Date: Tue, 28 Aug 90 09:36:22 -0700 From: Teriann J. Wakeman To: bellas@gamma.tti.com, lro@stratus.com Subject: Re: 109 restoration RE Aluminum bodies: I'm not sure a regular body shop can handle aluminum well. Aluminum streaches easily. I would be tempted to get a copy of British cars or Victory Lane and look for adds from places that advertize restorations of high end cars. These people generally know how to do a proper job with aluminum. Sinse most of the LR's pannels are flat, hopefully the $$$$ will not be too high. An alternative is to write/ring all the Land Rover spares houses and ask if they have used wings, doors {or what ever is bent for sale}. I'm just not sold on bondo repairs on those large flat flexable pannels. RE: Painting. This is a job I am over due on myself {But the LR is first in line behind my TR3}. It would probably be best to strip the old paint first. I keep seeing repainted LRs with old paint showing through. There are a couple of ways you can go for repainting. Use a genuine LR primmer & top coat, or stop by a local air port and get primer & paint intended for aluminum bodied aroplanes. I'm not sure that paint intended for steel cars work that well for aluminum cars. RE: Upolstry. You did not say how old your LR was. The elephant hyde {style of nagrahide}is very dificult to find and expensive {$25/yd last time I looked} . On the positive side the covers & door pannels are very simple compaired to the later black nagrahide. For $$ you can get new series III upolstry. Atlantic British has a catalogue. I have stopped purchasing parts there myself because I have had to many problems with quality. But the often have used body parts. Rovers North also has a catalogue. They are my current source of choice. Owning mostly orphaned marques, I am always happy to get a box that says the contents are genuine Land Rover parts. I believe they also have used parts as w well. There is a company in the Pacific North West {Rovers West?} that carries used parts. You can always check with Scotty as well. Good luck in your project. Oh if you contact Rovers North ask them about their restoration discount. TeriAnn 109 Series II