Restoration Advice

[Canadman]

Since I'm on a roll (my second new topic post ever on here - and both on the same day), I thought I would pose this question to the group.

I am a new 1967 Land Rover S2a 88 owner - about to live out my lifelong dream of restoring my Land Rover to its glorious, original condition. I am NOT a mechanic. I have enough knowledge and understanding of vehicles to almost convince my 17 year-old son that I know more than he does, and little enough to make anyone else who actually knows anything about the mechanics of a car recognize that I know nothing. Ok, in all seriousness, I am very good at building and fixing things, have been doing everything from scratch home renos (many, many, many) to fixing small appliances, for years - so I'm not afraid of tools by any means and have pretty much any and every tool I would need (and will pick up any I don't have as I go along). Ut I wasn't that guy who took auto shop or who's been a 'car nut' his whole life. I just LOVE vintage Land Rovers and growing up in the UK, always dreamed of bringing home an old one and restoring it.

With the snow out here (I'm in the Okanagan), as my restoration will be an outside job (and one I think will likely take me a couple of years or more to complete), I'm likely stuck waiting until mid-March or later to get started. My Landie has no engine, a gearbox and transfer in unknown condition (because it's so covered in gunk I haven't yet been able to get to it properly to assess it), a decent looking chassis (little to no rust other than the rear crossmember, as far as I can tell right now), Excellent, rust free bulkhead and most body parts in place (though a few will need work - ie. badly bondo'ed front wings that will need work to get them back 'into shape'). With all that said, I am now in the planning stage, trying to sort out what the best steps, in order, are for the restoration and how long I can expect to spend on each step.

So, my question to you is, what would the steps be to complete the restoration and how long do you think each step should take - I realize that's all dependant on the amount of time im willing to dedicate to each step and what challenges I encounter. Maybe, put a different way, what percentage of the restoration time will be taken for each step? Here's what I'm thinking. Tell me if this makes sense...

1. Strip all body parts down to the chassis
2. Remove all old wiring and electronics
3. Remove gearbox and inspect
4. Remove axles
5. Repair chassis (where needed) and repaint (I won't be galvanizing it, but I will replace any rusty bits, though there don't appear to be many if any, other than that rear crossmember)
6. Rebuild axles, brakes, springs, etc if necessary
7. Install axles, brakes, springs, etc
8. Rebuild gearbox, if necessary (or clean and tune up if not rebuilding)
9. Acquire engine (2.25L petrol) and rebuild (if necessary) or 'refresh' if rebuild isn't required (ie. new paint, replace old parts, etc)
10. Install engine
11. Install gearbox
12. Repair any bulkhead issues, prep, repaint and install
13. Install new wiring harness(es)
14. Install new interior electronic components (gauges, windshield wipers, etc)
15. Repair seat'box' and other interior panels, gas tank, etc prep, repaint and install
16. Repair and prep rear tub, paint and install
17. Repair exterior panels (doors, wings, bonnet, etc), prep, repaint and install
18. Restore interior header and roof exterior, prep and paint
19. Add all exterior lights and finishing touches (chrome bits, aluminum rails, etc)

Does this look about right? Have I missed anything major? In terms of time, where will the time intensive parts be and which parts will be quicker to accomplish, generally?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[Canadman]

(apparently this was my 2nd and 3rd new topic post - apparently I had posted a new topic once before. Must be getting old)

[harv]

I’m also in the Okanagan. Great vehicle choice and you’ll get lots of really good well informed advice here. It sounds like you like working with your hands so you won’t have trouble working on your LR (as long as you keep your interest up).
A lot of people do what you’re proposing, a full on restoration, and do great with it. That was my intention as well when I got my 2A in 1994, which had been sitting unlicensed for 18 years. My brother-in-law gave me the best advice I ever got on the project, and that was to get it into safe running condition, then drive it for a while before tackling the next project on it. Sometimes I would spend a few months at a time working on it, but never years. Following his advice I was able to enjoy driving my Landie the whole time I had it, and not get frustrated or lose interest. It was sort of a restoration in progress the whole 27 years I had it.
Keep us informed about how it goes and good luck with it.

[Canadman]

I’m also in the Okanagan. Great vehicle choice and you’ll get lots of really good well informed advice here. It sounds like you like working with your hands so you won’t have trouble working on your LR (as long as you keep your interest up).
A lot of people do what you’re proposing, a full on restoration, and do great with it. That was my intention as well when I got my 2A in 1994, which had been sitting unlicensed for 18 years. My brother-in-law gave me the best advice I ever got on the project, and that was to get it into safe running condition, then drive it for a while before tackling the next project on it. Sometimes I would spend a few months at a time working on it, but never years. Following his advice I was able to enjoy driving my Landie the whole time I had it, and not get frustrated or lose interest. It was sort of a restoration in progress the whole 27 years I had it.
Keep us informed about how it goes and good luck with it.

Harv, great advice. For what it's worth, there's zero chance I'll lose interest. It's a childhood dream that my wife has been telling me for 30 years I've been obsessed with. But I do get what you're saying. For me, the idea of stripping an automobile down and rebuilding it from scratch, is itself an exciting proposition, one I know will be fraught with frustration, challenges and obstacles, but I'm ready and willing to see them through! On that note, if you ever have any parts you're looking to get rid of or any more advice, I'm open to and will need lots of both!

[ANDYD]

Sounds like you have lots of enthusiasm which will be key to this project :D

I would start off with a really good power wash, get right under the hard-to-reach areas, its much easier taking it all apart when its somewhat clean of crud, grease etc.
Your work list order above looks good. Don't forget to take lots of photos before you take things apart and that will really help on the rebuild.
Also crucial is the labelling and boxing of parts, its likely they will be apart for months (maybe years :shock: ) so good sorting and labelling will be a big help down the road.

There are a couple of really good restoration projects, shown step by step in the "Projects tab", there are rebuilds there from people that have done exactly what you are doing and are listed step by step with photos, these can be a great guide and good night time reading.

On that subject, you should start your own "Projects" posting so we can enjoy your highs and lows along the way

Have fun
Andy

[Canadman]

All good advice Andy. And yes, maybe I will start my own project posting when I get started in Spring. :)

[Colin]

Save every part you take off, put them into bins with the bolts and mark the bins. Take a lot of photo's before disassembly. If in doubt, make a witness mark to help reassembly. Tag the wires so you know which is which later on. Buy a new fuze box, they are a source of strange troubles.

[Canadman]

Thanks Colin! Will take that advice.

[harv]

Colin I’ve never heard of fuse boxes being an issue on Series 2’s. Mine only had 2 fuses for the whole car, I’m trying to think of what could go wrong?

[oldgravy]

Corrosion, vibration, 60-some-odd year old materials...

Life can happen to you at any time. I have found it very useful to have some space to store everything so that as I take forever to repair and rebuild things, I don't feel compelled to sell because I need the space. I have been very fortunate in this because let's face it, space is at a premium with housing being what it is.

Along the line I have managed so far to avoid a few pitfalls of project doom. One being the old 'repair or replace' conundrum. With old Land Rovers almost anything you want can be bought new! But it's always a dilemma -- buy new, or repair? What tasks can you reasonably do and which are better outsourced?

I have really enjoyed learning as I go, it's been a source of motivation for me. Having so many expert voices here has helped

Good luck with your project!