miketomcat

I've had similar issue to others and I only ever used the parts department. 🤣 On the bright side there's a man in Sheffield who sells exactly the vehicle most of us want, is a genuine nice guy, not pushy in any way and will build you exactly what you ask for. His name is David Foers..... If I ever have the money to buy new that's where I would be going. Oh and they British through and through. Mike

I've never seen a straight one. But I've never had anything to do will td5 onwards. Mike

2500rpm is around 60 and 2800-2900rpm is 65-70mph I rarely go much above 70 these days. But I am given to a bit of spirited driving on back roads much to the disgust of cars I shouldn't be tailing. Mike

More moulds. This should be the last of the external mouldings which will allow me to complete the box and get it fitted to the trailer. Mike

I did a cam belt Tuesday night with the draper beam type mentioned and have done more than I care to mention. Yes it is tricky to hold it accurately but I've never had an issue either. I have in the past used a click type and held it mid click but felt this wasn't good enough hence me buying the beam type. Mike

But you'd take a fly by wire throttle and convert it to cable. So he has a point. Mike

It would appear so on my 25mile "test run" to work it seems fine with no noticeable smoke. I still need to get on and sort the other engine but at least it's up and running. Mike

Just over 1m from top of seat box to headlining. Mike

They really have lost there way. It's a shame that they're determined to lose any heritage they had left. On the bright side they can't really sue all the land rover clubs and specialist for using the land rover name any more. Mike

I can't measure one as I don't have a sunroof now, but 45 (LR90) did and I'm pretty sure I stood where the middle seat would be up through the sunroof to paint the roof when I sprayed it. Mike

Well it's back together and running. It looked a bit smokey when I booted it which it wasn't before but it was dark and in car headlights, I'll see what it's like tomorrow. Mike

255/85x16 fit a stock height 110 without rubbing, unless you you put way over the max payload of rubble in the back as my wife found out. Mike

Large sheets of composite including fibreglass are difficult to find to buy, unless you make it yourself. Mike

Yes but then they couldn't change it randomly 3 years later and not tell anyone. Mike

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