Series 3 Repair or replace? And what to be getting on with.

codfather79 · Jul 23, 2022

Evening all.
So, today saw the start of project Nole (see members vehicles/projects).

After 4 hours with the pressure washer and an hour with a scraper, things were not looking as good as they were 5 hours previously.
The bulkhead was in a sorry state (I knew that) but the chassis was not looking too clever at all.
The pressure washer revealed lots of rough welding and more holes than I had first seen

So, my question is, given that my welding skills are limited, is it worth saving the chassis by paying someone to repair it or, get Noel taken off to someone who will fit a new galv chassis and bulk head.
The budget allows for new, but I like the idea of keeping as many as the main parts original.

In either case, what can I be doing in the mean time?
Of course it would help if you knew what needs doing!
So, in no particular order:
New fuel tank
New exhaust
New wiring throughout
New lights
Overhaul Brakes
Service engine/refit bits.
Straighten/replace inner and outer wings and light surrounds.
The sills are shot, so they need replacing.
The tropical roof needs straightening.
The head lining and door cards need replacing and the dashboard and seats need repairs and re trimming/upholstering.
The bonnet frame needs replacing
The tops of at least 2 doors need replacing and the others over hauling.
The rear windows need an overhaul
and it needs preparing and re spraying.

Think that should do for the moment.

Any suggestions on a sequence of events will be greatly appreciated.
Shirl

Turboman · Jul 23, 2022

codfather79 said:
Evening all.
So, today saw the start of project Nole (see members vehicles/projects).

After 4 hours with the pressure washer and an hour with a scraper, things were not looking as good as they were 5 hours previously.
The bulkhead was in a sorry state (I knew that) but the chassis was not looking too clever at all.
The pressure washer revealed lots of rough welding and more holes than I had first seen

So, my question is, given that my welding skills are limited, is it worth saving the chassis by paying someone to repair it or, get Noel taken off to someone who will fit a new galv chassis and bulk head.
The budget allows for new, but I like the idea of keeping as many as the main parts original.

In either case, what can I be doing in the mean time?
Of course it would help if you knew what needs doing!
So, in no particular order:
New fuel tank
New exhaust
New wiring throughout
New lights
Overhaul Brakes
Service engine/refit bits.
Straighten/replace inner and outer wings and light surrounds.
The sills are shot, so they need replacing.
The tropical roof needs straightening.
The head lining and door cards need replacing and the dashboard and seats need repairs and re trimming/upholstering.
The bonnet frame needs replacing
The tops of at least 2 doors need replacing and the others over hauling.
The rear windows need an overhaul
and it needs preparing and re spraying.

Think that should do for the moment.

Any suggestions on a sequence of events will be greatly appreciated.
Shirl

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I would suggest getting a decent MIG welder, and a mask, and teaching yourself as you go along.
It isn't that difficult, and the money you spend will only pay a skilled welder and their kit for a few days.
Series are actually easy to weld, there are no double skinned sections, steel quality tends to be OK, and access to most areas is reasonable.
Where it isn't, a MIG doesn't produce a vast amount of heat, so you don't have to unbolt much stuff, and some of it may be the bits you want to replace anyway.
Many prefabricated repair sections are available, you just cut off the old bits, grind the surrounding surfaces clean, and weld on the new.

As far as I know, all parts for Series 3 are available new from the usual suspects.

codfather79 · Jul 23, 2022

Turboman said:
I would suggest getting a decent MIG welder, and a mask, and teaching yourself as you go along.
It isn't that difficult, and the money you spend will only pay a skilled welder and their kit for a few days.
Series are actually easy to weld, there are no double skinned sections, steel quality tends to be OK, and access to most areas is reasonable.
Where it isn't, a MIG doesn't produce a vast amount of heat, so you don't have to unbolt much stuff, and some of it may be the bits you want to replace anyway.
Many prefabricated repair sections are available, you just cut off the old bits, grind the surrounding surfaces clean, and weld on the new.

As far as I know, all parts for Series 3 are available new from the usual suspects.

Thank you for replying.

I was a bit gutted at first when I found the cruddy repairs, especially as 2 of them were over where drain holes should have been! Rot, I can handle. Bodges, No!
It has been the intention to try and do as much as the work myself as possible. Not so much from a financial view, more I take a lot of satisfaction from being able to mend something myself (even when replacement is far more cost effective!

