Steve Owen's Journal

This is the story of a Land Rover.
When I first moved to the Oshkosh WI USA from the Bolton Lancashire UK in 1992
I could not work and traveled the highways and byways in the local area. I spotted a Land Rover sat in a driveway and stopped to talk to the owner. Mr John McDonald. He said it was his late father in law's and he was going to restore it.

Fast forward a few years and I went to clean his chimney and the Land Rover was still sat there untouched. I tried to buy it .. "not for sale". Was the answer.

Fast forward a few more years. I went to install a fireplace. That's what I do for a living.
Yep, still sat there in the barn and again. "Not for Sale."
Then, in 2007 Mr McDonald died. The Land Rover was sold at an estate auction while I was in the UK on holiday :-(
Oh well.. Life goes on.
2010 Went to home in Green Lake WI to install a fireplace, being "British" the owner said "I have a vehicle you might like to see." "Holy Sh*t Mr McDonald's Land Rover."

"Yep was the answer and I am going to restore it! " Heard that before... :-)

Feb 2017 went back to the same house. His wife said "Hey do you want the Land Rover". I divorced his arse and he was suppose to take it with him.

Well there were legal issues to ownership etc
June 2017 Deal was struck, legal paperwork done..
Offer was made and I now own it.. YES!!!!!
A slow restoration to begin.. I want a safe working LR not at show room factory fresh look.. I aim to complete by 2020... Thanks Steve O Oshkosh WI USA

The task of finding what I had acquired began in June of 2017,I set up the 53 Land Rover Srs1 80" in my garage and this meant my daily driver of a truck now lives outside .

Google became my friend as I look up the history,parts suppliers, clubs etc .

A face book page was started to help me and my friends and followers keep track of what was being done and the up's and down's of the restoration.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/116179382307859/

Body work was removed to reveal a mostly unmolested chassis.

A list of major parts was started and a diary of work ompleted.

Land Rover Series One Owners Club joined, which as been a huge help from members of the club.

The Land Rover registry 1948-53 as also helped.

Serial numbers matched factory records. brakes and diffs where the first items tackled.

The engine will be over hauled this winter into spring.

Well a lot has happened since my last updates. The WI winters can be brutal and this year was no exception. All work in the workshop came to as stop as the mercury dipped to -20C and below. I did set up a "repair" station in the basement and have over hauled parts such as the dynamo, starter (on going) Distributor etc etc .
Hopefully the weather will soon warm up enough that I will be able to get back to the job on hand and rebuild the engine.

I have sadly and with NO excuses neglected this page. This changes all that SO to up date since 2018, Yes it has been 2 years Time flies.

Here we go.

Winter of 2018/19. Again winter was here. I spent the winter overhauling the distributor, dynamo, carburetor and other such devices in the basement of our home. Again with great help from Ron G. Buying parts and learning more on the history of the Rover. The panel instruments were sent to Michael Flannery of http://www.magnetic-speedometer-repair.com/ for overhaul and Michael did excellent work. .

Spring-Summer of 2019. First order was the engine rebuild and the repairs to the damage on the chassis from the home made steering.

Then time to start reassembling TCM, and how quickly things came together. At the same time a new wiring harness and sundry was ordered from Autosparks,in the UK, again with a few emails to add the extras needed for a North American Spec Srs1 80”. i.e. Registration light on the tailgate. High beam warning light in the dash. These were done at no extra charge by them.

The wiring was for me, by far the most difficult and scary part of the restoration, many an evening and weekend was spent studying and laying out the wires. I had a 3 ft x 2 ft poster made of the wiring diagram and then colour coded the wires with crayon , so as to make it easier to follow the route of the wires.

Slowly it all came together. It was a great relief when I attached the battery to find everything worked and the infamous Lucas Smoke generator did not appear. By late summer TCM was together and almost ready to go. Then a major hiccup. I could not for the life of me get the engine to run. It was misfiring, Timing was way out of whack.Then to add insult to injury the starter motor quit. This was quickly dispatched to Ike Goss for overhaul. By the time it was back winter had set in. Somewhat disappointing end to the year as I was so close to being roadworthy.


