31FK20

[Ade]

Hello,
after bringing home my beast last sunday I can start the restoration and the dedicated thread
First of all a correction, i had a picture of a plate with a number 57FK86 but it was only a misunderstanding.... the picture was only for reference the correct number of this LWT is 31FK20 and I ask you for your help about the attached new Bcard.

[Ade]

I started disassembling pieces and sharing some photos, sorry but the first ones are not the best, the "workshop" in the evening is a bit dark ... next time I will use a camera and not a cellphone to get better results.
A lot of rust in both footwells, in the hinge panel and in the ventilation panel, the previous owner used a "structural" silicone to fill the holes and then a good amount of paint ...
It will be a long but satisfying job

Taking a look to Craddock website i found the footwell of the series II are they compatible? put the link for reference
https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/jc230 ... 58-84.html

[88lr]

Do not buy those footwells they are the wrong type! Do a search instead on eBay for "Land Rover Lightweight footwells" there are a few different sellers.
One strange thing your vehicle has been fitted with early wings and headlight panel (and rad) It should have the headlights in the wings and the later thinner rad.

[Bob Fell]

Hello Mark and Ade,

There is a shed load of potential in this vehicle, no doubt.
I agree with you Mark, I think it should as a '71 vehicle have the headlights in the wings and the slimmer Series 3 rad, but I'm not sure when the last of the original vehicles with the old style front grill mounted headlights ceased in production, it's configuration maybe gen; I used to own 61FK22 which was one of the last 2A's off the production line and they were outboard on the wings and it had the later S3 slim rad.

Ade, you were on about Op Granby paintwork, it appears to be a Rover 1, 2A, if you want it to be as near as possible original, forget it my friend, it was never there being struck off in '77. Go for the period DBG, regrettably it has what I believe is the early 'B' Card which did not give the paint code (Clive?). The early S3's up to about were all DBG up to '77 if I remember rightly, so that speaks for yours.
Anyway, all the best, it's a cracking wagon whatever you decide and another one saved
Regards,
Bob

[Ade]

Thanks Mark and Bob,
now it is clear that for the past 50 years it has had a busy life and brilliant owners ....
as you can see in the photo it has a thicker radiator and the wings are modified by hand with rivets, it does not have an oil cooler.
If I found all the spare parts I could think of bringing it back to its origins, but it will probably be a waste of time and money:
From the point of view of historicity it will never be of great value, it has a diesel engine because in almost all the series imported into Italy in the 70s the taxes on petrol above 2000cc were very high and now, unfortunately, it is not possible for Italian laws to replace the engine.
it can become just a nice toy for a few outings

[Oneandtwo]

The early wings are not modified, they have just been repaired with rivets where the spotwelds have failed (quite a common problem on early wings)

Many years ago the early type wings were very common second hand, most people wanted to update their early 2As to s3 wings. I had four or five early pairs in varying states that I had collected, stupidly I binned them all after I bought a NOS set from Craddocks

[Bob Fell]

The early wings are not modified, they have just been repaired with rivets where the spotwelds have failed (quite a common problem on early wings)

Many years ago the early type wings were very common second hand, most people wanted to update their early 2As to s3 wings. I had four or five early pairs in varying states that I had collected, stupidly I binned them all after I bought a NOS set from Craddocks

Common on the S3 wings as well!

[prague1996]

Hi Ade,

Welcome to the forum, it looks like your LWT spent most of its life with the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). The RCT has now been amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps (where you probable got the B card from). Some of the more learned members of the forum might be able to tell you where in Germany '1 Div Regt RCT' were based.

I look forward to following the restoration, keep the pictures coming.

[Ade]

Thank you Prague, an honest and short life in the BAOR, but a long and various civilian life

I am waiting parts from UK and it looks like will be a mess
hope thinghs gets better in the next months for you and us.

[fv1620]

regrettably it has what I believe is the early 'B' Card which did not give the paint code (Clive?).

Yes the B Vehicle Data Card combined with B Vehicle History Card DOS Form 419B it does not state the Colour Code on the front.

But the later DOS Form 419B(Rev 74) did provide for the Colour Code.