It's hilarious isn't it. Like the re-chassis and body rebuild, you probably wouldn't do it if you
really knew what was involved.
But then once you've done it, it doesn't seem so bad. I'm currently going through the pain of uncertainty in doing this for the first time. The first time means lots to worry about, such as missing out key jobs, mounting expense, time pressures and so on.
The time pressure thing is one I can very much relate too. I took some time out to do a load of welding to SWMBO's D1, and it was hard to do an unknown size job, within a specified time. I pulled a few all nighters to get it done for its MOT, but I did it, An engine rebuild is harder in some ways, but the knowledge on this forum is immense, and the help is freely given, and it restores some of my faith in humanity that this is the case. A significant advantage is, of course that the LR manuals are also freely available. With hindsight, I'd rather do an engine rebuild - Oh, crap,
what have I said!!
. Keep at it - and post some piccies up of your journals.....
I'm hoping that the new metal I've fitted will last at least as long as LR's original - which will mean that its good for another 20 years!! I doubt this is possible with anything but the earlier LR's .....
I'd also like to reinforce what folk have said above regarding measurement. IME, a second hand M&W micrometer, properly set up will last longer than any of us, and be significantly more accurate, and repeatably so than any electronic "device", chinese or otherwise. This is not to say that the digital caliper does not have its place, it's just that they are limited - and the batteries can go flat too - not an issue which afflicts any micrometer !!. ( as you might expect this limitation is is in inverse proportion to the price )
I was out on site yesterday, measuring some pipework up - and I took my cheap (Aldi !) digital calipers to do the job - simply because 1) at £7, it doesn't matter if they get trashed, and 2) I was measuring raw material - not a machined finish. I would be mortified if my fathers M&W's got trashed - plus I don't want the job of replacing them with anything - they have been looked after for a lot of years - and I intend to pass them down too.