Thread: Oops I did it again... New Project

Hi All,

An update on this weekends work... Sometimes I wonder why I love Landy's so much - and often I question my sanity because of it..

Let's start off with the bad - the things that went wrong, before I get onto the work completed:

TAILGATE #1
My top tailgate didn't have the brackets that you attach the gas struts to - easy fix, I purchased 2 x brackets from a wrecker. These brackets were from the same model year as mine.
When I went to install the brackets - noticed that the existing holes in the tailgate didn't match up with the bracket... So either the bracket is wrong OR the tailgate has been modified? No real way of telling.
In true Land Rover fashion - I modified the bracket to fit (therefore no extra holes needed drilling).. Problem solved.

TAILGATE #2
Then I installed the 2 x brand new tailgate gas struts. Everything lines up, looks great - but the tailgate won't close... Hmmm? WT?
Gas struts are too long, meaning the tailgate can't close by about 2 inches...
Look across at my 2 door - the tailgate has modified (homemade) brackets on it... Hmmm
Swap the NEW gas struts onto the 2 door - tailgate now opens shorter, but opens and closes fine.
Put the 2 x old struts from the 2 door on the 4 door - and the tailgate now opens and closes fine... Problem solved.

DASH MAT
The dash on the 4 door is quite worn - it's been weathered, is still functional - but looks pretty ugly.
Cheap solution - buy a dash mat.. I've never been a huge fan of dash mats, but I figured - it would look ok AND prevent the dash getting any worse.
Went to install the dash mat - in no way will it fit.. Wrong shape, size - luckily I didn't cut any of the tags off - looking at the tags, it's for a Discovery... (Not what I ordered)
So I will be speaking to the supplier today...

ALTERNATOR
The current alternator isn't the correct one - and it explains why the Tacho doesn't work (it's not even wired up). The existing alternator had a weird bolt with a spacer on it to make it work.
I have a spare 3.9 V8 here, so I grabbed the alternator off that... Thinking a 3.9 alternator is a 3.9 alternator, I'll swap it over.
The spare 3.9 alternator won't fit - the brackets are all wrong...
So I put the old alternator back on, and will seek further advice... Homestar...?

SIDE BLINKERS
Went to fit up the side blinkers - everything seemed ok, until I went to plug them into the existing wiring loom... The bullet heads are too small on the new lights...
Luckily I had some spare bullet heads left over, so crimped some new (larger) heads on.. Problem fixed.

RADIATOR HOSE
As part of the general clean-up, I replaced all radiator hoses... All of the new ones work fine - apart from one that is simply way to short.. It's the hose that goes from the top drivers side of the radiator, across to the inlet manifold?
Anyway - I kept the old hoses and simply re-used it.. (It did look like it was in good condition)

SEAT BELT BUCKLE
One of the rear seat belt buckets is broken.. So I purchased a NOS original part, went to fit it up and... It doesn't fit.
Not only is the buckle too short - the seat belt won't clip into it anyway... So clearly another wrong part... Grrr

SHOCKS
Some of the shock bushes are badly worn - so I purchased a complete set of bushes (top & Bottom) to replace them.
Starting on the rear - first problem is that I simply cannot undo the bottom nut.. I've tried everything to stop the shock from spinning, but I'm having no luck..
Managed to get the top "eye" off without an issue.. However I think that the shocks are non-standard, because the new bushes are way too small.
Also the existing bushes in the eye have metal on the inside & outside of the bush, much like a chassis bush on a Series Land Rover...
I know that the previous owner towed, so I'm guessing that the shocks have been replaced with something non-standard.
I think that I will now replace the 2 x rear shocks, going back to standard - cutting the bottom nut off.. Grrr

HEAD LIGHT
I purchased 2 x brand new headlights.. Fitted them up without an issue, however one of them burnt out.... No idea what happened there...

HEAT
Yep it was getting a little warm in the shed... I noticed it sitting on 42c at one point, here it is sitting on about 39c
IMG_2611 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

REAR WINDSCREEN WIPER
You can't buy new rear windscreen arms - I found this out by ordering a complete arm/blade set-up (from overseas) and it simply does not fit.
I then ordered a new blade - which won't fit onto the old arm...
I think that I am going to have to modify the old arm, to fit the new blade... I've put this to the side for the moment.

