what to do 1st (restoration)

As i've so loudly announced I now have the vehicle. Now what do I do? I took it up to a local V8 Landy specialist. He was all for upgrading HT leads/dizzy/etc etc & then LPG conversion. Costing a bomb !
So thinking im being suckered in, I thanked him and look to unfettered ones within this saintly establishment to give me some sound advice as to what to do 1st & there after. My knowledge mechanically, is that of a basic service, and pretty handy with bodywork.
I intend to have fitted, central locking, electric windows, finishing with a respray. I have reciepts for a gearbox fitted last year for previous owner.
Only bug atm is steering wobbles at 50-60mph then smooths out after. probably balance or tracking. Oh! She drinks like a fish too : (

Z®

are you restoring it or tarting it up? if it dint already got leccy windows and central locking; its not restoring it, unless them wur fited in the factory and some S.P.O took them out which is unlikey.

Oh im not a purist so its not a restoration more a tarting up, bringing into the 21st century. But I draw the line at metallic paint and that plating patched all over the shop. looks daft! To get her running as per.
And to have the mod cons one comes to expect hehe! I posted some pics.

Z®

it was me i'd do the LPG conversion before the likes of leccy windows, central locking and a respray - you'll be supprised how big a fish it will be, in fact i'd probably only do the LPG conversion

Looks like an excellent beast ! Good choice. You know what, it's your car and you need to make it personal. If that means leccy windows and a respray, that's fine. Me, I'd make sure it was going to last for a good few years without the dreaded tinworm attacking the chassis and bulkhead. Proper rustproofing (don't ask me how, ask before'n after at Newbury).

LPG's a good investment now but who knows how long our beloved government will retain the low duty rate ? If you're doing the miles, get it converted but do it properly (your local guys in Norwich probably do know what they're talking about !)

Me, I've got mine into a fit running state, fitted a decent digital sound system, leather seats from a classic Range Rover front and rear and it's just starting to feel like my own. They all drink like fish - my 1984 3.5 V8 with Holley carb does about 12mpg around the lanes and about 21 on a run up to Norwich. Thirsty fish !

Good luck with it all !

Thanks guys appreciate the sound advice.
Think i'll go with what you all say and do the lpg conversion properly. Costing an amazing 1800 quid. OUCH!

Then replace the rotting nearside doors and seal kits all rounds. Then finally the respray. Im doing that with rad rollers and lots of filling and rubbing down between coats. Someone said recently that painting a landy defender is a doddle.
I got some minor issues with oil leaking from what i think is the filter. Currently flushing the oil with cheap crap to hopefully have it all run clear.
Will keep you allposted hehe!

Z®

I didnt go with LPG...ok so petrol is expensive..But someone told me along time ago, that if you buy a landie expect to pay alot out each year to maintain her. So dont winge about it..So ive decided to keep her on petrol for now. lpg is prone to alot of faults.
I never did leccy windows or central locking. But I have done alot more other stuff...See my album.

If fuel prices are worrying you then there are a few ways forwards. The first option is to replace all of your fuel lines, ie. from the tank all the way to the carb (including the return line) with plastic fuel lines and find a local ethanol retailer. You should (in theory) be able to run it on 100% ethanol (alcohol), but you could reduce your costs somewhat by running it on an unleaded / ethanol mix. Then again, I've been experimenting a little bit with my petrol mk2 golf (which replaced my old 90 ) and it's been running well enough with a bit of all sorts in the tank. Including some white spirit. It was a simple process of removing the air intake box and then slowly injecting small quantities of "alternate fuel" into the carb intake. It didn't cut out and it ran a little quicker with some liquids but I'm not going to make a habbit of it.

Your second option, is to lift the V8 out, tart it up and then sell it on ebay for a small killing and then spend the cash that you've made on a relatively good 200 or 300 tdi. That way you can run it on diesel (which is now cheaper at some stations up North) and you can whack a bit of what ever you want in it (sometimes illegally ofcourse). Veg oil, radiator oil, filtered used engine oil, white spirit, kerosene, whatever the hell you like that burns! You wouldn't have to worry about flushing the tank either. You could just fill it with diesel, which would mix with the petrol remnants and it'd run a treat. Diesels are no doubt the best options nowadays and you could even setup your own home fuel processing system with nothing more than a few barrels, some tights and a couple of sachets of magical chemical powder! You could even fiddle with it to make it sound BETTER than the V8 and go just as well (obviously not as quick on the acceleration).

Of course if farting about with the engine is not what you want to be doing, just be proud that you own a V8 and use it well. First port of call for a service would be HT leads, Distributor cap and rotor arm (maybe even points if it has them? and a good general oil change etc. It never hurts to wash or replace the air filters too and run a bit of carb cleaner through the system. It might knock your MPG up by a mile or two.

-Pos

Sheesh!! Losing the V8..nah!
I love it...
I took it to Chris at RPI engineering he suggested as Pos mentioned. He reckons its still setup as a Range rover only hot wired a bit hehe. New dizzy Ht leads plugs and a Lambda sensor setup. As well as in all probability, a new Camshaft. But he was impressed by its current setup having power but not as much as the above upgrading would generate.
He did mention other electrical upgrades too numerous to list....All in all costing over a grand. So much as I would like too. I cant. I'll focus on saving up and working on the body for now.

what made wake up this thread after 2 yrs?

me I accidentally posted to it instead of V8 hehe.


-Thread Closed-

no its not.... see i have posted hahahahahahahahaha