Category Archives: My Land Rover

Blog posts about the restoration process started 5/22/2017 and ended 8/24/2018

“Just show me Land Rover posts”

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I’ve had a few folks tell me they’d like to read about my Land Rover adventure but don’t want to hunt back through my other posts (113 to date). Don’t blame you. There’s a “category” link at the bottom of each post having to do with the Land Rover. Clicking that will pull up just those posts.

Clicking the photo in the top right corner of the home page will get the same results. If you care to comment, here’s how I have that configured. The first time you post a comment, I have to approve it before it appears on the blog. After that first time your comment will show up immediately. Love to hear from you.

The Land Rover is done

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Mr. Wolf has thoroughly vetted my truck and pronounced it done. If you’ve been following the story here you know what a laborious process that has been. He knew he was sending the truck to someone who doesn’t own a wrench (I’ll get some! I’ll get some!) and wanted to find and fix everything he could. He’ll arrange for transport and when we have a delivery date I’ll post it here. Tentative plan is to unload in one of the parking lots of the Capital Mall west of Jefferson City.

Now that he has the truck shipshape, Mr. Wolf added the badge I had made. I think I can safely say this Land Rover is one of a kind. Thanks entirely to his tireless efforts.

UPDATE: Not so long ago the idea of naming a vehicle would have gotten some serious eye-rolling from me. Any reference to the Land Rover would probably start and end with “the truck.” Now I’m not so sure. Depending on how much personality the truck acquires, I won’t be surprised if I find myself referring to “Mr. Wolf.” If the truck lives long enough to acquire a soul, it will be because of his efforts.

Land Rover: Re-wired

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By any estimation, the people that did the restoration on my Land Rover did a half-assed job. Fortunately my guide through this jungle is a bad-ass mechanic (specializing in vintage vehicles) who has been finding and fixing shit for the last six months. His latest report:

“Finding all kinds of wiring issues to sort out! All lighting wiring. I only caught them because the right front parking light was inop. Then I realized the left front turn signal wasn’t working, either. It was a very well hidden mess, too. Cleverly tucked away where it couldn’t be seen.”

“I pretty much rewired the whole nose of the truck, what a mess that was. I pulled the steering wheel and instrument cluster for a few hours of recreational cursing, but it ended well. Glow plug light, high beam indicator, “Luces” indicator. Everything works with the exception of two indicator lights: one that says “starter” (I can’t fathom why you would need a light to tell you the starter is engaged) and the generator light. I couldn’t find any wiring or the bulb holder for the generator light, so I left well enough alone.”

“Also re-sealed the valve cover, hopefully that does it. I’m going to drive it home tonight, and if the valve cover gasket holds we might… be there. I will do an oil change tomorrow.”

We might be there. :)

Land Rover: 08.02.18

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More photos taken at a job site where Mr. Wolf was working. And he continues to find and fix stuff:

“Unfortunately the valve cover re-torque did not stop the oil leak, so I’m trying to source a new gasket quickly. Right front parking light isn’t working, and it’s not the bulb, I’ll trace that out. High beam indicator not working, no big deal. Electric fan temp sensor relocation worked nicely, she stays right in the middle of the gauge now.”

Land Rover: On the Road

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Update on July 31, 2018: “She’s driving great, fires right up in about half a crank, hot or cold. The valve cover gasket is leaking, so tomorrow I will reseal it… and relocate the temp sensor for the electric fan. Easy stuff! There wasn’t any street parking left at this job site (above). No problem for a guy in a Rover!

Mr. Wolf is putting more miles on the new engine. “She’s runnin’ fine today! I’m all over Portola Valley today, so lots of 40-50 mph roads.” According to the Google Maps note, Portola Valley is the wealthiest town in America per the American Community Survey, based on per-capita income for communities larger than 4,000.

This photo confirms my decision to move the spare from the bonnet to the tub of the truck. I switched because it took all these 70-year-old guns had to hoist the bonnet with the tire on it. But from the photo above it’s clear I’d be giving up some view of the road.