Author Topic: My 1955 Series 1 86"  (Read 308 times)

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Offline DennisM

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My 1955 Series 1 86"
« on: August 19, 2016, 06:48:35 am »
This is the last Land Rover that I rebuilt, it took me approx 14 months or thereabouts, I had bought it from a mate of mine, he had lost all interest
in it. He (Gordon) never aimed at doing a near as possible job like I always try to do, he just wanted an older Land Rover that he could drive n enjoy
whenever it took his fancy, he had bought the Land Rover at the same time I had bought a 88" S3 to do a quick make over and re-sell, I have no
images of it at that stage, neither does Gordon, but I remember it with a H/top over the cab and it was a green/yellow mixture of colours, anyway
move forward about 9 years and this is what it looked like covered in dust in his garage, sitting there just waiting for me to bring it to life

as you can see it had been painted by my mate, he is a Boiler maker/welder by trade, he did all the structural repairs to the chassis, so that part
is 1st class, here is another image showing new wiring harness (Vinwire)

the engine was fully rebuilt by a local engine re-conditioner, it does run very sweetly now, but at that stage it had not been started since rebuild

I paid Gordon what he wanted for it as I thought it's worth that alone possibly for the engine rebuild, so with some help from my mate
John Tarren a well known identity in Series 1 circles in my part of the world, we loaded it onto his trailer and whisked it away to my home
about 1 mile away, we pushed it into the small carport

 and I stood and reflected well there goes the next 12 months or so, again LOL.
The strip down had started, as I didn't like the paint finish it was fairly ordinary and as I said my mate just wanted a vehicle he could enjoy

the bulkhead was sent to be grit blasted, this was done locally and I etch primed it

 and painted it in Deep Bronze Green


this item was stored as I wasn't ready to fit it back on the chassis as yet, the door skins had the dreaded electrolysis on the lower edges
so I decided to make new door skins from aluminium sheet, so off to Newcastle to buy enough for both doors, top n bottom and other things
that needed to be repaired/replaced

I thought I had bought enough, but I was wrong, I had to make another trip a few months later, anyway I pressed ahead with making new
door skins, here they are with the edges folded

my mate Gordon cut me a rough template I finished it off with my die grinder, to make the holes for the door handles etc.,

and applied it to a small scrap piece of material, I was happy with the end results


the die was marked L & R so I wouldn't stuff it up, left side shown

and the RHS

All the old galvanising had either faded or had been painted over in the years after it was first assembled, so all of it was gathered and sent
to be re-done

the windscreen frame was sent much later, as the one supplied with the vehicle was incorrect type (earlier version) all of this
had to be stored away from getting damaged etc., I had stuff everywhere in the shed, it was beginning to be a headache, fair dinkum.
The chassis paint had faded a little, I like a nice Gloss Black finish, so before I re-fitted the bulkhead to make some room in the shed
I repainted the front half of the chassis Gloss Black, and I fitted an oil pressure fitting while I was still able to get at it easily on engine above starter)

in that image you can see the clutch/brake assembly the bushes that go through the chassis were re-manufactured, the clutch ones
were made by a local engineering firm to the original spec's, that piece of work is fantastic and it cost heaps, long before I got it.
When the paint had dried I re-fitted the bulkhead and turned my attention to the rear section of the chassis, removing the diff etc.,
to make it easier to paint

the diff/housing/springs were all painted at the same time, then re-fitted

our clothes line gets used for hanging all manner of painted items on much to my wife's dislike LOL



I'm sure you get my point LOL.
The rear tub needed some remedial work, as it had alloy angle strips riveted all over it, I didn't like the look of it at all, soooo
it all came to bits, ? why a rectangualr hole had been cut in the seat transome is beyond me

this was just beyond description, I knew about it so it was no surprise, it took quite a bit of work to get it removed


and the edge that joined with the rear of the seatbox all needed to be remade, so many things to remember about the
how and why/where they are fitted as near as possible to original

all the alloy sheeting was folded @ Gordon's place of employment using the big panbrake folder, cost Zero$$'s thankfully

trying to remember all the rivet details was a nightmare, but eventually it started to go back together, it wasn't a quick job

the edge that joined with the seatbox was next and had to be marked out/fabricated before I could go any further with the transome



a lot of work, with a lot of fit unfit/check/recheck before it could be riveted into place using sealed pop rivets
and solid countersunk types, here is a selection of it going back together


rivet nails sometime break off causing some grief, out with the dremel, excellent small tool

held in place using small screws n bolts until the last of the rivets insitu


many a trial fit/unfit +++++

anyway it all went together and I was happy with the job,




 the seat box got it's fair share of attention as well
it came from the same place up in the New England area, it had loose/broken/missing rivets as well as
the dreaded electrolysis on the side sloping panel RHS, here is the wreck it came off

