Complete exhaust replacement + other niggles, Questions + Pics

Hello! As stated in the introduce section of the forums, I have bought this dog of a Freelander that needs a little TLC.


Things it needs / needed :

Tyres (have replaced all 4)
Exhaust : Originally It only needed a new centrepipe + backbox.
Propshaft fitting back on (currently 2wd)
Chrome runners bolting back on
Brakes / handbrake want looking at (decent looking pads in front) will remove the front splash guard things as they are rotten.
Interior needs a good scrub here / there.

AND FINALLY. An MOT

I have ground down the nuts holding the centre pipe to the cat as there was no real nut left to put a socket on .
Now i have 3 studs stuck in the cat! I have tried heating with a blowtoutch + air impact hammer to no avail here!
I have tried to unbolt the cat the other side as the bolts look almost ok, However this just pulls the exhaust around on the flexi / rubber, and i could not get an impact gun on the nuts due to it being too bulky!

I have just bought a new cat + down pipe which will be arriving later this week. Figured I might as well since they didnt look to clever already (Yes I had given up by this point!!

The exhaust is the main job I want to focus on right now. I am looking for is just a little info on removing the down pipe from the manifold, as the car is located at the other halfs and I am only there on weekends! So I'm just looking to clue myself up before I get there, Any help or info/ pics would be really helpfull.

Some pics of the car before / after .. Why not (actually quite impressed how well it came up)!


Cleaned out the boot / back seats
Then the whole car.

She came up well! Studs are probably part of the cat so wont be removed. What eninge is it?

It is the 2.0 TD. The studs looked to be pressed in or on some splines? Was considering drilling them out, however, lost patience & for what its worth, I bought the cat / down pipe to replace

looking good! I quite like the colour..

Ditto scrubbing up nice! How comes you didn't get the exhaust shipped to the other half and get her to fit it before you get there at the weekend?

You'll probably be in for a recon IRD and VCU. People don't remove the prop for economy - its cos the transmission is shagged.

The original prop was removed due to a failed VCU which in turn ruined the rear diff bushes & ended up breaking the rear diff! so it goes.

A new diff was fitted & 2nd hand prop ordered but never got fitted, So i am hoping it will just be a case of bolt up and 4wd!

Looks really good, top job!
Would look even better with black bumpers, roof-rails and a lift kit

Hope the IRD is good. The L series isn't very tolerant of bad VCUs, although mine lasted for 150k on the same one!

you will never hammer the bolts out properly while still on the car ,there is to much play you needed to take it off then have a go but as said you have already brought one good luck with the car.

Black Bumpers would be cool! I have tried some plastic bumper renovator, but they just go a little darker grey.. and then after a couple of hours, they go back to this light grey! Can't be bothered with painting them

Need to go look up what an IRD is now.. !

Sevdawg said:

Black Bumpers would be cool! I have tried some plastic bumper renovator, but they just go a little darker grey.. and then after a couple of hours, they go back to this light grey! Can't be bothered with painting them

Need to go look up what an IRD is now.. !

Click to expand...

Black boot polish is the cheapest way to turn your bumpers black. Get it warm first then rub it in with a soft cloth. Lasts for ages and is water repellant. Only 99p a tin
Mike

Sevdawg said:

Black Bumpers would be cool! I have tried some plastic bumper renovator, but they just go a little darker grey.. and then after a couple of hours, they go back to this light grey! Can't be bothered with painting them

Need to go look up what an IRD is now.. !

Click to expand...

IRD = Intermediate Reduction Drive, it's the bit the front of the propshaft bolts on to.
It has a pinion gear that can get damaged when the VCU gets too stiff.

Sevdawg said:

Black Bumpers would be cool! I have tried some plastic bumper renovator, but they just go a little darker grey.. and then after a couple of hours, they go back to this light grey! Can't be bothered with painting them

Need to go look up what an IRD is now.. !

Click to expand...

Intermediate Reduction Drive. It's what makes a 2WD Rover gearbox into 4WD for the Freelander. If the VCU has stiffened, the IRD normally takes a beating.

Doh beaten to it :doh: