Thread: Post Purchase, Pre trip things to check

Hi Mick!
Welcome to the Series' Life!
If the car is worth keeping for life I would personally suggest to outsource an original 2.25 petrol engine which aren't quick but they are made to last! (or a diesel if you fancy it, If I could I would!)

When I bought my Series I drove her without a check for the whole 500+km from Armidale to Sydney and a total of 10hrs without ever turning her off!

Once we got back I went to the mechanic for the following:

CHECK COLD START: HARD TO START WHEN TEMPERATURE IS LOW (Bondi low temperatures despite brand new battery)
CHECK : CHOKE SYSTEM, IS IT WORKING AND CONNECTED TO CARBURETOR?
CHECK :? STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID
CHECK - NEGATIVE GROUND CABLE IS LOOSE AND/OR RUSTED
CHECK - IGNITION COIL – DOES IT SEND ELECTRICITY TO ALL OF THE SPARK PLUGS EQUALLY? MAYBE HAS TO BE REPLACED?
CHECK - IGNITION WIRES
CHECK - ALTERNATOR, IS ENOUGH POWER GOING BACK TO THE BATTERY? HAS TO BE CHANGED?
CHECK - CARBURETOR. IS IT WORTH CLEANING IT? OVERHAUL IT?
CHECK - BRAKE FLUID + BRAKE PUMP + BRAKES (NOT VERY POWERFUL)
CHECK - SEALS ON THE AXLES
CHECK - TRANSMISSION OIL, METALLIC SOUND (even) WHEN RUNNING IN 4TH GEAR AT 60KM/H, MAYBE LOW OIL LEVEL.

CHECK - WHITE SMOKE WHEN IDLING AND STARTING BUT THEN IT GOES AWAY WHEN RUNNING
CLEAN - AIR FILTER + REPLACE AIR FILTER OIL
CHANGE - SPARK PLUGS
CHANGE: DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION POINTS , CONDENSER (AND CABLES TO NEW SPARK PLUGS)
CHANGE - RADIATOR HOSES + FAN BELT (supplied)
CHANGE - RADIATOR LIQUID + FLUSH ENTIRE SYSTEM TO GIVE IT A CLEAN
CHANGE - OIL FILTER (supplied)
CHANGE - OIL SUMP SEAL (WASHER) supplied
CHANGE - ENGINE OIL
CHANGE/CHECK - DIFFERENTIAL OIL (X 2)
GREASE - STEERING SWIVEL JOINTS
GREASE - BALL JOINTS + IN EVERY OTHER GREASE INJECTION POINTS

I guess you could browse Ebay for a day and if you are a mechanically minded person you can buy as much as you can afford and then go to the mechanic with a clear list of what you want to be done.

Holden Engines are great but the only issue with them is that the car may lose its soul and it won't be a Landie anymore...

Let me know how it goes but rest assured once you check the above list you may be fine for a while!

ciao

Hi Mick,

I'm a bit of a broken record on this subject, but here goes.
get to know your wheel hubs.

Open up a couple up yourself if you can, and check the bearings, and seals.

Re grease them/ refill them etc, learn how to adjust them, as long as your wheels are working there's hope, you can be towed. If you have bearing failure and damage the stub axle you're in strife, you need a tilt truck. Not many of those in the ranges

I carry a small plastic tool box dedicated to my hubs, enough for one complete wheel hub overhaul.

Bearings, Pre-grease wrapped in gladwrap, and Alfoil put back in original box.
seals
old ground down outer bearing race for fitting new bearings and seals.
Punch for removing same.
Locking washers and adjusting nuts, nut spanner.
Small tub of bearing grease, (even tough my hubs are oil filled)
RTV Blue one tube.

On long trips I carry a spare stub axle as well.

have fun

Hi Mick,

I would check and carry spare:
a set of points and a condenser,
fan belt,
coolant
engine oil.

Check, clean and adjust brakes
Check tyre pressures

Enjoy it!

Regards,

Phil, Simmo, Andrea,

Thanks, this is awesome, more than enough to keep me busy (and slightly paranoid &#128540 for the few weeks I have left before trip.

Ok so wheel hubs sound like they may be my number one starting point (and my least favourite vehicle maintenance task). Some of the general engine/ ignition items I did plan to do in any case.

On the Holden engine Andrea, I was also thinking that when I was shopping but a quick bit of research on power and torque figures and I was happy to become a soulless pretender 😀 (Although I will be earning some self cred points by doing the trip sans door tops). Plus , every sprint and repco store have almost anything I could need engine wise and I'm a lot more at home having worked on and rebuilt Holden engines before.

Cheers Again for great replies.
Mick

Mick, It might be a bit controversial to say so, but the Holden 186/202 is the motor land rover should have installed in the Australian LR cars IMV.

It's bullet proof, economical to run, parts can be had anywhere, they have a history of running incredible mileages if maintained well. If your car has a well sorted installation, provided you manage the torque, by using 4 wd and etc when you should to spread the torque. ( or upgrade the axles, carry spares).
A well maintained 202 will allow you peace of mind, and more time to look after the other bits.