the electrolysis was cleaned up , the whole seatbox was grit blasted and etch primed n painted Deep Bronze Green
I know the vehicles were not painted on the undersides and I copped a bit of flak from some people on the Ozzie site
about it, but my reasoning is to keep it free of that type of thing happening any time soon, it will see me out

to each his own, I never comment on anyone's work, as I feel they are doing the best they can, that's what
I'm doing, just an amateur having a go.
The trips up north cost me some driving time up n back, I sleep in the back of my 110 rear seat removed
and a homemade frame bolted in on the original mounts for the seats swag etc, very comfortable

just off the road way out in the bush all alone

cup of tea in the morning n get going to the destination

Work progresses on a daily basis by always doing something to it, but in between times other jobs crop up
that have to be dealt with, fit recon engine to my LRPV, remove diesel and refit a petrol engine
 
meanwhile the current project is on the backfoot

I have found by pushing myself I get through
quite a bit of work, and it all helps when the final push comes along, painting items is a different thing though
as the weather controls that as I paint outside in the backyard, the front guards/wings had some bog and
other undesirable things (screws) holding them together, all of this was rectified and they were painted topside
and undersides


doorskins painted on the inside and inside the house LOL much to her dislike LOL

the bonnet I had with the L/R was incorrect it was off a 107/9 it was out of kilter all over, so it was another trip
up to the New England to get the correct type and I got if off this wreck, so I knew it was right

whilst I was at the location, I asked if he know of anyone who had a rear PTO etc., for sale, he did
so I grabbed that while there to save another 8 hours (up n back) trip again after all I had been there x 4

the bonnet got the tretment as it had loose rivets all over it, so it was dismantled cleaned etc etc
etch primed all over and painted in the same manner, here it is on a trial fit

and during it's restoration


door skins were fitted

painted

the tailgate was also treated to some work

the electrical wiring was connected, no smoke escaped LOL, a new transistorised SU fuel pump was
purchased from the supplier in the UK, Exmoor trim was ordered and sent via airmail $$$$$'s

but I wanted it in a hurry, I had a chap in Victoria make the tilt to my spec's with no plastic windows

the rear end Pork pie lights not fitted at this stage


(note the rhs wing is back off) I was tracing an issue with turn signals
fuel tank was treated to a coating of 'Red Kote' to protect it from the crap fuel we get these days
all galv items were refitted/riveted, the vehicle was ready for MOT (club registration)
I took it to Modern mtrs in Dungog to have it tuned

they kept it for almost 7 weeks in the showroom LOL, I didn't think I was getting it back
I let my mate Gordon drive it for the first 30 miles, he has a heavy foot, I kept asking him to slow it up

note the fuel gauge not working?? I still have to check that, here is it's shadow at speed

 I drove it the last 23 miles home at a much slower pace arriving home after dark.
Work has continued with the PTO as time permits, here it is in bits in the parts washer tub


and the angle drive pulley re-assembled

well that has been a short version of the job, and as I said the last one of my rebuilds, so I guess I should now get back to
work on my 4-6-0 8 live steam locomotive, cheers Dennis  dgs
ps I will add images if anyone requests something in particular, but I would imagine that most know what is n what isn't, cheers,,.
and I hope it all made sense.
pps I always told Gordon that the first time it would run/move he would be invited over, here he is moving it back n forth in Low range
in my backyard

and me driving it in our street for the very first time

Exmoor trim were using this clip for a while I don't know whether they still are though,,.







 













« Last Edit: August 19, 2016, 08:22:31 am by DennisM »

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Offline Marque

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2016, 07:45:24 am »
Dennis

I am very impressed with the outstanding quality of your work. May I ask what type of paint you used & how you applied it? I see no spray equipment & given that it was inside the house would I be correct to say it was brush painted?

I ask as I need to see what I can do on a very tight budget & yet achieve a presentable standard.

Kindest regards
Mark

Offline DennisM

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2016, 08:08:28 am »
Mark, everything was spray painted outside, the only reason the door skins were inside is I had no room in the workshop to put them safely down without getting damaged or interfered with by our inquisitive dogs, I have 3 compressors a really big one @42CFM

but I struggled with this one for years, it's a 9CFM

and a small one for tyres only

I several spray guns my main one is the 'Iwata'

and 2 cheaper gravity feed type

I have spray painted many a Land Rover and a Rover 2000 TC with a cheap spray gun and small compressor
I have never attempted to paint using a brush, as I've never met anyone who could do it, so I took the easy path
and sprayed them, using information that I had obtained from them, I have no trade skills, I'm a semi retired Registered Nurse
so mate don't be put off by not having a full garage full of gear/tools etc., I hope that has been of some help to you, and yes I know we do have more warmer weather here down under than you people up in the Northern hemisphere, cheers mate Dennis
ps the paint is enamel and I use a hardener
« Last Edit: August 19, 2016, 09:33:44 am by DennisM »

Offline Marque

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2016, 08:54:48 am »
Many thanks Dennis for the information. Looks like spraying is the way to go. Looking at the finish, inside the house I was thinking that was possible using a brush & cellulose.
May I thank you again. Excellent work & write up. Very helpful indeed.

