Xmas Shopping

Have just got back from the Trafford Centre and couldn't resist posting this picture of a display in Selfridges!

Servicing - Props & UJs - Part2

Well it took me a few weeks to get around to it, but I took the front prop off, put the difflock on, and took for a drive. And, what do you know the vibration, went!

Greased the prop and put it back on (torqued the nuts to 45Nm)...am going to replace it in a couple of weeks with a new TD5 prop (bigger yokes I believe) and change the UJs on the old prop at my leisure - it never hurts to have a spare.

Air Filter Support Bobbins

All four of the air filter mounting bobbins had sheared, so the filter casing was bouncing around, making a right old noise.  So replacement bobbins were ordered and I got around to fitting them today. It's not a difficult job but is a bit fiddly.

I loosened the Jubilee clips, removed the air intake and outlet pipes and then removed the air filter housing.

I then removed what was left of the old bobbins before fitting the new ones to the bottom of the filter housing.

 

This was then flipped over and refitted. A little washing up liquid helped with refitting the pipes.

Servicing - Props & UJs

Since her chassis swap Sally has had an annoying vibration resonating through the chassis at about 40 - 50 in fifth gear. The forum consensus is that it is probably a faulty UJ or prop.

So today my quest to track down the annoying noise starts with giving the UJs and prop splines a good greasing.

The only problem is I have taken off the air filter why I await new support bobbins so it will be a day or two before I can take her for a test drive.

Chassis Swap - Wheel Bearing

After discovering the grinding noise (rear, drivers side) I asked some questions on the forums and came to the conclusion it likely to be the wheel bearing. So a pair of new wheel bearing kits were ordered from Brookwells. These include Timken wheel bearings (STC4382) and a choice of oil seals, gaskets and locking washers. I also ordered a new set of Terrafirma shocks (not big bore this time) and a 52mm deep socket for the hub nuts.

I unbolted the drive flange and pulled out the half-shaft (flange and half-shaft are a single item on my 90). I removed the outer hub nut, locking washer and inner locking nut then removed the hub.

I laid the parts out in the order I removed them for reference. I (carefully) used a screwdriver to drift out the old tracks.  I used a grinder with metal cutting disk to cut a slot out of one of the tracks so it could be used as a drift to fit the new tracks.

I then greased the new bearings, cleaned up the stub axle and put it back together again.

Notice the cats cradle of paracord holding the brake calliper out of the way. After putting the hub back together I swapped out the rear shocks and took her for a drive - the grinding noises have now gone.

Chassis Swap - Shock Absorbers - Part2

So after a test drive I'm getting slight grating noise from the front end.  A little investigation reveals that the Terrafirma Big Bores are grinding against the Terrafirma shock towers.

Chassis Swap - ROW Exhaust - Part5

Just got a call from the Fedex guy saying the Bosal tailpipe will come at lunchtime.

The new tailpipe arrived and I fitted it.  It is better quality than the one it replaced but still fouled the rear tank bracket.

Now I'm not sure why the exhaust bracket should fowl the chassis - the exhaust is designed for a rear tank.  Maybe the front pipe is slightly longer than it should be causing the back section to be an inch or so further back than it should be, or maybe the tank bracket is different on the 300 Tdi than the Td5, or maybe the chassis is out.

Whatever the problem there are only a couple of things I can do.  Either get a custom made exhaust pipe or cut a bit off the chassis.

Well since I cannot afford another new exhaust, and since I will not be needing a rear tanks for a long while, I cut a section of the tank bracket away.  Not ideal but it can always be welded back in place at some point in the future.

Conclusion:  After all the research and hunting for parts the ROW spec exhaust is still not right,,,so my advice is, if you want to fit a rear tank into a 300Tdi 90, get a good quality custom pipe made to fit!

And finally, I took her for a drive -  only to find that the noise of the exhaust rubbing on the chassis had been masking grinding noises from the front and from the rear drivers side.  I think the noise from the back is a wheel bearing going - oh joy!

Rock-sliders - Part1

My old rock-sliders were getting a bit rusty so I decided to replace them with some Terrafirma Galvanised items.

Now I'm not keen on the look of galvanised parts so I will them a couple of coats of Hammerite special metals primer and a couple of coats of Hammerite satin black metal paint.  Don't know how well this will stick but I have nothing to lose.















