This blog is an ode to my 1958 Series 1 Land Rover, affectionately named "Grover-Rover".
After several happy years of visiting state forests, and national parks, she was put off the road when I blew the rear diff at Sundown National Park. The diff was fixed, but in the process, I found rust in the firewall, chassis outrigger, and a large crack in the front chassis rail.
It has been nearly 5 years since the Grover Rover last took to the hills, and I'll be damned if I let her sit for another year. She'll be 50 next year, and I intend to have her back on the road to celebrate!
Here begins the tale of Project Grover Rover Resto 2007.
We've recently moved out of share houses and units, and into a place with a monster garage. Grover Rover is happy to be home after spending 5 years in Mum's garage (I think Mum's happy too)... with no pedals, and only the drum brakes, getting her off the trailer was interesting...
The fuel electric fuel pump and battery were cactus, so I got a new "Eco" pump, and borrowed a battery from the 2nd car (yep, Grover's the first), and with the help of a mate, we wired up the essential bits and fired her up. Very happy to find that she idles without blowing smoke... after 5 years dormant, its a blessing. Some water leaking from near the fan, probably needs new seals/bearings in the pump.
Removing the firewall was interesting, as one of the main bolts was seized. But some WD-40, an air Impact Wrench and an angle grinder with cutting disc... the job was much easier. Oh, and a big hammer and cold chisel helped too!
Swiss Cheese... rust in the chassis outrigger is extensive, but only the driver side. Lots of welding to be done here...
Firewall mounts are extensively rusted to the point of almost missing. Not sure if I'll repair this, or swap for another firewall I have in better shape.
Front chassis rail, driver side, is very bad, and the main reason she's been off the road. You can see numerous plates from previous attempts to strengthen and repair. The pile-o-weld is someones failed attempt at stopping a crack, which has spread underneath, and halfway up both sides. I'm lucky this didn't snap clean off when I busted the diff in 2002... Repairing will be interesting, because welding upside down is dangerous. I propose to drink beer whilst coming up with a plan of attack... the more beer sunk, the better the plan will be!
I'm sure whomever made the pile-o-weld, also had a hand in on this "MEGA-PLATE"... Only flaw is that it stops short of the stress point that failed on the other side. Might have to cut it off... might not... stay tuned...
