Boothy

Thinking about converting my twin alternator, ZF74'ed, non aircon, megasquirted V8 into a flat belted affair in the hope I might stretch less belts through over tightening in an attempt to trying to stop em squealing and slipping when wet. At the moment I've got a top left hand alternator (100A), and a mid mounted right hand (100A) alty, which gives the grand sum of four different belts to carry and stretch when I'm competing. Common sense tells me to go whith a bracket at the top for both alternators side by side (out of water) and one long belt which I know has been done successfully (how do you spell that?). This winters closed season project is to re-chassis my 86" challenge motor to a 100" but not alter the overall length of the vehicle, put the radiator in the back (at last), full hydro-steer, move the engine right back into the bulkhead (about 10"), keep both props equall length (saves carrying 2) make room at the front for a twin motor if funds allow, and move the front crossmember back a bit, at the moment everthings so tight that if it throws a belt I have to remove the radiator (massive chevvy dual core alloy one from Summit racing) and it's twin electric fans which is a ball ache and regular event. Hopefully when its in the back it will help. I want a really good approach angle. Any tips on covers or pulleys etc and any stocks or spares that can be bribed, swapped for beer vouchers or other things, generally any ideas/photo's Thanks guys, standing by for a long winter. Chris

Living not a million miles away from the peaks, and luckily not having a legalish truck to play with, As I let the doggie for a pee at about midnight last night and thought about the poor buggers in tents in the peaks, got in my red hot bed, switched off my electric blanket and dozed off, you guys must have been freezing or, proper drunk !!

Things to do when you've a big name Replace back rope, Hopefully get power streeringworking, Hide my Christmas beer stockpile from Saley, Teach my male 9 stone German Shepherd not to try and mate with Saley, especially when he's half in his sleeeping bag full of my recently discovered Christmas stockpile, even though he looks like a caterpiller, Get heater blower working, Stash 20 gallons of petrol for the big V8, which probably drinks around the same as Saley, if it still running.

Jules, I totally agree with you about the amount of stick you guys give every part of the drivetrain, chassis , and every part of your body, that's why I do challenges, with soft spring, soft arse, and 10 psi nice soft tyres.

I had a pair and let them go, even though that had only done 6k miles, what put me off is the exposed u/j on the front and they cost arm and leg (perhaps britpart make em now though), The theory we came out with is for racing they're great (tony tiger), but for a challenge motor when you're up the wheel top in grit and grime, these exposed rubber covered u/j thing'ies aren't going to last very long. Sorry if I upset the racer's, but your more splash and dash than sh*ite and sink challenge motor. looking at the casing and after speaking to Bowlers I know they're a stronger option in your case and they just fit them straight on, or did. The one's I had (of an 05) had 24 spline diffs but only single crosspin.

Bobtail, I didn't want a single beadlock, if I'm going to do it I will do a double beadlock which will mean making in into a splitrim, not so pretty then. Up until then I'll stick with the Stauns, but yep yours look well, who's done them? Cheers

Koltec 16Kv electric fencer hooked up usually does the trick, but watch out for the local labrador relieving himself on his rounds, good 12 volt car battery will last about 10 days, and it makes you feel good.

Darling, it's lovely to hear of you, I run my tyres at 12psi and my Stauns at 60psi, I'm not cutting my Mach5's up just yet when the Stauns are still doing a good job but, who know's? Saleys just done his own double bead locks and I think they're bludy good, wheel see. sorry

Matt, Don't be a tart, skin the back of your hands with the Staun's, and get em fitted. Staun's are not "pretty difficult to fit", they're effin difficult to fit, I did 5 in a day on a tyre machine and suffered with sore handies for a couple of days. Best of luck

For Staun innertubes speak to Paul at Challenger 4x4 he did mine a treat for me, I cannot see how a Staun and a seperate innertube can work together, beside the chaffing why would you want a tube when you've got a beadlock? Landranger services (who advertise) managed to get me a set of thick Landrover'ish tubes for a reasonable price, but a good mate told me he had previously bought some from a tyre specialist at £25 a go. not so cheap!

Be a bit wary of anything that's been on it's side or has rolled, it's a natural thing of self preservation to push on pedals and pull on the steering wheel when rolling etc, which obviously revs the engine right up, combine that with a dry oil pick up pipe and it's a bad engine I'm afraid boy's. Should be no problem on a flat damaged motor but watch your rollovers. Good luck

Bigblue you sussed it, I've got first shout on an ex-fleetwood tug, thought it would be ideal for the amount of water I've been through this year, just looking for something big, heavy and inanimate for an anchor, don't suppose you can thing of anything/anyone can you? Have a great event and keep up the good work, thanks again to all concerned for a fantastically enjoyable year. "Splice the mainbrace"

Neil, Looks like I'm going to have to miss this one, so if anybody wants a place let them have it, if it works like that. Hope you all have a great weekend, and hopefully see you next year with a foot added, to the chassis not the waistline!!, a radiator in the rear, hydro-bloody steer (because power has been the bain of my life all year), and perhaps some other tricks.

