1971 Landrover

Apip99

After noon all,

I'm just in the process of getting my 1988 Saab 900 T Vert ready to sell. Not happy about it, but need a work horse for new job coming up.

I'm looking an old 1971 land rover at the moment. She looks in great condition and the guy that's selling is obviously very passionate about her.

I just wondered if there is any thing I should be looking out for when I go and look at her. 4x4 is a new area for me and want to make sure I'm on to a good thing.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

Blue850

Rusty chassis, the body is aluminium but the chassis is steel, also the front bulkhead from the windscreen to the floor is steel as well. I had an 82 that was rotten there. Make sure the 4wd works in high and low ratio. if its a diesel it won't exactly be a ball of fire. Mighty machines off-road though:)

Apip99

Cheers Blue,

Its a petrol, so a little more go. Not much, but a little.

The guy has mentioned this as the only bad point. "There is some rot in the drivers foot well behind pedals however overall the bulkhead is sound"

would that be a problem?

Cheers,

Phil

Silvera

Where's our resident Land Rover expert (JohnCleary) when we need him

I'd suggest that you do some research over the net and via LandRover magazine re what to look out for on landies.

BTW, welcome to the forum !

Silvera.

mike65

I guess it depends on how extensive the rot is and how far 'gone', it could be rescued with a bit of elbow grease rehab or it may require surgery.

http://www.landrovernet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28016

http://www.eastcoastrover.com/bulkheadFAQ.html

Mike.

junkyard

I think there was a vintage one on e-bay for sale in the Dublin area not too long ago, it had a V8 engine and looked to be in pretty good order. The V8 engine is a big improvement on the 2.0 litre but heavy on petrol.

Merrion

I've had two - a S11A and a much rarer 6 cylinder petrol model and agree with what was said above:- if the chassis isn't sound you should probably leave it alone, unless you can weld or know someone else who can. (A new chassis is at least £1.5k and it is a six month job to rebuild.)

Most of the mechanicals are absolutely bullet proof, but it worth looking for really bad bodges in the cooling system.

If it has free wheeling front hubs check for any excess noise both engaged and freewheeling.

All that said a 1971 Landrover will probably be in much better shape than anything else made in UK in that decade - including most of the people ;-)

Apip99

Merrion wrote:

All that said a 1971 Landrover will probably be in much better shape than anything else made in UK in that decade - including most of the people ;-)

Well, me being made in 1976 in the UK, I would have to say that the 1970's was a good vintage. Oh and no offence taken :rolleyes:

Thanks guys for all the info. I'll be poping up to see her on Saturday and hope that the 'hole' isn't going to be an issue. He is a picture he sent me. http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/apip99/landrover/LR.jpg

The last time I brough an old car was my 1970 VW Camper. Great fun, but seamed to be in the garage more offen than the road.
Thanks again,

Pip

BeardyGit

Hey Pip,

If it's the one I'm thinking of (Blanchardstown area?), she's reported to be in great condition overall and quite admired by a few lads in the landrover club. If you want a hand going over it with a screwdriver and hammer this weekend, drop me a PM and I'll send you my mobile number. Can't promise I'll be around but better to have someone you can call to run any concerns by before parting with any notes for it. If the description of the rotten spot is the one I've received (1x3" or so) it should be easy enough to sort out for anyone reasonably handy with a grinder and welder - Shouldn't take more than an hour or two of someones time, even less if you're happy with a simple patch up job. It's quite common for the footwell to rot a little around the throttle pedal as water trickles down the pedal arm and drops in the same place on the footwell. After having the footwell repaired, the next owner should invest in a proper set of mats to stop it happening again in the near future.

Cheers ,

Gil

Merrion

Well, me being made in 1976 in the UK,

I'm 1971 vintage myself...and I think beyond economic repair :-)

MercMad

think there was a vintage one on e-bay for sale in the Dublin area not too long ago, it had a V8 engine and looked to be in pretty good order. The V8 engine is a big improvement on the 2.0 litre but heavy on petrol.

..............a friend of mine bought it !

He says its a scream !

