A rolling restoration. 1958 Series 2 diesel.
Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 8:09 am
I thought it would be fun to do a sort of "anti-blog" about living with a Series Land Rover.
I'll be using it every day and slowly restoring and modifying it. Here goes.
I have wanted a Series Landy for a long time having had a string of RRCs and a Disco. (as well as Jeeps of all description). I knew little a bout these vehicles, but having had a number of common and obscure British and vintage cars i figured.. How hard could it be?
I went and checked it out What would become my 1958 Series 2. Rob was very friendly and helpful with information, and completely honest about it's condition. He even gave me gas to get home as my tank was dangerously low after looking for his house (I get lost easy) I was sold the second i saw it. actually I was sold looking at the photos online.I left a deposit. It was delivered a short time later to my workplace.
After waiting 2 weeks and not able to sell my Jeep TJ, I decided "what the heck" Time to use this beast! The first drive was from the shop to my house. I knew these trucks were not exactly rockets, but it was a bit of an eye opener. The guys that warned me about 45 mph top speed were not exagerating! lol! Oh well. It's the island. I'm in no hurry. I arranged to buy a Fairey Overdrive.
Reception at home was interesting. The boys (10 and 14) were in love. "Dad, you have to keep this one! Don't sell it!" the neighbour was enthusiastic. "You have to keep this one!" Eventually my wife realized it was here to stay. She named it "Wedgewood" for the colour.
The drive home and subsequent inspection had set me a few tasks to complete as it was going to be a daily driver.
Brakes. Adequate, but somewhat out of adjustment. I am used to pumping brakes but 3 or 4 pumps is too much for me to be comfortable in commuter traffic.
Tires: They were worn and cracking. I need new ones if I'm using it for primary transport.
Radio: Sure, with a diesel I'll probably only hear it at stoplights, but as I work part time in Radio I should probably have one. A RCC radio with Weather band would be great.
Lights. Stock ones, not these LED ones. I just want to have beehives instead of flat round ones.
Oil leaks. I am used to these. They are part of my life, but let's curb the hemorage.
I used Wedgewood for about 3 days before I got started on improvements. I had spent some time looking for tires. The correct ones are very hard to find, especially used (I work as a mechanic at a salvage yard) But using my connections I found a set of 4.. the last set of 4 Ironman AT 215/85/16s. $300 for all 4. A great deal, and though they are dubious quality, they should last me long enough to pay for themselves. While swapping tires I did a quick safety check.
All the brakes were in good shape. Ample shoe material, and cylinders in good shape, some looked near new. I have a leaky seal on the rear axle though. I cleaned up the shoes, but I'll need to sort this pretty quick before the shoes are totally wrecked. Lubed everything I could, repaired a bend in one rim (these things are seriously strong!) I will have to replace it, but not yet, and tightened the rocker cover. I had ordered a new gasket but I ordered the wrong one. One more thing on the list. Adjusted the brakes too. Not too much drag, I need all the help I can get with the Hills on my commute.
The drive home was good. These are seriously stiff tires, but that's no problem. They look right and should be adequate for my needs. Brakes are much better, panic stops are no problem now. Backs were warm when I stopped, but fronts cold. A little more adjustment when I have time.
2 days on the new tires and all is well. Noticing a few new noises, but I am now very comfortable in the Landy.
A bump has appeared in the road. A big bump.
When I bought the truck my commute was almost all “in town” I was doing a fill in stint, covering the Morning show on a Parksville radio Station, which had a week left, I figured a week was fine for the extra highway time, and then it would be back to normal. Nope. The fellow on sick leave is sadly far sicker that we thought. This gig is going to be extended. This puts me in an akward place.
Driving to Parksville to do the show at 4:30am is fine. There is little traffic and I enjoy the leisurely pace. The hills slow me up to 30mph in places, but no problem I still make it in 30 minutes. Going to my other job is the issue. It's all hiway, though I cheat and take the in town route where I can, but puffing up Highway 19 hills in full traffic is not something other motorists appreciate. The Overdrive will help on the flat, but this is an island with Hills.
