Thread: What have you done for her lately?

Looks great - just needs a wash -and no snow now!

I was a bit lucky to find this today. Luckily I bought a new one about 4 years ago and never got round to fitting it!



Also, removed the fan, found a well past it radiator



I then proceeded to take off the exhaust manifold to fix a breather leak - it has been coating the block in oil for years and have finally done something about it!




Lastly, I shot blast the dip stick tube and the panel that the radiator sits in. It has now been etch primed and primed ready for a bit of colour.

Working on the car on a school day? Are you in someones good books?

Originally Posted by Steve Webb

Working on the car on a school day? Are you in someones good books?

I booked 3 Fridays off work - MX5 took out the first one. Q4 took the second. The heat is on for the 3rd and final day next week. MX fecking 5 rear caliper is jammed on now!!

Originally Posted by AlfaJack

MX fecking 5 rear caliper is jammed on now!!

Are you sure its a real MX5? I thought they never went wrong / were the best car in the world, if you speak to some people.

Originally Posted by Steve Webb

Are you sure its a real MX5? I thought they never went wrong / were the best car in the world, if you speak to some people.

Yeah the brakes are its weakness. The only other thing was a water temp sensor. Had it about 3 or 4 years now and no major dramas......Should I have said that!?

Originally Posted by AlfaJack

Had it about 3 or 4 years now and no major dramas......Should I have said that!?

Well its a nice day for a walk when it lets you down tonight\this weekend/

After having it's bumps read the Q4 is demanding more attention, bought it an idle actuator valve and a pair of coilpacks so far...then attempted to remove the old coil packs...what joy!

Might chuck some more plug leads on too...whilst I'm in the area

wrinx

Not a particularly interesting job, but one that was well over due. Swapped the cambelt and bearings on the Disco on Sunday, the specified interval is 72,000 miles, and as far as I know this one has been on for about 77,000!
Should really have done it before now but things have conspired against me, not least getting the crank pulley bolt undone. Its a 27mm bolt, which ought to give you an idea of the problem already, and it is done up bloody tight. Had to bite the bullet and get a crank locking tool for the job as because the car is an Auto, you can't stick it in gear and have someone stand on the brakes to try and lock the crank.
Getting the bolt undone wasn't too bad after this, well not once I'd found a piece of pipe about 1m long to slip over the breaker bar. Still required a hell of a tug, and the bar was looking like it was beginning to bend. I guess I need to invest in a 3/4" socket set.
Once the timing cover was off, I was quite frankly amazed at the condition of the belt, and in a good way. Bear in mind that this belt has been on for 6 years at least and covered 77,000 miles:

The timing belt cover was remarkably clean and dust free.

The belt looks pretty mark free, no fraying at all.

Almost factory fresh!

There was a little wear in the tensioner and idler bearing but not much. It all went back together fine and started up no problem.

Looks a nice simple job.
Nicely sealed away from the elements too with that cover....well I guess they are designed to go deep in rivers!

Yep, with the radiator our of the car, which was infact 1/3 covered with dead moths/flies, leaves etc, access to the front of the engine is excellent. Its just that 27mm bolt that can cause problems.
There is a drain hole at the bottom which is threaded so you can screw a plug into if you ever go wading in deep water. Not sure this car has ever been used in deep water to tell the truth.

Cock!!

I faulty belt = 8 bent pushrods, a cracked rocker arm, mangled crank pulley and a tow home by a mate with another Disco.

Luckily all the bits are cheap enough, and its not going to be too bad a job to put it all right.

Poo! Any chance of a claim against the Belt vendor/manufacturer?

wrinx

Originally Posted by wrinx

Poo! Any chance of a claim against the Belt vendor/manufacturer?

wrinx

Doubtful as there really isn't much of the belt left. It wrapped itself around the crank pulley and I needed to pretty much cut it off. Genuine Land Rover belt is on order now.
I was out clambering over the engine till about 11pm last night checking things. Luckily I don't need to cart much about over the next few days.

The annoying thing is, given the condition of the old belt, it would have lasted a couple more years if I hadn't done anything!

Got Minty ready for NAD

Originally Posted by vantastic

Got Minty ready for NAD

What was the prep? Air in tyres and charge the battery?

Well the Land Rover lives again. Changed the belt, crank pulley and front oil seal last night. This morning was the new rocker are and push-rods. The only worry was when I noticed that 2 of the valve stem caps were MIA. 10 minutes of me sat on top of the engine with a lamp and pearl catchers sorted that one out.
Set the valve clearances and it started first twist of the key. Sounds far quieter now. Just off to fill it up with some diesel and give it a test drive.

Fingers crossed.

Nice work Steve
I think Van's prep was to put petrol in it!

Originally Posted by wrinx

Yess

Although i'm now lusting after a full size ramp

In the meantime, I've ripped of both rear quarter in preparation for some welding...




wrinx

oh my word! .... i think you should have just left those rear quarters alone mr wrinx !!

Unbelievable , I hate that rust...could it be sorted out anymore ?!

Unbelievable , I hate that rust...could it be sorted out anymore ?!

In other terms...last night I've managed to mount the PU bushes I was preparing to from 1 month. Haven't tested yet and still have to go for wheel alignement. Short-shift still not in...

I've changed the rear springs with the D2 ones, also have set rear dampers to max hard...still not stiff enough. The 8j x 17" Comps still don't have enough space when rear fenders have to get down on bumps. I have to find stiffer rear springs, maybe first I will try with cutted OEM ones to see how it works. I will search also other solutions in the mean time and will let you know the final result.

Cheers,
Cris.

Originally Posted by Xti

Unbelievable , I hate that rust...could it be sorted out anymore ?!

In other terms...last night I've managed to mount the PU bushes I was preparing to from 1 month. Haven't tested yet and still have to go for wheel alignement. Short-shift still not in...

Looks good Cris.
It is a job I have wanted to do for years!

Originally Posted by Xti

In other terms...last night I've managed to mount the PU bushes I was preparing to from 1 month. Haven't tested yet and still have to go for wheel alignement.

Were they reasonably new wishbones, and were the ball joints in good condition?

Well, let's try to wake up a littel.

A couple of weeks ago, I 've changed the clutch. Also repaired the steering box, and put a new gasket in the crankcase.
Obviusly taking out the gearbox was really a pain.