Wouter de Waal's 1959 Land Rover Series
II Station Wagon: Spikkels
"I don't drive a Land-Rover because
it's a 4x4. I drive a Land-Rover because it's a way
of life."
Wouter's brother, Pieter,
bought the Land-Rover in South Africa.It was in running
condition but didn't stop so well! Infact they had to
"hack some brakes together" before they could
get it home.
When the restoration started,
an angle grinder was found to be a really useful piece
of equipment... Wouter has recorded a diary style account
of his restoration on his website.
He warns that rebuilding a Land Rover from the ground
up is not a task to be undertaken lightly. It's
more work than you think. Some of Wouter's diary entries
during the restoration, which started in January 1996,
relate to
Lifting the axle! Finding
a 3/8"BSF socket in S.Africa to remove the diff.
Need to replace BSF stuff
with UNF/UNC stuff to achieve realistic costs.
Chassis & firewall sent
for sandblasting, welding and galvanising.
Sandblasting found the
chassis number 162900770: export petrol 109" station
wagon RHD 1959
Soaking brake adjusters
and one brake cyl in sulfuric acid.
Rear springs to be retensioned.
Torn gaiters can be used
to make patterns for another set from leather
Had to donner the stub
axles after heating the hubs with a propane torch.
Removed frame bushing's
outer sleeves with a serious hangover and with assistance
from a hacksaw and chisel.
Went to the bank, stuck
some money in the cheque account
Fetch one spring bush from
the fridge where you've kept it overnight, liberally
spray with Q20, and hammer it in
Don't ever have anything
with internal threads media-blasted. Some small bits
of media stick inside the threads and chow your taps
when you try to recut the threads
Elmari, Wouter & Spikkels
|
Photos
taken on the 50th anniversary tour of the perimeter
of S.Africa |
Spikkels and Elmari |
Spikkels was registered on the 28th of
February, 1998."And we left on the 10th of March
to join the 50th Anniversary Tour." In the final
few weeks Wouter spent 8 hours per day (after work) on
getting everything ready. He just made it :-).
Wouter's
website is worth visiting for a wealth on information
and photos related to Series Land Rovers and a whole host
of things that interest him.
Thanks Wouter
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