bought it

**wozapinin** · 28th May 2011, 08:39 PM

Here it is, a worthy replacement for my much missed shorty. It's a 1981 original fitted 4bd1. Needs a bit of TLC but go's alright. Steering is the worst I've experienced in a series but it's probably due to the constant four wheel drive putting strain on everything over the past 30 years.
Could someone advise best coolant to use and motor oil as they will be replaced tommorow. Cheers.

**JDNSW** · 28th May 2011, 09:29 PM

Steering is more likely the effect of those wide tyres than the constant four wheel drive.

I use Castrol RX Super in my Isuzu.

Looks like a nice specimen, although I suspect it has a few loose rivets by now!

John

**rovercare** · 28th May 2011, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Steering is more likely the effect of those wide tyres than the constant four wheel drive.

John

Bah humbug!

**rovercare** · 28th May 2011, 09:44 PM

I just run coolant concentrate and what ever diesel engine oil I can get my hands on cheap, they are not fussy, I'm also running my oil changes out to 10k, even though I drive mine not nicely with 30psi......but I do have 2 spare engines

**JDNSW** · 29th May 2011, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by rovercare

Bah humbug!

Constant four wheel drive puts no additional load on the steering components (unless you drive a lot on hard roads with the centre diff locked), but wide tyres do, and further, the wider the tyres, the more that problems with worn or loose steering components will show up.

I would expect that it has worn tie rod ends, worn steering box, worn swivels, possibly worn spring bushes, and maybe other problems such as steering arms loose on the swivels or pitman arm loose on the steering box. I would also check for loose U-bolts.

John

**rar110** · 29th May 2011, 06:11 AM

Congratulations mate. Stage 1 Isuzu wagons will become very scarce as time goes on. A piece of Australian Land Rover history.

I use RX Super. When changing the coolant give everything a flush including remove the bypass hose. Junk seems to accumulate in there.

**Xtreme** · 29th May 2011, 06:23 AM

When I had a 4bd1 County from '85 to '94 I regularly had to tighten the pitman arm - no matter what I did to it, about every 5000kms I'd experience some sloppiness in the steering and need to nip it up.

I agree with JD though, after 30yrs you probably have 'accumulated wear-n-tear right throughout the steering and suspension components that require a little attention.

**Stuck** · 29th May 2011, 06:30 AM

Check also that the bolts holding the steering box to the chassis are tight.

**JDNSW** · 29th May 2011, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Stuck

Check also that the bolts holding the steering box to the chassis are tight.

Yes, I'd agree to that - my list was not meant to be complete!

John

**justinc** · 29th May 2011, 09:12 AM

The steering box support bracketry on the front crossmember of stage 1 Isuzus also cracks , check it ASAP.

All other play will be as suggested, tie rod ends etc and by the look of the NT plates (ie roads travelled on) I'd say have a very close look at the Railco bushes and pins...

the weight of the diesel plays havoc with them, especially if someone has run grease in the swivel housings as the oil was originally designed to 'splash' lube the upper bush.

JC

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