Anyway - rant over... I think that the heat got too me...

Time for some good news.

CLEANING
Spent some time with the car up on the hoist - and used a brush to remove a stack of old dirt:
IMG_2624 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

Then got out the pressure cleaner, and gave the old girl a bit of a wash from beneath:
IMG_2631 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

IMG_2634 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

GAS STRUTS - Fitted and working fine:
IMG_2615 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

ENGINE MOUNTS - Old removed, new fitted:
IMG_2627 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

IMG_2622 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

IMG_2620 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

WINDSCREEN ARMS/WIPERS - All new fitted on the front:
IMG_2613 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES - Before and After cleaning:
IMG_2603 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

IMG_2607 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

BACK TOGETHER:
* Water pump installed
* New Radiator Hoses
* New Air Filter
* Radiator (and shroud) back in
* Viscous fan and blades back on

IMG_2637 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

FRONT LIGHTS - BACK IN:
* New side lights
* New head lights
IMG_2641 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr
IMG_2640 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

ORIGINAL:
I think that the car is mostly original - after cleaning the underside of the car (as much as I can be bothered) - you can see markings on the front diff, inside of panels, etc.
This looks like a original Land Rover muffler (94?):
IMG_2625 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

And lastly - here is the brand new headlight that started "smoking" the minute that we tested it.. Grrrr

IMG_2644 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr

I will be chasing up more parts today...

Apart from the roof - I have washed & polished the entire car... I've cleaned-up the engine bay a bit, and the underside as well... For now I don't intend to do any more cleaning.

Happy with the progress, but just frustrated with parts not fitting... I have ordered all parts based on the VIN# / Year, yet some parts just aren't correct...

Cheers,
GG.

Alternator won’t be too hard to sort mate - didn’t even check to see if that other one was going to - looked like it from the 30 seconds we talked about it.

I’ll pop up over the long weekend and take a closer look.

The Bosch alternator conversion was a very popular one, as parts are/were easily available from wrecking yards etc. To make the tacho work you need to open it up and solder a lead out to one of the three solder joints of the field windings. This will run your tacho nicely. Some aftermarket Bosch pattern alternators have this terminal (W) provided, as did XE and XF Falcon alternators.

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Hi All,


TAILGATE #1
My top tailgate didn't have the brackets that you attach the gas struts to - easy fix, I purchased 2 x brackets from a wrecker. These brackets were from the same model year as mine.
When I went to install the brackets - noticed that the existing holes in the tailgate didn't match up with the bracket... So either the bracket is wrong OR the tailgate has been modified? No real way of telling.
In true Land Rover fashion - I modified the bracket to fit (therefore no extra holes needed drilling).. Problem solved.

TAILGATE #2
Then I installed the 2 x brand new tailgate gas struts. Everything lines up, looks great - but the tailgate won't close... Hmmm? WT?
Gas struts are too long, meaning the tailgate can't close by about 2 inches...
Look across at my 2 door - the tailgate has modified (homemade) brackets on it... Hmmm
Swap the NEW gas struts onto the 2 door - tailgate now opens shorter, but opens and closes fine.
Put the 2 x old struts from the 2 door on the 4 door - and the tailgate now opens and closes fine... Problem solved.


GAS STRUTS - Fitted and working fine:
IMG_2615 by Grey Ghost, on Flickr.

Cheers,
GG.

As per previous advice. Should have done this mod to the struts while fiddling. Saves the rear popping open!!



Cheers

Nice job! I admire your patience & persistence.

I broke a rear panhard rod on my 82 model where it mounts between the bushes to the chassis. Maybe worth checking??
Fortunately at the time I was going very slowly & he resultant rear wheel steering didn't do too much damage. Afterwards I upgraded both with rods from a 110 which have a bigger stud.

Originally Posted by gavinwibrow

As per previous advice. Should have done this mod to the struts while fiddling. Saves the rear popping open!!



Cheers

Is there a thread on this mod?

Good question.. I read that comment and thought the same. And also “wish I had known that earlier “... Oh well! Lol

Originally Posted by StuRR80

Is there a thread on this mod?

Not sure. I did try to post what I have collected once before (including in tutorials), but it wouldn't work, so I just say to people PM me your private email address and I'll forward it to you.