So, I'm about to embark on a trip to dig an 86" Series 1 that I have acquired out of a bush, the only hitch is the car (and bush) are in Africa! I've got about 2 months to dig the thing out (It's been sitting a long, long while) and hopefully get it in a running state. My aim is to get it into a rolling state so that it can be shipped back to the UK, ideally I'd love to get it running, I'm not looking to restore it out there, just getting it running well enough that it can be shipped back to the UK where I can properly work on it.

Being on a farm in Africa it's suffered a hard life, however, it's in a Series 1 graveyard so I have a huge supply of Series 1 parts around that I can use. So reusable bits are in abundance, the issue will be sourcing new parts, parts out there take an age to arrive and are always of woeful quality. So my aim is when I fly out to go out armed with as many parts as possible that I expect I'll need.

I know we never know with these things, but what should I expect to have to replace? I was thinking the whole brake hydraulics, I'll bring some copper pipe out with me and a flaring tool, wheel and master cylinders as well. I guess all engine rubbers and hoses will be shot...what do I need of these? Probably some SU pump points, the usual ignition suspects...rotor arm, points, condensor, cap, leads, plugs? Then what else should I have to expect to replace?

I can't say I've done a huge amount of work on old land rovers and really haven't got a great deal of knowledge on them so would appreciate advice. Especially on the topic of what I should expect to have to replace and could bring out with me to help with the task? Remember, this is a case of what I need to get the thing going, not a case of good practice and restoring etc. (well, until it comes back to the UK!)

I'm flying out in a few weeks time so, what do you suggest I bring with me? So far I was thinking of a list something like this:

3/16" brake hard line
Front Brake hoses
Rear brake hose
4x wheel cylinders (what sizes should these be?)
1x master cylinder (or at least a rebuild kit)
SU pump points (were there different designs of these?)
Ignition leads
Plugs,
Cap,
Points
Rotor arm
Condensor

No idea what rubber hoses/bushes (if any) to bring?
What else should I add to that list?

Oh and where is a good supplier for this sort of stuff?

Welcome to LandyZone

Why are you doing this ? Just for fun or are you looking to make money out of the project ? This Series One , which model is it and is it rare ? What engine does it have in it ? Got any photos ? How are you shipping it back ? If it is in a container then ideally you should be filling it with as much Series One stuff as you can fit in , only then might you be able to get back some of the not inconsiderable sum you will be spending. As a commercial venture it is a nonstarter but if it is for personal satisfaction then good luck .
Make sure you take lots of photos as there could well be a magazine article or two in the project . Either Classic Land Rover or The Legend ( the Land Rover Series One Club magazine) . You would do well to join the club and register onto the forum and ask your question again there http://www.lrsoc.com/forum/index.php. The club shop has a wide range of Series One spares so you could start there .

There are not many Series One owners or experts here so you are unlikely to get a satisfactory response to your question , so , as I said , ask again on the club forum .

As has been implied you might get a better reception here if you give some sort of introduction to the rest of us ,so we get an idea about who you are .

You know , it would have been a lot easier, and cheaper if you had bought one on EBay or at Brightwell auctions .

New exhaust valves and head gasket if petrol, probably the reason they stopped using it, and plenty of chassis patches and a welder

12,000 gallons of Kurust and an inexhaustible supply of money and optimism.
Welcome to LZ BTW. and good luck.

Why not just take a trailer...................

Cheers for the welcome

With regards to a bit of background here. When I last went out to Africa staying with friends the chap I was staying with has a lot of old series 1s lair up in his yard. They used to be farm vehicles but got too outdated so were parked up. Anyway various agreements were made and I was offered one if I wanted it. As for what I do, I build and restore vintage pre war cars for a living so I'm not new to this sort of thing and tend to be a bit prone to a good project. However, I've never worked on land rovers and know nothing about them. Hence why I'm trying to gather some information about what would be sensible to bring out with me.

No idea what engine is in it, I assume the 2 litre petrol? I have seen this car briefly before and the rust didn't look too bad, fortunately Africa sun means the thing dries out fast. This is not a commercial venture, I'm not yet sure how I'm getting it back. My aim was to see how far I can get it going out there. Then go from there about getting it back. I kinda wanted to fulfil that dream of digging an old land rover that's been neglected and getting it running.

Head gasket is a good idea, I expect I'll be lifting the head to inevitably unseize the thing. I expect all rubber hoses will be shot. What other rubbers/gaskets are there to replace if you lift the head? I've got gasket paper out there but just trying to come as prepared as possible!

Rodeo Joe said:

Why not just take a trailer...................

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My first thought as well. @Eyebrows - given you restore stuff for a living, you'll be well aware that no matter how well you research a "bits" list, there is always something missing - and, IME, it's always a 10p part that is available off the shelf in the UK - but not where you are.... - or you'll take 8 "widgets" with you and end up losing one..... (etc.... )

If all the rubber on the vehicle is kaput - there won't be an oil seal on it worth a light - and replacing them all is not a 5 minute job .... and if you find a worn seal land ..... etc......

I know you said you're doing this for the craic, but I suggest that filling said container with as much S1 stuff as humanly possible, as per post #3 is a far better use of your time and resources.

OMO

I would ask the guy you are getting it off to take some pics of the engine then series 1 club or here someone will be able to tell you whether 1600 or 2litre.

