Roaming Wombat
Well-Known Member
What I've been doing today, first day of my week off .. 
The Landrover drivers side floor finally needed doing. I didn't mind the wind through it so much, but when the mud splashed halfway up the inside of the door and window I took it as a sign ... I Also fixed the window so it now both opens and closes with my will, (and a handle) not it's own. The outrigger's been repaired before so that'll get plated, depending on what the hammer reveals. Chassis seems good so far, ****ted it a few times and it still rings, only the outrigger top was dull thudding. Bracketry and all nuts and bolts will need replacing, but no worries, I expected that.
Forced in through inclement weather ..
The Landrover drivers side floor finally needed doing. I didn't mind the wind through it so much, but when the mud splashed halfway up the inside of the door and window I took it as a sign ... I Also fixed the window so it now both opens and closes with my will, (and a handle) not it's own. The outrigger's been repaired before so that'll get plated, depending on what the hammer reveals. Chassis seems good so far, ****ted it a few times and it still rings, only the outrigger top was dull thudding. Bracketry and all nuts and bolts will need replacing, but no worries, I expected that.
Forced in through inclement weather ..
Haven't got much done at all. As soon as I have enough time to get the welder and tools out I get sent back in by the rain ... the temporary rain cover is my old Disco rubber boot liner! Got a bit more done, the crap was cut away, new bits cut to suit and some welding done. Now bolting it all together, seam-sealing, and painting to do .. with any luck it'll be finished tomorrow ..
Can't believe my luck with the Landrover, two steps forwards, five back. Last bit of welding and on the engine bay side of the bulkhead base is a layer of 'flame retardent' foam ... 'cept it ain't!! It set alight and quickly got to the main nest of wiring, so again I'm gonna have to strip it out, but it looks like the main loom this time, not just accessories.
So ****ed at it right now ...
So ****ed at it right now ...
Wiring finally sorted ..
topcat (Tim) sorted it, top electrician .. A few new connectors, a bit of electrickery magic and stuff works. It also seems I was mistaken, the fire was on only the engine side of the bulkhead. I was scared to touch it and waited for Tim to do his magic, hence why it's took so long, I didn't ask him till last night .. )
All lights, systems and stuff just works .. Happy again. Forgot to take pics of the floor and other stuff I've also been fixing so I'll do that tomorrow whilst I'm also fixing a few other minor things ..
First is a 'before' pic with the fuel filter moved, second is 'after' ..
topcat (Tim) sorted it, top electrician .. A few new connectors, a bit of electrickery magic and stuff works. It also seems I was mistaken, the fire was on only the engine side of the bulkhead. I was scared to touch it and waited for Tim to do his magic, hence why it's took so long, I didn't ask him till last night .. )
All lights, systems and stuff just works .. Happy again. Forgot to take pics of the floor and other stuff I've also been fixing so I'll do that tomorrow whilst I'm also fixing a few other minor things ..
First is a 'before' pic with the fuel filter moved, second is 'after' ..
Follow up to the fire ...
I hadn't realised 'cos I'd not driven far, but the diesel fuel gauge wasn't working. I couldn't remember whether it had stopped working before or after the fire, and couldn't fault the re-wiring, 'cos so much else worked perfectly, where it had been a tad hit 'n miss previously. So yesterday I finally fixed it! Now that's after spending two other full days trying to test the fuel gauge, the sender unit, the wiring and connections and earths .. All with varying results 'cos there are so many variants of fuel sender/gauge etc etc and very few on t'interwebby that directly related to mine. I had a wiring diagram but that was mostly out of the window 'cos a lot of wires don't match up in colour at all .. previous owners (10) perhaps ...
Any road up, it seems we got one wire wrong in one connector ... a Green with Black trace from the sender had been wired to a Green and black trace going into the bulkhead, all seemed fine. However, it appears there are two Green with black trace wires coming out my bulkhead .. so I simply swapped the connector pins et voila! the gauge now works. I'd honestly checked everything with no luck and no further idea other than replacing sender and gauge and all wiring, but suddenly, as I was close to packing in, I was sat in the engine bay, as you do, with the bonnet tied up vertically, just looking at stuff and noticed a separate Green/black wire. To say a light came on is understatement ...