JohnBoy

they rust, in the chassis, and the bulkhead, and despite what people say the aluminium does corrode too, check where the wings meet the bulkhead.

everything is fixable, a chassis will cost a bit less than the 1500 sterling quoted above, and a pro can do a chassis swap in about four days.

some pics of how mine started out.....

http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/lcat1/index.html


some progress pics
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/lcat2/chassis_rear.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/lcat2/side_chopped.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/lcat3/chassis150304.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/dec04/bhead_in_progress.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/dec04/bhead_051204_2.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/dec04/bhead_051204.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/bhead_290305.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/may2005/itlives.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/may2005/with_some_bodywork.jpg

engine donor
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/aug2005/disco1.jpg
http://www.johnlanigan.com/images/aug2005/lr1.jpg


sorry, just love my beast.

eventually it will be pristine, with a discovery engine, defender gearbox and discs all round, and covered in muck

enjoy it, hope you buy it

Blue850

slightly OT but a couple of years ago at a show i saw a Defender 110 TDi running on a 1954 ZV reg!! and the amount of 4 door Range Rovers (first built in 1982) on ZV regs is amazing.

BeardyGit

In fact, Paddocks are going a galvanised chassis for a SIII 88" for around £500 plus VAT at the moment - An absolute bargain were this landy to need one.

I've checked with the lads in CLRI and those who have seen this one up close and personal reckon it's stucturally good. As with all of these older landy's, the only way you can really be sure is to get under it with a hammer and screwdriver and have a good poke around for hidden rust.

A borderline or plain rotten one will drop its knickers and show you the hairy bits in a hurry if you give it a smack or two with a hammer from underneath. No genuine seller will object to this, only someone who's trying to hide something from a buyer. Don't buy the 'I just waxoiled it' story either. If you're going to fork out a couple of G's on an old landy, make sure you get down to bare metal in a few common spots to see what's really going on under that new undercoating. It'll only cost a tenner to re-cover whatever you scrape or chip off and it's money well spent.

JohnBoy

to say that it's easy to be bold is an understatement, however, there are two caveats, it is possible to legally build a coil sprung 109 in the uk, which could then be imported here without a problem, and that coil sprung 109 could be built up with defender panels and only a fairly well trained eye would spot it (not sayin you didn't see what you thought you saw)

as for the 5 door rangeys, there was i beleive a company in wicklow that used do this commercially, put new bodies onto old chassis, its very easily done, and entirely legal.

also easy, but not legal is to just swap the vin plate and restamp the chassis leg.

mine will actually be legit as it so happens

Blue850

Seen a Discovery on zv reg at a show, owner had a description on the windscreen saying he had rebodied a 73 Range rover chassis.

Apip99

Away from the land rover topic. They garage who does the work on my SAAB called me and said he had a 94 reg Frontera for sale. (I know you could not compare one of these with a land rover) But its just be NCT'd. Any way, I went down to take a look, and take it out for a drive, and all seams well and good. It was on the forecourt for €2350. I had a chat with him and he said he would let it go to me for 2K. We know the guy well as most pf the family use him for purchase and for repair.

I know which one I would prefer, but when there is a difference of €900 for some one starting up their own business, it changes things.

Now I'm really confused.. . Head or Heart. The head wants the landy, but head is saying frontera.

Any thoughts.

mustang68

Land rover: You'll be more memorable if your starting your own business

BeardyGit

Phil, the only 4x4 I'd buy for 2k, from anyone, would be a Landy or a Suzuki.

Anything else that sells for that little money is bound to be on its last legs. No matter what the family friendly mechanic might tell you, it's not a good buy. You get what you pay for, and with an old Frontera it's going to be a world of trouble. If you want a newer (than 1971) 4x4 for small money then look at a jap import of the same vintage. It would be a much better bet if money's tight.

Of course, I'd buy the landrover anyway. I have tools, free service/repair manuals and the parts cost peanuts......

Blue850

surely the tax and insurance on a modern Frontera would eat up most of that 900 saving? My boss had a Frontera and it was a nightmare for suspension bushes and tyre wear.

Blue850

surely the tax and insurance on a modern Frontera would eat up most of that 900 saving? My boss had a Frontera and it was a nightmare for suspension bushes and tyre wear.

Apip99

well I have the frontier on the drive for a trial run.

All I have to say is it was an expearience. Very lose and very worrying. When it had to be a bit heavy on the breaks, the thing banked to the left, and gave me a :eek:

But its okay, I'm alive and have just had a drink to calm my nerves.

And yes, the savings on the landrover, will make up the 900E difference soon enough.

So hope the landy works out fine.

Cheers guys for all your info.

Oh, and if anyone knows any one looking for a 1988 SAAB 900 turbo convertable, please get in touch.

Pip

Eric318

Having rebuilt two land rovers one SIII LWB and one SIIA SWB (this one I reconstructed out of 2 wrecks, one of them, a former Portuguese Commando having been used as a council toilet for many many years...) when I was in Africa.

