Santa was a little late but worth it!

[chrisvonc]

You have to love family treasures hidden away, all but forgotten... until someone who will appreciate them comes into the picture...

Yesterday I was at a family lunch and she comes up to me saying "Chris, now that your part of the family and we know you are a Rover enthusiast, you know I owned an old rover." To make a long discussion shorter, I asked what happened to the truck and she said she still had it one one of her properties and that if I wanted it to restore, it's mine". I thought they were joking until her husband came up and confirmed it.

Its here in Texas, on one of the property's one of my extended family members owns. She bought it in the early 70's after which her and her husband drove it on many trips around Mexico. They parked it where it sits now almost 10 years ago because they needed some hard to find part for inspection and decided not to buy the part.

Talk about one hell of a way to kick off 2006!

Tony and I got on the property yesterday and cleared off all the crap on and around it. Not too bad for something sitting so long. There is some work ahead but still a great project I think. Tony snapped a bunch of pictures I'm adding here:

[JimC]

You don't want those doors do you? Just kidding, I've got my door issue figured out. Glad to see I'm not the only one with a new project - though I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that I want more details...

[mikeslandrover]

Good one Chris :)
It looks like a Series 2 judging from the door hinges :toast

[mikeslandrover]

:cool: A late series IIa :)

[stevewhitaker]

I agree with Mike. It looks to be a 1967 or 68 Series IIa. It has the standard bonnet...the deluxe had an indentation for the spare tire and was better reinforced, and has the standard top with tailgate. If the guts are in good shape it ought to be a fun project to restore. I used to get about 21 MPG out of the 2.25L 4-banger with the standard 4.77 differentials. Boy but that engine screamed at highway speeds though.

[JackW]

Its not a 67 - the last year for the windshield mounted wipers was 1966. One of the best ways to identify mid-sixties SIIA's is the switchgear and instruments - do you have any close-ups of the dash panel? I'd gues 65-66 from what I can see.

It looks like it's had the Rochester carb conversion on it - that's a good thing.

[Trigger]

Its not a 67 - the last year for the windshield mounted wipers was 1966. One of the best ways to identify mid-sixties SIIA's is the switchgear and instruments - do you have any close-ups of the dash panel? I'd gues 65-66 from what I can see.

It looks like it's had the Rochester carb conversion on it - that's a good thing.

Good only to the point that it's rusted solid. Couldn't budge the throttle. Lots of wd-40 and BreakFree in that truck's future. The oil looked good on the dipstick so maybe the engine is still workable. I'm gonna pull the heads before I think about trying to turn it over. Also, the wiring looked to be completely shot thanks to critters. First thing is getting the poor thing out of there. Luckily it's an failry easy tow down a relatively low traffic road back to my place, if that's where it ends up. And I don't see where else it'll go. My wife said Chris' burnt banana in the back yard has to go first. :) She doesn't want the Banana, a Series, a RRC, and a Jeep CJ all hiding back there on top of my 90 out front.

Only real body damage was the driver's door had a hole in it and a small dent in the roof from the downed tree. Rear crossmember is swiss cheese. New frame is in this bad boy's future. As far as I could tell the last time it was on the road was '80-82. Looks like we'll have a club project day getting that out of the brush. I was crawling all over it sticking my hand in, under, and around it while Chris was slightly more paranoid of Texas' indigenous animal population. :) Rats/mice had setup house in the engine and under the driver's seat.

[chrisvonc]

Update - July 28th 2007

With the help of some of the other Austin Texas Rovers club members, we finally got her pulled from the weeds and into my garage.

My relative says is a 1967 IIa but I am still waiting to get the title from him. As far as we can tell, its been parked since 1980. Luckily, all the rains we have had here in TX made the ground very soft so breaking it from the strangle hold the earth had on it was very easy. Pictures are below.

Tonys can be found here:
http://nnin.net/gallery2/defender/ch...ies/?g2_page=4

The inside is in much better shape than we thought it would be. Closer inspections later today after its been drying out over night, will give me a chance to see whats what inside. The rear bed looks real good, the tranny tunnel looks like it may have been replaced. The floor boards especially on the passenger side will have to be replaced as I see some small holes but dash, and seat boxes look real good. Body wise, aside from where someone put a golf club through the drivers door skin and passenger side windshield, the small dent on the roof from a tree falling on it, and the capping bent on the right rear quarter panel, the body looks fine. Just needs a sanding and repaint.

The frame however is not in such great shape from what we can see. Defiantly the rear x-member needs to be replaced and assuming the entire frame should be.

[Trigger]

I picked a scorpion, a tarantula, and many other crawlies out of the truck and had no problems with critters. Until I got home. I got bit by a damn fire ant while taking a shower after I got home. I got bitten in the one place I never wanted to get bitten by a fire ant. :eek: Let's just say the missus was not happy that any possible evening festivities had to be postponed last night.

