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Sept 8, 2009 19:07:54 GMT
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After a tricky start with this one I have decided to keep it so thought I'd better put a thread up here. Got the car off ebay as a "Buy it now" thing. When I picked it up it turned out that the (new) MOT had been issued by a crook who decided to overlook the 25 issues that VOSA picked up when they looked at it. Anyway, that is all in the past and I am working to get it up to scratch. It is a 1.3 litre 5 speed. It has had a 2" body lift, 2"shackle lift, its got 2" longer shocks, 32mm wheel spacers and 32" mud tyres. So it is really a road legal off roader though my intention for it is mainly as a work vehicle, I work as a gardener and Lengthsman so all I need is something to chuck my strimmer and other tools in and to pootle round the lanes with. I am told that the standard springs "will break like matchsticks" if I leave the 2" shackles on but I don't think I will be doing too much offroading in it for a while as its more for work than play at the mo, and besides which, where am I meant to find standard shackles?? anyway, pics... When I got it... Now, I have fitted some front indicator units from a honda moped ;D Also sorted most of the other fiddly things and painted the chassis black, I couldn't help but name it either, so decided that Little Mule was a good one (Ref, Romancing the stone (cringe)) I know its a cheesy film but the name suits the car and the use I will get from it. I made a stencil using the PC and printer and sprayed it on (my first ever stencil, look out banksy!!)
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Last Edit: Oct 10, 2011 16:36:39 GMT by suterman
1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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recarouk
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 435
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Sept 8, 2009 19:27:11 GMT
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liking that buddy, you planning to give it some stick off road?
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Sept 8, 2009 19:31:00 GMT
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Definitely at some point in the not too distant future, there are a couple of good pay and play sights near me that I have been to before. Though for now I want to get it sorted, I am thinking about removing the lift shackles and fitting "add-a-leaf" springs, it will end up the same height but the springs will be a lot stronger.
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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Sept 8, 2009 20:33:43 GMT
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Nice, very basic! Any pics of the engine?
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Sept 8, 2009 20:50:39 GMT
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I'll get some in the morning.
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Sept 8, 2009 20:52:39 GMT
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Like it. Should be fun off road, these have a really good reputation for that don't they?
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alex
Part of things
Posts: 382
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Sept 8, 2009 21:22:27 GMT
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The leaf springs will die if you give it some stick on shackles - we went though 7 leafs in 8500 miles (was to Mongolia though)
Where can you get these uprated leafs?
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1974 Rover P6 4.6V8. Land Rover Series 2A 2.25 "overland spec". RRC V8. Celica GT4 ST205 Garrett 3071R 366BHP.
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Sept 8, 2009 21:23:39 GMT
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they are just like an old landrover in design but smaller, they pretty much rock off road, they can ba at an advantage due to the fact that the track is narrower than most, allowing one wheel to ride inbetween the ruts.
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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alex
Part of things
Posts: 382
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Sept 8, 2009 21:28:54 GMT
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Yup and very light so tend to scoot over stuff rather than get stuck!
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1974 Rover P6 4.6V8. Land Rover Series 2A 2.25 "overland spec". RRC V8. Celica GT4 ST205 Garrett 3071R 366BHP.
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Sept 8, 2009 23:26:38 GMT
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i really like that. I have always wanted either this or a daihatsu Fourtrak. Cant wait to see what you have planned for it.
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The springs bend and lose some er spring but the main problem with the shackle lifts is that the spring end tends to run into banks before the wheel does. We ran an sj with a shackle lift at some of the countrys best off road centres for over a year with out spring damage but got sick of scraping up and down banks. It looks and sounds pretty sorted though a 410 transfer box will give better gearing for off road. Nice ride I really miss mine, with out a doubt the most fun per £ to be had off road.
