Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Land Rover Monthly

THE THREE amateur restorers taking part in this year’s eBay Car Challenge have until July 10 to complete their classic restorations, having begun in April. For the second year running now, eBay generously gave each restorer £4000 to return their vehicle back to their former glory using parts and accessories sourced from the famous online marketplace. Interestingly, for readers of LRM, one of the projects is a 1964 Series II. Belonging to Dan Goude of Manchester. The Land Rover, affectionately known as Bertha, needed a total overhaul. The owner is mindful of the fact the iconic 4x4’s heritage should be preserved and having already removed the roof and front section he’s now in the process of rebuilding the engine. Unbelievably he managed to find an eBay seller making original specification…

DISCO TECH WELL DONE Ed Evans and LRM for being brave enough to speak the truth about the much-maligned Discovery 3 (LRM, July). I agree that it is the most reliable and affordable of modern Land Rover models – and I’m fed up with the moaners who keep trying to destroy the reputation of this great model. I blame the internet forums for creating this situation. A tiny minority of dissatisfied Discovery 3 owners have made a lot of noise and suddenly everybody accepts as considered wisdom that the car is rubbish. It is a fact that folk who are happy with their purchases tend to keep quiet and enjoy them, while the moaners shout the loudest. This is probably good news for people thinking of buying a Discovery 3,…

PRICE: £23.84 SCREWDRIVER SET This quality 23-piece set from Kamasa includes three flat screwdrivers (2mm x 50 mm, 2.5 mm x 50 mm and 8 mm x 150 mm); two Phillips head screwdrivers (Ph1 x 75 mm and Ph2 x 100 mm); one magnetic bit driver plus ten assorted bits (PzDrive Pz0, Pz1, Pz2, 2 x Star T15, T20 and Hex 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm); plus an insulated VDE screwdriver for electrical work. Also included is a set of six 50 mm long precision screwdrivers for intricate work. We liked the soft grip handles and the virtually unbreakable chrome vanadium steel shafts and bits. kamasa.co.uk PRICE: £25 BASECAMP EXPLORER A technical sleeping bag for kids that weighs just 1 kg. The bag is made…

Scottish farmer Andrew Tosh loves his Land Rovers. He has a few of them, including a Freelander 1 and an inherited 1972 Range Rover Classic which has been in his family from new, but it was his incredible Defender 130 that turned heads on the LRM stand at the recent Scotland Land Rover Show (featured on page 104). This vehicle came about after it was completely rebuilt in 2008 by Stuart Foley of Foley Specialist Vehicles Ltd, working closely with Andrew, using an entire brand-new donor Rest of the World 110 300Tdi Defender pick-up with factory-fitted aircon, a brand-new 130 heavy-duty Richards Chassis, plus all the required extras to make it happen. Andrew was thrilled with the work that Foleys did. “Stuart and his brother Paul were very meticulous in…

“The apprentices made a tidy job of the conversion within the financial restraints” It’s had a number of names over the years. It was initially given the name ‘Rogue’ by the team that created it, but interestingly it carries factory labels on the windscreen and rear window that identify it as ‘ICON 1’, and we’ll come back to this in a moment. In later years it was known by many simply as ‘The Apprentice Discovery’. The Discovery 3 in question was an M1 Build Prototype for the 2010 Model Year. It was built in 2008 with left-hand drive to Arabian Gulf market specification, with a 4.0-litre Ford V6 Cologne SOHC Efi engine and six-speed automatic Steptronic transmission. The vehicle was apparently utilised for transmission calibration tests as part of the…

“It doesn’t rain much in the San Bernadino hills, but when it does the rain must be epic ” We had been warned. Out here in the dry scrubland, high in the San Bernadino National Forest, there are lots of rattlesnakes. Having already crossed hundreds of miles of arid, semi-desert just like this, we stopped on the lonely stretch of two-lane blacktop that is Highway 62, just skirting north of the Joshua Tree National Park, to take pictures of the sunset. Out here there seemed to be nothing, just sagebrush and roadside debris, some of which had been lying in this tinder-dry place for decades. As I stooped to examine a discarded steel beer can from the seventies, in the sand around it I found the signs – the serpentine…

