Where do I start??

**graniterover** · 12-08-2009, 07:18 PM

Wrong data plate. Frame is likely shot. Wiring looks like a fire getting ready to start.

The clutch is more likely stuck - search and you'll find a few different hacks to unstick it - mostly you'll need it running to do that. It might not be the hydraulics.

Overdrive and the roof rack = 600 was a great price. Was it in NH and I didn't see it first? ;-)

Get it going and see how addicted you are. You can sell the overdrive and rack for more than you paid for it so you have absolutley nothing to lose.

Seems you have a mix of Italian and English crap already - you should be used to what you're about to get into.

Have fun.

Mark

**siii8873** · 12-08-2009, 07:58 PM

The dash is a series III, but plate say series IIa.

looks like a doable project and mostly complete but could be quite expensive. Particularly if your obsessive about things. From my experience everything takes twice as long and cost twice as much as you think.
As noted you certainly would recoup your 600 if you sold a few parts.

Good luck and keep every one updated and don't be afraid to ask questions.

**greasyhandsagain** · 12-08-2009, 08:18 PM

All I could think when I looked at those pictures is........"I hope that guys got a lot of money and free time"

Other than that, getting it done would create a very desirable vehicle in todays market. Hopefully if you do rebuild it you will avoid the use of non standard parts and keep it original.

Very few people buy 'other peoples dreams' but a stock restored vehicle always has fans.

good luck to you, remember the world ends in 2012 so you better get cracking!!

**ignotus** · 12-08-2009, 08:22 PM

Where to start!

Well like others said you could part some stuff out and recoup your $600....

BUT.....

If you want to get it on the road depends on how much time and money you want to spend on it. So first I would suggest you make friends with any other Rover owners in your neck of the country. They can help immensely.
The clutch is probably frozen to the flywheel and sometimes rocking the vehicle in gear can free it or try other methods on this and other forums.
Remove any wires that do not go anywhere. Buy a workshop manual.
You can probably get it running for under a grand but like a previous person answered the frame is bad in the rear.
You want to take pride in the Rover? A frame up restoration will let you sort it out to be the vehicle YOU want it to be. Cost can go up to $20k depending on where you source parts and what you need to do.

Good luck and keep us informed!
Ignotus

**siiirhd88** · 12-08-2009, 08:40 PM

We visit Morehead City often and have a home in the old part of town. We would be glad to look at the truck or lend a hand if needed. A friend in town has a nice SIII 88, and there is a non runner SIIA sitting in Beaufort. I bought my '80 SIII 109 in Havelock a few years ago.

PM your contact info if you would like to get together when we are in town.

Bob
'96 Disco SE7
'80 SIII 109
'75 SIII 88 V8
'68 SIIA 109 V8

**ktom300** · 12-08-2009, 08:53 PM

Mine hadn't run in 8 years when I put it on the trailer. It's important to know what it was doing when it was last parked. Mine was driven to it's resting spot so I tried to get it running immediately.
First step was battery power, not so easy since mine is 24V. Next step was an oil change and coolant change. Then we turned it over to make sure it was getting fuel, which it wasn't. Next we tried gravity feed to the carb and it magically fired right up. All in all it took about 3 hours with fluid changes. Would've been less if it had been a 12V system (only need one battery) and the gasket in the tank change-over tap had clogged the lines.
I understand your enthusiasm but from the pics, this one looks like a lot of time and $. Starting with a new chassis. I've also learned that once you take something apart, you find something else that also needs to be repaired. If you do a chassis swap you will find lots to replace.
I would go ahead and try to get it running. At least then you'll lknow if you have a running engine, transfer case, trani or not.
From there you can decide if you want to keep and restore or sell and recoup expenses.
I got really luck because I wasn't a Series enthusiast, I stumbled across a free lightweight, and it ran/drove after a days work. Brakes were a different story but that was pretty much it.

**SafeAirOne** · 12-08-2009, 11:27 PM

Oh dear....

I'm afraid that heap isn't worth anything. Looks like you overpaid by $600. I'd be willing to help you out, of course...I'd be willing to take it off your hands for the $600 you paid--That way, you won't have lost any money and can walk away with your dignity intact still...

Seriously, though--Unless you need the cash, I wouldn't part it out--After all, you've got a Land Rover 109 virtually for free. Even if you put a new galvanized chassis on it and did some other things to get it in very good condition, you'd very likely be in much better shape (financialy) than if you bought a similar rover in very good condition.

I'm gonna GUESS (with special emphasis on the word guess) that this was converted to LHD. 3 reasons for this guess--1) Don't see SIII 109s around here, though this could have been manufactured for a LHD market, of course. 2) The previous owner's cobbled-up controls in the center of the dash tray point toward the right seat and 3) The turn signal wand is in on the RHD side of the steering column, like my RHD SIII 109. This wand is universal and works for both LHD and RHD SIII rovers, if I'm not mistaken.

