fishsponge's ongoing thread of problems!

[jamesmartin]

i wasnt asking for money just your old parts back in exchange if it takes 1/2 an hour your slacking

 

[fishsponge]

I might take you up on the offer soon in that case... I still need to find time though... even if it takes 30 minutes, i've never done it before, so i need to do it on a day when I have some spare time just in case.

If I have to leave for work at 09:00, for example, I shouldn't start it at 08:30 the same morning!

So anyway, are you saying you will send me a new rocker box cover and cyclone breather, all working and ready to be fitted, and when i've fitted it, i'll send you my old one and that'll be the end of it?

And is it just the rocker box cover and breather that you'd send? i.e. undo breather pipes, take the filler cap off, remove rubber engine cover, undo 8 bolts or so, lift rocker box cover off, lower new rocker box cover into place, put bolts back in, then reattach breather hoses?

It's not quite that simple with my motorcycle, so it'd be good to know if it really is that simple with a 300Tdi!

I'll have a look in the Haynes when I get home too.

 

[jamesmartin]

ill send you 1 used rocker cover with cyclone remove rubber cover 3 x securing nuts ,1 pipe at in front of cyclone 2 on cyclone

 

[fishsponge]

well that's very good of you james! I'll have a look at the bolts etc... tonight and make sure nothing is seized etc... and make sure i'm happy to do such a job (it can't be that hard), and let ya know either tonight or tomorrow!

Seems like a lot of effort to send a rocker cover and cyclone breather over to me just cos I can't find a bolt though, if ya know what I mean... really appreciated though! Wish there were more people in the world as generous as yourself!

 

[jamesmartin]

i know what its like to struggle im putting my light weight back together at moment since its been a year or 2 in bits some have got lost and alot of time spent searching for stuff ,thats someone has probably kicking about with no use for that stops you going further with other stuff ,i have a good deal of bits kicking about (not light weight unfortuneatly) that if it helps someone without hurting me then why not ,300 box may come in handy some day so thats why i need yours back

 

[fishsponge]

well, thank you for the offer, james!

will i need a rocker box gasket from somewhere as well?

Also, how much will it cost to post the rocker cover with all the bits (if you have a clue)? I know you don't want any money for the stuff, but i'll have to post back the old rocker cover, of course...

 

[jamesmartin]

if your saving pennies just put a thin bead of silicone around edge of old one it will work clean off with petrol first or something like brake cleaner, just post back old bits in jiffy bag

 

[fishsponge]

it'll be one hell of a jiffy bag to hold a rocker cover, won't it?!? I've never seen one that big. I'll see what I can do though.

As for the bead of silicone, will any silicone do? Is all silicone sealant heat resistant to those extremes? I have some clear silicone suitable for external use (UV resistant etc... which I stuck the CB aerial to the side of the windscreen with), and also some anti-bacterial, white bathroom sealant.

 

[jamesmartin]

yes that silicone should do i dont think you need to worry about mould spots ,price postage up if tricky i get it collected

 

[fishsponge]

OK... i think i'll go ahead, please!

If you could send me the stuff, that'd be fantastic!

I'll get the rocker cover and cyclone breather swapped over as soon as I can and send you the old ones back.

Do you still have my address from last time, or would you like me to PM it to you again?

 

[jamesmartin]

send me your address again i cleared out my messages as was full

 

[*minty*]

send me your address again i cleared out my messages as was full

didnt think you was that popular :bolt:

 

[jamesmartin]

why didnt ya think that

 

[fishsponge]

Right........... while i wait for jamesmartin to ship me a new rocker cover and cyclone breather, let's talk tyres & wheels!

My tyres are starting to get low, so I'm gonna need some new ones soon.

I have 16" 'Freestyle' alloys with 245/75R16 tyres. It's also had a 2" lift and no bodywork cut away (not even the camel cut).

I've read the thread about tyre sizes and what mods are needed etc... but I still have a few questions...

Can I put wider tyres on these alloy rims?

Can I sell the alloy rims and buy a set of offset steels with the money? Will I have any cash left over if I do so?

Can I fit offset steels with no modifications and therefore have wider tyres? If so, how wide?

I do not want to use spacers. I've heard they *can* cause problems and would rather steer clear.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[fishsponge]

I've done a little digging on this one and phoned "4x4tyres.com" (no idea how reputable they are, but Google threw them up first).

Please read their thoughts below and tell me if it's all true...

They think that on my 16" Freestyle alloys, I should be able to fit 265 tyres with no problem.

If I fit 265/75 tyres I might have to adjust the suspension bump stops, but if I fit 265/70 tyres they will be close enough diameter to my 245/75 tyres right now that it won't make any difference.

Now a few questions for you guys...

If I fit 265 tyres instead of 245 tyres, will I need to roll up or cut the wheel arches to give more room?

Will I need the wheel arches to stick out further to cover the width of the tyre?

If I fit 265/75 tyres instead of more 245/75 tyres like I already have, will my miles per gallon drop significantly or not by much?

Would you recommend staying with 245 tyres instead of 265 tyres for any reason?

Also, I said I do a lot of road miles, but want the tyres to be damn good off road too. My current tyres have a mud-terrain tread, but not an extreme one, and it's perfect for me, despite the road miles I do.

My current tyres are LT245/75R16 "Hankook Dynamic MT" and i'd basically like the same again, but as cheaply as possible! Recommendations welcome, and places to buy them from.

Oh, and is it worth selling my Freestyle alloys and buying a set of steels with the money?

 

[fishsponge]

Right... having had another look at Disco Tire Fitting Guide it seems despite what 4x4tyres.co.uk said, 265/75R16 tyres *will* need further modifications to my car.

It looks like 265/75 tyres are therefore not an option.

How about 265/70 tyres though? Do they even exist?

 

[fishsponge]

Yet another post from me, just to show my current tyres.

Basically, i'd like something exactly like this, but wider! Wheels and tyres, with all the possible combinations, is a minefield, so possible solutions are gratefully received!

First of all, my spare tyre...

And its tread...

Now for my front-right tyre...

And it's tread...

As I said... I'm after something just like this, but ideally wider, maybe on steels if it's cheaper if i sell the alloys. I don't mind cutting away bodywork or adjusting bump stops if need be, but i'd like to retain the articulation.

Oh, and I have rock sliders, so they cannot be trimmed.

Finally... worst case is that if it all gets too complicated or expensive, I can always leave the alloys on and just buy 4x Hankook Dynamic MT RT03 tyres. I have RT01 tyres on there at the moment, but they are being phased out by the new RT03 tyre. They are around £120 each inc. VAT and would then need fitting, of course (unless I could do it myself somehow!).

Also, they make the RT03 tyre in 245/75R16 and 265/70R16, which is good to know. I believe both will fit on the "Freestyle" alloy wheel...

 

[Mr Noisy]

i say fit 31x10.5x15

pick up some cheapo 8 spoke 15" steels and a set of used tyres will be easy ti find and cheap as chips.

needs camel cut and front bumper trim, maybe a little extra trim on the rear arch.

cheap, full articulation, looks good, drives good : all good.

 

[fishsponge]

as a rough guide, what kinda price are we talking for that solution?

Keeping the alloys and replacing my tyres for exactly the same again is going to cost £480 inc. VAT...

 

[Mr Noisy]

ebay, set of second hand 8 spokes: 50 quid

ebay, set of second hand 31x10.5: 100-250 depending

new tyres, 350-400 depending

better solution all round IMO and easily cheaper.