Kiwis to the rescue...

Once we had drawn up a large list of the items that the Landy needed, we needed to find someone with experience to see if it was a worthwhile project. During my time in the Waikato I knew that one of my friend's Dad, Derk, was a Landroverholic. So I found Derk's email address and sent him a photo and a short description of what we were trying to do and what we needed. Needless to say, Derk's enthusiasm for this Landy project exploded and he immediately started asking around and sourcing parts. It was never a case of if it was possible but of 'lets start hunting for the bits we need!'

Through Derk's hard effort and time, he found other interested people who are willing to help out and who also have contributed spare parts or money to source parts. This series 3 was found locally for sale and it was purchased as the main donor vehicle for this project.

It was towed over to his place and carefully stripped and then itemized to see what was still needed.A 2.2cu box is leaving for Honiara by ship through Pacific Freight Management in Auckland this weekend full of spare parts that will make this Landrover live again.

Included in the box is an engine, gearbox, clutch, driveshafts, both differentials, new brake linings and wheel cylinders, reset leaf springs, paint, lights and switches and more...

This is the donor vehicle pictured in a state of dismantlement. Collecting and organising the parts was a mammoth effort and was all directed and organised by Derk in NZ.

Derk, many, many thanks for your willingness and eagerness to help out this training center in the Solomon Islands. God bless you!

Personaly, it has been so heart warming that through friends and even total strangers this project has been able to lift off the ground! Thank you to you all.

Health inspection

We towed it into SWIM base and gave it a much needed water blast. The idea now was that we needed to see if it was a viable vehicle to use a project. If it could be repaired then we wanted to get stuck in and have to completed before the end of the year. If it was too far gone then we had to let reason win over our emotions and let this one go...

So we started to strip it down starting with the engine and drivetrain. We systematically assessed each different part of the landrovers mechanicals.

We needed a full health inspection before we could make an assessment on its future.

So we started at the engine that was totally seized and a few valves stems had even rusted right through and the valves were sitting on top of the pistons.

The pistons were so seized in the bore that no amount of soaking and hitting would free it up.

The timing chain tensioner had colapsed at some stage during its running days and the timing wasnt far away from causing more problems...

Some parts had been pilfered over the years including the front driveshaft, rear shocks, alternator, starter motor and various fuses and small items. The rear screen had been smashed also.

The brakes were all seized and so was the clutch and all hydralics associated with both.

But!!

The chassis was in remarkable condition! There are no holes or signs of serious corosion on the out riggers, firewall and hinge points.

So as a summary it needed alot of work but was definetly salvageable if the parts could be sourced....

How the Landy found us...

In May 2012 while helping a friend, a fellow kiwi, here in Honiara Solomon Islands, start his tractor, we spied a series 3 Landrover in dilapidated condition, tucked away underneath the coconut and rain trees on his property. Immediately, my curiosity was piqued. After 3 days holding my tongue, I had to ask the questions: "What is wrong with the Landrover? Why is it sitting there?"

He explained that it had overheated or broken down (he couldn't remember. It was that long ago.) He had no plans for it and was in fact contemplating getting rid of it.

Never one to let a Landrover go to waste I immediately started dreaming of how to make it possible to restore the old girl to its former beauty...

But first let me introduce myself:

In Jan 2010 Lauretta, my wife, and I, Jair, came over from the Hawkes Bay to volunteer here as a ‘deed’missionary. Family and friends in NZ give us financial support. This role covers all the practical aspects of this mission base. Some of my responsibilities here include managing the base and its facilities and vehicles, working in local prisons, providing agriculture support to some local secondary schools; rural training centers; and other community groups, and coordinating short-term teams from overseas to help in identified areas of need, e.g. education, sewing, maintenance, health/nutrition, finance, youth and children’s ministries…

I’m a mechanic by trade and have worked for 10 years in the automotive trade in NZ. At the SWIM base we have set up a small workshop with basic tools to provide other mission organizations and church, charity groups with basic servicing and repair of their tractors/vehicles/ small engines. Paul, a local man has been with me for 2 1/2 years now is the ‘foreman’ and each year we take 2-3 students from training centers and provide the practical experience they need to complete their training and receive a trade qualification.

I teach them theory lessons 1 afternoon a week and we also cover basic welding and fabrication. This is on top of the servicing and repair of vehicles, machinery, water pumps, generators, tractors, outboard motors and lawn mowers and 2 strokes.

We charge an hourly fee that covers their wage and costs for running power from generators. This mechanic training program is self sufficient and non profitable.

We try to undertake at least one big repair or semi restoration project per year as it provides valuable experience in all aspects of the motor vehicle.