new 45lv for lvdreamer

[lvdreamer]

Location

United States

All:

Time to disclose the recent acquisition of an lv instead of lurking in the shadows reading everyone else's posts. I am the new owner of the 1966 LV that is under album 151 in the root45 gallery at http://www.root45.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=17465. It is an original Canadian truck with 25K documented (crazy but the file is there) miles. I have not figured out the original color yet (many layers of green tremclad) but I can confirm that the interior was one-tone cream (including solid grey door panels) with pumpkin orange seats. Stock rear bumper. Driving lights and winch stayed with the PO.

Still a reasonable amount of work left to get it roadworthy, but it comes from a total of two PO's who really cared. Remarkable part is its general rust-free condition due to first owner coating everything in coats of oil for the first few years, which has turned into a very thick suspension protecting pretty much everything.

I also owned the lv in the root45 gallery under the 'propane' album about five years ago, but it was just too much to handle for someone with my skills (I am pleased if I can rebuild a carb properly, no heavy mechanical or metal skills just yet).

Do not know what exactly is going to become of this one excèpt to say that it is a stock original that is a great candidate to stay more or less that way. On that note, anyone that can provide a lead on rear wheel cylinders (those are the only parts left needed to safety it and get it on the road in the original condition) or part with a rear seat (it is missing) or a spare tire assembly (nice to have for the future) please let me know. I have nothing to barter yet but can change that (I would love to pull a 'Semlin' one day and do my part for this community, if the opportunity presents itself).

I know that this post (and all posts) blows without photos. I will get some up the moment that the truck gets the new rubber and wheels (new factory 16" splits, industrial tires) and can be pulled out of its repair cubbyhole for some pics. I suppose the only reason I even posted today was because I noted that pic on root45.

I am out of Calgary, AB. Wayne from Crushers Rule is doing the heavy lifting right now on various mechanical issues until I get properly organized (new son a month ago, winter coming, various other excuses ...)

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[AZkick-n40]

Welcome Cameron!

Tried to click on the link but it didn't work.

Looking forward to looking at some pics.

Brian

 

[foxfab]

worked for me. Nice LV!!

 

[AZkick-n40]

I stand corrected - worked tonight.

More pics please!

Brian

 

[orangefj45]

congrats, looks really clean. still need wheel cylinders? rebuildable cores or good used or new?

 

[lvdreamer]

Thanks! We will see what surprises turn up after getting into every corner of it.

No cylinders yet ... the cores are most likely rebuildable but if rebuild kits are available would be game for that. Would also be very interested in purchasing used originals.

 

[lvdreamer]

... and even more interested in new ones ...

 

[treerootCO]

congrats! that looks like a nice LV. I updated the album to "lvdreamer"

 

[orangefj45]

... and even more interested in new ones ...

if yours are rebuildable then i'd go ahead and do so....

 

[crushers]

i grew up in Ontario and when you told me this rig was from there i expected to see some nasty rust issues hidden away.
When Cameron got the rig from the train he was going to drive it to my place but the clutch was slipping so bad that it couldn't get over 10 km/hr down the back alley... IN LOW RANGE.
We put a new clutch in (purchased from Dan at 4wheel auto) and to get the tranny hump off i had to remove 3 layers of rubber carpet pieces and take a putty knife to remove the 3/4" of roofing tar just to get to the little 10mm bolts. i was surely going to find some rust hidden under here and i was not mistaken, there was. but not where i expected to find the rust, the 2 loonie sized holes were up in the corners of the firewall right where the cover was bolted. AMAZING, truely amazing. the little 10 mm bolts all came out but 2.
the old girl needs work but it really is a rare find in this condition (and coming out of Ontario, one of the worst rust belts in Canada is unbelievable).
we installed a brand new set of factory split rims and ENS take off tires, closet i could find to the origina style. it gave the girl some real character.
I know Cameron is very busy right now with a new baby so i will try to keep any updates here if he doesn't have time.
congrates Cameron, i thinkyou found your Jem...

