Restoring a 1963 Gladiator

[Bassfisher]

Well, my journey started. My dad bought this gladiator in 2000 in a good running condition. We used it for our close fishing trips and the odd drive around town. The starter gave some problems at a stage and I bought a NOS one from uncle Mickey around 2004/5, which is still in its box today. From about 2005 in was standing under a roof. My dad worked away from home and my mom did not see herself driving it for the normal day to day chores. Don't blame her. So it stood for many years, until now. It does not need much spares at this stage, but the following: Left door swivel window. Left rear tail light - I got one from Oom Naas last year, but I found out too late that it is the wrong type one. Tail gate - fabricating of a new one to start next week. Heater lever switch inside cab - not going to replace, going to fit a small 2 way radio in that gap. It has a Hilux bench seat in, would like to get hold of a longer seat if possible. It is also going to get a colour change, a new front and rear bumper and some other cosmetic stuff. It also has 15inch 5 hole rims, 140 PCD on at this moment. I would like to replace them with 16 inch 5 hole rims. Still deciding if I am going to replace the break drums with discs, and if so, maybe also fit Land Cruiser hubs with 150 PCD so that I can utilize my LC rims on there as well if needed. If anyone can assist with me locating some of the spares needed mentioned above, please let me know. It will be much appreciated. Lets see how the build goes and maybe in 12 months it will be on the road, with some fishing rods etc. I am struggling to make separate paragraphs, so please excuse the one long one...

[JacquesJeep]

Keep us posted!

[allan.cawood]

Gorgeous!!!

[Kavanji]

i just converted my gladiator to discs allround and it was the best move i ever did.
if you need the specs of the stuff i installed let me know
check it out here: https://wayalife.com/showthread.php/...y-65-Gladiator

[Kavanji]

the rear tail lights are the same as the old unimog. so check your local tractor suply shop.
the loadbox was made in SA.
the front discs are YN 6 hole ventilated hilux disks, they have the same pcd so they are easy to redrill to 5 hole
the rear are RN 6 hole solid hilux disks. also same pcd as the gladiator and easy to redrill to 5 hole.
the rear half shafts need to be turned down a smidge so the disks can go over the flange.
the front disks need to be openen up a smidge to fit over the hub.
the front calipers are hilux YN 4 pot calipers
the rear calipers are Golf 5. they fit the disc diameter and thickness perfectly and have the handbrake built in.
the booster is a hi-ace booster (smaller diameter than the hilux)
and the master cylinder is a Hilux YN unit with the non return valve of the rear drum system removed.
this makes using a proportional valve unnecessary.
i had some of the brackets laser cut which proved to be very expensive and not better than the brackets i had cut on the waterjet

[Kavanji]

and i had to modify the clutch linkage. the OEM one was worn out anyway

[Bassfisher]

Thanks a lot for the useful info. I will have a look at the options, sizes etc. Looking forward to the end result.

[Bassfisher]

I see the Unimog tail lights were the same as the lens Oom Naas gave me. They have two indents on the edge where they are fastened. Mine has only one hole on the middle where a screw goes through

[Bassfisher]

Stripping started. Clean loading bin and took of bulbar (to be replaced by a new bumper at the end).

[Kavanji]

i have seen the fantastic job you did on the resin reproduction of the tail lights, awesome.
my gladiator is coming along as well. i upgraded the steering to power steering.

some quick facts:
the TJ pump works and lines up with a simple bracket
the TJ steering box is a perfect fit on the Gladiator chassis. direct bolt in
don't ask about the pipes, i modified the TJ pipes and they look like chickenpox
i have no idea what model the TJ was i got the steering system out of

[Kavanji]

pics and write up again here:
https://wayalife.com/showthread.php/...y-65-Gladiator

[Bassfisher]

Well done!

[Bassfisher]

Okay so some time has passed, and unfortunately not much has been done. Couple of spares bought and I had new tail lights made. The Jeep is standing at a friends house in a different town than me. I am going to fetch the load bin next week to weld the new plates in.

First we had the idea of only replacing the bottom part of the front end, then we made a new front end with some overlapping to the floor. It is just tagged in, I will do the rest from next week. The cab is much better, only small part to grind out. The new tail gate will also be made next week hopefully.

Regards

[Bassfisher]

Some more progress made...

Chassis at the back done. Busy stripping the cab of to do the front part of chassis and then to start on the bodywork. Lots of welding to be done on the loadbin.

[Bassfisher]

Started to strip the cab inside. Previous owners did some nifty work with fibreglass on the floor. Took it out and found some, no a lot of vrot areas. Replaced with 3mm sheet.



Lifted the cab to work on the chassis. Chassis done.


Brake slave cylinders also vrot. Will install new ones.


Thermostat housing was fixed by someone before. Bought a new one last week.


Managed to source a powersteering box and pump. Will fabricate a bracket to install the pump.



Pulled some tekkies (old ones) onto the rims also.



I am only able to work a little bit in the afternoons, some afternoons, so progress is slow. But there is progress. Hope to have it done by my birthday... "Aan Pa, van Pa" you know.

[Bassfisher]

Okay so ek het die enjin begin spray. Kort nog een laag rooi. Die manifold is swart. Als heat resistant verf.

Ek het ook vandag die remskoene ingegee vir nuwe linings asook die slave cylinders om skoon gemaak te word, dalk “gehone” word ens. Hulle is redelik vas geroes.

[Bassfisher]

So the break shoes are redone. They could not fix the slave cylinders, so I bought 4 new ones. I wanted to switch over to disk brakes, but the finances does not allow that now, will do it at a later stage. The new thermostat housing is not a tight fit, so will need to make a base plate between the housing and block. Will do it with a 6mm plate so that it does not bend. Will also need to put in longer studs to tighten the housing as the one is already too short as is with the new housing.




I also found the waterpump to be leaking a little bit. Buying a new pump today. Will try and refurbish the current one for a spare. I also had to replace the engine mountings as one was broken. Bought Ford v6 mountings which worked like a charm. Engine is back in.



The powersteering box is also in. I also had a pulley made for the powersteering pump so that I can run from one belt and not two.

[jelo]

Moving along VERY nicely. Well bloody done.

[Bassfisher]

So today I managed to install the powersteering pump. The new pully is also on.

[Bassfisher]

The new waterpump also in. And the base plate for the thermostat housing.