Back in the 1970s, Land Rover knew it had to do something drastic to fight back against the Japanese invasion of 4x4s that were making inroads into the company’s traditional markets. Land Rover, then state-owned, relied on government investment. Once the cash injection was approved, it came up with a two-stage plan to replace the outdated Series III. Stage One addressed the Series III’s lack of power by fitting a Range Rover V8 engine and gearbox, while Stage Two took it further and not only created a new vehicle but also transformed the factory production process. The Stage Two Register 1976-1984 is a Facebook group set up last year for people interested in the development of the coil-sprung Ninety and One Ten, the forerunners of the later Defender 90 and…

TIM HAMMOND CONTRIBUTOR RANGE ROVER P38 YEAR: 1997 MILEAGE: 220,000 MPG: 20 POWER: 185 bhp TORQUE 277 lb-ft Just before Christmas a good friend of mine told me he had just bought another two-door Range Rover. He already has a very original two-door and after finishing its light restoration, he swore that he would never do another one again. Some people never learn. Two-doors are obviously very high in demand at the moment, with parts very difficult to source. Mechanically most parts are available, but interior parts and various outer panels, badges and mirrors are completely non-existent out there, and when they do come up you need a very big cheque book! There are reproductions of certain parts available, but like many others I prefer to see and use the…

LOUISE MILLER CONTRIBUTOR DISCOVERY 1 YEAR: 1998 MILEAGE: 100,400 ENGINE: 300Tdi POWER: 111 bhp TORQUE: 195 lb-ft MPG: 31 So, here I am, five days into Land Rover ownership, the Discovery Owners Club window sticker firmly in place and the tank filled up... I’m a happy girl. And in those first five days exactly 500 miles were driven up to Selby, Yorkshire – on one tank of fuel, using mainly A and B roads. Not bad, but it did highlight a few problem areas. New wiper blades are a must for example, as is a dog guard to prevent Sam, our Jack Russell, from jumping over the back seats and laying on the dashboard. Cosmetically there are a few jobs I’d like to tackle in the near future, too. The…

GARY STRETTON Spanners, sockets, punches, bearing pullers, bench press, special tools TIME 10 HOURS COST £45 DIFFICULTY RATING In part one last month, we followed the stripdown of an LT77 gearbox that had suffered sudden failure of the first motion shaft and lay shaft due to a lack of oil. Stripping the gearbox took Ashcroft Transmissions just 30 minutes. Rebuilding takes just an hour or so thanks to Ashcroft Transmission’s experience and expertise. Before starting a rebuild it’s essential to understand the patterns of wear and the reason why the gearbox failed. To Gary at Ashcrofts, who is rebuilding our box here, this means assessing every component and replacing any that are suspect. Equally, if a component is within tolerance and is otherwise good, it will be re-used. Items such…

Arkonik have been restoring and sourcing Defenders to bespoke specifications for customers all over the world since they were founded in 2007, and their latest project is the perfect example of what they do best. A Defender 110 Station Wagon, the one-off Boulder has a wealth of exterior enhancements including a Front Runner roof rack with ladder, KBX grille, A-bar and front light guards, as well as Fire & Ice side and NAS rear steps. Finished in a dark Bonatti Grey with Java Black wheel arches, wing mirrors and Kahn 1983 wheels, this truck certainly looks more imposing than when it left the factory. The Somerset-based specialists have worked their magic inside too, re-upholstering the front seats in grey leather, while an Elite Loc-box separates the two premium high back…

I know that the P38 combines the electrical complexity of a Boeing 737 with the build quality of a Soviet-era Russian motorcycle, but it is undeniably a nice place to sit while you wait for the AA truck to come and take you home. What’s the worst that can happen though? It is a 50-grand luxury 4x4 that can be yours for little more than the cost of the first year’s road tax on a new Range Rover – and if it breaks down, you get rid of it. But when I was browsing the local cheap cars section on eBay a few weeks ago, P38s were the last thing on my mind. I was actually after a simple, solid, dependable car for long journeys. My old diesel Peugeot 106…

