Restoration Photos of The LandyRover

1960 Series II Land Rover Restoration

Purchased in October 2023, this 1960 (Car/Chassis# 153001027) ex-Army Land Rover had served in Vietnam, ended up in Sydney, worked on a farm and then came to rest in Dalby, QLD where she sat in a field for over 10 Years. Her Army record shows ARN 111-387 as a "Truck, Flatbed, 3/4 Ton, GS, Radar Set AN/KPQ1, No 2 Loading" and she left the army on 6th Dec 1983 and ended up in NSW. The army record shows engine number 151018512, which was the 2l Land Rover engine, however when purchased she had a Holden 202 v6, which was a common change after the army days. After some tinkering, the engine started and ran for a while and then seized with a loud crunch. Parts for a new (old) Land Rover 2.25l engine were sourced from the Sunshine coast and $700 later, I had an engine (sort of).

All
Old
Engine
Paint
Build

Sep 2023 - On her way to a new home - Stopped in Esk, QLD

The army 'cut out' wheel arches are clearly visible. I am not convinced that I like that style.

Sep 2023 - Spiders webs blown away!

Most of the spiders webs had blown away during the trip. Nothing fell off either!

Sep 2023 - Old - Un-restored

Nothing has fallen off yet!

Sep 2023 - The Landy came with a Holden 202

This was a common conversion back in the day when they wanted a bit more power

Oct 2023 - Original Land Rover Series gauges

It has been a long time since those gauges moved.

Sep 2023 - A few free things thrown in

A few freebies were included in the sale and were in the back.

Sep 2023 - Dash was still with its army features

She must have had a winch at one time, because buttons were still there

Oct 2023 - Just before the strip down

The final photo before the strip down started

Sep 2023 - Inside was looking ok and still in its army design

The seat frames are a bit rusty and the canvas dirty

Sep 2023 - Junk removed and she is bigger than I thought

After all of the junk was removed from the back (including the spare Land Rover tyre, don't know what the other bits were from), she had a quick sweep out.

Sep 2023 - Mission control for the Army Land Rover!

During the army days, there wasn't a roof on the car, so it was a convertible. These are the original seats though.

Sep 2023 - The eyes that have seen lots

These headlights would have seen a few things in its Vietnam days.

Sep 2023 - Made in Birmingham!

She was made in the UK and shipped in Aus.

Sep 2023 - The handbrake works

Brake hydraulics didn't work, however the hand brake did, because it is on a leaver

Sep 2023 - Prop-shaft hasn't turned for a few years

The propshaft hasn't turned for several years, so there is lots of work to be done!

Sep 2023 - Army Dashboard

The right hand side of the dashboard was from the army days

Sep 2023 - The old Holden 202

The old Holden 202 engine was able to be turned over when she arrived

Sep 2023 - The swept out back

All rubbish removed and a nice sweep later, it is cleaner

Sep 2023 - The dashboard viewed from the back

Sadly the army seats had to be replaced due to a completely rotten frame and rotten foam.

Sep 2023 - The army plate

The army plate was buried under brown paint, so this will be cleaned off

Sep 2023 - The passenger side

The passenger side after a clean up

Oct 2023 - Engine block being unloaded

The engine being unloaded.

Oct 2023 - Engine block being unloaded

The engine being unloaded.

Oct 2023 - Engine block being unloaded

The engine being unloaded.

Oct 2023 - Engine number 90123719A

Engine number 90123719A will get to live again!.

Oct 2023 - Engine block all in pieces

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine, totally covered in mud and oil slime, blasting with the pressure washer and de-greaser cleaned her all up.

Oct 2023 - Engine block all in pieces

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine, totally covered in mud and oil slime, blasting with the pressure washer and de-greaser cleaned her all up.

Oct 2023 - Engine block all in pieces

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine, totally covered in mud and oil slime, blasting with the pressure washer and de-greaser cleaned her all up.

Oct 2023 - Engine Rocker Cover

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine head appeared to have been buried in sand and was in a bad way

Oct 2023 - Engine Head

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine head appeared to have been buried in sand and was in a bad way

Oct 2023 - Engine Head

The replacement, and rusty, 1973 Series 3, 2.25L Land Rover engine head appeared to have been buried in sand and was in a bad way

Oct 2023 - Engine Head Pistons

The replacement engine block was in a bad way and the pistons were completely stuck after years of sitting in the rain

Oct 2023 - Engine slime!

The engine block had oil in it when it was left outside for years and it had also filled up with rain water over the years.

Oct 2023 - Engine slime!

The engine block had oil in it when it was left outside for years and it had also filled up with rain water over the years.

Oct 2023 - A good clean and the Crank Shaft is now visible

After a good clean, it was easy to see that the Crank Shaft was salvageable and the Big Ends looked ok too. The Pistons were still well and truly stick though

Oct 2023 - A good clean and the Crank Shaft is now visible

After a good clean, it was easy to see that the Crank Shaft was salvageable and the Big Ends looked ok too. The Pistons were still well and truly stick though

Nov 2023 - The pistons are almost out!

After setting fire to it, soaking it and hitting it, it was time to bring out the 'big guns'

Nov 2023 - The pistons are out!

