Author Topic: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon  (Read 4077 times)

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Offline hippydave

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #60 on: November 24, 2018, 11:12:04 am »
 ;D Phil, you do know a video is required of the first start or it never happened.
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Offline Lo-Fi

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #61 on: November 25, 2018, 04:58:54 pm »
Sadly not much, I've been too busy moving house :( once I've got it all sorted I can start getting stuff cleaned up and looking pretty, though. I have a lot more space to work in now!

Great update! How soon can you fire it up?!?

Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #62 on: November 26, 2018, 10:19:52 pm »
Dave: Right you are! I'll be sure to do that if I can work out how to post a video on here!

Ian: Fair enough - at least you have a proper excuse! I'd like to say I'll have it all together and ready to fire some time this week, but that's probably optimistic, knowing me. Perhaps the week after!


Just a quick bit of potential interest - the Carawagon has this dealer plate fitted to the rear:


I did a bit of reading a while back, and found that the garage in question was owned and operated by John Coombs, known for prepping Jaguars to race spec in the 50s and 60s. The garage buildings still stand, on the A3 into Guildford, though now divided into smaller business units. I know from some notes in the history file that the Carawagon's second owner bought it in Guildford, so I presume it was sold from Coombs's as nearly new. Clearly it didn't travel all that far from Sunbury-on-Thames in its early years! I've just today become aware of a second Land Rover with an identical plate (a 1972 Series III 88"), but can't find any other references to their dealings with Land Rovers, which seems odd considering they must have sold a fair number to have gone to the effort of producing a plate specifically for them. Might be nice to pay the site a visit when the Carawagon's finally back on the road, in any case.

Phil
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline LostInFrance

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #63 on: November 27, 2018, 04:15:10 pm »
Very Nice Project !!

Seen & transported much worse so you have a good project.

Replacing woodwork will be on the list though...

Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #64 on: November 28, 2018, 06:05:26 pm »
LostInFrance: Cheers, and yes, it's really not that bad, all things considered. If I were to simply attack the chassis, bulkhead, brakes and electrics, it could probably be made roadworthy without all that much trouble. Given the use I plan to get out of it though, I'd rather go through the lot so I know everything's been done properly and won't need overly regular repairs.

The woodwork will definitely be on the list, as you say. I had to move the roof about recently to allow the side window in the garage to be replaced, and things deteriorated further in the process, so it's worse now than it appears in the photos on this thread.

I think the hinged end sections of the roof itself are good enough to reuse, as they've been well protected by the aluminium above them:


Everything else is well gone. Both of the painted pieces that the roof clamps down to when collapsed have fallen off completely now, so I've put a ratchet strap around the entire roof to hold what's left together for the time being!

Phil
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline steifbear

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #65 on: February 09, 2020, 04:52:10 pm »
Now then Phil, how’s the Carawagon looking?
Just a quick one, Does you motor have the gas bottle storage brackets?

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CliVE - 1965 - LWB - Series 2A - 200tdi - LT77 - P4x4 - G90s! - Not Dead.

Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #66 on: February 11, 2020, 02:47:03 pm »
Still firmly in the 'not a lot happening' camp I'm afraid, Pete!  I did get as far as banging everything together and attempting to start it a while back, but found there was no spark from the distributor.  Perhaps fitting a Britpart condenser of unknown age was a poor idea - who'd have thought?  I've now gone with Ian's approach and 'Powersparked' it; yet to be re-fitted, however.  Aiming to have another go next week.

The gas bottle brackets are absent, unfortunately; they presumably came a cropper when the LPG tanks (to be ditched) went in at the back.  Original stove also absent, so I'll eventually have a decision about what sort to fit.  I think it had the fold-down type on the rear door, originally.

Phil
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline RMS

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #67 on: February 11, 2020, 08:24:32 pm »
One of mine has the carriers   fnky

I'm going to make some copies for the ones missing from my other Carawagons, but make them a little wider for Calor bottles.

Are you wanting one Pete?

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

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Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #68 on: November 18, 2020, 04:33:45 pm »
Very brief update: I finally refitted the distributor today (now 'Powersparked,' you may recall) and with that it started immediately on the first attempt.  Exhaust gases are clear, idle speed is about right, and overall it sounds quite happy.  I've no idea how to post a video on here though, so you'll just have to believe me until I've worked that one out!

