One of the things I love about the D2 is that it uses a conventional spring-shock-axle layout, rather than those damned wishbones that are so common these days; I can see
why wishbones are used so extensively but, frankly, I don't think they're the right thing for vehicles that are supposed to be off-road-capable. Call me old-fashioned
Hmm. Diagnostics. I'm currently looking at getting one of those tools; the D3 onwards are fully OBD2 compliant, not so the D2 and before, darnit
Means that I'll have to pay well over the usual odds for a diagnostic tool that'll recognise the fault codes (active on a separate thread on here, on this). Oh well.
Jobs for next year are many and varied, but, In no particular order...
- Procure and fit wheel spacers and extended brakelines. Wind lock stops back in.
(Wagon has a nondescript 2-inch lift kit and 265/75R16 tyres already, requiring the stop locks be wound out to prevent the inside of the tyres from rubbing on the body and struts of the car for MoT purposes. Spacers should alleviate this failing, but will require extended brake lines at the rear. I'll take the opportunity to replace all four lines with steel braided lines, which should also improve braking response noticeably.)
- Procure and fit front winch bumper (with headlight spray-washer fitment facility)
- Procure and fit winch.
- Procure and fit rear steel bumper (to be a dual lifting point bumper). Repair dent in lower nearside rear panel at the same time.
- Procure and fit snorkle.
- Replace failing headlining.
(Darn thing's beginning to sag like a Bedouin's tent in places!)
- Procure and fit beacons & PA system.
- Construct and fit ancillary electrics control box on dash.
(May use Mud Pod enclosure, not sure yet)
- Treat body corrosion and repaint.
- Replace existing antenna mounting on back door with through-body mounting on upper right rear side (NOTE VEHICLE HEIGHT!)
(Folding antenna mount, so as to allow the wagon to get into some height-restricted places, such as multi-story car parks with 2.2m (-ish) clearance!)
- Oh, and perform regular maintenance as well!
Wonder how much of this will actually get done...?!