C

CptSeries3

Member
Good morning, folks. I bought a 1975 Series 3 88 a few months ago. At first I thought there were only slight problems with the brakes. I bled them and assumed that was all it needed, but I ended up taking it for a look over at mechanic and turned out it needed a full brake overhaul. The mechanic also replaced the handbrake pads and seals. There were also leaks from the hub oil seals, so we replaced all of them. Then it turned out I had to change the silencer section of the exhaust as well. To be honest, I've gone way over my budget, but it is what it is and I can't wait to get it on the road :)
However, the mechanic has now told me that the alternator isn’t charging the battery, and there’s a leak from the fuel pump, which might be allowing air in. Both will need to be replaced.
My question is are these jobs something I could do myself? I have very little mechanical knowledge, but I have some basic tools and the "Green Bible"! Would you say this is doable for a complete novice? I’m keen to learn! The main reason I’m considering doing the repairs myself is to save money, my wife will kill me if I keep paying the mechanic haha!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Here are some pictures. I can’t wait to get her out on the road!

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CptSeries3 said:
It's still at the mechanics at the moment but I think it's from the fuel lift pump. cheers!
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If it is from the lift on you should be able to do that yourself. It may be a hose, it may be the pump, it may be the union. All of which are easy enough for a novice to use as a learning expiriance.

Similarly the alternator is just a like for like swap so you should be able to do that as well. Label the wires, take lots of pictures and find a second volunteer to help with tensioning the belt as it’s a lot easier with three hands!
 
Anaconda said:
You need to start learning, paying labour rates for everything will bankrupt you.
Hope it goes well.
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grewth said:
Absolutely.
You need either very deep pockets, or the ability to do most of the work yourself.
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Never a truer word spoken. They are completely unviable to keep running in my opinion if you are paying a garage every time something goes wrong.

There is not really a better vehicle to learn on with the space, available spares, and support networks form places like the forum here are unbeatable. I have had better responses on this forum regarding my other classic cars than I have on the marque specific forums for them! I bought my 110 when I was 18, and my series III when I was 20. being a student I had to learn to repair them myself, and I have since fully rebuilt both of them. I am completely self taught and have built and extensive tool kit and knowledge base over the years out of necessity, but at the same time have enjoyed every nearly every minute of it and treat it as a hobby. Plenty of people spend there time money in the pub on a Saturday night, I spend mine on the land rovers. My student loan is now a pair of appreciating assets while most other peoples are regret and a hangover!
 
dag019 said:
If it is from the lift on you should be able to do that yourself. It may be a hose, it may be the pump, it may be the union. All of which are easy enough for a novice to use as a learning expiriance.

Similarly the alternator is just a like for like swap so you should be able to do that as well. Label the wires, take lots of pictures and find a second volunteer to help with tensioning the belt as it’s a lot easier with three hands!
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Thank you for the great suggestions! I will have a crack at it after Christmas!
 
dag019 said:
Never a truer word spoken. They are completely unviable to keep running in my opinion if you are paying a garage every time something goes wrong.

There is not really a better vehicle to learn on with the space, available spares, and support networks form places like the forum here are unbeatable. I have had better responses on this forum regarding my other classic cars than I have on the marque specific forums for them! I bought my 110 when I was 18, and my series III when I was 20. being a student I had to learn to repair them myself, and I have since fully rebuilt both of them. I am completely self taught and have built and extensive tool kit and knowledge base over the years out of necessity, but at the same time have enjoyed every nearly every minute of it and treat it as a hobby. Plenty of people spend there time money in the pub on a Saturday night, I spend mine on the land rovers. My student loan is now a pair of appreciating assets while most other peoples are regret and a hangover!
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Thanks for your message. So far everyone has been really helpful. I'm looking forward to getting started on it and plan to treat it as a hobby that I can learn how to fix and maintain along the way. Do you still have your original 110?
 
CptSeries3 said:
Thanks for your message. So far everyone has been really helpful. I'm looking forward to getting started on it and plan to treat it as a hobby that I can learn how to fix and maintain along the way. Do you still have your original 110?
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I do indeed although it is a little like the ship of Theseus at this point so ”original” is up for debate. I have just converted it to a station wagon now I have a son, the hardtop three seater is not very family friendly unfortunately. The thread is here if you are interested: LINK. The red one is my original 110 bought when I was 18 and rebuilt several times since (most recently after an engine fire). The white one that acted as the body donor was bought for my sons birthday (his actual birth) to rebuild with him when he is older.
 
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dag019 said:
I do indeed although it is a little like the ship of Theseus at this point so ”original” is up for debate. I have just converted it to a station wagon now I have a son, the hardtop three seater is not very family friendly unfortunately. The thread is here if you are interested: LINK. The red one is my original 110 bought when I was 18 and rebuilt several times since (most recently after an engine fire). The white one that acted as the body donor was bought for my sons birthday (MM actual birth) to rebuild with him when he is older.
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Good morning! Haha, love the analogy. I will have a look at the thread now. I actually bought the Landy on my son’s second birthday for “him,” with the idea of working on it together as a project when he gets older. He’s 2 and a half now and already crazy about all things mechanical! Once we get it on the road, the next job will be figuring out how to install seat belts and a car seat.

Have a great Christmas!
 
CptSeries3 said:
Once we get it on the road, the next job will be figuring out how to install seat belts and a car seat.
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If you want some more light reading the fire rebuild thread is here so you can fully understand the analogy: LINK and it has already had a galv chassis fitted previously.

As yours is a hardtop fitting seatbelts should not be that difficult. Does it have any seatbelts (static belts/lapbelts/etc) at the moment or does it have nothing? You should be able to get the front three easily using original series or defender parts. I wouldn’t worry about fitting ones in the back if you have side facing seats as they are not a legal requirement. That is the setup I have in mine. But my series III is a soft top so a little more challenging to get the top shoulder mount than a hardtop. Do you have a parts manual?

Your pictures don’t look like the uk. Where are you based (apologies if you have said) as rules and regulations are the biggest challenge with seatbelts and baby seats. I have just bought a seatbelt attachment child seat that goes from newborn to six years old (I think) to go in mine. The challenge was finding one that didn’t need isofix!
 
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