I'll keep you posted - provided my senile incompetence doesn't wipe me and everyone else off the forum! Venturing into Wales requires a bit of thought - the natives are restless at the moment but Offa's Dyke runs along the edge of my garden so we have a good defensive position.

Well I seem to have found a 2 1/4 5-bearing petrol engine for the old lady, so if it works, the diesel will be available.

I have just bought a two and a quarter, five bearing petrol engine for my 1984 109". My wife is not well enough to be left while I fetch it, so is anyone going that way, please?

Thanks, Joe. Almost certainly a 3-bearing unless it was replaced at some stage. My last 1977 S3 had a 200di fitted (no turbo) and with Range Rover diffs it went like a dream - very much better than the brakes and the steering, so planning ahead for road junctions was essential!

Just how 'ropey' is your petrol engine? I am looking for a 5-bearing one for my 1984 ex-military S3 109. it currently has a very good 2 1/4 diesel but i would like to return it to original if I can do so without breaking the bank.

'fraid not. Even if I knew what it was!

I've had a quick look and can only find, so far, one seat and frame. I'll keep looking as I shuffle stuff around in the garage. If it's any use to you, you are very welcome to it.

It's the same on both tanks, so at least we know where to start looking - where the two join, presumably.

Same on both tanks so the changeover switch has got to be on the list. Thanks.

It does.

1984 ex-army 109 canvas top. The fuel gauge reads full on both tanks as soon as the ignition is turned on. I was advised to get new fuel tank sender units but that made no difference. So I had the senders checked and they work okay according to the electrical resistance thingy they tested them...

I wish I knew!

I don't know about all that high-tech stuff but my 2001 P38A HSE 4.0 improved its mpg by about 5% when I added some of those rare earth pellets you see advertised in the classic car papers. Apparently they put them in the tanks of the Hurricane fighters sent to Russia during the war because...

I think mine came from a Defender. They have headrests and all sorts of modern bells and whistles. My Belgian Malinois sits on the passenger seat - and on the centre seat and also on mine when I'm not sitting on it - but the Defender seats show muddy paw prints exactly the same as the originals!

I may have some of the front seat parts from an old Series III, but not sure how many without turning the garage upside down. If you want original bits you are welcome to anything I have - my current S3 has posh seats!

Never heard of them, but I'll have a look. Thanks.

Thanks, James. Finding one used to be easy but they now seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth.

How i wish I could do things like that - but at 77 it's probably a bit late to learn? However, if anyone knows the whereabouts of a 1984 5-bearing 2.25 petrol engine, I fancy returning my 109 ex-military to original. The diesel engine is very good - if you're smoker! - and pulls like a train...

You might ask them what a recon 5-bearing 2.25 petrol would cost, please. They might even be interested in my diesel as a px.

I think there must be two of us! I saw an "oldseadog" somewhere on the forum, so its probably him who's from Whitley bay. I'm near Wrexham.