[Treuwer]

She wasn't pleased with the swelling?

[JSBriggs]

So what do you have plannd for it? Offroader, sunday driver, farm truck?

-Jeff

[chrisvonc]

At this point I'm thinking a restore to original with maybe some upgrades. It will be mostly a Sunday driver and mild off-roader.

[evilfij]

It looks very good for a field find. Texas dry climate at its best I guess.

The frame looks very good compared to most (it still has a rear crossmember :-)).

I would not worry about the motor. 9/10 they start with fresh oil, fresh gas, and cleaning the points. Amazing motor the 2.25 petrol.

I have a done of spare series parts floating around and a lot of knowledge if you get stuck.

I bet you could get her running and driving with a brake rebuild (check all the pipes), some unsticking of the throttle linkage, and a full service.

Best of Luck!

Ron

[Trigger]

I would not worry about the motor. 9/10 they start with fresh oil, fresh gas, and cleaning the points. Amazing motor the 2.25 petrol.

I have a done of spare series parts floating around and a lot of knowledge if you get stuck.

I bet you could get her running and driving with a brake rebuild (check all the pipes), some unsticking of the throttle linkage, and a full service.

I looked a little harder at the engine Saturday and am pretty confident I can get it running with a couple hours work. It looks to be in amazingly good condition especially after hitting it with the pressure washer. New fluids, plugs, wires, and a good cleaning of all linkages and we'll try firing it up. The brake system will probably need all new tubing. Front hubs were leaking oil/grease. Another drip from somewhere under the engine, possibly transfer case, I'll need to track down too. I was not crawling under it until a good fumigation took place. I don't mind letting the tarantulas and scorpions crawl on me when I expect it. When they parachute onto my face while I'm under the truck is a different story.

My goal for the truck is to get it running for him by the time of the Texas All British Car Show at the end of September. I want to see him drive that thing into the show ground under its own power. We may have to trailer it there but just pulling in under power will be good enough for me.

[chrisvonc]

Ok CVC, you are living one of my most favorite reoccurring dreams! (The other is finding a '55 Porsche Speedster in a barn half covered in hay and then the farmer's daughter says.... well nevermind). I just spent a hour going through the pics. I am sure my employer would like that. Looks like you lucked into a great complete truck. Be sure to keep us updated, and let me know if you run across any more relatives that are giving away series Rovers ok?
If that dream of a Porsche should change to a Fiat X19, I can totally hook you up, or anyone one else that wants a free X19 to restore.

Ron, thanks! I am sure I might be taking you up on that as we go. I'll be keeping updates on everything done to the truck in this thread. This week I will be taking much more detailed pictures of the condition now thats its been (for the most part), de-crittered. I think another blast of spray tonight or tomorrow may be in order.

Follow-up Post:

If I had to say the direction I want to go with the truck, this one on eBay I just came across is pretty much what I have been thinking of doing since I was given the truck: eBay Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-Land-Rover-Series-IIa-88_W0QQitemZ160139201133QQihZ006QQcategoryZ6296QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[evilfij]

The leaks are normal. Sealing the hubs is near impossible without a huge investment in new swivel balls and time. The seals on the tranny/t-case are notoriously bad. Make sure that they are not leaking from the one into the other (TADTS!).

Series are always broken, but never broken down.

[chrisvonc]

More detailed pics I took last night below.

[chrisvonc]

Not a huge leap forward, but a move forward none the less.. Had a little time today so I started taking a few things off.

BTW.. I added most of the previously linked Picasa pictures from posts #9 & #21, into the post so those who had trouble viewing them on the Picasa site, can now see them here.

[chrisvonc]

Since it was a short week for work, I took a few extra days off to really do nothing but catch up on some rest and tinker with the Series.

First I tried fitting 255's on a good set of wheels just to see if I could use them just to put some good rubber under the truck during the restore. The looked great and fit well, as long as I left the truck jacked up but they were not doing so good if I tried to lower the truck back down. Oh well.

That night I started pulling out the home made shelving inside the truck that was attached to the inner roof rail. After continuing the next morning for a bit, the shelving, remaining rivets used for mounting an insulation sheet to the roof, and the old CB mount all had been pulled out.

A little nugget of history in the form of an old snake bite kite, was found under the drivers seat so that needed to be checked out during a break. The it was onto removing the roof. Not quite knowing just how heavy the entire roof was going to be, I decided to take it apart in sections.

[Burke]

This may just be my puter, but why does this post not get moved to the front of Misc, chit chat? I have to go digging through old pages to find it ad see if Chris has any updates...


EDIT: Ok, nevermind, it was moved.... :)

[chrisvonc]

hehe.. yup it was originally in the Misc section.

[budz]

chris,

sounds good and will wait for the updates then.....

sal