EDIT: Make that 4 things--4) Your heater hole is in the left wing, the side that RHD rovers have it on. Might explain all the indoor plumbing if the PO didn't source a LHD heater blower and fan assembly.

EDIT EDIT: 5)...And it looks like a RHD dash assembly too.

**gudjeon** · 12-09-2009, 12:01 AM

For the market in these parts, it looks like the starting point of a good project. If it is more or less all there, I would go for a rebuild. The ser1 I had was in a lot worse shape than that when I started. I've seen people want more money for less.

To even find a decent project vehicle is getting rare here. Not that I want another. One is enough for right now.

**kevkon** · 12-09-2009, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by SafeAirOne

I'm gonna GUESS (with special emphasis on the word guess) that this was converted to LHD.

That was my first thought too.It may also have been be IIa as the serial # indicates.

My advice, before you start ripping into it ; take a little time and research to determine just what you want this vehicle to be and how much you are willing to spend in both time and money to get it there. Many people fail to do this and end up with a project that never gets completed.
If you do decide that it's not worth the cost, please don't break it up for parts without first offering it as a complete truck.

**JChinch** · 12-09-2009, 10:07 AM

Haha, Man I can't even tell you how getting so many replies just fuels the fire for this project. As one of you mentioned, you can see my array of vehicles, so I'm fairly used to the horrible treatment I get from these rolling headaches.

I'll make a few quick statements to move this along some. . I only bought this because it was a complete body w/ glass, it had the galv roof rack (although not full size) and it rolled onto a trailer instead of stacked in piles of parts. I'm totally aware of the frame work, IE it's going to the heap yard. I've been searching around for a 110 chassis from ANYTHING, so I find the Hybrid links on here fun to read, but no one gets on there anymore. It's going to be a full custom project, I'm not rich by anymeans, but I spent years a diesel mechanic/24V Technician doing complete overhauls and rebuilds of engines, trannys, transfers and diffs as well as front to backs on military vehicles. What I'll really be learning on this project is custom metal work to fit a frame or whatever comes into play. At this point in my life, I'm an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician by career. For those of you that know what that is... you'll understand I have more than an extensive backing in electronics and wiring. As for others that don't know. . . not to be rude, just Google it.

Away from me and to the truck... I know it's a Series III, and that the number plate doesn't match, so thats actually already off the truck, as is all the carpet, trash and whatever else that was just junk and worth tossing. I can't make out the chassis number, as the NH roads took its toll years ago and replaced numbers with rust. I was planning on doing the following when I got back home for the holidays:

Pulling useless wires that were ran through
Capping off wires that are integrated into the truck
Cleaning grounds and getting a new batt
Marvel Oil in the plug wells to sit for a bit on the cylinders
new plugs
cleaning and recleaning the carb
Slamming the truck into a tree to free the clutch (if i can get it to roll)
List goes on, those are first

Mind you, i don't expect to get it running, then register it and have myself a jolly time, but tinkering is fun and my Alfa's are getting annoying and at this point, My P38A doesn't need work (read doesn't need MUCH work). In all fairness to the guy that sold it to me, he was asking three times as much. Needless to say, he wanted it gone.

I noticed how some of the switches were awefully weird, but I couldn't imagine why anyone would go through the trouble, JUST to have left hand drive when RHD is cool too. Maybe I'll put it back, maybe not, maybe I'll donate my P38A to the cause and make something totally useless but fun. Not sure yet, but at this point, it would be neat (and make a neat story) if I could do some work and get it running.

**Tim Smith** · 12-09-2009, 01:33 PM

I say, start by getting the motor running. Once it's running, try to pop the clutch loose like you were saying. All of this should be a weekend job unless something is wrong.

Once you have the thing running and moving, you will be able to assess the drive train. If it's mostly good then you just have to spring for the new frame and time on that bulkhead. Putting money into the truck on that frame is just going to be throwing money at a sinking ship.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

**kevkon** · 12-09-2009, 02:36 PM

I guess I'd approach this project differently. I wouldn't even waste the time getting the motor started. What's the point? Thee frame is trash, the clutch is siezed, and looking at the condition of the vehicle, electrics and brakes are probably toast. Besides, if you are committed to restoring this truck you are sure to want to upgrade the motor anyway. I would spend the time dismantling the vehicle, inspecting parts, and storing the pieces worth keeping. On a series III there are a lot of little things that are difficult or super expensive to replace, especially at the dash. So start looking at what's available and what's not. Also it's a good time to start mitigating any of the damage on those parts which are to be saved and re-used.

**graniterover** · 12-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by JChinch

I've been searching around for a 110 chassis from ANYTHING, so I find the Hybrid links on here fun to read, but no one gets on there anymore.

I have a NAS 110 frame in decent shape I'd sell. It's in NH though. PM me if you're interested.

**greasyhandsagain** · 12-09-2009, 10:06 PM

Im going to make a prediction......

this vehicle will be up for sale in 2 weeks for $2500 and it will become SEP (somebody elses problem)

Where do I start??

Where do I start??

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