The Old Land Rover Arms

General Category => Say hello ... => Topic started by: Sunny Jim on July 10, 2018, 11:42:12 pm

Title: Finally Joined
Post by: Sunny Jim on July 10, 2018, 11:42:12 pm
I have finally got round to joining.

I was actually born in Lode Lane Solihull at the old Maternity Home down the road from the 'Rover Works' as it was always known!

I will have had my Land Rover for 40 years this October (well, some of it anyway!).

In all that time, I have only ever had the one Land Rover, despite temptations from time to time!

In the intervening years, it has had various repairs and rebuilds, with the last major one in 2006/7. It looks fairly standard but has paralytic springs, Roverdrive, front disc brakes with Series 3 pedal and servo, Rocky Mountain door tops (the unglazed type so I have done them as per original). Last year I abandoned the idea of going down the TDi route and fitted a stage 2 17H engine with SU carburettor instead. This is so much smoother than the old 2¼ petrol!

The vehicle was apparently supplied new to The Ministry of Civil Aviation at Farnborough in January 1960, but wasn't registered until February. The registration is listed as London, but appears to have been a series used for ministry type vehicles with civilian registrations.[attachurl=1]

It had heavy duty rear springs fitted and evidence of a centre PTO with a hole cut in the seat base that had been crudely patched over.

Sunny Jim
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Gossamer on July 10, 2018, 11:51:59 pm
Welcome. Come and get pissed to know us at a doo or two.
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Puddlejumper on July 11, 2018, 07:51:12 am
'Eh up, 'ow do etc
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Viamphie on July 26, 2018, 09:33:40 am
My God Man, Only 1 Landy????

IN 40 YEARS !!!

I must meet you and you can explain the wonder of self restraint and discipline.............I’ll introduce you to Gossamer. He must be your polar opposite.  whstle
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Tom on July 26, 2018, 01:03:38 pm
welcome along!
Nice story too, well done  8)
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Gossamer on July 26, 2018, 01:40:13 pm
My God Man, Only 1 Landy????

IN 40 YEARS !!!

I must meet you and you can explain the wonder of self restraint and discipline.............I’ll introduce you to Gossamer. He must be your polar opposite.  whstle

I am quietly concerned you are not applying yuourself properly, Sunny Jim.

Stick with us, we shall help you on the path to enlightenment.

Do you carry spare fuel?

Perhaps Viamphie could advise on sensible stowage options.
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: hippydave on July 26, 2018, 05:47:07 pm
Boo dude welcome along, Daz and sensible fuel stowage options are two things that dont go together well.
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Sunny Jim on July 26, 2018, 07:52:52 pm
I did think of buying a school friend's Land Rover when he wanted rid of it, but it was in too poor a condition at the time and I didn't fancy trying to rebuild it. My older brother had a 1955 86" 30 years ago, but that was in too poor a condition to sort - I had bodged the chassis up with bits of iron bedstead, and the bulkhead flapped around a bit. A new chassis and bulkhead were way beond my means at the time. He eventually sold it and it was broken for parts - I would have transferred its Warwickshire numberplate off first as the new owner promptly sold it on!

I seriously considered getting rid of mine in the early 80s having fitted a recon engine that turned out to be duff, but persisted and fitted another one in 1988 - the one that was removed last year to fit the 2.5 petrol. Yes I have an old fashioned metal petrol can in the tool locker under the seat, but have never had to use it. I did have a jerry can that was bolted where the spare wheel used to be in the back. It used to fizz a bit in hot weather when I had the top off! I can't remember when or why I got rid of it. The fuel consumption on a run is no worse than the old engine, but I intend to fit some 4.1 differentials that I built up to go with the TDI engine that are sat in the cellar. It definitely feels a bit undergeared at the moment; I also have a Stage 1 speedo that should be just about right for the increased ratios. I have 205 radial tyres and can't fit bigger ones as it wont go in the garage if I do.

My last temptation was a 1950 80" on St Mary's that was tatty but obviously had been mechanically overhauled. At the end of the day, I said to Her Ladyship there is nothing you could do with it that I can't already do with mine (my Land Rover that is). Interestingly it came up on E-bay and went for under 10k the next week - it even had its original Staffordshire registration on it.

So I still have the same one and intend to keep it that way. A Land Rover is for life in my humble.

Sunny Jim
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Gossamer on July 26, 2018, 08:15:04 pm
Good Lad.

One adopts a Land Rover and if it does need to move on one endeavours to find a good home for it.
Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Viamphie on July 26, 2018, 11:46:45 pm
Well said sunny Jim however there is no need to limit your aquesitions on the basis of condition..... else we’d all have fewer ambitions.

Title: Re: Finally Joined
Post by: Lurch on September 24, 2018, 11:40:55 pm
Welcome along
I've read a few of your posts in the last 15 years or so on S2C and OLLR
Good to have you here.