Stuff is going on.

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet) 01/07/2016 at 22:42 • Filed to: land rover restoration

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Excellent Stuff.

I have finally decided what I am going to do with my slightly rotting Series III Land Rover. After a year and half off the road, and tentative budget-conscious steps towards bringing it back from the brink, I feel I have made absolutely no progress whatsoever. The chassis is now at the point of needing major work, and my job has kept me busy on all but a few weekends.

Aside from buying a few parts here and there, mainly cosmetic, I am biting the bullet and doing a good restoration. Not a full restoration, just a good solid job. Nuts and bolts, and all the major bits. Good. As in this thing is going to look bloody amazing once I’m finished.

2015 was a good year of work for me, I have taken on new grafters ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) whom I can trust to manage a job, leaving me to focus more on design work and admin. This has allowed me to not only set aside time to work on the Land Rover, but also given me a little more disposable income, and after assessing my loyalty to the car (This car allowed me to start my business, a £1,700 model of notoriety and reliability, apart from the exhaust falling off once. I feel like I owe it something.) a restoration has become a properly viable option.

Step 1 is a made-to-order galvanised chassis, MoD spec with space for the triple fuel tanks, oil cooler mount, and twin height suspension mounts. And as of yesterday, it is ordered! The first step is complete, and now there’s no turning back. There’s a 10 week lead time on the chassis, and once finished it’s going to a shop just 40 minutes away, where they will rip out the old chassis and shoehorn in the fresh new shiny one, complete with new suspension all-round, new brake lines and new fuel lines. I unfortunately do not have the knowledge or facilities to complete a chassis swap in any sort of efficient or safe manner, so this has to be outsourced. -5 Jalop points.

After that it’s up to me to do the rest of the work, and apart from a couple of known things like the LHS under-seat fuel tank, inner arches, canvas etc., this is going to be a walk-don’t-run restoration, with lots of little orders for the right part rather than one big order of all the wrong bits, no shortcuts and shiny new bolts everywhere.

So that’s that. And you can be sure to be kept updated whether you like it or not. It’s going to cost a small fortune, and I’m still really looking forward to it, so you guys should too :)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/07/2016 at 23:08

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Good on you for making a leap like that. I’m currently debating whether or not I should bankrupt myself with a V12 XJS.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/07/2016 at 23:21

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It’s a tough call to make, and it’s something I debated for a good long time. What eventually swung the decision was the Series/Defender lineage being curbed at the end of 2015. I expect an increase in demand on parts and vehicles, so if I’m going to do it, I’d rather do it while stuff if still cheap.

How bad/good is the Jaaaag?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 00:06

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Haven’t found one yet. It’s still all conceptual at this point. I’ve decided I’m ready for a project car and I think an XJS is what I want

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2016 at 08:33

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Cost it up realistically. And then add 50% more funds and 100% more time.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 08:39

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I’ve got enough money saved up to buy a decent one, and I make enough extra money to be able to afford maintenance and the additional insurance.

Time’s not an issue, I only work one job and I don’t have a family to see to.

My Mom owns a shop so I have a place to keep it and work on it.

I think my hesitation comes from being too pragmatic and cautious. I don’t actually need two cars, and I’m generally very frugal so the idea wiping out 3/4 of my savings on a potential source of stress is a bit scary to me.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2016 at 09:27

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Well that’s all good then. What’s the potential return on a V12 XJS done to a good to high standard in the States? Part of this money being spent on the LR is savings, so I had to make sure that overall it is a worthy investment. Hagerty can offer a rough UK valuation on the XJS, accounting for it’s overall condition whether the be good, excellent or concours. I’m not sue how well that translates to your side of the big blue, but it might be worth a look before you dive in.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 09:46

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Honestly I’ve never seen one in great condition for sale. They’re not really seen as collectible like a lot of other classics are. Over here people seem to hold onto them until they’re too run down to keep. I’ve seen running V12s for a low as ~£2000. Kelly Blue Book says one in good condition should be around £4400

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2016 at 10:44

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I’m suprised it’s as low as that, this old 4 cylinder Landy is close to £9k in good condition with a galvanised chassis(!).

Maybe it’s not a sound financial investment then, but if you’re sure you’ll love it and don’t wish to sell, then the end result should be about your enjoyment. Fulfil your soul!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 10:52

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The question now is whether I want a convertible. I’d love one but I think the coupe looks better and would be immensely easier to live with.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2016 at 11:06

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I totally agree, the tin top looks great. Where are you in the States? How wet and/or salty does it get?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 11:25

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Coastal MA. Very wet, very salty. Finding a good one will involve traveling inland.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2016 at 11:32

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Yeh that may prove tough. Let me know either way, I’d be interested to follow along with it.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/08/2016 at 20:30

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My interest has been piqued about as far as it can be. Maybe more!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2016 at 13:08

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Yo. It’s in CT, but worth a look?

http://m.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/11/2016 at 13:17

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Way out of my budget and I think they look awful in white anyways. I’m hoping to find one in this color with these wheels:

Thanks for the tip though.

MerkySaab > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/14/2016 at 20:30

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S3 is my favourite of them. Almost got tempted by a tatty armoured Pig version I saw cheap but came to my senses...zombie vehicle doesnt equate fun daily driver...

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > MerkySaab 01/14/2016 at 20:41

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The chassis is the key. If the chassis is good then it’s probably a worthy purchase, hence me replacing with a galvanised unit. Otherwise with a bit of cash the rest is really easy to work on. Protip is to not buy an ex-MOD one (I have two!) because some parts are getting very hard to find.

MerkySaab > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 01/15/2016 at 21:19

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I also almost bought an ex-RAF Defender...those are the ones to go for I hear... easy life up and down runways? but it had been lifted to the point it wouldnt fit under the archway into my car park!