Well some may describe this as a foolish dream but better to have foolish dreams than not to dream at all, so I take my hat off you to you and wish you all the very best is this endevour. Very little experience of series 1s so I can offer no help/advice but please keep the forum updated. The world needs more of this madness.

Rodeo Joe said:

Why not just take a trailer...................

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For the same reason i don't just drive around in a comfortable, efficient quiet Prius....where's the fun in that? In all seriousness, yes, I could just put it onto a truck, to the port and then ship it back to the UK but I'm out there for 2 months, may as well have a good stab at getting it running.

Rubber is always gone on these because of the rough tracks they suffer, bushes never last long and the replacement rubbers they have are crap.

Filling a container is all very well and good but to what effect...i don't plan to be making money from my friend's generosity. Obviously I will takesome spare stuff for myself but I'm not planning to bring stuff back to then sell on.

With regards to the engine, I'll try get some photos. I may have one or two myself but not sure, will look later. What are the distinguishing features between the two engines?

Blackburn said:

I would ask the guy you are getting it off to take some pics of the engine then series 1 club or here someone will be able to tell you whether 1600 or 2litre.

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It is highly unlikely to be a 1600 as they were superseded in about 1951 (or so) and this is a 86” which is a few years later . So the best bet is that it is a 2litre petrol engine .

Eyebrows said:

For the same reason i don't just drive around in a comfortable, efficient quiet Prius....where's the fun in that? In all seriousness, yes, I could just put it onto a truck, to the port and then ship it back to the UK but I'm out there for 2 months, may as well have a good stab at getting it running.

Rubber is always gone on these because of the rough tracks they suffer, bushes never last long and the replacement rubbers they have are crap.

Filling a container is all very well and good but to what effect...i don't plan to be making money from my friend's generosity. Obviously I will takesome spare stuff for myself but I'm not planning to bring stuff back to then sell on.

With regards to the engine, I'll try get some photos. I may have one or two myself but not sure, will look later. What are the distinguishing features between the two engines?

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So what is happening with all of this Series One stuff that is lying around at the moment ? If it is not going to be used where it is then it makes sense (to me at least ) to get rid of it and realise some dormant capital . There is no reason why you need to take advantage of you friend , you could easily split whatever you make on selling the stuff over here with him/her . If the spares are of good enough quality there are a number of dealers here who could well buy the lot off you without you having to try too hard .The Uk is the best place to sell Series One stuff as the market is the most lucrative .

If all this Series One stuff is just sitting around doing nothing (with no plans to use it ) and just deteriorating , then it is almost criminal not to get it back into circulation , helping other enthusiasts to complete their rebuilds .

I don’t know enough about shipping vehicles overseas to be authoritative , but I would have thought the most logical way to get the 86” back to the UK is in a container . If that is the case then filling it with as much other sellable stuff makes sense to me . But as I don’t know you then I can’t say if this would make sense to you as well . What I do know is that there are many more knowledgeable people on the Series One Club forum on the subject than there are here .

Remora107 said:

It is highly unlikely to be a 1600 as they were superseded in about 1951 (or so) and this is a 86” which is a few years later . So the best bet is that it is a 2litre petrol engine .

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I'm fairly confident of this as well

I would spent time trying to make sure it has the right engine and matching chassis, even if the matching engine not in it it could be lying around somethwere. Matching numbers can't be corrected later. Same goes for little fittings and things like trafficators. My approach would be to spend more time making sure you have the most complete vehicle rather then one thats driveable - I'm sure many local vehicles don't have brakes! The idea od a write up its a good one (pity its not my idea) and a vidoe too. You never know, these could bring in enough to make it viable.

that would be the ultimate road trip though, travel out there, restore it and then drive it home

My 1954 series 1 had a 1600 engine may not have been factory fitted but that was what was under the bonnet.

A couple of gallons of petrol, a hefty battery and some hammers and you should get it going, don't overthink it. They were made in Birmingam by Brummies, old landies seem to respond to that mentality.

Col

mgd109 said:

Well some may describe this as a foolish dream but better to have foolish dreams than not to dream at all, so I take my hat off you to you and wish you all the very best is this endevour. Very little experience of series 1s so I can offer no help/advice but please keep the forum updated. The world needs more of this madness.

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+1.

Eyebrows said:

<...snip...> but I'm out there for 2 months, may as well have a good stab at getting it running.

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Ah! - well, with that time scale, you stand a good chance of getting to your goal, or damn close

rob1miles said:

I would spent time trying to make sure it has the right engine and matching chassis, even if the matching engine not in it it could be lying around somewhere. Matching numbers can't be corrected later. Same goes for little fittings and things like trafficators. My approach would be to spend more time making sure you have the most complete vehicle rather then one that's driveable

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This would be my first priority too - a good sort of your friends "stash" might also give an indication of how many complete, or near complete vehicles they have - thus increasing the value of same....

Blackburn said:

My 1954 series 1 had a 1600 engine may not have been factory fitted but that was what was under the bonnet.

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My , now dismantled, 109” breakdown truck had a ring pull gearbox in it , which obviously was not factory fitted but probably was just what was lying around at the garage where it worked . That is why I qualified my reply by saying that it is most likely to be a petrol 2ltr in his 86” .