 

[lvdreamer]

Wanted: Stock F Engine Carb

The old girl was coming along great. Diffs, clutch, brakes, valves, and some minor items all renewed to stock late last summer. Threw a bearing on the first drive so is getting a full bottom end rebuild.

Only non-stock item on the truck is a GM carb. Would love to buy a rebuilt one, or one for which a rebuild kit is available. Local informed parts suppliers inform me that there were many different carb variations in both the square and round sight glass styles.

Appreciate that this is not really the way anybody goes for driving reliability - may get there someday, but not a priority for now,

Any and all advice or comments welcome.

Also, updated pictures promised when she is out of the shop!

 

[mderrick]

carb

i have one in salt lake city utah`

 

[lvdreamer]

Significant update

Recently, and right now ...

The road to this point has been a long but reasonably steady one. After a long slog getting a 45 year old truck safetied so it could be registered and driven, it sat outside over a full winter. And it's real winter up here - it drops to -30C more than one woudl like. Went outside last summer, turned the ignition, and drove it 500 miles over two mountain passes at 70 -75 mph. Passed a few folks, too! Understatement to say that mileage isn't so great at those speeds.

Now at a friend's house where it is getting the full treatment that it deserves. Going back as close to stock as possible.

More to follow!

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I was thinking of this rig the other day and wondering if you were ever going to do the body. I wonder no more .

Kevin

 

[lvdreamer]

Final parts

Kevin, she was due and deserves it.

Also just got the following much-needed parts out of two Canadian LV's that have 'parked' (small tree growing through one of them) in a field in BC for 20 years. I made a deal on them with the owner (who I have known for 15 years) and when this restoration is completed I intend to make the balance of the parts available to mudders per my hope to do so back in 2006.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Is that a wingnut to the right of the spare tire holder? I have a different one with the holder I have. I've been asked to re-produce it (the whole assembly) but I wonder if my nut is home made rather than stock. I've had this particular project on the back burner for some time now. Would you be willing to let me take a look at that nut, assuming that's what it is, at some point in the future?

 

[lvdreamer]

You can have all the looks you want, I'll get it to you. I believe that part is not threaded and there was a butterfly nut that secured it, though. Someone else will know for sure.

 

[Traveling62]

Very nice! By any chance was there a fender mirror on either of those 'parked' LV's? Have been looking for one for quite awhile with no luck. If so, maybe we could work something out. Thanks, Brian

 

[lvdreamer]

No problem, hopefully there is one!

The LV's are in a different province in the yard of the guy that had them for all that time, and who runs a repair business with his family. My deal with him is that I bought them outright (at his long-time asking price), will take the parts I need for the resto, and then part the rest out. I would seek to make/recover zero dollars on this and would organize the parting out for the sake of mudders restoring lv's that could use the parts.

It seems best to address the parting out all at once (say next spring, or once the resto is nearly done). A potential plan at that point would be to get photos up so folks can see what is there, collect all interest, get the parts pulled off for his end of the deal (hopefully just the labour cost of pulling them all off), share that cost equally amongst the folks who wanted the parts, and then have each person pay for their own ride.

If this seems unusual it might help to know that I while I would happily do it all myself I have the following constraints: I am quite a distance away and have no way to transport two non-running trucks back hereabouts, no personal field to keep them in if I did, no plasma torch / cutter with which to easily disassemble (although I would happily get one and take a crack at it), three young kids, no wife (widowed halfway through this resto, she was a great person and god rest her her soul, would mention that she was very supportive of the land cruiser obsession), and a full time job.

When we get to the parting out point I will set up a new thread to deal with it so that no-one misses it. That said, please feel free to note your interest in any parts on this thread for now. It might not be that gratifying as I won't know if the parts are there but it can't hurt to stake an early claim.

 

[Traveling62]

Thanks for the response. I completely understand and am also sorry for your loss.

I guess I'm staking my claim on the fender mirror and hope that I dont miss the thread when you start parting out. When that time comes, if you happen to remember, please shoot me a PM for a heads up.

Many Thanks!
Brian