Yesterday I got the first chance to put the new Puma through it's paces.
On the black stuff and the smooth dirt it was a bit slower than the old truck I had on loan (V8 Leyland 1986 Series III).
When the going got tough it was a completely different story. The big tyres gave it an extra couple of inches. The six gears in low range were very smooth. The traction control was excellent going through rocky creek crossings.
Nearly had a heart attack when I exceeded the 500mm wadding depth. (see attached) We weren't planning on any deep crossings, and this one took the guy in front of me by surprise. I had no choice but to follow. Going to save up for an X Box and install some breathers......
Don't ask where the photos were taken, because I was never there.
Get yourself a Mantec "Plastic Jobbie" snorkel. They look the best (I reckon) but you have to make sure the internal Land-Rover pipework (i.e. under the bonnet) is properly sealed!
If you can't work out how to install it (I couldn't - from the instructions they sent) there is a good tutorial over on the Defender2 website, with a good series of pictures & etc to guide you.
Also - make sure you press the bolt cover plate on firmly. Mine has gone missing, presumably on some corrugations somewhere. (it's the plate that covers the screw heads in the middle of the bottom section)
I took some time off after Christmas to do some work on the Defender and the farm..... The instructions were fine except;
1. Should I silicone the snorkel to the body? (It came with a rubber gasket which I assume waterproofs the gap.)
2. I silcone sealed the pipes between the snorkel and air filter box. (Not much room to get the pipes apart to smere silcone on the joints.) Do you seal or use a temporary plug in the drain hole in the bottom of the air filter box?
I fitted a safari snorkel to my 130 puma tray top and had trouble putting silicone over all the joints due to the tight spaces, however I siliconed up the plug in the bottom of the air box, I have since crossed plenty of over the bonnet crossings with no issues, I am more concerned about the ecu under the drivers seat than getting water in the airbox?.
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