Offroad-Express

Hi, I have a 1985 110 V8 3dr hardtop ex Min of Works that I've had for about 20yrs.
Normal bulkhead and rear xmember rot is taking its toll. Doors are shot. Mechanically it is sound and has WOF, still road legal. Good engine, gearbox, diffs, axles, power steering etc

Keen to know if there is anyone in NZ rebuilding older landies.
I'm based in Wellington but prepared to travel.
Looking for a full strip and rebuild to address all rust issues (galv chassis, new firewall/bulkhead, doors etc) and tidy it up to be a strong, reliable daily workhorse.
Because it lives in coastal conditions I want to prevent future rot issues as much as possible. I plan to keep it for another 20yrs.

I'd love to do it myself but lack the time and skill.

Anyone restored an older 110? Appreciate any experiences you have.

Cheers

Welcome to ore,it help to post what part of the country you live in,you can do that in your profile....

Thank.
Based in Wellington.
Tried to edit my profile but can't see how. I can see my details but not the 'edit' option.
Cheers

Stripping a vehicle down to its chassis and then galvanising before a full rebuild is costly as you will replace this and that along the way. At the end you will have a really nice vehicle but if you intend to pay some one else to do the labour it will get expensive.

Second hand parts such as doors and firewall are very hard to find. There are bare new doors (genuine Land Rover) on Trade Me at present at $1200 each.

One business specialising in Land Rovers, repairs etc is Marcel at Mamaku 4WD in Mamaku (near Rotorua). He has the knowledge and lots of second hand parts along with new parts. I suggest you start with a call to him.

Old110 wrote:Because it lives in coastal conditions I want to prevent future rot issues as much as possible. I plan to keep it for another 20yrs.

Anyone restored an older 110? Appreciate any experiences you have.

if you crunch the numbers and come up with a figure that you think it'll cost you to get it restored times it by about 3 and you'll come up with the $realistic figure$ that you'll end up paying and same for the time frame however long you think it'll take it'll easily be off the road for 3 times as long. In the long run its better to think with your wallet than your heart and you'll find it'll be heaps easier, cheaper and quicker to flog the old girl off to a new owner and go out and buy a newer truck in better condition Any vehicle thats falling apart from the exposure to coastal living is going to be even harder work

Sadam_Husain wrote:

Old110 wrote:Because it lives in coastal conditions I want to prevent future rot issues as much as possible. I plan to keep it for another 20yrs.

Anyone restored an older 110? Appreciate any experiences you have.

In the long run its better to think with your wallet than your heart and you'll find it'll be heaps easier, cheaper and quicker to flog the old girl off to a new owner and go out and buy a newer truck in better condition Any vehicle thats falling apart from the exposure to coastal living is going to be even harder work

You are probably right except
1 after so long it'd be hard to put the old girl down
2 can't get V8 landy's anymore, esp lwb hardtops

If I want a sensible reliable vehicle, I just drive my GQ Patrol swb 4.2 - bullet proof, 20 yrs old 300k and not a speck of rust.

Driving the 110 is more fun though.

Great to see another Land Rover owner doing the right thing and recycling classics. I have nearly finished (actually it will never be finished) doing up an ex army stage 1. So far I have spent over $10k on it which it will never be worth but that is with me doing all of the labour except for panel and paint (about $4k worth). It did not need any chassis work at all. Just to give you some idea of what you might be up for.....



but it's worth it to me

Welcome to the world of self flagellation ,I have just rebuilt a 87 flatdeck not to bad on cost more time consuming which I had plenty off .In fact why not buy mine for 9k and yes I too own a y60 4.2 if only in a flat deck . pm me if you want to check mine out I,m in porirua I would be happy to show you whats involved
nick

LR90NZ wrote:
One business specialising in Land Rovers, repairs etc is Marcel at Mamaku 4WD in Mamaku (near Rotorua). He has the knowledge and lots of second hand parts along with new parts. I suggest you start with a call to him.

Was passing through Rotorua today, so decided to call in a have a chat to Marcel. Bloody nice guy.
To cut a long story short, I'm going to get the old girl rebuilt on a galvanised chassis/bulkhead and repowered with a 4.6 V8.
I have a whole heap of things that I want to do, but being realistic I'll keep it a simple and reliable as I can. Might replace the hardtop with a canvas softtop though.

(I hope my wife doesn't find this thread... its her kitchen renovation budget that I plan to use!)

Good luck with it. Marcel would have come up with a few ideas for you.

New kitchens are over rated anyway

You can cook in a car but you can't drive a kitchen.

Make sure to post pics of the rebuild progress!

putting a soft top on will make you feel like you are in a tent, seeing as how you will be living in it once your wife finds out.....
why a 4.6??
i t will need certing etc

At 115hp (when new) the 3.5 V8 is more noise than go. The 4.6 will double this and the LT95 box should be up to it.
I always fancied a softtop. Now that it is not a daily driver it doesn't have to be practical. Shouldn't be too hard to put the hardtop back on for winter (not that it ever rains in wgtn).

As for living in it, I have had a plywood base and mattress in this and slept in it for a couple of weeks once when exploring the south island (that was before marrage and kids!).