Series 3 Just bought a Series III - what do I need to know?

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Baggbmartin

New Member
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Hi All
Had good use of this forum a few years back when I had first a 90 and then a 110 Defender.
Now I got carried away last night and paid the deposit for a good looking 40 years old series III.
(And straight away booked an appointment to sell our second car! )

It's a long time dream come true. 100%, can't really belie it.
But it's being used to having newer cars (0-10 yrs old), this scares me a bit.
I'm not afraid to learn new things, worry that my lack of mechanical experience might be a challenge.
I'm not clueless around a toolbox but I never done much with cars or engines.
What do I need to know and are there any pitfalls should I avoid?
This landy has run for over 40 years and deserves to run for 40 more, and I want to do my part in making that happen.

Hope you guys can help a newbie out
 
Good luck with your truck, get a proper workshop manual [ not a Hanes book] Ask about anything on this forum. Put up more info, type of engine, condition of chassis, bulkhead, some pics if you can. Just about the best vehicle you can have to learn basic mechanics. Only snag is some parts are quite heavy.
 
Yes if you get yourself a parts book as well you will see that everything goes together in a very logical way. You will be able to take it to bits and reassemble it in no time.:D
 
Parts book and green Bible are available on line. Download and print for the workshop.

Don't accept sloppy steering and rock hard suspension.

Buy AF and withworth spanners and sockets.

Rust proof the chassis.
 
Congratulations!

Firstly, I'd give it a full service - engine oil/ filter, gear box and transfer oil change, axle diff oil change, hub swivel oil change, steering relay (in chassis) top it and top up the gearbox.
Probably worth changing the brake and clutch fluid soon too - could do this as part of a brake service (pulling drums, clean and adjust).

... A couple of days work best saved and enjoyed for a sunny day with plenty of tea breaks. :)
 
You'll need to restock your toolbox with some imperial spanners and plenty of wd40/plus gas. These oldies are simple machines compared to modern cars. Get yourself a grease gun as well. If you find puddles of oil under it, don't panic they do that when they are happy, if the footwell fills with water after rain, don't worry, that's normal too. You now need to get used to a slower pace of life. Well done for buying a series.

Col
 
One thing I would suggest is that you set you satnav to avoid motorways! This removes some of the stress caused by other idiots on the roads not realising you are in a vehicle better suited to the '50's rural life than a modern motorway. Plus is it much nicer pottering around the country lanes.

Other than that start with a good service of everything, but if you are learning treat the service as about 10 different small jobs, rather than just one job.
Buy tools as you go and need them rather than trying to buy them all at once. I am still buying tools for mine and I have been working on ti for 10 years now!
Dont be afraid to have a go. There is very little that you can do wrong enough when working on one of these that it will not be repairable.
Along with the parts and workshop manuals mentioned above I would also avidly watch youtube and read the forum here. There are plenty of very good tech articles, and lots of threads with pictures details work people are carrying out.
 
As mentioned, full service first, all fluids and filters etc. I found the gearbox oils in mine looked awful and was happy knowing clean stuff was in there (until it broke altogether).
Once you crawl round it doing the service, you'll find a load of other jobs to do, hopefully small ones. Happy days!
 
Don’t be intimidated. For starters you now own a recognised design classic. Spare parts are available for almost all of the vehicle. There’s some obscure parts that are not available but that’s not a problem.
Even the last of production line in 1983 is based on 1950’s technology- they are straightforward to maintain. Good luck with your project.
 
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