Chubbster Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hello, My land rover spent a few years of it's life in NI in the 39th infantry brigade. So just out of interest..... Has anyone got any more info/manual on the kit? Fitting info etc. I know the kits are no longer about but there must be so info out there! Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hello, My land rover spent a few years of it's life in NI in the 39th infantry brigade. So just out of interest..... Has anyone got any more info/manual on the kit? Fitting info etc. I know the kits are no longer about but there must be so info out there! Cheers Alex Hi Alex, It must be about 33 years ago when I was fitting these kits, to various models of Land Rover, Bedford MK and RL. The instructions were not in EMER's and were very poorly illustrated from memory. Basically, once you had done one, it did not require to be read again. Guess someone may have a copy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Thanks for the info there Richard, nice to hear from someone who fitted them! Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin parke Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Might be worth a visit to the ex military landrover forum seen a few on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Alex it might help to post what your Land Rover's army registration was so that those of us who dont have a life and amass useless research material may be able to troll them to see if we have your "truck" in a picture. . . R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Martin, good thinking Robin, it's 41 KC 34 In NI from 1986 till 1990. As the 90/110 was about from 1984 I don't think it would have seen much use, but it has the holes in the correct places to suggests a VPK being fitted. Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 My 109"ffr was in N.I. all her life (1980-) and did a stint with 39Inf Brigade (as well as 2 UDR!) so they could have been together at one time. Good luck with the search for VPK info and piccys All the best Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schliesser92 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 All I remember about VPK kits was that fitting antannae was a nightmare! The dust from drilling holes in Makrolon is nasty stuff, so wearing a face mask is essential. I fitted the radios into the AFS fire tenders in Girdwood Park, but didn't do Landies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Has anyone got any more info/manual on the kit? Fitting info etc. It is covered in EMER WHEELED VEHICLES Q 025/13 Installation Instruction No.6. The roll-over bar (Culvert mine) protection kit fitted underneath is covered in Inst Instr No.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 (edited) Don't regard holes in body as VPK certainty , the best positive ID hole is at the rear of the tub where the lowertail-gate rubber seal normally sits, this is for the centre-parting doors shot-bolt securing. Axles - look for AEON hollew rubber spring cups welded on top of axle at normal buffering position , some also had them on the front axle. You may find a modification to the axle straps - like this , (I am not convinced by the usefulness) :- -------------------------- This shows 85 KB 04 Cargo. typical positions of holes blanked with hex. sets (sometimes big pop-rivets or grommets) :- I also have FFR 52 HG 33 The strange thing with both is that they had new tail-gate assemblies when released BUT nobody had bothered to order & fit new galv. cappings to the upper section or fit gardening tool bracketry. Many VPK never hit the streets of NI , they were held in reserve. AFAIK the only VPK released to civvy life was to MJC and this is now back to NI. IIRC some kits were sold to security organisations in Norway or Sweden ?? Apparently the rest (LIGHTWEIGHT 1/2 ton) were smashed in a pit with a JCB & then fired. If you are keen , from photographs available , the hop-sack weave effect can be reproduced easy with the correct glass & resin , so start building the moulds but don't lay them up so thick (other than at the edges) - apparently they panels were very heavy.. Edited February 21, 2011 by ruxy added - (LIGHTWEIGHT 1/2 ton) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoggyDriver Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Mark Cook was the only guy who was able to get a VPK kit for his Lightweight. He sold his vehicle to a guy in NI. So there is one around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 thanks aagin for the info. The evidence I have 41 KC 34........ A build up of paint here the front wing GRP would have gone. loads of hole filled in on the body work ( sorry about the light, it was fading fast) and i think this maybe the hle ruxy was on about? but there is no underside mods at all. making a kit could be something for the future! maybe! Thanks again Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoggyDriver Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 thanks aagin for the info. The evidence I have 41 KC 34........ A build up of paint here the front wing GRP would have gone. [ATTACH=CONFIG]41699[/ATTACH] loads of hole filled in on the body work ( sorry about the light, it was fading fast) [ATTACH=CONFIG]41700[/ATTACH] and i think this maybe the hle ruxy was on about? [ATTACH=CONFIG]41701[/ATTACH] but there is no underside mods at all. making a kit could be something for the future! maybe! Thanks again Alex Get onto the EMLRA website and contact Mark Cook or buy his book. Sure there are plenty of photo's on there for you to have a look at. You would be able to make one out of fiberglass if you got the measurements!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have his book it's at work! I think they where made on a male mould? Layer up over the mould, rather than in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toby burnham Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Hi all, I finished restoring a Series 111 12v VPK last year.The suspension was fitted with aleron bump stops all round.when restoring the chassis i noticed that there was extra reinforcing plate welded to the rear cross member for the weight of the fiberglass armoure.The fibre glass panels were bolted on by two fitters with basic hand tools.The material makralon is like a very thick perspect sheeting that was used for the roof hatch surround.The body work panels are made from multiple layers of heavy duty fibreglass. My landy left the factory in late 1984 as a 12 volt GS.It was converted into a vpk in 1986,then up graded in to a HVVPK With steel armoure and a single piece rear door.Some time between 1989 and 1993 it was down armoured to a VPK and refitted with twin rear doors.Most VPK bodies were transfered from vehicle to vehicle as they were sold off.Mine only servived because it was to be scrapped and left on the vehicle and sold to a dealer.Ihave been told that Mark cooks was the only 1/2 one left and that went to Ireland.I have a copy of the fitting instruction up the loft some were,i will have a look.A few pictures of the before and after.It was featured in Land rover owner international December 2010 Toby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Drake Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Hi all, Found this pic of a Lightweight with Makrolon VPK on something called Land Rover Madness. May help with the knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Fantasic job there Toby! Do you know the all up weight? Got to be pushing over 3tons Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbster Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Paul, that's another one for the research folder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 just spotted this on milweb http://www.milweb.net/webverts/56233/ Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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