I have some serious thinking to do.
I'll be using it every day and slowly restoring and modifying it. Here goes.
I have wanted a Series Landy for a long time having had a string of RRCs and a Disco. (as well as Jeeps of all description). I knew little a bout these vehicles, but having had a number of common and obscure British and vintage cars i figured.. How hard could it be?
I went and checked it out What would become my 1958 Series 2. Rob was very friendly and helpful with information, and completely honest about it's condition. He even gave me gas to get home as my tank was dangerously low after looking for his house (I get lost easy) I was sold the second i saw it. actually I was sold looking at the photos online.I left a deposit. It was delivered a short time later to my workplace.
After waiting 2 weeks and not able to sell my Jeep TJ, I decided "what the heck" Time to use this beast! The first drive was from the shop to my house. I knew these trucks were not exactly rockets, but it was a bit of an eye opener. The guys that warned me about 45 mph top speed were not exagerating! lol! Oh well. It's the island. I'm in no hurry. I arranged to buy a Fairey Overdrive.
Reception at home was interesting. The boys (10 and 14) were in love. "Dad, you have to keep this one! Don't sell it!" the neighbour was enthusiastic. "You have to keep this one!" Eventually my wife realized it was here to stay. She named it "Wedgewood" for the colour.
The drive home and subsequent inspection had set me a few tasks to complete as it was going to be a daily driver.
Brakes. Adequate, but somewhat out of adjustment. I am used to pumping brakes but 3 or 4 pumps is too much for me to be comfortable in commuter traffic.
Tires: They were worn and cracking. I need new ones if I'm using it for primary transport.
Radio: Sure, with a diesel I'll probably only hear it at stoplights, but as I work part time in Radio I should probably have one. A RCC radio with Weather band would be great.
Lights. Stock ones, not these LED ones. I just want to have beehives instead of flat round ones.
Oil leaks. I am used to these. They are part of my life, but let's curb the hemorage.
I used Wedgewood for about 3 days before I got started on improvements. I had spent some time looking for tires. The correct ones are very hard to find, especially used (I work as a mechanic at a salvage yard) But using my connections I found a set of 4.. the last set of 4 Ironman AT 215/85/16s. $300 for all 4. A great deal, and though they are dubious quality, they should last me long enough to pay for themselves. While swapping tires I did a quick safety check.
All the brakes were in good shape. Ample shoe material, and cylinders in good shape, some looked near new. I have a leaky seal on the rear axle though. I cleaned up the shoes, but I'll need to sort this pretty quick before the shoes are totally wrecked. Lubed everything I could, repaired a bend in one rim (these things are seriously strong!) I will have to replace it, but not yet, and tightened the rocker cover. I had ordered a new gasket but I ordered the wrong one. One more thing on the list. Adjusted the brakes too. Not too much drag, I need all the help I can get with the Hills on my commute.
The drive home was good. These are seriously stiff tires, but that's no problem. They look right and should be adequate for my needs. Brakes are much better, panic stops are no problem now. Backs were warm when I stopped, but fronts cold. A little more adjustment when I have time.
2 days on the new tires and all is well. Noticing a few new noises, but I am now very comfortable in the Landy.
A bump has appeared in the road. A big bump.
When I bought the truck my commute was almost all “in town” I was doing a fill in stint, covering the Morning show on a Parksville radio Station, which had a week left, I figured a week was fine for the extra highway time, and then it would be back to normal. Nope. The fellow on sick leave is sadly far sicker that we thought. This gig is going to be extended. This puts me in an akward place.
Driving to Parksville to do the show at 4:30am is fine. There is little traffic and I enjoy the leisurely pace. The hills slow me up to 30mph in places, but no problem I still make it in 30 minutes. Going to my other job is the issue. It's all hiway, though I cheat and take the in town route where I can, but puffing up Highway 19 hills in full traffic is not something other motorists appreciate. The Overdrive will help on the flat, but this is an island with Hills.
I have some serious thinking to do.
