Looking for a mentor. (South England)

[H2]

Good afternoon!

I am new to the forum and I am looking for a mentor.

I have a wonderful Series 2A (1969) that has been in my family for over 25 years.
My father purchased it when I was a child and had the panels sprayed. It was used as a run around to get us to school and quickly became known as the Noddy Car.

My father sold the car when I was six as we moved out of the UK but when I returned a little older and began looking for a car to buy I got in contact with the guy who bought it and he sold it straight back to me. Since then I have had the engine rebuilt and a new chassis and springs put in. Unfortunately it has been sat in a garage for the last 2 years as I have been outside of the UK again.

I am now back in the UK for the next 6 months and I am going to restore it as best I can. I'm not looking to achieve show room standard just get the rust out and make sure everything works so that I can actually drive it daily.

My only problem is I don't have the space or some of the kit required, I have a basic tool box but no compressor for sand blasting etc.

What I am hoping to find on here is someone that has a space in their garage that they would be willing to lend me and that has rebuilt one of these awesome machines before. Unfortunately I am not in a position to pay for labour but I I can cover materials, new parts and offer plenty of enthusiasm and elbow grease. 

I am located in the Guildford area. If you are interested or know someone who might be please don't hesitate to get in touch and we can try and work something out.

I thought I'd try my luck here first before stripping it down in my driveway and then not having some of the kit I need to put it back together!

(I also hope the colour scheme doesn't cause too much offence! I plan to keep the colour as it means something to me. At first glance it seems this page is more about creating landrovers that can be driven and used rather than stuffed in a museum to look at!)

Thank you in advance for your help,

Tom

[Wittsend]

    &  to the Forum.

You'll be surprised what you can do on your drive with just basic tools 

Post your questions up on here and we'll be able to offer advice.

[diffwhine]

As Wittsend says - Welcome!

Its a pity this wasn't a couple of years ago as I was living south of Guildford and could have helped. Now based in Wiltshire, so not quite so easy.

However - A) there are a lot of club members in the area who could offer support, advice and sympathy in varying quantities. B) I am in the Guildford area quite regularly, and could potentially stop by and help with a bit of an appraisal next time I'm there.

Craig Theobald (aka "Craggle" on here) is your Club area representative. If you have not yet actually joined the club, it would be well worth your while. Aside from some healthy discounts for club members from different suppliers, members' area of the website has an extensive technical resource of manuals and other information.

Drop me a private message on here if I can help.

[H2]

Thanks very much, I've PM'd you!

[Surveyme]

Is there anyone close to Twickenham that has experience of steering problems with a Series 2a (1961)?  I've changed the tyres; new rims; replaced damaged studs and have parts for track rod ends (just not done them yet). I have very limited knowledge but know it does not drive right - my neighbour has a 1965 model and it's a lot easier to drive!
Any suggestions please?

[Surveyme]

Anyone also had experience of specialist LR centre in Windsor?

[diffwhine]

Can you describe what does not feel right?
Is it heavy, tight, sloppy, wandering??

[H2]

After getting some outrageous quotes for a rebuild (Top end was £70K). I'm doing it myself.

What's worked well for people painting at home? I have an air compressor now. So I was thinking about sand blasting (any suggestions on which blaster to buy?) and then painting. I could get a paint gun (any suggestions) or has spray paint worked well enough.

I will add updates success/failure as I go!

[Exile]

I'll give you my take:

If you are going to spray your panels at home, you need all the kit, including an air-line with moisture trap, spray gun, respirator, plenty of thinners, plastic calibrating pots, plenty of space - and exactly the right weather.
Or you will spend a lot of money on rattle cans - which may or may not be all the same shade....

If you want a guaranteed good finish, a compromise might be for you to do all the time-consuming prep, and then take the panels to a professional to spray.
Remember, a high gloss finish and dents in the panel don't mix - well they mix, but look awful - as dents you didn't know were there will scream at you, once gloss painted.

Home sand blasting, except for small parts in a recirculating cabinet, should be avoided.  You will get sand everywhere and spend more time sweeping it up than blasting. (Ask me how I know).
Aluminium panels should not be blasted with sand, but a gentler medium.

Again, money spent getting things professionally blasted, is usually very well spent.
It will save you hours of your life that you won't get back - and there will be plenty of other jobs you can be getting on with.

Yes, everything is possible at home, but how much time and possibly grief, do you want?

[H2]

Thanks mate, that makes a lot of sense.

How does this work with the bulkhead?

Does that thing just bolt off with a tolerable level of grief?

[nathanglasgow]

I'd consider a bulkhead swap as the number one most hated job. Doors off, floor pans and covers out, side sills off, bonnet, windscreen, wings off, steering column out, dash wiring removed, pedal boxes removed. It's a massive job if not being done as part of a complete strip and rebuild.

[malcolm]

If you're paint stripping i recommend the industrial paint stripper not the stuff from B&Q, paint came off really easily.
I used RAL paint and colour matched, much cheaper than the Land Rover colour codes and the match was pretty spot on.
I sprayed the panels at the bottom of the garden, good sunny weather helps and let them dry incidentally in the neighbours conservatory, (they did know the house was empty and for sale at the time).
Made a good drying booth on a hot day.