One thing I learnt with a LR, is that they dont mix well with wifes or girlfriends... they demand far too much attention

Merrion

If i recall correctly, wasn't the Frontera bottom of the JD Powers reliability survey (in the UK) pretty much every year?

Redrocket

the frontera pretty low on the top gear survey years ago, nothing but complaints about it

JohnBoy

umm, you won't find land rover coming too far up those reliability surveys either. i love em to bits, but they are ****e

also gil the frontera is a jap import.

ever seen an isuzu MU? the frontera is the opel/vauxhall version with only minor badging changes, based off the boxy trooper underpinnings.

and given the frontera's generally lighter duty nature they tend not to have been worked as hard as the bigger machines of similar age.

also if it was me and i was starting my own business i'd go for the frontera over a series landy any day.

what sort of business are you starting? could you get a disovery commerical perhaps if you want the landrover thing?

the big advantage of the land rovers over most other 4x4 marques is the parts prices. if you're fixing it yourself it'll be a cheap vehicle to run, but not as an everyday motor

(all this from a man who loves his land rovers)

Eric318

The Land Rover Defender was voted the worst car of the year several years in a row in Canada, if I am not mistaken... Love is blind...

If you want the 4x4 by far, go for Toyota Land Cruiser. I have had a few in Africa... they are the business!! What crafts!!!

Apip99

Thanks for you coments Jonnyboy

"also if it was me and i was starting my own business i'd go for the frontera over a series landy any day" Why? Just out of intrest

"what sort of business are you starting? could you get a disovery commerical perhaps if you want the landrover thing?" Its Landscaping bussiness I'm starting. The problem at the moment is budget. Its low.

Ah, feck'n confussed about it all. But will have dession made by Saturday.

junkyard

Blue850 wrote:

Seen a Discovery on zv reg at a show, owner had a description on the windscreen saying he had rebodied a 73 Range rover chassis.

Thats the great thing about Land Rovers you can build "new" vintage jeeps quite easily and its all above board apparently.:D

JohnBoy

Apip99 wrote:

Thanks for you coments Jonnyboy

"also if it was me and i was starting my own business i'd go for the frontera over a series landy any day" Why? Just out of intrest

"what sort of business are you starting? could you get a disovery commerical perhaps if you want the landrover thing?" Its Landscaping bussiness I'm starting. The problem at the moment is budget. Its low.

Ah, feck'n confussed about it all. But will have dession made by Saturday.

why? because, especially given the nature of the business you need a vehicle you can depend on.

and a series land rover, while it will go forever, will also need quite a lot of maintenance and you do not want to miss out on work or get a name for being unreliable starting out. and a series landy is going to let you down, i would say even more so in the case of a petrol one, also the fuel cost will crucify you. you need to grow your business by word of mouth reccomendations and no one will reccomend you if you're always late or missing appointments

also for landscaping a swb is going to be very small, you won't fit many tools in the back.

are you any good as a mechanic? how much time have you got on your hands?

i think a disco commercial could be a very good bet if you've got some basic skills. the reason being as follows:

they are cheap, really cheap ( i bought one for three hundred euro last year)

parts are really cheap, if you have the time/skills i'd buy one and replace the entire undercarriage service items, ie 4 springs, shocks, all bushings, all discs, pads and hoses.

you'll do all those parts for less than a grand in parts, they are very cheap to buy parts for.

the big issues with them are gearboxes and timing belts. the timing belt is cheap and easy to do as there's loadsa space around the engine and the gearbox is a fact of life, budget for a recon box and new clutch as soon as possible which would be about another thousand euro.

and there ya go, one basically reconditioned disco for a few grand, loads of room for shovels and gear in the back, nice high roof to allow more arkward tools to be moved without needing a trailer, and when you get into the bigger jobs, more than capable of towing a mini digger behind it.

or just buy a transit for a few hundred and replace it when something breaks

Blue850

a Transit tipper truck would make the most sense

Apip99

Well lads,

I think the best route for me will be the transit. Although I hate them to bits. It will fit in the tools, and will do the job I need, and with in budget.

I think the landy Idea will have to wait for me to afford one to use at weekend, or buy a newer one when my company starts raking it in. (Get it Raking, gardening ... oh, never mind)

Thanks for all of you help and advise, it been great, and I've learned.

Speak soon,

Pip

Merrion

Another thing the old Landrover has going for it - the long wheelbase with no side windows model makes a great moving billboard to advertise your business...

mayhem#

Apip99 wrote:

I'm just in the process of getting my 1988 Saab 900 T Vert ready to sell. Not happy about it, but need a work horse for new job coming up.

Have you sold the Saab yet?

E.