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Where can you get these uprated leafs? There are these things called Add-a-leafs.... www.llama4x4.com/page8.htmIts either going to be those, refit stock shackles, or new, uprated springs which are a lot of money (cant justify spending that much) TBH, I think it may have had some kind of upgrade already??? if you look at the pictures on the link above, my springs aren't flexing like the stock ones in the pic and the ride is very stiff. Looking closer at the pics, I think it may have the extra leaf I think normally they have 3 leaves, mine have 4. Dashboard... Bay... (I need to tidy up a bit in there)
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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sj4x4
Part of things
Posts: 68
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Sept 9, 2009 14:42:03 GMT
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Bout time I burst my RR cherry, lost count of the SJ's I've had over the years, my advice would be to loose the shackles and go back to standard, then do a SPOA, (SPring Over Axle), this will give you all the lift you need and more importantly much better articulation offroad. Article I wrote years ago on doing a SPOA from scratch, www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=277600 if you do go down this route let me know and I will give you some updates on it. Avoid the add a leaf, this will make your suspension rock hard and off road it will be wibblepoo. Also if you have access to a welder make up a adaptor so fit a SU, will make a huge difference to performance. Good luck and enjoy it !
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Siert
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,104
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Sept 9, 2009 16:37:52 GMT
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Nice toy, but where's the engine? ;-)
What's missing in the engine bay? Is the spare wheel normally on that bracket next to the washer bottle? Or are they always that empty?
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Sept 9, 2009 17:25:37 GMT
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The brackets for the standard jack, and yes there's usually space for a spare battery and tool kit under there.
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Sept 9, 2009 18:00:27 GMT
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got the bearings done today, much better road manners now,
I am thinking about normal shackles or maybe the folding type?
don't really want to mess much with it now though, just need it for daily use rather than an offroad toy, though I will be having some fun in it.
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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sj4x4
Part of things
Posts: 68
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Sept 10, 2009 9:11:41 GMT
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I am thinking about normal shackles or maybe the folding type? If you are going to use in on the road go for standard shackles.
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will
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,023
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Sept 11, 2009 19:10:10 GMT
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Great motors ;D loads o fun. Had one at work for a few years got treated very rough but loved it. Spent lots of time on its side due to reckless driving and undergoing repairs, mostly caused by reckless driving - all off-road of course. Our one was standard with knobbly tires and pretty much went everwhere. Was told by some clued up welsh boyo's that you can stick the axle's under the leafs for some free lift. Maybe worth checking out.
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Sept 13, 2009 8:27:21 GMT
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put a few miles on the car later on last week, Started to hear a nasty grinding sound when driving. I think the rear diff has had it. The started motor then fell off (bolted it back on yesterday and seems ok) drained the diff, transfer fox and gearbox oils yesterday. chocolate milkshake anyone?? (diff oil) Also removed the viscous fan as it seemed to be out of balance and the temp wasn't getting up to the right amount. I don't get this fan but its not suprising it was shaking the engine, it appears to be intact and the way it was made....(wtf)? it runs a lot smoother now, also cleaned up the carb a bit and checked/altered the timing. also checked/cleaned the plugs (black) it seems to run a lot better now anyway which is one good thing. Sticking new oils in today and see if it makes any difference. Propshafts next. [edit] I forgot to mention the temp gauge sender wire came off because the sender was falling apart, need to get a new sender and get the old one out with an stud extractor. [more editing] There is more to come, I am taking some pics.
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2009 16:27:53 GMT by suterman
1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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Sept 13, 2009 13:33:59 GMT
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So my intention today was to stick some more oil in the trans etc... I decided to jack each wheel and turn the shafts a little to try and work some more gunk out of the diff casings/ The first one I got to the brake had seized up again so I got the caliper off to free it up again and span the wheel, it made a rumbling noise and felt a little rough and stiff so I decided to have a closer look. A few pics of what I found. A few bolts missing (almost half for the fwh thingy, all the bolts were only finger tight. So it looks like I need to order a few parts and get some parrafin and a bucket of grease. Anyone know how to flush the diff out?
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1985 Bedford CF2 camper 1991 Volvo 240 Turbo
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