My Series 3 Lightweight ground up ongoing rebuild

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

So i have owned this land rover for the last 6 years.
Got it as an easy little project to learn the basics and we did abit of a rebuild when we got it but due to being busy the last 4 years she has fell into abit of a state and its time to sort it out strip down and build back up.
Had a great time in it so time to get to work !! :
)

Trailstar · May 18, 2016

looks like one hell of a fun project!! - just wondering, how many features does a series 3 lightweight share with a standard series 3??

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

Been away in the middle east the last 8 months working so have now managed to get it in the new House striped the 2.5n/a engine out.
Floor out
Front end off
Hoping to get loads done over the next Month so will Keep Posting!?

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

Trailstar said:
looks like one hell of a fun project!! - just wondering, how many features does a series 3 lightweight share with a standard series 3??

I think they are basically the same mostly Body Panels that are different.
Thanks

honolulujoe · May 18, 2016

good luck with the resto, keep the pix coming

kommer2013 · May 18, 2016

yeah they are mostly the same, the chassis would be a little stronger, but they were meant to be light weight so they could be airlifted around by helicopter,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_1/2_ton_Lightweight
as rugbynut129 said the body panels were different, and the bulkhead as well, it can be a little hard to get parts for these days, as they havent been in use with the military for some time now.
Tony.

John S · May 18, 2016

The axle's are narrower in a lightweight plus quite a lot of ancillary bits. Great project to have, will you do a full restoration to original specification?

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

John S said:
The axle's are narrower in a lightweight plus quite a lot of ancillary bits. Great project to have, will you do a full restoration to original specification?

i plan i keeping the 2.5 n/a in it, and a few little differences but this is no means a crazy off road rebuild, the previous owners rebuilt it and drove it through africa so it has a couple of bonuses to the original.

Used to have a box on the back that held lots of tools but was extremely heavy so may wasn't worth keeping on. maybe in the future fabricate a lighter version.

These are from when we first bought it.

Thanks, for Reading!

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

One thing that been in the shed for ages that came with the car is this? anyone got any ideas?

tomhop · May 18, 2016

i am by no means an expert but looks to me like the plate on the back of the gearbox that you would remove if you where to fit an overdrive but don't quote me on that!

jamesmartin · May 18, 2016

tomhop said:
i am by no means an expert but looks to me like the plate on the back of the gearbox that you would remove if you where to fit an overdrive but don't quote me on that!

it is indeed

rugbynut129 · May 18, 2016

ahhh, well i have an over drive so that would explain that!

Thanks

rugbynut129 · May 24, 2016

So finally got out for a couple of days.
Managed to get the box off the front, striped the bulkhead and floors!
Had to drill out most of the bolts which isnt a great start.

rugbynut129 · Jun 2, 2016

Got abit more work done before being away for a couple of months.
Chassis is now stripped of parts ready for cleaning, welding and galvanising.
Chassis looks in good Nic just a little bit of work to do in the back quarter.
Found what appears to be the original front numberplate printed onto a metal plate? Hidden under the new numberplate.
Steering was never the cars strong point and ive found something interesting... ill try and get the video up here. Excessive play where the axle joins the Springs.
Anyone know where i can get a good range of colours for a wiring loom as i want to remake mine as it is abit.......... special, bit of a mash up which needs sorting.
Has anyone got any preferences of sand blasting, Grit size , preferred machine for the job?
Thanks.

honolulujoe · Jun 2, 2016

rugbynut129 said:
One thing that been in the shed for ages that came with the car is this? anyone got any ideas?]

you should also have a gear cog with that to put back in if you ever have to remove the od, less you swap a new od in of course.

chassis looks good

kommer2013 · Jun 3, 2016

rugbynut129 said:
Got abit more work done before being away for a couple of months.
Chassis is now stripped of parts ready for cleaning, welding and galvanising.
Chassis looks in good Nic just a little bit of work to do in the back quarter.
Found what appears to be the original front numberplate printed onto a metal plate? Hidden under the new numberplate.
Steering was never the cars strong point and ive found something interesting... ill try and get the video up here. Excessive play where the axle joins the Springs.
Anyone know where i can get a good range of colours for a wiring loom as i want to remake mine as it is abit.......... special, bit of a mash up which needs sorting.
Has anyone got any preferences of sand blasting, Grit size , preferred machine for the job?
Thanks.
View attachment 101686 View attachment 101687 View attachment 101689

looks like the rear chassis cross member has been replaced as there is a extra piece added about a foot from the rear, and you can tell as the welds dont look like from the factory, as for blasting some will use nut shell grit and also you could try soda blasting as soda does no harm to the metal it only strips the rust and old paint off.

Tony.

rugbynut129 · Jun 9, 2019

My current thoughts on Land Rover bushes

rugbynut129 · Jun 9, 2019

Managed to get back up to the car for a week for have been busy removing/replacing all bushings rebuilding suspension and new brakes all round. The new U bolts I bought for the front axle/suspension threads all rounded off for some reason which I was less than impressed with so having to wait for some more to turn up and get them fitted, little jobs ongoing at the moment are getting the badges and dials restored; struggling to get them to pieces at the moment though, hints or tips? I always knew the steering was a abit loose, hopefully the video has uploaded and you can enjoy my latest little discovery whilst disassembling the suspension

rugbynut129 · Jun 10, 2019

One of the modifications im wanting to add here is a hidden winch that will sit inside the red box here, previously the vehicle had a box here which held a manual winch ( ive used it many times, enjoyable for the first five minutes then damn right annoying and hard work all round). Anyone know of any powerful compact winches i can hide in here? along with this i am looking at running it off dual batteries so that is another thing i am trying to get my head around fabricating inside the engine bay as i have fuel tanks under both seats.

wireman · Jun 10, 2019

You could get a battery box from an FF R lightweight it sits between the two front seats and has a metal cover. It takes two batteries so would be right for your needs and still look authentic.

My Series 3 Lightweight ground up ongoing rebuild

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