Kindest regards
Mark

Offline Puddlejumper

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2016, 09:27:18 am »
As ever  lkebtn lkebtn lkebtn lkebtn
The Puddlejumper
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Offline Viamphie

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2016, 09:48:08 am »
Another great thread Dennis. Thank you. Your attention to detail is fantastic. The work you put into bringing these leafers back to life would surely make the workers of Solihull blush with embarrassment.

I'm doing a quick calculation on how much it would cost to send over my S1 V8 lightweight to you for restoration. What ever the cost I'm pretty sure it'd be worth it.  :Dancing-Chilli1group:
The virtual cat amongst the forum pigeons

Offline DennisM

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2016, 07:31:10 am »
Well moving along as I do (waiting for another 3MT arbor and 0.0030 slitting saw) I have carried on rebuilding the rear PTO drive assembly, it has been dis-assembled/cleaned etc., new seals obtained 2 of them are the same as diff/pinion seals for a series Land rover the other 2 I had to get through a bearing service.
It was very ordinary when I got it about 2 years ago now, it was seized solid, it took some effort to get it apart

it eventually came apart with judicious use of a dead blow hammer/tyre levers/WD40

Anyway over a period of some weeks just recently I put it my parts washer to soak in diesel, all washed up, some parts grit blasted cleaned off
then re-assembled

gaskets would be nigh on impossible to source in this country, so the obvious thing to do was make them, very simple to do

and the finished product

the rebuild was fairly straight forward, but I must confess I had the exploded diagram in the wksp manual open on the page LOL

the input shaft gave me a tad of grief, it's a 5/8"BSF thread I don't have anything that big, so I used my thread file @ 14TPI it cleaned up.
When dismantling it, some of the studs etc., screwed out as they do, they had to be cleaned thread wise etc., and re-fitted using my
little tool, it's a gem, it ca be used to unscrew them if needed

and all fitted up

now I will have to fit to the chassis as I know I will stub my toes on it, while it sits on the garage floor

well that's been my day, cheers Dennis  dgs
ps Viamphie, you might want to reconsider sending your lightweight, they are thin on the ground down under, I might keep it LOL, I know I would KEEP IT,,. cheers,,. trid

Offline Big-chris

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2016, 10:45:56 am »
 As always, a good read and beautifully documented, full admiration and respect to you Dennis, you are the man, it's possibly a good thing you live so many miles away  rbchn I'm pretty sure if you were based over this side of the pond you would have people traveling 8 hours and camping out just to see you  whstle

Hat off you you mate, top motors and workmanship  wdesmle
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Offline DennisM

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2016, 05:49:53 am »
Well, I fitted the PTO to the rear of the chassis this morning, I had intentions of going to the All British Day in Sydney but other unforseen things got in the way, so you just keep going doing what you have too, I couldn't get the right angle drive pulley to mate up, it's also damn heavy as well

I know why I couldn't mate it, the splines were not in alignment, so after a few attempts I put it back in the shed.
After lunch and a new battery (well 2 new batteries @ $400.00 4 the pair) I decided to take it for a short run out into the local bush, I went along the Pelton fire trail to the old signal box (ruins)

the signal box was still in use up to the mid 60's, it had a junction about 300 yards down from the box, where the line branched off one to Kalingo, the other line serviced 3 mines Paxton/Maitland Main/Millfield, this was part of the famed South Maitland Railway which criss crossed the area where I live, I can still remember 10 class SMR Loco's hauling non-air hoppers through the bush, all the lines have been removed by the scrappies years ago, the signal box had a 200 yard refuge right next to it, as the line was very busy in it's heyday anyway a few more snaps of the Land Rover


here is an image of the section of bush I was in, we were in the grid square below the word 'Pelton' the map is a military survey map dated 1940 it's the old 1:63,360 or 1" to the mile scale

it is now back in my neighbour's garage, I'm hoping my mate Gordon who I bought it off, will make some room in his shed as he told me he would have it back just to look at on a daily basis, anyway that's been most of my Sunday, cheers Dennis
ps Thanks for the compliment Big Chris but still clas myself as an amateur LOL here is a clip showing 10 class loco working (not in my local area) at Stockrington/Hexham on the old 'Richmond Vale Railway which was started by the coal baron 'John Brown,.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2016, 05:58:07 am by DennisM »

Offline Zuma

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2016, 04:32:03 pm »
Good work as usual Dennis. And thanks for the video - although Health and Safety would have a fit at the sight of the guy standing between moving wagons to couple up!

Offline Puddlejumper

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Re: My 1955 Series 1 86"
« Reply #10 on: August 29, 2016, 07:47:32 pm »
 lkebtn lkebtn lkebtn

Great stuff as always
The Puddlejumper
Baldy1 is an arse.........

"woo woo I'm a train"