1979 88” SERIES III TRUCK CAB
CRAIG STRUGNELL, RETAIL DIRECTOR, BOREHAMWOOD, HERTFORDSHIRE
How did you find this project?
Exactly how you shouldn’t! I spent years working on various custom car projects including an A60 Cambridge, Mini and a Chevy Camaro Z28. Eventually, having sold them all, I got fed up of having no project car and so I figured that as I didn’t have a garage a Land Rover was the ideal solution. All parts available, cheap to buy and work on, and everything simply unbolts. Sounded easy.
After looking at a couple, including a nine-hour round trip up north to view one that was described as original and in good condition, but which was rotten and literally held together with string, I found one on ebay.
I didn’t bother going to look at it. The seller had little and very poor feedback, and I was in Paris with my wife when it ended. I bid on it during dinner (much to her delight!) and won it for I think £1400. I paid a guy the seller knew £100 to deliver it to me and just for good measure it arrived in the dark. But it had an MOT and it drove off the trailer. Good enough for me.
What’s the story so far?
The saving grace of the vehicle was that it was original as far as I could tell. Patched up and repaired but never messed with. No wiring bodges, but plenty of bad welding, and plenty of rust. Ride was awful but having never driven one before I just assumed that’s how they all drive. It wasn’t. The chassis was split top to bottom on one dumb-iron and the suspension was solid. I drove it like that for a couple of years.
I can’t recall what I did first, but it was probably driven by the MOT fails. Each time it went it set my work schedule for the next couple of weeks. In all the time I’ve owned it, it has only been off the road without an MOT for about six weeks. Every other time I took it in early, did the work and brought it back for a re-test.
It was clear that the original MOT probably wasn’t gained legitimately. The brakes turned out to be full of oil and one lining was detached. It’s now had two full brake rebuilds: one to replace all the original stuff and another to upgrade to an 11-inch TLS set-up.
I’ve rebuilt the swivels, replaced one footwell and the door pillar, the rear floor and tub supports, new fuel tank and three new outriggers, plus both dumb irons and a substantial part of the chassis beyond that.
It’s now got parabolic suspension, LED lighting in clear lenses, all new panels from the doors except the driver’s side wing, Rocky Mountain door tops, new wheels and tyres and, of course, it now runs with no top, and with the heavy-duty hood hoops. I don’t even own a canvas other than a bikini top that sits under the seat for emergencies. Thankfully I now have a garage so the lack of roof isn’t an issue. It gets used all year round so long as it’s not raining.
How long have you owned it?
About nine years.
How is the engine running? Are you planning on replacing it?
I didn’t get any history to speak of with the vehicle but everything I see tells me that the original 2.25 diesel has only done the 63k that the clock shows. It runs like a dream. I’ve only done basic maintenance and replaced the heater plugs with the newer probe type. Doesn’t even smoke or burn much oil. I fitted a Fairey overdrive, which helps. Otherwise the diesel tops out at about 45 mph. With it I’ve seen the giddy heights of 62 mph on the M25!
I’ve spent the last four years on and off building a Rover V8 for it. It’s a mid1970s Range Rover unit. Another cheap ebay find and the seller was even in the same road as me! My original intention was to just check it over and fit it but I got sucked in and it’s now been stripped to every last nut and bolt (which are now all stainless), bearings, carbs rebuilt, electronic distributor, etc.
What are your plans with it?
Fit the engine, hopefully over the winter. I have all the conversion parts except the engine mounts, which I’ll have to fabricate myself if I can’t find a pair. Nobody seems to make them any more. I’m almost scared to get it started in case I’ve done something wrong. I had zero engine building experience previous to this.
What are the next jobs?
The doors I have, while they look immaculate, sit about a quarter of an inch too high. Apparently part of a badly-made pattern batch. It’s a wellknown problem. I know I should have fitted them before painting. I have a pair of SP doors in my workshop. They’ve been there two years so far!
What is the hardest part of this project?
Time, though I just left my last job and have more spare at the moment.
When will it be finished?
Probably never!
Who is helping you with the project?
Every bit of work including welding and spraying has been completed by me. However, I would have been lost without LRUK, the Land Rover UK forum. There is a small but loyal group on there who have guided me through every job. It has been amazing.