Wednesday May 10, 2017. Flying from London to Johannesburg on BA is great: it’s an overnight affair and you don’t cross any time zones. You take off at 8.30 pm, enjoy a meal, take a nap and then wake up in Egoli, the city of gold, also known as Joburg. My best friend from school and a former African overland truck driver George Borstlap is there to collect me. George and I have done many a mile together in Africa. He is cool, calm and collected while I am always thinking of the next bribe or border crossing. We travel well together. George drives me to the leafy and hilly suburb of Northcliff, where another great mate and Land Rover fan, Aldri van Jaarsveld lives. He owns two Defenders, one…

“I think my passion for Land Rovers and greenlaning has kept me young” It’s a fine summer’s day in Shropshire’s Welsh Marches with a clear blue sky punctuated only by cotton wool cumulus clouds and the occasional buzzard, soaring on the thermal currents. The densely-forested hillside is still, apart from the distant sounds of the sheep far below in the valley of the River Lugg and the muted mechanical chatter of approaching diesel engines. Suddenly three Land Rovers break cover from the close-packed pine trees and slow to a halt on the sun-dappled track. The drivers emerge – first a middle-aged man in the Range Rover at the head of the convoy, followed by a much younger man in the Defender 110 at the rear. Finally, a third man emerges…

When we were planning this trip, Thailand had always been our midway goal. The detailed planning had been done up until that point. Our research had told us that the Land Rover would be given six months to stay and we could figure out the further details of our next move from there in the comfort of Me-An’s childhood home. However, all that changed on June 23, 2016 (the same day as the Brexit referendum, coincidently). The new regulations introduced by Thailand’s Department of Transport (DLT) meant that all foreign-registered vehicles (apart from those registered in some neighbouring countries) now require a permit to enter Thailand for the maximum of 30 days per visit, limited to two visits in a calendar year. An agent is required in order to process…

JUNE 23 – 25 Series One Club International Rally County Wicklow, Ireland www.lrsoc.com JUNE 23 – 25 Poland – Euro Offroad Racing Breslau Ralley Poland Breslau, Poland www.eurooffroadracing.com JUNE 23 – 26 Goodwood Festival of Speed Goodwood House, Chichester, West Sussex www.goodwood.com JUNE 23 – JULY 9 Scandinavia - Atlas Overland 4x4 Adventure Tours, Scandinavia Tour www.atlasoverland.com JUNE 24 - 25 Cancelled - Welsh Hillrally Bala GB www.welshhillrally.com JUNE 24 - 25 Peak & Dukeries LRC Two-day Open Comp Safari Padley Wood, Chesterfield www.panddlrc.co.uk JUNE 24 - 25 Suffolk Land Rover Owners Club Training and Driving Day Newbourne, Suffolk www.slroc.uk.com JUNE 24 - 25 Southern Rover Owners Club CCV & RTV Trial Herstmonceux, East Sussex www.sroc.co.uk JUNE 24 - 25 Torbay 4x4 Club Camping Weekend Chudleigh, Devon www.torbay4x4club.co.uk JUNE 24…

ED EVANS General workshop tools TIME 2 HOURS COST £56 DIFFICULTY RATING THANKS TO: Steve Grant and Britpart These intermediate outriggers provide support to the forward end of the rear body tub on each side of this Ninety (and also later Defenders), and support the side-mounted fuel tank. The main tubular part of the outrigger is substantial, but the integral bracket reaching up to the body tub and fuel tank is of thinner steel. Because they are located directly ahead of the rear wheels they are vulnerable to wheel spray and accumulation of mud and dirt that holds the moisture, causing serious corrosion. So on both sides the bracket section tends to rust away and the cure is to replace the complete outrigger. Unlike conventional box-section outriggers, these tubular…

