The best bit about doing an event like this, is you get people asking what is it? (which is fair enough) what was it? (****er) AND are you going to restore it? (like I haven't been working on the thing for the last 2 years) as well as looking at the '40 Ford rear lights, and telling their mates, it's a Citroen....

It's not done, by a long way, but we did manage to get it to "an" event!

Originally Posted by Austin Martin

They're "Hifly" fairly insignificant Chinese cra…...sorry, tyre; I did have a set of M+S on my Landrover last year, and they were really good, but the choice was Hobson's, as they were the only ones I could find in that size (profile)

Thanks. I guess they're their 8 ply commercial spec - I think Pirelli might also do a similar size and spec, but of course at a greater cost. If they are, these days vans go around corners like sports cars, so you should be OK there!

They're "Hifly" fairly insignificant Chinese cra…...sorry, tyre; I did have a set of M+S on my Landrover last year, and they were really good, but the choice was Hobson's, as they were the only ones I could find in that size (profile)

Looking good, and following this with interest! I suppose by definition (if in locked position) you can't see boot lock shaft as number often located there.

As a matter of interest what brand/type of front tyre did you decide on? I think I should be using this size of tyre, but hitherto have been using 175/75/16 (as used on London taxis), which are a little too small diameter-wise.

Well it would have been a busy week if the tyres had turned up.... (to55ers) the battery did, and was promptly returned; you really have to be a major optimist to put a vented lead acid battery with a courier, and expect them to keep it "this way up " at all times …..


Repaired the wooden roof supports as the were broken, when removed (2 years ago), all 8 of the bolts that hold them in snapped off, and so they all had to be drilled out, and re tapped, what a lovely job!

Finally welded in the boot floor closing plate, mig wire run out almost immediately, and so had to tig all of it; you cant even see it, (but exhaust fumes will find their way in no doubt) finally rivetted rear panel on.

Note the boot latch handle, a BMC mini item, that was cheap (ish) because it had no key (and is in the locked position) I wasn't too bothered as I have loads of keys (or so I thought) but what I do have, don't fit!

:****er: Cant find a delete button to remove what was a duplicate reply :****er:

Finally settled on the tyre combination, 185/75/16 on the front and 235/70/16 on the back (rear tyres on order for this week); I fitted the front tyres first before painting the wheels, to save scraping the paint, I've carefully matched the paint on the hubcaps to the original colour which turns out quite close to Landrover blue!

The original hubcaps have a thin chrome centre basically glued onto the hubcap, I have two with the chrome centres but the other two( the ones in the photograph are just polished steel and lacquered (well varnished if you must know)

Made some longer rear spring hangers, (regular readers will note that I've already made some, but these weren't long enough) the drop is now 2 1/2" and looks a lot better.

Yes I only drilled one side of the hangers because I didn't think you'd be able to see the other one...….

In other news I repurposed some "previously enjoyed" metal to make the floor inserts, (originally made from wood, but one side gone completely)


Could leave them as is, as per "Welderup" tv show, but these are more like "cut the welder up" and will be rubbed down and painted to match the rest of the floor, that I've just rubbed down and painted....

I put a new hinge on the throttle pedal, which had rotted away with the wood floor insert.

A follow up post to the 6volt/12 volt saga, I pushed the boat out (to the tune of £6.99) and bought a rather small 6 volt battery, (see picture for details) well it runs perfectly on that little battery, so I think it's fair to say it's still 6 volt!