Killajoules Series 80" upgrade project

KJ not sure where I'll finish tomorrow but if its anywhere near Hemel which is semi likely don't mind offering 15 mins but I will have to shoot as ingot a load on J

Hi Stu, I will go up tonight around half 6 (just need to get home and changed, I know Thurs is Rangey night but if you could pop up for 10 minutes that would probably be enough.

If not I think I will try loosening up the front suspension bolts to see which ones will be difficult.

Cheers Jai, I will be up there for a while too on Friday (the 80 is at a friends in KL) so even if you just fancy a quick chat that would be great fella

Got nights next week on the rangy. Will give you a ring just want to put the front wings on and maybe have another quick look at the gearbox wiring then will pop up, about 7-7.30.

Started again this morning. Even with djdommyp we could not shift the bolt, so out with the grinder and cutting disk.

A trip round the local motor factors could not procure a new bolt however we were then ponted at the local agricultural dealers "Olivers"

£1.41 later and the spring is on:






Interestingly Jones supplied me with all the U bolts, obviously they were 1 short of the full complement, so this one is even longer than the others!

Well I am awaiting a new brake guard from Dale Radford so when once thats installed I will then chop the ends off.



This is how the wheels rear wheels were prior to the new springs



This is how high the rear now sits after a quick spin to settle the springs.

Unfortunatly it now has raised the height so the roof scrapes the garage door when squeezing in

Bang goes the idea of the 235/85x16s then



The offending bolt still in the old spring.



Well tomorrow I may have a go at the front springs and see if they are going to fight me or not

Glad to see you got it done, who served you at Olivers, Nathan or Gary?

The larger of the two chaps there if that helps

KillaJoules said:

The larger of the two chaps there if that helps

Click to expand...

That's Nathan, he is the stores manager. Can't you alter the garage door to make it fit? Fit doors not up and over?

Just got in myself spitfire and me have put some hours into my lol 80 inch. The rear x member and chassis all good on near side. new rear spring mount welded on that side and bottom chassis plate on other side tacked in. Tomorrow is a day doing shiny stuff to his 88 rebuild and putting 2 wheels back on the my car transporter with new bearings and seals.

Back on the 80 inch Monday all day and possibly Tuesday. Btw britpart packaged rear spring mounts n bush wasnt great. The bush bolt hole is slightly too small!! No burrs, even took a round file to it very carefully and still couldn't get the bolt in. FFS!!

All done now tho!!

LOL Jai, I know what you mean about the bushes, fortunately I got the Springs from Jones and the bushes are the corrct diameter.

Most of the U-Bolts as you can see were all extremely long, especially as the springs are not as deep as the originals.

On the front I was being lazy and used the torque driver but I only had a short socket so I had to do the nuts up, angle grind the threads off, do them up again, chop off more thread, then do them up tightly then the battery ran out, and as usual the other batteries and chargers were at home.

One of the dumb iron bolts had me worried but sheared off when I started to turn the nut, fortunately The rest of the bolt tapped out relatively easilly with a lump hammer.

So at the moment I have a smaller bolt in the front until I source a new spring bolt today.


Anyway the pics:

Front N/S removed, this was the one where the bolt sheared leaving mw with that worried feeling of whether the bolt would be stuck in the tube, fortunately not.





I confess the only bolt I have not undone and removed is the N/S chassis shackle bolt as the nut is behind the exhaust which I dont want to disturb. That said I really ought to slacken off the bolt to settle the spring when I replace the front bolt Prior to tightening all the suspension bolts.



Both springs nicely in place



Note the trimmed down U-Bolts, with luck I wont need to undo them for a LONG time.



The fornt now stands pertly to attention. Indeed you now have to climb up into the 80 as it stands much taller. As for the test drive, WOW, what an experience, going over uneven surfaces its bounces and soaks up the holes instead of crashing onto the bumpstops at the slightes crack in the tarmac.



It still squeezes under the up and over garage door on the 205x16s in fact now the front is raised too it goes in slightly easier than when just the rears were done.



Just awaiting the new brake guards to pop onto the back axle before I trim the U-Bolts there.

All in all a satisfying weekend of grtting grubby.

Next I want to the the towbar on and tackle the fuel tank replacement.

Just arrived at the office this morning




Sweeeet !!!!!!

Found a great little Land Rover business near my work called Alex Engineering from whom I managed to aquire a nice new oront spring bolt. Fitted it this evening

So all I need now are axle check straps and maybe new shocks

Finally got the BSF screws I needed to fit the towbar so now that is fitted I can pop a towball on

Hi KJ

Saw you yesterday driving past Hemel town centre in the 80 looked great shooting around in the sun!

Hi Jai, I take it you were in the eurobox as I obviously didn't see you, I try keep an eye out for Stu but he is usally in his silver car too.

Yes its great fun, the springs are really excellent, I think I need to get the tracking adjusted as the steering is still monstrously heavy.

Sadly today I had to take the 110 for its service in Aylesbury, they gave me a bloomin Focus !! not used to these car thingies, too small.

I have marked various filters etc just to see if they have changed them after all its Stratstones

Got a bit paranoid about the axle articulation, prop angle and shocks on the rear so i ordered some axle straps from Cr******s along with new plates and some screws.

The first delivery was lost by DPD in never never land so Crad***s sent out somew replacements.

Fitted them On Saturday prior to the Roundhill trial along with the new brake shield.

There is still one screw stuck in the chassis, but I did not have a drill or my stud extractors with me so I need to fix that soon.



Then off to play in the woods.



As for the fuel tank replacement, well that has been facilitated by the wrecking of the outrigger.

I have ordered a new one so when the existing one is axed off I will be able to get the small tank out intact.

Joules the outrigger Looked pretty mangled and your door handle but that's what these landies are for!!

I drove the tyro course real steady I the old mans disco and managed to erm well catch a tree dispite my paranoia about not causing any damage!! Diff lock on his disco is fubar'd and I don't think I'll ever drive a disco again it's horrible!!! Especially when it's not yours!!! Dispite all that was a good fun day!!!

Djdommy looked like you were all enjoying it!!! Jai

Look what arrived at work today :5bsmash:

Just to say, I got the lads at Alex Engineering to replace the outrigger last week, and with it install the new tank and guard.

We now have a fuel guage (after earthing the tank) that works

I will post a couple of piccies soon when I get the 80" out of the garage.

Also have sourced a good set of second hand BFG A/T to go onto the 8 spokes which I hope to have fitted soon

Supprised the i30 isn't at Graces and you are using the 80 for work.

Oh balls!!!

Forgot to check that gearbox out KJ will look tomorrow night

If he wants it as a one to refurb £25 assuming its a SIII