Every light, gauge and electrical thing is (as of yesterday evening, not checked today) totally working.
............. (Apart from when I go into Low-box the alternator/charge light comes on and flickers, but it's always bee like that! .. if anyone has any ideas) ...........
I don't expect the totally working thing to last, but I'm so happy, despite the time it took to find such a simple fix ...
I hadn't realised 'cos I'd not driven far, but the diesel fuel gauge wasn't working. I couldn't remember whether it had stopped working before or after the fire, and couldn't fault the re-wiring, 'cos so much else worked perfectly, where it had been a tad hit 'n miss previously. So yesterday I finally fixed it! Now that's after spending two other full days trying to test the fuel gauge, the sender unit, the wiring and connections and earths .. All with varying results 'cos there are so many variants of fuel sender/gauge etc etc and very few on t'interwebby that directly related to mine. I had a wiring diagram but that was mostly out of the window 'cos a lot of wires don't match up in colour at all .. previous owners (10) perhaps ...
Any road up, it seems we got one wire wrong in one connector ... a Green with Black trace from the sender had been wired to a Green and black trace going into the bulkhead, all seemed fine. However, it appears there are two Green with black trace wires coming out my bulkhead .. so I simply swapped the connector pins et voila! the gauge now works. I'd honestly checked everything with no luck and no further idea other than replacing sender and gauge and all wiring, but suddenly, as I was close to packing in, I was sat in the engine bay, as you do, with the bonnet tied up vertically, just looking at stuff and noticed a separate Green/black wire. To say a light came on is understatement ...
Every light, gauge and electrical thing is (as of yesterday evening, not checked today) totally working.
............. (Apart from when I go into Low-box the alternator/charge light comes on and flickers, but it's always bee like that! .. if anyone has any ideas) ...........
I don't expect the totally working thing to last, but I'm so happy, despite the time it took to find such a simple fix ...
So, the story continues .. The totally working thing continued .. until the transfer box, I thought, didn't!
Handbrake drum kept coming loose as did the prop nuts, and the big nut holding the flange into the rear transfer output. Tightened it up a couple of times but it still came loose, so removed the oil, new seal, new felt washer, new thick washer and new big nut and job's a good un' ... but the thing still clanks when moving slowly in reverse.
I now suspect the rear diff ... which I setup myself so figure I must have done something wrong. Not happy ...
Waiting for new prop bolts and nuts before I go any further and a few other bits and bobs ... like even more oil and suchlike ...
Handbrake drum kept coming loose as did the prop nuts, and the big nut holding the flange into the rear transfer output. Tightened it up a couple of times but it still came loose, so removed the oil, new seal, new felt washer, new thick washer and new big nut and job's a good un' ... but the thing still clanks when moving slowly in reverse.
I now suspect the rear diff ... which I setup myself so figure I must have done something wrong. Not happy ...
Waiting for new prop bolts and nuts before I go any further and a few other bits and bobs ... like even more oil and suchlike ...
Heheheh, all good now ...
It cost a new Transfer box flange, an X-Eng disk conversion and general fettling/replacing/lubricating .. Oh, and new hubs, bearings etc etc ..
Nothing to do with the rear diff, the output flange was cracked and I reckon in use was opening up and slipping splines, thus loosening 'everything' .. The prop/flange nuts were also not tightening properly, when I took the flange off again to check stuff it took a while to notice, but the heads had been welded onto the flange, with no circlip, and had broken off again. So at the same time I've replaced the flange, the bearing, seal, and all other replaceable bits in that area. Then, to make sure, I also stripped the rear prop down to find no grease at all in the splines lower down, but fine by the nipple. So cleaned the crusty mud out, toothbrush helped, but tasted awful afterwards. Re-greased it at the bottom and along the splines and it now expands and contracts as it should, which has to help! The rear diff is as nice as it should be so did nothing to it except replace, as usual, the EP90, 'cos I've also replaced the rear hubs, calipers, wheel bearings etc, effectively an almost full rear drivetrain refurb. No clunking (yet) but it ain't been laning either ..