The Terrafirma sliders seem good quality and weigh in at 33Kg (according to the box) so are not lightweight.

Chassis Swap - ROW Exhaust - Part4

So the new tail pipe was ordered and I got a call this morning from the Fedex guy...the exhaust will be there around lunchtime...Around lunchtime I get a call...the exhaust has been recalled!

I got onto the supplier who said they had dispatched the wrong part...or more precisely the right part to someone else and their pipe to me.

Mine should be here in a few days.

Chassis Swap - She's Back

Collected Sally today!  After a couple of hours on the train, Paul picked me up at the station and we drove over to his unit to settle up and collect any of the remaining bits that I wanted to take home with me.  So after the deal was I done I started the drive home from south Yorkshire back to civilisation (Lancashire that is).  On the motorway she happily cruised st 70 - the new bushes and shocks made her more stable and she now feels much happier when driving at speed.  The new clutch is an improvement and the brakes don't squeak any more.

Near home there is a twisty section of road so I decided to give her some beans to see how she performed.

...And then there was an almighty noise.  I pulled over find the problem.  The exhaust had gone twang and repositioned itself rubbing against the new rear tank brackets.

I jammed some cardboard between the chassis and the exhaust and limped back home at at about 20mph.

Now Richards are famed for their accurate chassis, but now matter how I tried to reposition the exhaust I could not get a satisfactory fit.

My conclusion is that the cheap tailpipe is likely be the problem so I ordered a Bosal replacement part and crossed my fingers.

Also saw the old chassis being chopped up!

Chassis Swap - Pics02

Paul sent a second batch of pics through today.  He has made loads of progress.

New Automec brake pipes.

New genuine rear springs and Terrafirma big bore shocks.

The Terrafirma tubular shock turrets are looking good.

As does the shiny black rear crossmember.

Is that a new crank seal I see before me?

Chassis Swap - Pics01

Paul Marsden (Richards Chassis recommended installer) sent me his first batch of pics tonight.  Everything is going well so far.

Chassis Swap - Starts Today

Took the Landy up to Paul Marsden's Unit today, it is next door to Richards Chassis so that solves the problem of delivery charges.  Paul has promised me some photos, so I will up load them when they arrive.
Just have to cope without my car for a couple of weeks :(

Chassis Swap - Painting the Suspension Parts

So it is Sunday, and I'm giving the new galvanised suspension bits a final coat of smooth Hammerite.

I used Hammerite Special Metals Primer first (so hopefully the paint will stick) and then gave the parts about three thin brushed on coats of black.  The smooth paint does not cover very well but it seems pretty tough when you get it in place.

Chassis Swap - ROW Exhaust - Part3

Finally fitted the exhaust.  The parts I ended up needing were:

1 - ESR4526
2 - ESR4527
3 - ESR2087
5 - ESR3294
6 - ESR3172


The exhaust hangers 3 and 5 were already on the chassis and part
4 - ESR2131 turned out to be completely wrong - dont know how LR have managed it but that bracket is about six inches too small to be of any use.


Instead I used the bracket bought from YRM metal solutions.  Unfortunately, I still don't know the LR part number.


This centre exhaust bracket is fitted to the chassis crossmember using two M8 Rivnuts fastened into the two drain holes highlighted below.

Or at least that is how the bracket is supposed to be fitted.  I don't have a Rivnut tool so I drilled an extra hole in the crossmember and put in a plate with two captive nuts.  I am not sure if I like the thought of blocking the drain holes even in a galvanised chassis so I will ask Paul Marsden what he thinks when Sally goes into his garage next week.

It might be my imagination but I think the new exhaust is fractionally quieter than the last one.    

My only concern is that it seems quite close to the A Frame.

When I see Paul next week I will ask about this as well.

News - DC100 Concept Soft-top Revealed at Frankfurt

In a surprise move JLR released a preview of the soft-top version of the DC100 concept.

First reactions.....I think is a good looking and desirable vehicle...Is it a Defender....No!

And, of course more views of the hardtop were revealed...

At the presentation, a somewhat defensive, Gerry McGovern said, "We have no desire to imitate our past, we will design a Defender that is relevant to the 21st century...a vehicle that is firmly looking forward..."

Sorry Gerry, but that little speech you gave sounded like a direct dig at the sort of customer that have kept Land Rover going for decades.

Now where did I put that Jeep brochure...