'74 S3 SWB - project down-under

Tim_AM · Feb 12, 2017

Hello!

I thought i would start a thread to detail my little project...

I recently bought a SWB S3 which i plan to clean up and make a few tweaks!

This is what she looked like when i bought her:

It was owned for over 30 years by one guy and was then passed on to his mechanic in his Will when he passed, I'm told it was one of many cars in his collection and was used as his work horse on his farm,

First things first.... the bale twine in the dash....

After some investigation it turns out that some rodent has decided to make my dash a home!

so after digging out 2kgs of muck, dust, leaves, cardboard and .22 Rounds !? i went on a hunt for damage caused.... luckily there was only 3 wires that had been chewed down to the copper, so i cut and repaired these to prevent any shorts in the future,

Bottom of the dash after the clear out

my findings;

The nibbling:

Next up... to tackle the dull paint work...

Tim

freelance · Feb 12, 2017

Usual farm vehicle!

Tim_AM · Feb 12, 2017

so it would seem! not too bad though....

update;

took a DA polisher to all of the paint work, which has made a huge difference, some panels look freshly painted...

front Wing Before and after:

Bonnet work in progress 50/50...

New rear badge to go with the old ones...

Tim_AM · Feb 12, 2017

A couple of snaps out in the Bush:

decided to learn how to splice rope so i made my own tow rope for the front bumper,

jamesmartin · Feb 12, 2017

Tim_AM said:
A couple of snaps out in the Bush:

decided to learn how to splice rope so i made my own tow rope for the front bumper,

i wish you could find examples like that here

Tim_AM · Feb 13, 2017

More progress made,

new knobs, and gators going on...

Front light grilles added after removing the roo bars:

Home spliced tow rope

Roof coming off and sticks being installed ready for the canvas...

canvas going on...

almost done...

Will soon have some paint for my new top hinges, so i can loose the single mirror which is utterly useless!

Rear light guards going on...

And first trip out with the canvas roof on...

callisr · Feb 17, 2017

I can't believe that has been a farm truck for thirty years!!!
Such a great looking Landy - more so with the canvas on and nudge bar off!!

Rich

Tim_AM · Feb 20, 2017

I know, i was surprised too - a few dings and dents here and there, but not a lot!

It came with a nice little story too.... The previous owner often invited writers from a 4wd magazine onto his property (500 acres) to 'off road test' new vehicles, one occasion they brought a brand new land-cruiser with all the toys which managed to get stuck, so along comes the owner in this S3, drives past the bogged cruiser hooks him up and tows him out, much to the delight of the writer! (and the owner of the Landy of course)

I'm still trying to locate the article that was written about this.... i will post it if i can find it!

Tim_AM · Feb 21, 2017

Today's job was to freshen up the doors,

New window seals and mirrors too

Window seals are a real pig of a job to do, but worth it nevertheless

Mirrors on:

Tim_AM · Feb 21, 2017

One slight problem, my clutch is stuck! so this evening as well as the above, I jacked up the rear, and did my best to free it up,

It seems to have worked after warming her right up, and jumping on the breaks a number of times over,

however another problem has come to light, now my clutch bite is practically on the floor! - could freeing up the couch have caused a hydraulic problem? or maybe it was the cause of the clutch sticking in the first place? MC or Slave leaking? or maybe air in the system?

your thoughts please!

Tim_AM · Feb 25, 2017

So managed to fix the clutch issue, and took her out for a run,

have to say the mirrors make all the difference! also added mud flaps too!

Any thoughts on where to put the number plate? I'm not a huge fan of where it is as the moment,

Tim_AM · Feb 26, 2017

Snaps from my Sunday drive:

greyhair · Feb 26, 2017

You lucky sod!
That is stunning, looks like new

Tim_AM · Feb 27, 2017

Thanks GreyHair!

Came up a treat with the DA poilisher

Stretch · Feb 27, 2017

Tim_AM said:
So managed to fix the clutch issue, and took her out for a run,

have to say the mirrors make all the difference! also added mud flaps too!

Any thoughts on where to put the number plate? I'm not a huge fan of where it is as the moment,

The number plate was fitted in several places depending on the country it was exported to - a lot of them had square plates under the rear lights, with a special clear bit in the rear red light lens which would shine on the rear number plate.

#########

Great looking Land Rover - I think that green is the best colour they ever came in

cornish rattler · Feb 27, 2017

Nice colour Pastel Green

Tim_AM · Mar 1, 2017

Thanks for that, maybe I will just leave it where it is, it's just the light unit is massive compared to the little plates I have!

todays plan was to install some interior lighting, after removing the hard top (Which had a twin tube light installed) i have been wanting to add some lighting, as i park in a dark underground carpark I'm for ever trying to hold a torch in my mouth while tinkering!

Anyway those days are over!

using the live from the old light running up the side of the windscreen i added an earth and then fitted a waterproof LED kit (meant for camping)

Great little kit i found online, came with everything you would need, splitters extensions, croc clips, cig lighter plug, and 5x 500mm 'light bars'

I mounted the dimmer control just behind the first 'stick'

i then mounted a light bar to the front and middle frames of my canvas roof, and linked them together, hiding the wiring and using the velcro cable ties to make is subtle!

Done!

Tim_AM · Mar 7, 2017

Tonight's job was to cheer up the rear cross member,

after stripping down the "handles" and cleaning up the flaky bits I ended up with this:

im also spraying up the anchor point from the front bumper too, they were something close to bronze green so looked a little odd

regards
tim

Tim_AM · Mar 13, 2017

just fitted a dual battery system...

second batteryis mounted behind the back wheel on the passenger side,

Ive bolted 40mm unistrut and two L brackets to the rear crossmember, then bolted a metal battery tray on top of that,

then to protect the battery, I had a spare set of mud flaps which i have cut down and fixed to the tray brace above and to the unistrut under the battery, this should protect it from stones / water splashes / mud etc...

its pretty well hidden when looked at from afar:

roga · Mar 13, 2017

Looks good. Great idea to put in there.

'74 S3 SWB - project down-under

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