Also forgot to mention a few things looking over it, mainly the wheels.

What is the standard width of the Series steel wheels? is it 16x6? The tyres that are fitted to it are currently 225/75R16. Obviously that's wrong and have noticed it sits low because of those for a while.

Standard size for these is 7.50x16 I believe. We have a spare set of them (bald and the steels are very surface rusty) in the shed but I want use the steels off this one if they are the correct width. So will need new tyres all round. Possibly thinking of getting these steels shot blasted and powder coated (unsure what colour). Think it would look nice with nice wheels and the rustic body. What do you think?

Standard Series rims are 5.5" and yes 7.50 16s are standard on a 109.

I'm not a huge fan of powder coating myself but only because my Landy lives a fairly rough life and plastic can't easily be touched up.

Cool cheers mate for the info.

Yeah I'm not sure, always thought powder coating would be stronger as the paint bonds better. May end up just getting them shot blasted and then paint myself. Or just leave as is lol

Looks like a great project to have, good luck with your build.

Thanks matey, still in the process of buying it from my Dad but it's more of persuading him because he doesn't like to get rid of ANYTHING lol

Tomushh said:

Thanks matey, still in the process of buying it from my Dad but it's more of persuading him because he doesn't like to get rid of ANYTHING lol

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you could also say your restoring it so it stays in the family, Ask him what it owes him and pay that, that way a token amount of money has changed hands so he wont feel like he's ripped you off or anything like that

I have matey, I don't want it to see it go (not that it will as he wont sell it) but I also don't want it to rot into the ground like his 88" did! I'm buying all the parts so far, maybe if he sees that I am spending my own money on it he will change his mind lol

finger crossed then, i'm having a similar issue with my father in law trying to buy a vintage tractor but the old sod is a tight as a ducks arse and doesn't want to let anything go

that roof (inside) just looks like original perfect limestone paint, weird !

rear tub cross members are rusty but they dont look gone gone (only judging by the pictures) that said the military 109 have some serious payload and those things are whats carrying it into the chassis. invest in replacements (galvanised) maybe, not that i advocate throwing money around but youll never have such good access as this after alloy floor plate gets fixed down. (to that end YRM metal sell 109 floor plate, bloody good price considering alluminium)

p.s whats that alloy box front passenger side of the engine bay, eberspacher (or similar) diesel heater ?

I know, it's really good quality as well! The only downside is the new top layer that wont come off in places so it ruins it!

Cool cheers I will have a look! If I do have to replace all 6 crossmembers it's going to cost a good 300 squids and then the floor so a cool 450 all in. Damn these 109's get expensive quickly!

I believe that's a Kenlowe Coldstarter, preheats the coolant. never seen it working. Probably could come into some sort of use in the winter to help heat the engine before starting. Don't think my dad had it fitted himself but I will look into it!

You may think I'm joking, but try Persil liquid painted on neat. Needs a while so soaking rags in it and leaving them against the old paint helps. An hour might do it. A week seems to remove anything. Immersion in it 50/50 with water and boiling is quite remarkable...

Cleaned out a space so I can work in the dry, as the brakes didn't arrive in time I thought I would get the front end off for now so I can look over the bulkhead and get ready to do the footwells.

Bonnet off easily enough, surely the rest can be this easy!


Only 3 bolts were holding the drivers wing off, no idea why so many were missing, perhaps it has had some work in the past



Got the front bumper off also, was a bit of a pain in the backside to get off again, but only as things were rusted in place.

The passengers wing was really annoying to get off. The mudshield which I thought was fine soon crumbled away. but it finally gave me room to see what is left to do. Chassis is fine! As much as I hate red oxide, it appears to have done the job, tested with hammer and survived!



Footwell was a as expected, whole thing is coming off here. Odd that it seems to have holes for peddles hiding under some plates that were bolted in? was that standard cost saving measure by Land Rover? odd.



Drivers side has been plated up in the past and some idiot has used filler in the corner that is swelling everywhere lol, going to change that also. The side of the bulkhead is OK but i'm still not convinced that it is, on the top square hole to the right you can see some fracturing and at the bottom also. so unsure what to do there weather to cut and replace or leave and paint..



That was all I have time for on Sunday, but it's progress nonetheless.



Honest opinions, I wasn't expecting the bulkhead to be THAT bad. It's mostly solid in the middle, it's just the sides. Should I go about repairing it, sending it off to be repaired (ouch cost) or should I bite the bullet and try and get a brand new bulkhead made up? It's a lot of money but it would have to be something that I would have to save a lot for to get done as I hear they are upwards of 2k.

you've done the fabrication and welding on your disco so well so don't see why you cant do this too

on down side you'd loose some of the patina either way so id minimise that by repairing the original one.

And if you do need to buy bits there not very expensive

http://www.paddockspares.com/parts-...r-series-2-and-3/chassis/bulkhead-repair.html

If you went down complete bulkhead route its £1800

http://www.pegasusparts.co.uk/ourshop_90073/cat_377241-02-Bulkheads-4cylinder-models.html

or a repair service

http://shop.classicbulkheads.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=60_72&product_id=97

yeah looks like needs full bulkhead "feet" replacing. i.e the whole A pillar from the windscreen hinge to the outrigger

Got someone potentially coming either tomorrow or Wednesday from Ashtree Restorations to have a look at the bulkhead for the s2a. 1250+vat for restoration of this bulkhead. Would love to keep the patina on it but I'm thinking a shiny new bulkhead in raf blue with the rest in patina and moss might be cool

Another idea I thought of after seeing an episode of grand designs was to paint the bulkhead in yogurt to attract some moss etc to grow on it to cover up how new it looks haha

Tomushh said:

Another idea I thought of after seeing an episode of grand designs was to paint the bulkhead in yogurt to attract some moss etc to grow on it to cover up how new it looks haha

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We do that round here on stonework to moss up garden walls etc