The Old Timer

Series III

 

My Dad's SIII in the snow

My dad is a Landy fan. Not long after I got my first Turbo diesel he had the opportunity to buy a 2.25litre petrol Series III . Here is my dad's story of the old girl:

Out on the rough stuff

The Find

It was my first few days at my new job back in November 1993 when I first caught sight of this Landy. I wasn't familiar with the area around my new employer so I had a run round the district to get a feel of the area. Having driven around the whole of Ossett I meandered up and down the streets off South Parade when I saw this sad Series III Land Rover 88" Hardtop in a shade of Black, Brown and Lichen Green. It was tucked up the drive at the side of a garage under a rather large sycamore tree. On closer inspection it was actually Light Green and Cream. It was the sycamore juice and moss and general dirt made it a very sad sight. I noted the registration number and checked the service records back at the office. Surprise surprise, there it was and had been regularly serviced and tested over the last five years, the last test was a fail, due to oil leaks from the steering joints, head lamps inoperative and brake imbalance. Over the next few months I got more and more information about the LR and the owner. He was a retired army officer with a reputation of being a bit of a character.

Out green laning

The Purchase

One day one of the directors came into my office and told me that old officer had died and his daughter was wanting to get rid of the old Land Rover. I quickly contacted her, unfortunately she was living in South Wales, therefore I had to wait until after the post-mortem, and the funeral before we could get down to talking about a deal. About a fortnight after the funeral and the will had been sorted out she was now free to get rid of the house and Landy. She rang me 11th January 1995 at 11.00 am and by 12.30 p.m. we agreed a price, a deal was struck, paid her the dosh and I was now the proud owner of the Landy.

 the going is getting tougher!……

Recovery

I quickly arranged for the firms recovery vehicle to drag her aboard and get her back to the workshops. On close inspection she looked in an appalling state, so the first job was to give her a good steam clean. I got one of our young apprentices to get busy with the steamer. Within half hour the yard was bright green with all the moss mad lichen running down the yard and there was a sight to behold a sparkling green and cream Land Rover. It was leathered off and the brakes eased and we pushed her into the workshop. I fitted a set of new spark plugs, points reset the timing tappets, changed the engine oil and filter, put some petrol in, fitted a new battery and she started first turn. It was a good job we connected the exhaust extractor - you couldn't see for smoke which after a few minutes running on fast tick-over cleared and she idled like a dream.

…but not tough enough for this old girl

Renovation

I got the mechanics to give her a full service and MoT Test. It failed:-

  • Oil leak from transfer box rear oil seal into the transmission brake drum.

  • Oil leaks from both front spherical joints.

  • Headlamps dim (poor earth)

  • Head lamp dip not operative (broken indicator switch)

  • All shock absorbers leaking.

  • Brake imbalance (rear brakes seized, fluid leak from front wheel cylinders)

  • Exhaust leaks.

    • Not much of a job really, so I decided to get her home, I started to get her back into running order. I had several sources for replacement parts, the main dealer was far too expensive even with trade discount, however, there were some items that were only available from the dealer. The first job was brakes, all new wheel cylinders, and the master cylinder was overhauled new seals etc. Whilst it was important to get the spherical joint seals replaced at this time I needed to get her back into the workshops for this work to be done, (unsafe for this work to be done on a steep drive). I dismantled the transmission brake and fitted a new oil seal shoes and drum. cleaning off as much oil from the underside as I could. The head lamps were the old sealed beam units, so I bought a set of quartz halogen conversion lamps, made good the wiring connections, and all earth connections and another job completed. I located new front and rear shock absorbers at a good price and fitted them. When she was back onto the ground she certainly stood a lot better. However, I felt that the springs needed to be checked so I jacked her up on the chassis, loosened the spring centre bolts brushed a mixture of penetrating oil, graphite based oil and engine oil onto the springs allowing the mixture to get right into the spring leaves. I wiped the excess off and re-tightened the centre bolts - there was a marked difference she certainly stood better and when I could get her onto the road and get the springs operating I was sure there would be an improvement in the ride.

    Meanwhile the other small jobs like flushing out the cooling system, changing the axle, gearbox and transmission oils and generally checking all the steering end body mounts etc. The next job was the door tops needed to be replaced. I located some door top replacements window channels, slides, anti-burst door locks and retractable seat belts. The door top mounting bolts were a problem, they were seized solid, so I kept soaking them with Plus Gas and after a few days hey presto they came off without any problems. I painted the door tops prior to assembly and built up the channels slides and window glasses The door locks were difficult to convert and the seat belts had to fit the Land Rover 90 mounting brackets in order to make them safe to get it through the MoT Test.

    I borrowed the Trade Plates from work drove her back to the workshops for the spherical joint seals to be fitted and finish off the paint work on the doors etc. The ride back to the workshops was noticeably better after the treatment of the springs. I decided that when the sphericals had been overhauled I would run her for a few miles and check the ride height.

    We stripped the sphericals and found that the housings were badly pitted so much that if new seals were fitted they would be leaking within a few miles, so, the near side sphere was stripped and a new housing fitted. When we had completed this job I decided to fit leather spats to keep the spheres clean and free from salt etc., in addition instead of using 90 grade oil in the spheres I used the new type oil as used on all new Land Rovers. The only job outstanding was the exhaust on close inspection it only required welding and new mountings. This completed it was duly MoT tested and it passed.

     

    Living with Landy

    We didn't go out together regularly, I was working and with Digs working in Bradford by the time he arrived home he was usually pretty tired. He was also still trying to improve his race times on his bike. We did, however, manage to have one or two trips, I remember Digs taking me on a Green Lane from Holmfirth across to Holme Moss, it was terrific, those springs got more work than they had for a decade. The following week it was my Saturday at work, so, I got around to checking the ride height. The measurements said that the springs needed to be removed and reset. The following month I got the springs off and sent them for setting, the spring man said they were knackered and he sent me a set of new spring's because they were the right price I fitted them. I was going to fit a set of parabolic springs that would have given a spectacular ride

      The green lane up Holme moss, you can just see the transmitter on top

    Sale Sadness.

    Unfortunately during the last few years at work prior to my retirement I developed rheumatoid arthritis which made it difficult for me to work on the old girl, so, the day had arrived for us to part company. The advert went into the LRO and Autocar magazines promising myself that I would only let her go to an enthusiast. I must have had thirty plus telephone enquiries from traders to loonies. Then a young man rang and as soon as he spoke I felt that this would be the new keeper. He arrived early Saturday morning 11th March 2002 from the Wirral with his enthusiastic son Thomas and his friend. They had a good look and we agreed a price and I delivered it to his parents house in Wakefield. I really miss the old girl even just to clean and take the rubbish down to the tip. The new owner still keeps in touch and updates me with work he's done and where he's been.

     

     

    Back