Phil
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #69 on: November 21, 2020, 11:40:13 am »
Right, let's see if this works:

https://live.staticflickr.com/video/50627736113/f7f1556fda/360p.mp4?s=eyJpIjo1MDYyNzczNjExMywiZSI6MTYwNTk2MTIwOSwicyI6Ijk1ZDc0ZjE2ODE5MjNhZjk4NzE3Mzc5ZjFmMjZmNTQ3NmQ4OWE5NmIiLCJ2IjoxfQ

I managed to miss recording the actual moment of starting, as to be honest I still wasn't convinced it'd be in the mood!  Proof it does run, in any case.  It's occurred to me now that the last time I tried the issue may just have been that the ignition timing was too far out, rather than any fault with the distributor; the timing pointer was absent so I just had to guess where to aim for.  This time I brought the pointer from the flywheel housing of the Rover 105 engine I have, which is clearly of the same type.  Set it at exactly TDC and it fired immediately, as I say.

The current 'fuel tank' setup is rather rudimentary; just an old leaky facet pump bodged into the cab and with the inlet hose stuck into the open neck of a jerry-can:


Not sure that'll put me in line for any 'services to health and safety' awards, but it works for now.  The original fuel pump is unresponsive and there's still half a tank of petrol from 2005-ish to get rid of before I can link something more sensible in.  Granted, all it'll have to do in this state is drive closer to the road for loading onto a recovery truck for the journey home, after which the full strip-down will begin; just need to get the clutch operational for that.  This project will finally be kicking off in earnest in the new year!

Phil
« Last Edit: November 21, 2020, 11:50:52 am by PCB93 »
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline mickandpaula101

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #70 on: November 21, 2020, 08:42:56 pm »
Not sure but that fuelling mod  looks like a genuine land roverr optional extra.seenandused by all here
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Offline PCB93

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #71 on: November 28, 2020, 04:58:52 am »
Well, fair enough - I'm glad it's not just me!

Regarding the video link I've posted above: I've noticed that whether or not it will play depends upon which 'browser' is being used at the time; Firefox seems to be happy with it, while Chrome needs to be in the right mood.  Can't comment on others.  I've never particularly understood technology, but there we are.

A few posts back there was a brief discussion about gas bottle brackets.  I may be wrong, but think I recall seeing them under the driver's seat of other Carawagons in the past.  That won't be an option for me, as I'm planning to run both rear and offside front fuel tanks (straight six and all that).  My current plan is to build a unit for a stove in the nearside rear corner of the interior (at the foot of the main bed), with a gas bottle stored inside.  I've seen similar set-ups in modern vans belonging to mates at work, so presume that'd sit okay from a legal perspective.  Does anyone have any thoughts?

Phil
1979 Series III 88" Hard-top - daily drive
1968 Series IIA 109" Carawagon - project

Offline Horace109

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #72 on: November 28, 2020, 07:42:47 pm »
Fantastic to hear it running!

Offline RMS

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #73 on: November 28, 2020, 09:50:36 pm »
Carawagon gas cylinder holders are normally fitted under the driver's seat where there's a rear tank, or just behind the rear wheel on front tank vehicles.
The carriers are the same - attach to the chassis rail and hinge down to allow you to change the cylinder.

I'll be making some copies for one of mine where the carriers are missing - let me know if you're interested in a pair.

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

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Re: 1968 Series IIA Carawagon
« Reply #74 on: November 29, 2020, 12:59:40 pm »
Well, fair enough - I'm glad it's not just me!

Regarding the video link I've posted above: I've noticed that whether or not it will play depends upon which 'browser' is being used at the time; Firefox seems to be happy with it, while Chrome needs to be in the right mood.  Can't comment on others.  I've never particularly understood technology, but there we are.

A few posts back there was a brief discussion about gas bottle brackets.  I may be wrong, but think I recall seeing them under the driver's seat of other Carawagons in the past.  That won't be an option for me, as I'm planning to run both rear and offside front fuel tanks (straight six and all that).  My current plan is to build a unit for a stove in the nearside rear corner of the interior (at the foot of the main bed), with a gas bottle stored inside.  I've seen similar set-ups in modern vans belonging to mates at work, so presume that'd sit okay from a legal perspective.  Does anyone have any thoughts?

Phil

Mine are under the driver's seat, as said with it being a 6. I've actually raised them recently as they were hanging a bit low and I did knock one on a lane on a Shell do once!

I think there's no problem with it being inside but you're really supposed to vent it to the outside I think. So the best way in my mind would be a sealed box/cupboard which is vented to the outside and a bulkhead fitting running the pipe through the wall up to where the cooker is, flexi in the 'locker' copper up to the cooker. That's probably how I would go about it.

Not that a Land Rover is particularly well sealed anyway...