Spring of 2020.
After many long conversations with Ron and some frustrating evenings of trying to get the engine to run properly. It turned out when I rebuilt the engine, I had somehow got the Dizzy driveshaft out of sync with the timing. So by rotating the Distributor body slowly clockwise I was able to get the Engine to run and the timing in order. This is something I will try and address in the winter of 2020/21. Then to bleed the brakes, as most Series 1 owners can attest, this can be (and was) a pain in the rear end, Started by using a Vacuum bleed pump system. Then to the “proper” old fashioned way of bleeding. So, after much pumping, letting it sit for a day or so to allow the air bubbles settle, more pumping etc I had a firm brake pedal, at this stage I was still, I admit, “frightened” to drive the Rover. But my friend and coworker, Tom Hjemberg, who, was helping with bleeding the brakes. Said, “you know you’re never going to drive this are you!?”

This was like a Red Flag to a bull. “Hold my cup of Tea and watch this!” On Sunday March 22nd 2020. the Land-Rover took to the roads of Wisconsin for the first time since 1983. A nerve racking first trip around the block, but all went well.
The promise I made in June 2017 was Pat and Charlie the Dog would be the first passengers in the Rover. The second run of the day. This promise was kept, Charlie's ashes and Pat were taken for a drive around the neighbourhood. Add a picture here.
So I now had a running Land-Rover, it did not exactly run well, but it ran. And more importantly it stopped when I pressed the Brake pedal. March 2020 was spent fine tuning the engine and a slow break in period, never venturing too far from home. Having confidence in the Rover and my own abilities of driving a 67 year old vehicle were slowly building. Add a picture here.
The plan for the summer was to take TCM to local car shows, but due to the Covid Pandemic most of them were cancelled. Several journeys were planned, One was to drive around Lake Winnebago, the largest lake totally within the state. It is a 100 mile trip around the lake. I set off with some dread of a breakdown, ( don’t we all) . But all went well, at every stop TCM drew questions and admirers. Add a picture here.

Then the LSROC had the wonderful idea of the Virtual “Home from Home Rally” I signed up and even with the time zone differences ( I am 6 hours behind UK time) I had a fun weekend. Thanks to all the organizers of a well put on event.
Finally in late summer a few local car shows were held. The Land-Rover became a much admired vehicle. I have allowed kids and adults to sit in the Rover, This always brings smiles.

Another autumn trip of 120 miles was done. Another promise kept. I took the Rover over to Markesan and gave the lady who’s partner owned TCM from 2007-17 a ride around the countryside. Unfortunately he now lives in an assisted living complex and is not, due to the Pandemic allowed visitors.

Betty, whose father owned the Land-Rover in Arizona is also in an assisted living complex in Oshkosh and again not allowed visitors. I did drive TCM over to where she lives, so she got to see the completed project and I have sent her over the last 3 years pictures etc of the work carried out. Again a promise of a ride around will be carried out when things settle down. As I write this article it is snowing and temperatures are below freezing. It will soon be time to take TCM off the salt laden roads for the winter. I do have a maintenance program for this winter. Roll on 2021 and some more happy Motoring.
I am very thankful for all the help from far and wide. Special mention goes out to Ron G Owensboro KY USA. Ike Goss Springfield OR USA . Dixon Kenner Canada. Michael Stanton-Jones Newbury UK. Tom Murdoch Wisconsin USA. All these fine gentlemen kept me going through the highs and lows of the restoration. The members of LRSOC, for following along and all the help and advice given. To the suppliers of parts and all their help.(I should one day do a complete list of Suppliers..)

OK FAQ’s All prices in USD
Cost to Buy $5000
Cost in Parts, shop supplies, tools etc $16,238:43 Yes I kept detailed expense reports.
Value of the Vehicle ZERO Not for sale!
Chassis Number 36131621
Engine Number 36133270
Miles driven March to November 2020 1136 and counting.
Would I do it again? YES!
Is that a Jeep? Add your own answer here :-)
Cheers Steve Owen Oshkosh WI USA

Ok I am not good at updating, Life gets in the way at times.

After a winter maintenance schedule I did take the the Rover for a drive across Lake Winnebago on the Ice roads in Feb 2021. Not for the faint of heart for a vehicle with NO heater and canvas top.

Spring brought a few car shows and then June 2021 I drove around the Northern half of Lake Michigan Taking the SS Badger Car Ferry from Manitowoc WI to Ludington MI and then following the Lake Michigan shoreline a 1028 mile trip at top cruising speed of 35 mph. A fantastic trip with much adventure and fun in a 1953 Series 1. No major issues and after 10 days of travel and camping I was happy to be home, but sad the journey had ended.

Well I somehow forgot about this page and a Lot has Happened since I was last here. The 53 Rover has had some adventures including an epic 1800 mile trip to the ANARC 75th Anniversary Celebration of Land Rover. The Face Book Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/116179382307859

is up and running and gives all the updates and future plans.