Military Lightweight Forum

I bought the Land Rover in May 2017 and had it delivered a couple of months later once I had cleared a space in the garage. I bought it from “John Richard Surplus” in Hinstock who I have used and visited regularly for many years. My other Lightweight, 1976 Series III, came from there 25 years ago.

Whilst I already knew that it’s back was broken (and it needed a new chassis), it had a seized V8 in it and was generally in poor condition, my initial assessment showed it was as bad as it could have be.

• Seat bulkhead cracked and bent
  Large hole drilled in lower bulkhead using series of drill holes (to aid airflow to heater ?)
  Passenger side wing butchered to fit V8, lots of corrosion to both wings
  Hole in gearbox where starter motor pinion may have been ejected at some point in the past
  Left hand bulkhead leg and associated chassis cross member missing completely
  How made fuel balancing system between the tanks
  Large bow in the middle of the windscreen

In 2017 I was busy at work and did very little to it apart from stripping down the front end and removing the V8 lump. However, I did manage to:

• Convince the DVLA to provide me some documents
  Start adding parts to my parts collection
  Go on a 3 day TIG welding course.

My last contract finished at end December, so I have been able to work on the Lightweight in January this year whilst I look for a new contract…

Future posts will be less wordy and more pictures...

Since all my previous rebuilds have been held up the time taken to refurbish minor parts and I don't have a new chassis to start fastening parts onto, I have I have started with the "minor" parts...

I found it was good to do all the smaller sub assemblies then clag them all on the main lump afterwards - seemed to make for a quicker finish.

Do I spy some indicators of its having been winterised? Do you know its history?

Fred

Well spotted there Fred.

Regards,

I don't know its history other than it has been in a barn for 10 years albeit a barn with a very leaky roof.

It does have quite a lot of evidence of it being winterised, various cleats and insulating material in the back and on the doors - however it really has been messed around with and there is nothing that can really be saved from that perspective i.e original engine gone, carpet stuck to the bulkead, oil spillage in rear that has caused rubber to blow out. I will take pictures of all the evidence.

My other FFR Lightweight was also winterised with the pipes still in place for the artic heater and various holes for pipework in the seatbase. I have a full kit and new 24v artic heater in my loft that I intend to retrofit one day.

Managed half a day in the garage today.

• Won in my struggle to take seized clutch pedal apart, although quite possibly a hollow victory since I had to cut through the shaft and the bushes! I didn’t damage the pedal or the housing though.
  
  Finished preparing oil bath air filter, air filter elbow & pedal boxes for painting
  
  Started taking the steering box and column out.

In lieu of photos from today, I have attached some Land Rover porn…parts I have been collecting for the rebuild…will take some photos tomorrow.

I spy some not so cheap bits in that pile.

Regards,

As do I - the coveted correct grey lid (hand-pumpy 2a version) for the washer bottle, and the rubbolite reflectors - although mine have grey surrounds and these one appear to be white - not sure which colour is correct. Oh cr@p i'm turning into Sid

Please please please more photos

All is not what it seems, the washer bottle is actually a very good repro. and the rubbolite reflectors are actually white plastic (which I believe are later and replace the perished white rubbolite ones that came off the truck). I don't think there are any other hidden surprises in my stockpile though!