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14 years in the trade in one form or another having done Automotive, Agricultural, a bit of Plant and even the odd Marine job through that time, I've seen -and fixed- quite a few howlers.
A couple of favourites come from one particular old farmer who was pretty allergic to spending money.
First one saw him arrive at the workshop with his Bobcat on a trailer, sat low at one corner with a flat tyre. He started the conversation with his usual prefix -sucking air through his teeth- 'Now then boss, how much will it cost me...' with reference to the flat tyre.
'Let's have a look' says I, and wanders over to the machine. 'Sorry old lad, I can't do much with that today'. 'Ow's that then?' 'Someone's welded the wheel onto the hub.' 'Ahh, well it pulled the nuts through when we were using it t'other day, so we welded it back on to save having to get another wheel.'
In the end it cost him a rim, tyre, hub, and a few other bits which were also gubbed when it came apart.
Same old lad, this time just arriving with his Land Cruiser (Grey import Prado) parked it in the yard and didn't switch it off.
'Now then boss, how much to put a new starter on this then?' A phone call to the supplier, do some sums etc... 'You're looking at somewhere near £400.' 'Ahh, that's not right cheap is it?' 'Afraid not, the motors for these really aren't cheap.' 'Well, I've been parking it on a hill and bump starting it for a week or so, I think I'll just keep doing that for now'.
Less than a week later it reappeared, this time with his wife driving it. She left it with us with one simple instruction. FIX!!!
From those, and lots of other stories, I have come to at least one inescapable conclusion. Farmers should not be allowed to have tools. Especially welders.
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To clarify my 6 wires comment, that's my understanding of the RallyraidUK loom. You hook up the six wires and it does the rest. From standard it keep the immobiliser etc, but they'll also sort the ECU so it doesn't look for it, for a fee...
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Compared to many modern electronically controlled diesel engines the M57 is surprisingly easy to get running outside the original car, just a question of stripping back the original wiring loom until you get what you need.
After that it's about 6 wires to splice in, I believe thus:
Battery +ve Ign +ve Starter trip Fuel pump Oil light Temperature gauge
Or somesuch arrangement. If you're feeling flush then RallyraidUK will sell you a plug in wiring loom to run the engine standalone for about £450.
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Watched it last night. The Mrs spent 5 minutes complaining about Chris Evans and how it wasn't anything like when Clarkson and Co were doing it then left the room.
The rest I thought was pretty good. Chris Harris and Rory whasisname both delivered a decent feature with a bit more of their own style, Ken Block round London was watchable on a level of having fun with a daft car.
The guest segment was also a lot more watchable, but perhaps more to do with who the personality of the guests than anything else?
All in all, it's definitely getting better, but won't appear to be if you're constantly comparing it to the Three Amigos.
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I disagree. Series I models didn't have it due to the Series II not existing at the time, but model names were referenced on the chassis plates, some slightly different, or more long winded than we're otherwise used to for that model.
Conversely, they actually disappeared with later VIN plates, which were pretty generic with just the chassis number and axle/train weights stamped in.
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Jun 13, 2016 19:07:25 GMT
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Some bloody hideous creations came out of it though. I was always much more behind the idea of hot rodding or Sleepers/Q Cars.
They didn't have to look like much, but the main point was it drove well and moved quickly.
Much better plan than nailing fibreglass bits onto a FWD shopping trolley.
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If the valves at either end of the pipe were still on the chassis then what came out would have been the small amount of gas that was lurking between the two in the pipe. Nothing unusual about that, although it can be a bit if a shock if you're not expecting it.
Clutch forks on the V8's are big ass lumps of steel which stand little chance of ever wearing through like the pressed tin ones used on the diesel models. I suspect this is what you mean by it didn't look anything like the standard disco item?
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Jun 11, 2016 19:24:47 GMT
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That one scores on originality, and possibly being so bad it's good?
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Trying to find some workshop/shed space in West Cumbria, ideally around the Egremont area.
Industrial units seem tobbe charged out at more than my mortgage payment every month, and they want you to sign a 3 year lease with x% annual increase, plus rates etc, no way I can afford that at present.
Anyone local with anything to offer, or would be willing to share a unit?
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Jun 10, 2016 17:51:19 GMT
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I wasn't, but interested to know what you'd build on it.
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Jun 10, 2016 17:00:35 GMT
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I used to do that route daily in my series II landrover and that cruised at about 45/50 ish, if people want to go faster they'll have to pass. You're not the only one who's daily driven a Series Land Rover, the Mrs loves hers.
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Easy enough conversion, the 4 speed ZF box they used in that age of Discovery works really well with a 3.9 to boot.
If you changed your mind.
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Bad intelligence. Very bad intelligence...
I'd suggest a some sort of grenade monogram (one of the first 4 Google images results for 'hand grenade stencil' perhaps) sprayed on the truck somewhere and then suitably 'weathered' to make it look like it's been there a while.
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Nice photoset.
The Series I Station wagon belongs to a chap called Mike Pitcher whom I once bumped into and spent a good 45 minutes or so chatting Land Rovers, I was driving an 86" Series I at the time.
It's a genuine rarity as a 107" Station Wagon, although this one is a bit different under the skin. 200 Tdi with Series III box and axles, Overdrive, bigger brakes and a load of soundproofing and a few other refinements.
Very tidy and usable example, although it would have the purists choking on their rivets.
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While looking for a body shop to do a couple of small repairs, I found these guys on facebook who are a local reputable garage, and they were showing off some of their work. They're actually proud of this work enough to show it ![:o](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/shocked.png) its not even the same colour paint ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Wonderful to see old school panel beating and metalwork skills being displayed like that. There's obviously a lot of talent there.
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New cars are one thing, but there's worse. I remember waxoyling my old bosses brand new motor home about a week after he'd bought it, and being hugely unimpressed at the quality of the workmanship.
Asides the fact it blew a radiator hose off 3 miles into its first trip out, everything underneath looked like it had just been thrown at it and nailed (yes, nail on cable clips) there.
At 6 months old we had to take the tow bar off and add some serious reinforcement to both chassis and towbar as the presumably type approved 'factory' setup had started moving in the chassis and worn all the mounting holes oval.
How much did he pay for this fine Peugeot Boxer based mobile accommodation?
£95,000. Obscene.
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Ended up watching it again with the Mrs. Her opinion was 'it's just dull', citing that Clarkson etc drew your interest, something that Chris Evans -at least when he's playing Clarkson role- doesn't. I didn't really watch him on the likes of The Big Breakfast -although like every teenager at the time was a little jealous he was married to Billie Piper- but didn't mind him on Radio 2.
I think the big difference with Top Gear is that it's a much narrower window of interest. Breakfast entertainment is somewhat more dynamic, and interspersed with a lot more to break it up, along with material that comes in from listeners to add further dynamic. It's something he's good at, and could translate well to Top Gear if he manages it properly.
It has potential to be able to work. The Land Rover/Jeep segment the was good, although the first bit with the Reliants wasn't what you'd call engrossing. Matt LeBlanc also proved his worth with the piece on the Nomad, although some of it did seem more like it had been scripted for Richard Hammond.
I suppose as I've already said, if they can produce the show to suit the hosts, not try too hard to be Clarkson, Hammond and May, and -I suppose most critically- manage to be interesting to watch, then there's milage in it.
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Having watched it, I didn't think it was bad. Refining it to suit the presenters would be a good direction to go, but otherwise I don't see what everyone has been getting so upset about.
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May 31, 2016 19:19:47 GMT
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Yeah, end of the day a flatbed trailer or a wagon are the best way really.
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