The Rover-Landers of BC

Hello All,

Well, this vehicle may be headed back to BC (if someone buys it)!

After 15-years of blood, sweat and gears it is time for Growler to find a new home. What you cannot see in the pictures is the NEW FRAME, and that engine was rebuilt with the 9:1 ported head, performance cam and bigger exhaust. A Sniper EFI was added two summers ago. Not more than 15,000 miles on rebuild, as it has never left the province and is only used for fishing trips. Comes with a 5 x 10' trailer, also in very good shape. Growler seems to get about 25mpg, even at 70+mph. It all runs great, everything works, will do 80mph no problem. Would likely make the drive to just about anywhere if you want to drive it home.

A general history of the vehicle:
Purchased in approx. 2008. PO bought it for his wife around 2000 from somewhere on Vancouver Island, and she was promptly hit hard on the front quarter. He took the insurance money, stripped it down, and put a new galvanized frame on it (which he also undercoated). He went through it, fixed and rewired everything, adding a period clock and tach. He did a kind-of crappy body and paint-job on the outside (NICE on inside), but the truck was in darn good shape except for the engine. Still difficult to find a square inch of rust on the frame anywhere.

A ton of painstaking work (and money) has gone into fixing, maintaining and improving Growler over the years, always going the extra mile. Will post a more detailed history and description below. I'm having trouble posting images - they are being flipped - will try to fix, and if there is something else you think should be posted here, let me know. I have so many pictures it is difficult to know where to stop.

$22K obo.

Hi. Does anyone know why some of these pictures are getting turned around??

A general history of the vehicle:
Purchased in approx. 2008. PO bought it for his wife around 2000 from somewhere on Vancouver Island, and she was promptly hit hard on the front quarter. He took the insurance money, stripped it down, and put a new galvanized frame on it (which he also undercoated). He went through it, fixed everything mechanically and rewired everything, adding a period clock and tach. He did a kind-of crappy body and paint-job on the outside (NICE on inside), but the truck was in darn good shape except for the engine. Still difficult to find a square inch of rust on the frame anywhere.

The PO assembled a bit of a book documenting the history of the vehicle (original stickers, letter from LR confirming date of manufacture, other stuff I don’t care about), and the repairs he did. Also provided Haynes and Land Rover Repair Manuals, a Land Rover Parts Book (really!), and several boxes of spare parts, many of them new.

The Seller has done all of the work himself, but final assembly of the engine and transmission was done with the assistance of a retired Land Rover mechanic.

Outside
New tires and rims for a nice(r) ride...
Added aftermarket fender flares due to wider tires
It now has a few minor dents, and the paint has peeled in a few places (brake fluid).
Paintwise, as-above. However both doors were blistering on the bottom when purchased. Rust-Proofed inside doors and replaced all window felts. In 15-years the rust hasn’t changed a bit (but have the repair panels)
Comes with a "Lady's step" but took it off
Locking gas cap
Protective film on headlight lenses.

Mechanical
Rebuilt 2.25l (Approx. 10,000mi on rebuild)
• 9:1 gas-flowed head
• Performance cam
• Bored-out, new pistons, rings etc…
• Crank ground and re-bearinged
• New clutch
• Block painted to match the truck
• 2” exhaust
• Pointless ignition
• Trans rebuilt w new bearings and synchro (twice, but that's another story)

(At the time of the rebuild there was not a single other mechanical issue requiring attention)

• Holly Sniper EFI added several years later
• New drive shaft and drive gears added with EFI
• Master and wheel cylinders all replaced fairly recently; drums and all pads good
• Recently re-cored Tropical (bigger) rad
• Overdrive
• Removed two springs front and back to reduce road-sensing suspension
o Still have old springs "new" (replaced by the PO)
• Steering is right and right
• Windshield washer added
• Adjustable-height LR-Style trailer hitch, wiring all good.

Inside
• The paint in the interior is really nice – everywhere.
• Seats 98% (one recently redone)
• Custom aluminum console replaces middle seat – very functional
• Aftermarket full one piece sound/heat-proofing heavy-duty floor mat
• Custom made (?) Insulated head-liner front and back
• Custom made (?) Front/Back partition - cabin heat awesome (repaired, but still awesome)
• Custom made (?) Insulated door panels
• Kodiak III heater (the good one)
• $600 worth of sound-dampening panels on or under virtually every flat surface
• All new window felts installed (hours....)
• 3-point seat belts
• Steering wheel cracks repaired and painted, but covered with hockey tape because it works better that way.
• Gimbal-mounted cupholder
• Cool speakers added, never got around to the radio, but have one.
• Rear seats removed and all redone with expensive soundproofing mat on top of the other sound-proofing, and trimmed-off nicely – very, very functional, and dare I say, quiet
• Gun/fishing-rod/storage rack.

Electrical

• Dizzy rebuilt and recurved by Jeff at Advanced Distributors
  magnetic "points"
  Alternator – new. mounted using wading kit so it is higher up (won't get wet)
  Period Tach, Clock and Voltmeter added
  All

new wiring by PO; Growler has only ever had a couple (one?) minor electrical issues
• Fuel guage is a bit off, but functional
New fuse boxes installed, with relay
Wired for boom crane on trailer

Other

• LR and Haynes manuals, parts manual, books about Rovers,
  Original documentation, stuff I don't care about, but can provide more info if you like.
  3 boxes full of spare parts including repair panels for doors, new door seals, original replacement lenses, lots brand new, much useful stuff
  Some specialized tools.

Also have well taken care of 4’ x 8’ trailer with boom crane, all painted to match ($2k).

Always A Rover wrote: Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:53 am Hi. Does anyone know why some of these pictures are getting turned around??

Pls read the (new) FAQ forum section. It describes fixing uploaded picture rotation.

Hi - thanks!! Impressive to receive a response so quickly.

I did go there, and there doesn't appear to be anything in it.

Jim

It might be worth adding that Growler is well-suited for cold weather - it has a bunch of unique (custom?) features:

- A snap-on clear plastic partition between the front seats and the back, so you do not have to heat the whole vehicle - I've never seen one of these before and it is great
- Nice insulated headliner, white (front and back),
- Insulated doors and some kind of door cards with an armrest which are custom
- A big, thick aftermarket insulated one-piece floor mat which was something like $600 from the UK
- The Kodiak III heater blows heat like a dang
- I just have a 90C thermostat in there, and (with some cardboard on it) it is good at -40.

I will admit the door seals could use some attention, but I think most of what are needed are included with the spare parts. I haven't ever felt the need to go there, as it is warm-enough.

Sold!

Spotted you rolling westbound just outside of Calgary tonight! Wonderful to see it out on the road. We wish the best to it's new owners.

Hahahah, too funny. That WAS the new owner.