)
Ill crawl back under tomorrow and drop the tank and exhaust.
Fortunately, the top of the chassis is sound (so far) and the rotten/cruddy areas are easy to access, So ill look at giving it a go

Colthebrummie · Jul 23, 2022

If it was.me, Id change the chassis. There doesnt look like there is much good metal to weld to.

Col

steve2286w · Jul 23, 2022

If you have the budget I would definitely go for the new chassis option and while that’s on order remove axles and springs to refurb so you can refit asap for a rolling chassis
Then remove body parts to store then swap engine / gearbox into new chassis and hydraulics and brakes and rebuild bodywork.
A few projects on here very similar and your left with a robust vehicle to last years rather than a welded chassis of doubtful quality

Bobsticle · Jul 23, 2022

New galvanised chassis and sort the axles out while your waiting.

cph1975 · Jul 25, 2022

New chassis. You will never stop chasing the rust.

codfather79 · Jul 25, 2022

Thanks for all the replies
So, bearing in mind that I am doing all this on a driveway with no hoists or lifts, am I better off sending it off to someone who can do it quickly and efficiently?
I've got to factor in the cost of tools and equipment Vs paying for someone to do it.
I had allowed £5k for a chassis and bulkhead but no idea on labor costs.

rob1miles · Jul 25, 2022

The cost of labour will likely kill it. Here's how to do it (outside)
Plenty of people.
Good weather
All the fasters loose and ready
New parts all laid out
Allow time to make up all the brake lines.
Leave all the wiring attached to the bulkhead.

nickjaxe · Jul 30, 2022

Can I ask what your paid for it.....would it be worth considering buy another in much better condition considering your limited skills.
Could work out way more cost effecting.

Sorry to be negative.

mystery · Jul 30, 2022

New chassis expensive but worth it mine collapsed in the middle and the our rigger were ghosted most of it ended up in a bucket .once the rot sets

you will never catch up .you will be sweeping it up for years to come

codfather79 · Jul 31, 2022

nickjaxe said:
Can I ask what your paid for it.....would it be worth considering buy another in much better condition considering your limited skills.
Could work out way more cost effecting.

Sorry to be negative.

Not being negative at all.
I paid a price I was happy with and had allowed for a new chassis.
The problem with buying something a bit better is that eventually that will need £££ spent on it and given that I live on the coast, a galvanised chassis seems sensible.
My D2 was eaten alive by the salt air despite regular cleaning and waxoyling.
Yes, my experience is limited but am very adaptable.
Out of necessity I have rebuilt engines and gearboxes over the years in order to keep my vehicle on the road on a pittance of a wage.
Now I am fortunate enough to be earning good money and can afford to pay someone to do things for me if I want.
This land rover was bought with the intention of trying (by learning and seeking information on forums) to do as much as possible myself, just for the fun of it.
Also, if I can save the odd £k here and there I can have a few more weeks fishing in Norway instead of the usual 2 or 3!

It all seemed a bit daunting at first, but now I've got my head around it, away we go.
In the words of clarksonious "how hard can it be"

codfather79 · Aug 1, 2022

Well that's done it.
New chassis arriving in 6 to 8 weeks.
In-between times the body has to be stripped off, prepared and sent to the spray shop and everything attached to the old chassis is being drowned in penetrating oil.
But before that, I need to finish the roofing on the temporary 'workshop'!

nickjaxe · Aug 1, 2022

codfather79 said:
Not being negative at all.
I paid a price I was happy with and had allowed for a new chassis.
The problem with buying something a bit better is that eventually that will need £££ spent on it and given that I live on the coast, a galvanised chassis seems sensible.
My D2 was eaten alive by the salt air despite regular cleaning and waxoyling.
Yes, my experience is limited but am very adaptable.
Out of necessity I have rebuilt engines and gearboxes over the years in order to keep my vehicle on the road on a pittance of a wage.
Now I am fortunate enough to be earning good money and can afford to pay someone to do things for me if I want.
This land rover was bought with the intention of trying (by learning and seeking information on forums) to do as much as possible myself, just for the fun of it.
Also, if I can save the odd £k here and there I can have a few more weeks fishing in Norway instead of the usual 2 or 3!

It all seemed a bit daunting at first, but now I've got my head around it, away we go.
In the words of clarksonious "how hard can it be"

Sorry if I have annoyed you.....I was just looking from a different direction.