Inspection cameras, also known as borescopes, have been available for vehicle diagnostics for the past decade, and in recent years the technology used has improved drastically, while prices have tumbled. The same technology powering digital cameras has resulted in this affordability. For workshops, inspection cameras allow photographs and video to be taken and sent to a customer as evidence of issues, without the need for huge stripdown costs. Removing guesswork from diagnostics is essential, and is ultimately reputation enhancing. For DIY users, the access to chassis sections, engine and gearbox internals and other components can aid diagnosis and give peace of mind, confirming that all is okay inside. When inspecting a vehicle for purchase, it can be the difference between buying a complete dud or knowing any issues before you…

FREELANDER 2 prices are starting to fall at last, with quality secondhand examples typically fetching half what they were a year ago. This time last year you would have expected to pay £10,000 for a good one, with even poor high-mileage examples making £7000. It seemed nothing could dent the popularity of what had been Europe’s top-selling 4x4. It was easy to see why. Despite the fact that production had ended a few months earlier, a year ago the Freelander 2 still looked as fresh as the day it was launched, a decade earlier. Better still, it had a reputation for excellent reliability, no rust issues and a bulletproof and economical Td4 diesel engine that made it the cheapest Land Rover to run. It was the perfect family car and…

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Last month’s theme in the Norfolk Garage was Lightweights: this month seems to be all about Defender bulkheads. As I write this I have just sent out a 1992 Defender 110 Station Wagon after a bulkhead swap, and have a secondhand bulkhead awaiting some minor repairs to the top corners prior to being fitted to a Ninety of similar vintage. A couple of years ago I wrote an article for LRM describing the common rust areas on Defender bulkheads. The bulkhead I used for the photos was taken from a running MoT’d Defender in daily use, and at the time I thought it was pretty rotten, to the extent that the vehicle should have failed the MoT on structural corrosion at least two years previously. The bulkhead I have just…

SOMEONE ASKED me at the Dunsfold Collection Land Rover Show whether I liked P38 Range Rovers. I pointed at the line of 16 P38s from the Collection, and said, I guess I must do… Like a lot of people, I wasn’t that keen on their looks when they first appeared in 1994; they seemed bland when compared with the original Range Rover. But the design has aged well, and now people are starting to appreciate them more. There was certainly quite a lot of interest in them at the show. And, yes, I know that the proper term is P38A, after the building in which the second-generation vehicles were produced, but everyone calls them P38 and I’m no exception. Land Rover offered several special editions of P38 during the 1990s…

A gleaming silver Defender makes its way slowly along a verdant greenlane; behind the wheel is a fresh-faced, blond-haired young driver, wearing a broad smile. It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago both man and machine were on the brink of oblivion. A catastrophic crash on a remote track in Ethiopia not only ended Miles Podmore’s dream expedition to Cape Town, it almost killed him. Only the quick thinking of his travelling companion, Max Farnsworth, saved his life. Teenager Max was briefly knocked out in the accident, but came round to a scene of utter devastation. What remained of the Land Rover laid bent and battered, strewn along 100 yards of barren desert. And ten yards from the wreckage was the motionless body of Miles. Max rushed…

As you drive north on the A93 through the city of Perth and past Blairgowrie, the scenery starts to change. Despite the fact it is late spring there is still snow on the hills, the red squirrels have come out of hibernation and the children are embracing the warmer weather, too, as a pair of red kites swoop majestically over Mike Aitkin’s back yard. His petrol 2.25 is also pretty eye-catching, especially as it is still wearing one of the old-style A-registration number plates. Readers old enough to remember will recall that these caused a lot of interest when they first came out in 1963. Alas, very few of the recipients have survived to tell the tale, which makes BXA 212A a bit of a head-turner. “I originally come from…

People who say that all Land Rover shows are the same have probably never been to the Scottish Land Rover Show. The 2017 version was only the second one ever and already it has the makings of something rather special. It might never be as big as the old Billing Show but the one thing that it did have in abundance were very friendly and helpful people. People who just wanted to chat about Land Rovers to anyone who had bothered to make the trek up north. The show was held at the Royal Highland Showground which is right next to the Edinburgh airport runway, ideal if like me you were flying in for the show or if you are into plane (and Land Rover) spotting. While the show took…

