Land Rover V8 restoration - what have I got myself into?

[Jelly_Sheffield]

You'd probably need to find a very 'friendly' mot place to get a series LR thru an mot nowadays tbh.

Not so much friendly, but definitely one where the tester understands what they're looking at, and either knows the various exemptions/derogations for vehicles of different ages, or at least knows to go look them up.

Same deal with getting an Engineer's Report, it needs to be done by someone familiar with the type of vehicle.


To some extent this is true for any ladder chassis 4x4, pickup or van.

I have definitely seen testers at places which do Class 4 only come across very much out of their depth looking at something that's not FWD on a monocoque chassis... I try to take the Hilux for test somewhere which does Class 7 too now, just to avoid that.

I'd have thought it best to just do the change with DVLA ?

Every single interaction I have ever had with DVLA that isn't something totally standard that can be done entirely via their website has been an utter nightmare.

It once took 3 years, and more than 20 letters (each referencing the previous ones, and proof of postage for them), to get them to recognise I had scrapped a car, and stop pursuing me to tax/SORN it.

Getting the V5C issued for the Hilux took nearly 5 months, multiple emails and several phone calls.

I avoid them like the plague!

 

[Porkypine]

Every single interaction I have ever had with DVLA that isn't something totally standard that can be done entirely via their website has been an utter nightmare.

It once took 3 years, and more than 20 letters (each referencing the previous ones, and proof of postage for them), to get them to recognise I had scrapped a car, and stop pursuing me to tax/SORN it.

Getting the V5C issued for the Hilux took nearly 5 months, multiple emails and several phone calls.

I avoid them like the plague!

Yikes !
A couple of folks I know have had a few good results with them direct over the phone,(oddly enough) so that route might be worth a try, you can always hang up on 'em.
there used to be a DVLA local office near me (going back 20 yrs or so,) that was well handy and they'd always sort stuff for you with no drama, though of course the local offices are long closed down now.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

So the supplier I ordered the dumb iron repair sections from has completely let me down, hasn't shipped them yet still, provided a DHL Tracking Number that's both for the wrong, and shows they haven't shipped that order either...

I have cancelled that order, and will have to drive over to Paddock Spares on my lunch break to pick up a set.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

On the way back from Paddock, I got a call from Mick at Autocool Radiators...

He got done early, and although he actually did more work than originally discussed to rebuild the bottom mounts, was within £25 of his original estimate.

Very happy customer, would thoroughly recommend him to others.

 

[Ton-up]

Nice to find someone that actually repairs rads. All the repairers round here have gone..

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Nice to find someone that actually repairs rads. All the repairers round here have gone..

From what I could see most of his work is massive radiators/intercoolers for plant machinery, generators, and process equipment...

Always a good sign if someone is willing to trust a company with parts that are probably worth more than my truck, for a machine worth more than my house!

The scale of his normal work was humourously contrasted with the other classic car radiator he was repairing, for a Hilman Imp.

He's based in Creswell (10 mins from J30 of the M1) but will quote stuff over WhatsApp to be posted in and back.

 

[Porkypine]

Blimey that rad was done quickly..

 

[Robotstar5]

Nice to find someone that actually repairs rads. All the repairers round here have gone..

Ready Rads in Birmingham was the go to place, closed a couple of years ago. I had a couple done there, in the 80's I dropped a radiator at my local auto factors in the morning it went to Ready Rads and was back ready for collection before the factors closed, that's what I call good service.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Didn't go 100% to plan.

Turns out that due to how everything is assembled internally, if you don't want to remove and re-weld the steering relay bracket (I did not)...

Then you have to cut the repair section down and fit it first so you can weld it to the back of the cross-member working from the inside.

Also because the repair sections are designed to be slip-on, if you're seam welding them to the chassis, you end up with a little 2mm step on the outside, which will drive you nuts for hours during fit-up until you realise why it looks like that.

Bottom and side tomorrow morning, then maybe I can get the opposite side done Sunday.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Used the reclaimed radiator bracket as a test piece for the grit blasting pot I have had sitting about for ages.

It's never been much good on a regular airline, but when I put a claw fitting on its whip-line and hooked it up to a ¾" hose at 150psi...

Fantastic! Doesn't half get through garnet though, I guess that's the issue with once-through blasting.

I can see myself using that to prep some of the more awkward parts of the chassis for paint, but will need to get any and all paths into the engine well sealed up before I bring it anywhere near the vehicle.

 

[Porkypine]

Nice accessible steering relay you have on that, unlike the usual Series job in the crossmember, with the usual brutal fight if you want to get it out

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Nice accessible steering relay you have on that, unlike the usual Series job in the crossmember, with the usual brutal fight if you want to get it out

Yeah, it's hot-swapable to a bracket on the other side too... In fact, it would be alarmingly easy to swap the whole thing to LHD...

 

[sako243]

Nice accessible steering relay you have on that, unlike the usual Series job in the crossmember, with the usual brutal fight if you want to get it out

Yeah, it's hot-swapable to a bracket on the other side too... In fact, it would be alarmingly easy to swap the whole thing to LHD...

Also pretty trivial to add power steering as was exhibited with the 6x6. That was "factory" addition of the heavy duty 3 bolt unit.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Also pretty trivial to add power steering as was exhibited with the 6x6. That was "factory" addition of the heavy duty 3 bolt unit.

Interesting...

Once it's driving I may have to look into that...

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

One side done!

It did involve having to plate part of the inside chassis rail behind the steering relay bracket.

The bottom and outside went in much easier overall.

I was going to grind back, sand and paint with Jotamastic 90 today, but have been asked to do some other bits so have whacked a bit of cold galv over the welds and bits I ground back to prevent rusting, so I might as well do the other side, then will prep and paint everything at the front in one go before I refit the wings and radiator.

 

[sako243]

Yours is a little more complicated being a station wagon but I'd seriously consider after all this welding taking the body off completely to treat the chassis.

I know you want it running and driving but I'm really glad I've gone down that route with the 6x6 because hopefully now it's done and won't need welding up again for a long time. The chassis anyway, the cab needs a bit of attention.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Yours is a little more complicated being a station wagon but I'd seriously consider after all this welding taking the body off completely to treat the chassis.

I have been debating that, the front section at least as far as the outriggers will definitely be done before the front seat area goes back together.

I need to get the rear tub floor up to replace the top hat rails that reinforce it, and fix something under the middle seats too... With lifting each of those floor and seat box sections, (and being willing to crawl about underneath wearing a full face mask with a gritblast gun) it I think I can *just about* get to the whole chassis to blast and then paint it.

It might be that I do a first coat in that half-arsed way now, then do a proper body-off second coat next spring/summer.

I know you want it running and driving but I'm really glad I've gone down that route with the 6x6 because hopefully now it's done and won't need welding up again for a long time. The chassis anyway, the cab needs a bit of attention.

Yes, I am definitely feeling the "it's fixed, and it stays fixed" sentiment...

I am enjoying myself, but in a "maybe not again this decade" kind of way.

 

[Porkypine]

I am enjoying myself, but in a "maybe not again this decade" kind of way.

I've had mine compltely apart and done all sorts, but tbh I certainly would't fancy doing it again any time soon

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I've had mine compltely apart and done all sorts, but tbh I certainly would't fancy doing it again any time soon

I could see myself doing another one for sure, but maybe something less oddball, and with less historical provenance to draw me over to the rivet counter side of the force.

I always fancied a S2 or 2A truck cab, pre headlights in the wings.

Of course, I need to make good on my threat to convert the Hilux to a 6×6 first...

 

[Porkypine]

Mine's a 2a, they're a good old banger with no fancy junk to go wrong really