miketomcat

Great news Stephen, hopefully the next 3 MRI's will be a breeze. Mike

I don't think 300 heads are any better but you can still get them. 200 heads are prone to cracking between injectors and glow plugs but this isn't a problem anyway. Cracking between valves is rarer they will run like it fine for years. Mike

I have got some Kennedy tools that a good quality. I bought a Halfords bar in the end as I needed one asap. Filip is going to try to get the facom one replaced under warranty. Mike

Head and block look flat as best I can tell with a light and straight edge. I torque as per book every time as I can never remember it. The head does have a couple of cracks between valves and by injectors (common on 200's of this age) but all within the combustion chamber. There is often pitting in the head in way of the water ways but this head doesn't even have that. I'll put it back together and look to getting the other block sorted sooner rather than later. Mike

Will be this time but we're new with this head, book says they can be reused upto 5 times. Mike

This is a different head to previous, as the last one blew on the way to Scotland. Then unbeknownst to me had cracked in the exhaust port but I thought it was the hg so I had it skimmed, refitted it then swapped it for current. So in my defence technicaly the hg blew last year after some fun I changed the head and now it's blown this year, like I said this engine is tired, I'm not renowned for hanging about, it does do 50 mile a day (which is more than some on here manage in a year ) and it spends quite a bit of time on tickover winching none of this is good for longevity. I do have another head coming at some point but that's destined for the rebuild 200tdi. I haven't put a straight edge over it yet but there's no obvious issue. Mike

Definitely the head gasket blown between pot 3 and 3rd water way. New head gasket on its way so hopefully I can get it back together one evening this week. I probably should change the front crank oil seal while I've got it in bits to. Mike

I suspect it's due to the staggering price of them now. I like bfg but doubt I'll be buying some come replacement for this reason. Mike

@pope-on-a-ropethis is definitely one for you to chime in on! Mike

Both engines are well used and tired so a rebuild would fix the issues. Yes I like the 200tdi but they are old. I've not seen an engine that is comparable power etc that makes 30mpg+. Also the cost of converting to a second hand unknown engine is about the same or more than rebuilding and refitting the engine that's already in there. Mike

The stiffener Jeff refers to is an odd one, a friend on but doesn't post @popeonarope discovered there existence when he had similar issues one vehicle had one the other didnt. I think he ended up obtaining one from a scrap tub. Mike

Nah I've done a few head gaskets recently, shouldn't take long. Mike

Doesn't tow boats very well and the winch is rubbish. Mike

I don't do electronics, autos or less than 30 mpg which rules out most conversions. Whilst rebuilding a 200tdi clearly isn't cheap fitting a BMW lump is unlikely to be cheaper. Mike

They use a lot less diesel too.... Mike

Just for a change I think the #£@&ing head gasket has gone again. Now I'm going to have to just change it because I need the truck on the road. However this has sharpened the mind on getting the other engine sorted I'm thinking either get a recon short block or send mine somewhere to get it reconditioned. Anyone got any recommendations preferably south coast ish. No I can't afford turner's prices. Mike

110 Station wagons are 2950kg to keep them in the class 4 MOT regs. 110 Hardtop and pick up are 3050kg which is class 7, however I believe they're now classed as multi-purpose vehicle and can go through a class 4 MOT. Never had a hi-cap so don't know about them. Mike

You might have this version of the dim dip. https://images.app.goo.gl/HCAATMLHEoKdjBqD7 Defender, 90, 110 don't normally have sidelights in the headlight, so if someone has fitted mini 7" headlights for example, they do have sidelights so they're often not wired up. I've heard of MOT inspectors failing cars for having both bullet and headlight sidelights wired up. Mike

My wife doesn't need any encouragement. But definitely not. 🤮

That's one helluva way to die..... Mike

My ibex is 2000kg including winch and spare, the wheels and tyres have changed from wolf rims and 205's to mach5 and 33's but doubt there's much in it. The only other thing that's been added since is the snorkel perhaps 3kg. My tomcat was 1850kg including winch and spare wheel. Mike

Broken out this morning. Once trimmed this will form the roof capping hence doing it I one piece. Mike

Not wishing to scare you but TSD had a similar issue with his ibex build. He got the engine running then left it for a while, when he came to start it again it wouldn't. Turned out to be diesel bug the FIP was packed full to the point it had to be replaced, I think the injectors were done as well. Mike

The panels are double skin with insulation in between. The rest of the box is just glued together with aluminium corner covers. Mike

A bit more laminating today. These are the corner sections to join all the extension panels together. I haven't decided if they'll get an internal section yet to help hold it all together or just glue the panels and cap with these sections. Mike