All the above sounds like my 1997 4.2 turbo diesel Nissan Patrol with 4 speed auto that I use to tow my Challenge Landy around the UK.

Divster, me old bog basher, It only took Land Rover 30 mins to build what was the base for your truck and so far its taken you a year to think about changing just the engine, come on son we're missing you, get a move on and lets see you do some local comps,

Breathe in, squeeze side by side cheeks firmly together, slam right foot hard on right pedal, close eyes and hope you end up near to target. Next, If I can help anyone who wants to be helped it would be a pleasure.

Well I live about 5 miles from the site, and if anyone needs help or directions etc pm me and I will do my best to help, sorry there's no room left at my house John Sales and co have booked my double garage as a sort of B with no other B, except for "bugger off I'm not giving you breakfast" and if I'm doing well and in a good mood then I may put the heating on in there for them, we'll see anyway I've got a 9 stone German Shepard Dog guarding my Christmas stockpile of beer and all things intoxicating, just in case they get restless or cannot sleep and want my Stella and biscuit tin! I bet the neighbours will think I've got a garage full of tunnel runners or similar. Strange site Rushton Spencer and one that a bit of rain can make a massive difference, it's one that I would not like to set out in advance. Best Regards

I used a set of standard britpart Range Rover classic 3.5 fronts all round and a set of pro comps, it was nice and soft which is great for trialling and cheap as chips

Hi Steve I use the common Bosch pump with a fuel filter of a V12 Jag/Vectra etc, which i mounted under my seat on top of the chassis rail, but it is gravity fed of an Escort RWD foam filled alloy race tank which is located at the back of the rear truckcab bulkhead, tanks are only about £150 new of the rally lads and fit loverly between the rear cage but only hold 10 gallons, so don't do any long safari stages in a V8.

Who's the hard core headcases??? Name names Barney The sport needs an entry level class "up north" to introduce newbies into challenge's without going straight in at the deep end, which was a great thing that Scorpion did but it was mostly South/Midlands based which is not ideal if its your daily drive.

I never do enough punches to get it dirty in the first place,

Steve, For a V8 challenge motor I cannot praise highly enough or say how happy I have been with Megasquirt, I have absolutely no problems whatsoever in totally submerging the engine for periods of half an hour of so with complete confidance and not a single solitary missfire, everthing else on the car suffers, but struggle it water it does not, HOW GOOD IS THAT ?????? TOTAL CONTROL OF A PETROL IN WATER Now that is something to shout about, more power than a diesel, more rev range than a diesel, better heater than a diesel, more instant power than a diesel, lighter than a diesel, cheaper fuel than a diesel, and talk about sound better than a diesel. Sorry but I love it.

Thanks to the team once again for a great day out, fantastic. Im convinced thats the best "all round site" we do, with something for everyone, ands it "up North" Thanks to Big Bluefor not doing a depth test in one of the double punches up near the car park, Yes it went straight over the bonnet, soaked my ar*e, and my seats AGAIN, but was well worth it, one day my son all will become even. Just broke the rear rope, then the 16" cooling fan decided to disintergrate (Pacet Pro Fan) , then after bending the front unbendable Sumo steering bar the rear one decided to become useless when the track rod end broke as far away from the spares on the car park as possible, no worries nice day for a long walk in the woods, suprising who you bump in to. See you all soon.

Bit spooky this, Following changing, newish recon steering box, brand new knackered ZF74 steering pump, high pressure fuel pump, left hand newish alterator, all recently failed at West Harptree For the first time this year following a hectic week I don't think I've anything left to do, or know of anything I'd like to fix or impove before we go (with the exception of the driver and co-driver), all that left is near side door mirror to change and a full 7 days to go, Now I do fear the worst. Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, no tents this time is local'ish.

Its certainly not a loose belt, it's a deeper problem than that, I'm also aware that the noise is the pressure releif valve but why would the relief valve be letting of pressure when the steering box is basically in mid position?, especially when as it says in my post the steering is actually very light when on stands and certainly lighter than the the original box I replaced, incidently when I was fitting the box when I turned the steering the box was spitting a bit of fluid out of the pipe holes, so I presume its not blocked or anything daft like that.