Paul

June 2003: A couple of months ago:

Pictures with a tape measure here Tony: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=4380 The Valeo 130 plate was actually slightly smaller than the AP 110 plate I took out, but the 130 plate had more springs. The cover plate was quite different though. Paul

Aye, he was a bit of a drip that ref. Never mind, seems your press is on the case. Paul

Well, it's big news over here. Little ol' Oz getting through to the final 16 has hit front page everywhere.

Gaskets plus RTV for me in most places, although on drive members I don't worry about the gaskets, just RTV. Brake cleaner for removing old RTV, a quick spray and it will wipe off. Paul

As far as I can tell, it's an STC981. Unless anyone knows different? Ralph?

Oh, I couldn't resist one last shot: Pete's ex Courier just after being freed from grounding out on a little climb in the Flinders, and me giving him sh#t for it. I guess that's not as likely to happen with the new Disco, but being a fellow 200tdi driver now, he won't be leaving me for dead on the open road anymore like the old Courier did.

...and if Mrs Pete reads this...it wasn't my fault. I didn't encourage him over to the dark side, honest. P.S. Pete, fill in your profile so everyone can see there's another person on here from Adelaide.

I don't use a 115mm grinder, preferring a 125mm Makita (1050 watt) and a 230mm Makita for bigger stuff (which hardly ever gets used). The small Makita is over 10 years old and has copped a lot of use & abuse, including being dropped plenty of times. It's still in fine order. I use it 95% of the time because it's much lighter than the big fella, and I only go to the 230mm wheel when the 125mm wheel wont reach. I also know that parts are readily available for it here in Australia because my bro-in-law lost the locknut for his last year and was able to get a replacement over the counter. This is the little one: http://www.makita.com.au/catalogue/dsptool.php?tmodel=9015B This is the big one: http://www.makita.com.au/catalogue/dsptool.php?tmodel=GA9000

So, pardon my ignorance, but why wouldn't the thwack desiging this thing use a left hand thread? Wouldn't that decrease the liklihood of it coming undone and perhaps reduce that required torque from 50 zillion lbft and half a bottle of loctite, to something more reasonable? Or am I missing the point/demonstrating why I'm an accountant not a mechanic/being a thwack myself/shut up Paul and go back to your ledgers. Paul

A minor point, but the lock tabs are different on the front of 200tdis to later models. The early lock tab has the little sticky out bit that engages with a slot in the stub axle, the later type just has a flat on it (same as the early salisburys). Paul

A couple of photos showing gearbox removal using an engine hoist: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=4380 Paul

Did you miss this post Rick?

That looks like fun Col. I think you're much better off with the the TD5 in that sand than the ol' 200tdi.

Just back from a weekend in the Bendleby & Hungry Ranges, about 400km North of Adelaide. I was there for a very short day late last year, on my way back from a trip to the Flinders and resolved to go back again and experience some of the harder tracks. This is a sheep property that has opened up to 4wdrivers, and provides camping facilities and about 100km of varying track, from gentle tours to puckering climbs and descents. We left Adelaide just before lunch on Friday and easily made the distance by 5pm. Camp was set up and the barbie was sizzling before it was completely dark. All day Saturday was spent exploring the tougher tracks, none of which were beyond the 'fender in the dry, although ground clearance was tested in a couple of spots. Some of the shaley climbs were very slippery as well as steep but my new rear Maxidrive saw us up all of them without any fuss. The front locker wasn't required at any stage, but that might have been different if there was any rain about. The weather was perfect, the steaks superb and the red wine (Barossa of course) sublime. What more could anyone want? Some pictures for your amusement: A brilliant campsite, sheltered and with a ready supply of wood (provided by the owners): An idea of the area: Excellent views: This track was called 'The Ridgetop', I've no idea why. A couple of the climbs, as always, the photos don't do the steepness justice: If you're ever touring SA and want to visit the Flinders, I'd reccomend looking a little South as well. There's some beautiful country there to be explored. Paul

I don't suppose there's any chance of arranging accomodation in the hotel in the background, for say, $100 per night?

They've been made up specially by an Australian mob, Les Richmond Automotive in Melbourne. Sorry, don't know if you can get them anywhere in Blighty.

Absolutely. Top job Tony. It turning into an excellent resource now.

Very nice. That's a smart looking Disco you have there Col. Paul

Well, they're done. In the end I kept them straight and opted to try out some offset bushes. If they don't do the job properly, then I can get the arms bent at a later stage. Here they are before fitting. Being 44mm solid bar they're fairly heavy, but no more than the front hockey sticks. Some of the remains of the skinny original arms show for comparison: The offset bushes compared to standard: The new arms installed: The bush angle looks about right now: Hopefully they should do the job. If I bend these then I'm in real strife. Paul

Hmm, but that would be a standard LR temp gauge though would it Ali? You might be surprised to see what the temp does if you had a quality mechanical gauge hooked up. As Rick has said above, you'll actually see the temp move around a lot more. But I agree, the Tdis do cope well with Oz temps, at least until you switch the A/C on. Paul

Receiver hitches are the only type you'll likely find in Australia. They're generally regarded are the strongest towing setup, especially on a Landrover because they attached to the chassis rails as well as the rear crossmember. We would usually have them made locally by someone like Hayman Reese: They also make excellent rear recovery points using one of these: In here: Paul

If it's rattling with the clutch out in neutral, it's more likely to be the springs in the clutch plate. Mine used to rattle badly like that, but a new clutch solved the problem. Paul

Actually, I can happily say that the atmosphere has really changed now for the games. The pre-games lead up may have been pretty flat, but since it's all been underway the interest level has really picked up around the country (as it should). I have to admit I was a bit worried there for a while, but it's turned out to be a really good event now. Paul

We never had Turbo Diesels in Australia, but 1988 was the changeover point for the CVs in our 3.5 V8s and 3.9 diesels. Best to go by axle number. 20L48865 was the last of the AEU2522s. Paul