Seen people in your position so many times....not all get to the end of the line with all the frustration.

codfather79 · Aug 1, 2022

nickjaxe said:
Sorry if I have annoyed you.....I was just looking from a different direction.

Seen people in your position so many times....not all get to the end of the line with all the frustration.

Hi @nickjaxe
Not annoyed me at all
This seems to be a problem with forums, especially new people. You can not see facial expressions to judge their reactions.

I'm quite lucky in that I've got the cash to do it right, I want to do it on my own (with guidance from landyzone members) and as a last resort (because they have their own lives and landrovers) I've got an ex main dealer mechanic and series nut as a cousin and an in law who is an independent LR mechanic. The problem is if I ask them for help, I risk them taking over or they will want me to go and do work for them
Shirl

codfather79 · Aug 1, 2022

Also, just realized that the emojis I've been using are not compatible with this platform.

nickjaxe · Aug 1, 2022

codfather79 said:
Hi @nickjaxe
Not annoyed me at all
This seems to be a problem with forums, especially new people. You can not see facial expressions to judge their reactions.

I'm quite lucky in that I've got the cash to do it right, I want to do it on my own (with guidance from landyzone members) and as a last resort (because they have their own lives and landrovers) I've got an ex main dealer mechanic and series nut as a cousin and an in law who is an independent LR mechanic. The problem is if I ask them for help, I risk them taking over or they will want me to go and do work for them
Shirl

No need to explain to me mate......as I say seen it got the tee shirt.....its your Landrover ....I was just thinking outside the box.....and making conversation.

codfather79 · Aug 1, 2022

nickjaxe said:
No need to explain to me mate......as I say seen it got the tee shirt.....its your Landrover ....I was just thinking outside the box.....and making conversation.

Totally get where you are coming from.
Especially with abandoned projects.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I'm too bloody stubborn to be defeated. I'd rather spend a fortune to prove I can do something rather than give up!
A fool and his money springs to mind

I've no kids to spend upon, so Noel the land rover may as well get back on the road properly!

Turboman · Aug 1, 2022

codfather79 said:
Totally get where you are coming from.
Especially with abandoned projects.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I'm too bloody stubborn to be defeated. I'd rather spend a fortune to prove I can do something rather than give up!
A fool and his money springs to mind
I've no kids to spend upon, so Noel the land rover may as well get back on the road properly!

Many years since I have rechassied one, and I am always wary of taking on big projects, due to the time involved, and the habit other things have of cropping up unexpectedly.

My best suggestion would be to take lots of pictures first, or make careful notes, or both.

Reassembling the large components, chassis, bulkhead, suspension, is actually quite easy if you have the tools and take your time.

Where I have often seen people struggle is with the small stuff, such as where wires, cables, pipes, etc clip onto the chassis, or go through holes in the bulkhead, stuff like that. You can spend hours re-routing a cable or bit of wiring loom, only to have to remove it again when you find that another component will foul it when attached.

Also, an assistant will save you lots and lots of time. They don't have to be particulary skilled, just capable of lifting a decent weight, and holding a spanner on the other side of a bulkhead, stuff like that.
With the exception of a few heavy items like engines and complete gearboxes, most stuff on a Series can be lifted by hand, especially with someone to help.

codfather79 · Aug 1, 2022

Turboman said:
Many years since I have rechassied one, and I am always wary of taking on big projects, due to the time involved, and the habit other things have of cropping up unexpectedly.

My best suggestion would be to take lots of pictures first, or make careful notes, or both.

Reassembling the large components, chassis, bulkhead, suspension, is actually quite easy if you have the tools and take your time.

Where I have often seen people struggle is with the small stuff, such as where wires, cables, pipes, etc clip onto the chassis, or go through holes in the bulkhead, stuff like that. You can spend hours re-routing a cable or bit of wiring loom, only to have to remove it again when you find that another component will foul it when attached.

Also, an assistant will save you lots and lots of time. They don't have to be particulary skilled, just capable of lifting a decent weight, and holding a spanner on the other side of a bulkhead, stuff like that.
With the exception of a few heavy items like engines and complete gearboxes, most stuff on a Series can be lifted by hand, especially with someone to help.

It's funny, it's the big stuff that's daunting.
The fiddly stuff is where the fun comes in.
Hours studying the best way of doing it then applied logic to make it happen.

I'm a carpenter by trade and love the challenge of awkward jobs.
It's it's easy it's boring.

Shirl

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