29-792 = Batty

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Welcome to a preview of the latest addition to the fleet. The vehicle has the chassis number of 94324068C showing up on the nonclemature plate, the firewall panel plate near the gearsticks and also on the passenger side spring hanger. The partial engine number suggests that it is a different motor than when it first rolled off the assembly line. The engine number even defied the yellow chalk rubbed over the whole area and then the top layer wiped off with a damp cloth trick.

From the vehicle's verbal history I am only the third owner since it left the military. The second owner's mate bought the vehicle at an Army auction in Brisbane.

Apart from the usual missing blackout lights and 24 volt alternator for the radios and all radio related equipment that usually disappears off FFRs this vehicle is pretty unmolested. It still has the back scoop - the main feature that attracted me to buy Batty. Plus it still has a 2.6 litre Land Rover motor. I am not sure of the condition of the motor as it was going when it was parked in a shed last year. Batty still has the brush bar and pioneer tool brackets and numerous TAC holders; 3 on the front and 3 on the rear.

Oh and my first ever Christmas Tree on the front driver's mudguard

The brakes need work on each corner and the clutch hydraulics need replacing.

Here are some photographs of Batty.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Phoenix]

Great looking unit there Lionel, and the camouflage scheme is nice to see for a change as well. 

[Lionelgee]

Hello Phoenix,

Thanks for the reply - yes it is a fairly striking paint scheme!

I will try to post up some more photographs - cross fingers.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Phoenix]

There is some information about that pain scheme on this page but no photos which is odd, I thought I had some there.  It's on the to do list anyway to add a few photos of it.

http://remlr.com/paint.html

[Phoenix]

Wait, found it further down the page under Trial, Temporary and Experimental Camouflage Schemes

For example, back in 1981 the entire vehicle fleet of the 3rd brg Operational Deployment Force (ODF) Townsville were cammed. Maybe it's due to it relative isolation from the the main part of Australia and that the vehicles rarely ventured south of Rockhampton Qld. The vehicles were all painted prior to the "Kangaroo 81" exercise. The scheme was a 3 colour black, stone, olive drab base. The canvas work was also spray painted. A note with that was they did not put a flex additive in to the paint prior to painting the canvas and all the canvases wore out prematurely and all had to be replaced not long into the new year. 3rd division was the ODF so was always on standby for action.

The brigade then stuck with having camo vehicles. The rest of the army took years before it became wide spread and then finally across the board (Thanks to Phil L for the information and images)

[Lionelgee]

G'day Phoenix,

Thank you for finding the photographs and the explanation of the camouflage scheme. Do you know the source for that photograph just in case they have a couple from a different angle that shows the number plate and ARN? Who knows it could be like that excellent photograph of the white Series 3 being unloaded out of the Hercules  The caption says - "Thanks to Phil L for the information and images"

Does anyone know whom Phil L is?

According to the previous owner, the vehicle was bought by his mate from an auction in Brisbane, so it might have been a Queensland based vehicle. This makes me the third civilian owner since it was auctioned off.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Here are some more photographs of Batty (29-792). The last photograph shows why the previous owner's son left the brake drum off the passenger-side rear wheel and just put the tyre back on 

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

The bottom of the passenger-side rear wheel without the brake drum on was even more interesting than the top half!

Yes I did have a jack stand under the chassis and the stand was on top of a wide steel plate, since the vehicle was sitting on the grass.

I was very surprised to see the differential check straps were still fitted to Batty! I have never seen any fitted on any of the other Land Rover Series 3 that I have. So it was an "oh that is what they look like moment". The three brake drum screws were still fitted too, this is another first for any of my vehicles!

I also have my first dashboard mounted map reading light too. My other Series 3 military Land Rovers had them removed well before I secured the vehicles.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Phoenix]

Sounds like this series 3 is fairly complete then.  Phil L is probably Phil Lloyd, not sure if he is on the forums any more though. 

I actually have been given some more photos of that scheme (and information) to add to the website at some stage (very soon).  However any photos we have with ARN's are recorded on the database, so if we have one, it will say

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Not much has changed cosmetically on Batty since he arrived home. However, I have been working away under the hood and have installed new clutch master and slave cylinders. I also swapped over a tested dual circuit brake booster and pedal box. The previous owner said that the diaphragm was leaking and the pedal box and booster looked manky anyway.

I put some fuel in the tank after putting in a replacement tank bung; as the previous owner lost the old one. I then tried to start Batty and was unsuccessful. I pulled the Zenith Stomberg 175 CD carburettor off and I found that the main centre piston was stuck fast. I also checked that there was no sediment in the float tank and that the accelerator needle was moving.

Unfortunately, after reinstalling the carburettor there was still no start. Since I have another CD 175 carby on an engine that I know works I swapped the carburettors over. Still no start.

My next efforts will be spent exploring the ignition-sparks circuits.

In the meantime, I have been spending some time sorting out other interesting electrical things like indicators, head lights, horn reverse lights and the rear work/flood light. Only the reverse lights are not working. I have to lift up the tunnel cover to see all the parts for selecting the reverse lights are still there. It would not be the first Series 3 Land Rover which a previous owner had removed the lever, springs and switch from.

The air fan/blower, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer works too.

Well softly softly  catchee monkey!

Kind Regards
Lionel