to re-build the top end of the engine and hopefully get it running again - I'll have a look at the state of the bores while I'm at it. If that goes well, the clutch hydraulics will be up next to see if it will move under its own steam. I can't finance a full re-build yet, so for now it'll be a case of removing and refurbishing what I can, to hopefully make the main job quicker when it comes. This is my first IIA, so I'll have quite a few questions in terms of what's standard/original, and what isn't, before we even get to the Carawagon conversion. It's going to be a few years, but I'll keep you all posted!

Phil
« Last Edit: April 21, 2019, 07:23:09 pm by PCB93 »
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Like Like x 1 View List

Offline moomoo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 843
  • Mandy
  • Location: Ashbourne
  • Location : Ashbourne
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2016, 06:21:19 am »
A lot of work bud, but what a prize.
Fantastic. lkebtn
Before you take revenge,dig two graves.

Offline Horace109

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 499
  • Location : up the clump...
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2016, 09:09:16 am »
 lkebtn

Offline Marque

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
  • Location : Bedford UK
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2016, 09:28:16 am »
I am very happy for you. Another one gone to a safe pair of hands.

M

Offline Big Rich

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 343
  • Location : Glasgow
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2016, 10:33:53 am »
What a fantastic project. Its looks quite good cleaned up.

Offline 94mharris

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 350
  • Location : Northampton
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2016, 02:09:31 pm »
Wow!! Great project  drll Looking forward to future updates, will look forward to seeing it at t'pit in a year or so ...,
Katie: 1980 Series 3 SWB Station Wagon

Bertha: 1994 Range Rover Vogue 3.9 V8 EFI

Offline frecko

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Twenty's Plenty!
  • Location: Liverpool
  • Location : Costa Del Merseyside
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2016, 04:07:13 pm »
Looking forward to seeing this, let me know if you need a hand mate
Gerald, 1980, 109" Station Wagon

Offline Gossamer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4376
  • i would rather be happy than right!
  • Location : AbuDerby
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2016, 06:37:58 pm »
I am very envious of your new prize.

 whoo

Good luck with it.
All the right bits, but not necessarily in the right order.

Offline RMS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 687
  • Near Wakefield, in God's Own County!
    • Land Rover Classic Campers
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2016, 07:38:50 pm »
A great project - that will be the one from Joslyn/Patina, I think, isn't it?

Let me know if you want any help on the Carawagon side of things - I've restored one or two   whstle  and have another couple waiting for restoration when I get the time.

Oh, and have a look at the LRCC forum HERE - more specific for camper conversions   wdesmle

Cheers,
Robin.
1958 109" Carawagon (project);  1967 109" Carawagon, 200TDi; 1971 109" Carawagon (project), 1972 109" SW Carawagon (needs tlc), 1974 Dormobile (project)

Land Rover Classic Campers forum at www.lrcc.org.uk

(patNrob on S2C)

Offline Calum

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 809
  • Location: Midgley, W.Yorks
  • Location : Midgley, W. Yorks
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2016, 08:35:03 pm »
Looks pretty much identical to mine! The as-found condition looks awfully familiar too!!

Offline Nuggs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 503
  • Location: Suffolk
  • Location : South a bit and east a bit
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2016, 08:48:39 pm »
Derelict ......ha. I'll see your 6pot and raise you a stage 1........re defining the word derelict.

Getting quite common these ivory carawagons .  ;D

Looks good though.
Apparently a dull, bog standard DBG 88'' ......with only two headlights. The shame!! 
1982 Stage 1 SW ' Project - 'KUHN'

Offline Land Raver

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 126
  • Location: Basingstoke
  • Location : Basingstoke
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2016, 10:22:47 pm »
Lovely project. I don't think I'll ever be brave enough to take on a Carawagon with a 6 pot but I absolutely love them.
Well done fella - looking forward to reading progress.

Offline blenky

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 653
  • Location : retford
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2016, 07:39:18 pm »
love it. hope it goes well and look forward to seeing the progress.

Offline espacekiller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 814
  • Location: West Yorkshershire
  • Location : North Leeds West Yorkshireshire
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2016, 10:44:19 pm »
 lkebtn very nice.....well it will be.
I am the Anti Midas, everything I touch turns to ****.

Offline PCB93

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 76
  • Location: Cheshire
Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #14 on: October 20, 2016, 09:14:11 pm »
Thanks all for the positive comments - I'll keep everyone updated.

Robin: it's the Joslyn one, yes - price went higher than I thought it was worth, really, but as I say - sod it, it's mine for good now! I keep meaning to get on the LRCC forum but think I'll end up duplicating posts - perhaps I'll use this forum for the standard mechanical side and LRCC for the Carawagon-specific bits.

Calum: I've seen quite a bit of your Carawagon from looking around on other fora, and thought that my photos might give you a sense of Déjà vu! I was shown around yours by your other half (Alex?) at t'Pit a couple of years ago - if I can get this to anywhere near the same standard, then I'll be happy!

Nuggs: if you're trying to salvage something that is more 'derelict' than this, then I can't say I envy you!


First update, then - had a few hours in the garage on Tuesday evening and got as far as removing the cylinder head. Some more photos, and a few questions:

Both dumb irons are fecked. Rest of the front half of the chassis actually looks good, though - haven't been properly under the rear yet, but fingers crossed:


Knackered springs - hardly a surprise, and would have replaced anyway:


Driver's footwell. Neither the accelerator or clutch pedal will move. Brake pedal is free, and actually firms up on the second pump:


Passenger footwell. Both are actually much better than my Series III ones were - any truth in the 'British Leyland cheap steel' theory?


Door tops are dead:


All but one of the original blinds are present - very brittle though, so will make new ones:


Original seat-belts. They're in good nick, so will probably be staying:


Modern mains electrical socket - that's not staying:



Once I'd finished mooching around, I moved on to the engine top end strip-down. Everything came apart much more easily than expected - the joys of an ally head, I suppose. I drained off a couple of gallons of coolant - still the correct blue colour, which was nice. Some water did pour out of the head as I lifted it clear - should I have expected this? Revealed were six rather sooty-looking pistons. The bores look better than those in the Series III did, with no visible scoring. I can feel a distinct ridge where the top ring stops in each cylinder, however - re-bore territory? Mileage is 62,000.

LPG fuel inlet thingy, sits between air inlet and carb. Assume I just omit this when re-assembling (LPG system is going)?:


Why are there two temperature senders?:


Spark plugs were mingin':


Sooty pistons. I imagine they're hard to get hold of if it's a re-bore job:


Can anyone advise what these brown exhaust valve deposits are?:



Thanks in advance if anyone can help with some of my queries! There should be more updates to follow as I find my way around.

Phil
« Last Edit: April 21, 2019, 07:29:46 pm by PCB93 »
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project