X-eng disc conversion just works. Second hand, can't afford new, so cleaned up, greased the spring, new pads etc and job's another good 'un!
Just need to re-bleed the brakes now 'cos although they bled up and felt great when I finished the axle bits, someone left the master cylinder cap off and on the first test drive, we lost a bit of fluid! (It wasn't me!) so the first press is a mite spongy!
It cost a new Transfer box flange, an X-Eng disk conversion and general fettling/replacing/lubricating .. Oh, and new hubs, bearings etc etc ..
Nothing to do with the rear diff, the output flange was cracked and I reckon in use was opening up and slipping splines, thus loosening 'everything' ..
The prop/flange nuts were also not tightening properly, when I took the flange off again to check stuff it took a while to notice, but the heads had been welded onto the flange, with no circlip, and had broken off again. So at the same time I've replaced the flange, the bearing, seal, and all other replaceable bits in that area. Then, to make sure, I also stripped the rear prop down to find no grease at all in the splines lower down, but fine by the nipple. So cleaned the crusty mud out, toothbrush helped, but tasted awful afterwards. Re-greased it at the bottom and along the splines and it now expands and contracts as it should, which has to help! The rear diff is as nice as it should be so did nothing to it except replace, as usual, the EP90, 'cos I've also replaced the rear hubs, calipers, wheel bearings etc, effectively an almost full rear drivetrain refurb. No clunking (yet) but it ain't been laning either .. X-eng disc conversion just works. Second hand, can't afford new, so cleaned up, greased the spring, new pads etc and job's another good 'un!
Just need to re-bleed the brakes now 'cos although they bled up and felt great when I finished the axle bits, someone left the master cylinder cap off and on the first test drive, we lost a bit of fluid! (It wasn't me!) so the first press is a mite spongy!
Latest update to this thing ..
A swingaway wheel carrier. Not the 'standard' Mantec style, but one meant for a pick-up or drop down tail gate. Dirt cheap off ebay, £30, it needed a little fettling and I'm sure will (already does) need a few tweaks and/or welds the first few drives out with it, but it works. Happy days ..
The door now shuts so much more easily !!
A swingaway wheel carrier. Not the 'standard' Mantec style, but one meant for a pick-up or drop down tail gate. Dirt cheap off ebay, £30, it needed a little fettling and I'm sure will (already does) need a few tweaks and/or welds the first few drives out with it, but it works. Happy days ..
The door now shuts so much more easily !!
Coffee Addict
Active Member
Just read through, good little read and the truck looks great
Yeah, much productivity in mind ...
New Argon mix for welding just delivered, well, a couple of days ago, as opposed to the older, smaller, CO2 pub gas, which emptied itself too quickly ... Happy.
I have a few 'project' ideas ..
<Note to self> Must remember to turn this one off properly ..
Can't fault the company for 'hobby gas' use .. 5% Argon £4 month bottle rental, £18 gas refill, £12 handling, can't fault that really, but then I ain't a big user and dunno how much I 'should' pay, and there is a depot I can get refills at within 5 miles so no handling charges. I know BOC weren't interested in supplying at all ...
New Argon mix for welding just delivered, well, a couple of days ago, as opposed to the older, smaller, CO2 pub gas, which emptied itself too quickly ... Happy.
I have a few 'project' ideas ..
<Note to self> Must remember to turn this one off properly ..
Can't fault the company for 'hobby gas' use .. 5% Argon £4 month bottle rental, £18 gas refill, £12 handling, can't fault that really, but then I ain't a big user and dunno how much I 'should' pay, and there is a depot I can get refills at within 5 miles so no handling charges. I know BOC weren't interested in supplying at all ...