After setting fire to it, soaking it and hitting it, it was time to bring out the 'big guns'

Nov 2023 - Cylinders looked a bit sick

After years of being rusted in and then drastic force being used to remove them, the cylinders needed rescuing.

Nov 2023 - Machine Shop

Mick Baker Engineering rescued the engine, bored the cylinders, added .03 inserts and rescued the head

Oct 2023 - Rusty Old Engine Head

The engine head had been outside for over 10 years, full of sand and mud and was quite rusty.

Oct 2023 - The seized clutch won't move

The clutch had sat in water and mud for many years

Dec 2023 - Machined engine head

The engine head needed some serious TLC

Jan 2024 - Machine the engine block

Starting to look much better and the engine is now 2330cc and no longer 2286cc!

Jan 2024 - Cylinder head looks a million dollars

The cylinder head was looking much better after a good clean, machining and valve seats added.

Mar 2024 - Best ever looking Land Rover clutch

New clutch plate installed

Mar 2024 - Crank shaft installed

Mick Baker Engineering rescued the crank shaft, where it was ground and hardened.

Apr 2024 - Engine # 90123719A is complete

Final picture before the install

May 2024 - Engine finally in

Finally the refurbished engine is now installed.

Jan 2024 - Old engine out - Thanks Holden 202, you are no longer needed

Quite a few bad words were said at this time!

May 2024 - Installing the new (old) engine

Quite a few bad words were said at this time!

May 2024 - Finished engine (for now)

Last picture of the engine on the stand before the install

Oct 2024 - New radiator installed

I loved and nursed the old radiator and as soon as I filled it up with coolant, it leaked

Nov 2024 - Air filter installed and battery connected up

No more oil leaks, no more coolant leaks and she is almost ready to run for the first time

Oct 2023 - Replacement wheel arches

I loved the history of the old 'cut out' army wheel arches, however chose to replace them and go more original.

Oct 2023 - A spaghetti mess of wires

Series 2 were originally a +ve earth electical system

Nov 2023 - Front firewall panels welded in

The front firewall had quite a bit of rust and new air vent panels were welded in and coated with Epoxy Primer.

Dec 2023 - Roof off and parts in the back

The roof is off and the replacement wheel arches and A/B pillars are in the back

Mar 2024 - Totally Stripped!

Back to the chassis rails and that is about it

Oct 2023 - Wheel arches off

The army wheel arches are off and the now seized Holden 202 is about to get removed.

May 2024 - Slowly coming together

Slowly coming together and Epoxy Primer still needs to be sprayed on the main tub

Jun 2024 - Epoxy Primer on the bulkhead and dashboard

Epoxy Primer on the bulkhead and dashboard

Jun 2024 - Epoxy on the front

Epoxy primer on the front panels, which are loosely bolted on

Sep 2024 - Painting has started! Epoxy Primer, High Build Primer x2, Final Green!

The bonnet looks a bit better than it did before

-->

Sep 2024 - Painting has started! Epoxy Primer, High Build Primer x2, Final Green!

The radiator grill/front looks a bit better than it did before

Sep 2024 - Painting has started on the instrument console

I was sick of block sanding, so I painted the instrument cluster as a "pick me up"

Jun 2024 - Painting will stat soon and this is the paint

I love the 1960s colours of Land Rovers, so the plan is to go back to an original dark green.

Aug 2024 - A new panel for the dashboard

This panel will be the nerve centre of the Land Rover.

Dec 2024 - Sand blasting all of the small parts

The Land Rover was painted in a 1K single stage paint, which reacts and peels with 2K pint, so it was necessary to blast all old paint off.

Jan 2025 - The roof all shiny in its new colour

Two coats of Epoxy primer, two coats of High build primer and three coats of 2k Solid

Mar 2025 - Finally to the doors

The final part to go. Now all body work is green, it is time to look at the doors

Mar 2025 - Finally to the doors

The back door frame is steel and appears to have had a few repairs in the past

Mar 2025 - Finally to the doors

The back door frame is steel and appears to have had a few repairs in the past

Mar 2025 - Finally to the doors - Front doors black paint is removed

The final part to go. Now all body work is green, it is time strip the last of the black paint off

Mar 2025 - Finally to the doors - Backdoors black paint is removed

The last bit of black paint has now been removed. Celebration time, however there is tsill lots of work to do on these doors.

Apr 2025 - Tyres removed and the rust became evident

Under the, what whitey colour paint, there was the dark army green

Apr 2025 - Tyres removed and next stage is primer

All stripped and epoxy primer and they are looking much better

Apr 2025 - Tyres removed, rust removed and now finally painted

All stripped, primed and now painted.

Feb 2025 - A wall of green!

The main green painting is complete.

Feb 2025 - A wall of green!

The main green painting is complete.

Feb 2025 - A wall of green!

AThe main green painting is complete.

Dec 2024 - Starting to put things back together now!

All green and the hard top sides have been bolted on

Tray installed (and secured) and hard top sides bolted on

She is starting to look like a Model T ford!

Paint is average, but should buff up!

My first real spray paining exercise and it is ok. It would probably be marked as "yer, nice try, but...", however a bit of wet sanding and buffing and she should be fine.