The Stage Two Register 1976-84 was set up last year by and for people interested in the development of the coil-sprung Ninety and One Ten. Thanks largely to its Facebook group it already has a large following of enthusiastic members. The next step was to bring together the group’s members and vehicles, so the Register had its first public outing earlier this year at the Classic Land Rover Show at Gaydon, managing to put together an impressive line-up of these special – and now rare – vehicles. They ranged from a Stage One prototype from 1976 all the way through the Stage Two programme to the very special press launch Ninety with the registration number A90 JVC, which was featured in many of Land Rover’s first Ninety press releases. This…

DAVE PHILLIPS CONTRIBUTOR NINETY YEAR: 1984 MILEAGE: 166,000 ENGINE: 300Tdi diesel POWER: 111 bhp TORQUE 195 lb-ft MPG: 30+ Down the bottom of my garden is a millstream that diverts the main flow of the River Nene through an old water mill and winds through a picturesque meadow before rejoining the main river about half a mile downstream. The fast-flowing stream sparkles across shallows and banks of gravel and is a happy hunting ground for kingfishers and otters, as well as being a haven for fish that migrate from the main river to spawn in the shallows. In front of the mill is a ford that is the only access for farm vehicles to reach the pastures on the far side of the river, as well as Environment Agency vehicles…

DAVE BARKER CONTRIBUTOR DEFENDER 90 YEAR: 2004 MILEAGE: 75,000 ENGINE: 300Tdi POWER: 111 bhp TORQUE: 195 lb-ft MPG: 32 I know this is Writers Rovers and this Discovery Sport is not my Rover, but it’s important as it could be – or one very similar anyway – one day. Over the years I’ve driven most models of Land Rover and been to the majority of the Land Rover Experience centres, but I’ve never driven a Discovery Sport, and I’ve never been to the new LRE at Broughton Hall, North Yorkshire. But fortunately my wife got an invitation to take a complimentary drive. As we’ve been thinking of what we might replace the Freelander with when the time comes, it seemed like a good opportunity. I have to admit I didn’t…

ALISDAIR CUSICK • Tools needed – socket set, metric and imperial spanners, wire brush, general workshop tools, MIG and TIG welder, compressor powered cutting and grinding tools TIME THREE DAYS COST £140 DIFFICULTY RATING We are now a good few weeks into the Series I project and we’re past the milestone of actually driving the car about. Thoughts are now forced to the serious stuff – starting the repairs to the chassis. As you would guess, to get to the point we’re at now has taken slightly longer than I’d planned. That is the nature of restoration work, and more so in a car that had been stood up for a few years, like mine. The head scratching involved in getting the car to run well (LRM July issue) was…

TREVOR CUTHBERT • General workshop tools TIME 4 HOURS COST £42 DIFFICULTY RATING This Discovery 2 is undergoing major work to make it last for many years into the future. Key among these was to preserve the chassis, which is very prone to rust on this model. The chassis has been repaired and galvanised following the body removal and strip down. Now, as the rolling chassis is being rebuilt, work is being carried out to prepare the truck for the next phase of its – hopefully – long life. In this feature we show how to replace the Td5 coolant pump and, because the body is not yet fitted, we have an open view to show you exactly what’s involved. But first, we’re going to fit the complete engine and…

What’s your vehicle? A 2006 Defender 90 Td5. What do you do for a living? I’m a director of Alpine Restorations, based at Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax. We specialise in high-quality sales, servicing and repairs of Defenders. What’s the story? It’s officially our demonstration vehicle rebuild, but it’s also my everyday car. I’ve owned it two years. It was originally a farm truck in Keswick Green. We resprayed it in metallic Santorini Black. How is the engine running? It has been rebuilt with many new parts and it’s running absolutely perfectly. It has got a big intercooler and radiator and a Pipercross air filter but we have not had it re-mapped yet What have you done so far? It has been fully rebuilt from the ground up, on a galvanised…