Help identifying mystery part!

[philbert]

Currently in the process of stripping the body panels and rear tub to be sent out for media blasting and painting. This part was under the Lefthand Rear portion of the tub, just above the wheel well. It appears to be some sort of tank that has a single port. I have searched through the green book, parts manual, and all of the accessory parts manuals - but have not been able to identify this. Any ideas?

Thank you in advance -

[cedryck]

Portable flotation device, sorry!! But seriously I have been into rovers for 40 years plus and have never seen it, is this a MOD truck??

[philbert]

I'm not 100% sure the origin of the vehicle, but it may be ex-MOD. It did have a (very) faded Pennsylvania State Police logo and PA police plates on it when first purchased.

My guess for the part was a secret compartment for smuggling whiskey.

[jimrr]

nope, not a oem land rover part............ not on a series anyway. what does the weight indicate? any sign of access? some old high times magazine had land rover series 2-3 rated as the worlds top smuggling vehicles. is there any way to see inside it? I thot initially a tool box or spare compartment but not sure where those locations were on the wheel well.
you're going to have to get a view inside it, keep us posted !!

[jimrr]

also: what is is made out of? what size is that port and is there a corresponding mating hold inside the rover to match?
this ''tank'' has a indentation in it that is formed by a stamp or die when it was built indicating mass production to some degree.

[cedryck]

The only other thing I can think of, is that is is on an Ex MOD truck and it was a containment can for 90W, or something related to Bomb Disposal or other branches of the RAF usages, or Royal marines. My Ex Mod truck was adorned with Red Fenders, and strange shaped brackets in the back tub. I can assume from pictures that some bomb disposal units had red fenders, and that the brackets in back were used to contain specific hardware or tools they used. REMLR.com is a very good source of Military Rovers, from Australia.
cheers mate,

[MJL]

It looks to me like the expansion tank on a vehicle that had emission control installed. Part number is 577257. It would have been connected to the top of the fuel tank and the charcoal canister in the engine compartment.

[MJL]

Here's a diagram of the setup

[philbert]

Mystery solved! Thanks for the diagram, I must have missed that when I went through the parts manual .

[jimrr]

MJL must of nailed it!!, I own the last series 3 sold on the west coast in Boise Idaho, (still driving it) there was one other in Anchorage Alaska. can you tell us what year your land rover is as mine had no emission control stuff on it. I didn't think that stuff started getting added on much till after the gas crisis latter 70's.

[MJL]

MJL must of nailed it!!, I own the last series 3 sold on the west coast in Boise Idaho, (still driving it) there was one other in Anchorage Alaska. can you tell us what year your land rover is as mine had no emission control stuff on it. I didn't think that stuff started getting added on much till after the gas crisis latter 70's.

jimrr - i own a 1972 Series 3 NA spec. It was bought new in 1972 in Manchester NH. I bought it from the original owner 20 years ago, it was still all original. It has the emission control set up as described in the diagram i posted and it is still in working condition. About 6 years ago i replaced the hose that runs from the fuel tank to the overflow tank and the hose from the overflow tank to the charcoal canister. I also took the charcoal canister apart and cleaned it and put in fresh charcoal. I have replaced the original Lucas distributor which was also different because of the emission control set up. It also had an anti-diesel solenoid attached to the zenith carb which i also replaced (the carb that is) the solenoid is no longer part of the set up although I still have it somewhere.

Mike

[jimrr]

MJL; now that you've mentioned it i do sort of recall a black cylinder with hoses on it but that got tossed years and years ago. this is probably why i have gas leaks if i top off the tank. ............ another 'repair' waiting.

[jimrr]

maybe i better have another look in the fender wells but i sure do not recall something like that...... surely i'd of discovered that secret compartment by now.

[MJL]

I just went outside and took a picture of it. The camera is positioned on the left rear wheel pointing towards the front of the vehicle. I would have cleaned up a bit before taking the picture but it's below freezing today.

The image I posted of the parts is not in the standard parts manual, it is from a Parts Catalogue Supplement for Series IIA and Series III 88 To U.S.A. Specification. The part number of the supplement is 606494. There are 108 pages in it. About 6 years ago I bought the Original Technical Publications for Land Rover Series models 1948 to 1985 and it was on there. Part number of the CD is LPT3001. You can buy it here https://store.otpubs.com/brands/Land-Rover.html it's $69.95 which is a good price considering buying the paper version of the supplement alone from our hosts costs $60

Mike

[MJL]

Sorry picture posted upside down. You'll have to stand on your head