miketomcat

I've used a short section of pipe (speedfit works well from memory) to hold the clip in place on the ball. The legs need a bit of bend inwards to help persuade them in. I normally buy two plastic clips if I'm doing it with the gearbox on. Mike

I used to have a tomcat. And a 90, 110 and now an ibex. 😁 Mike

Would it not make more sense to fit the engine and gearbox before the other mods, given that you'll probably need the wings off to fit the engine. Sounds like a good project though Mike

This certainly makes sense and I'm happy with the way it is now, just need to sort the freespool (a Bowden cable is on the cards). As for the ep9 the brake was playing up so I guess that's what killed it. Mike

You could try shiply.com Mike

You don't need them, but some people like them some don't. We have one on the rear of 110 but not on the ibex. I off road the ibex but the 110 only goes off road from time to time. Mike

Well it's in and working. I need to make the freespool accessable, it needs a lever and push rod arrangement. Certainly with the X9 there is a destinct difference between winch in and out, it looks like the brake drags a little winching out. This isn't a problem if you freespool but that's always been tricky on the ibex. I'm fairly certain the ep9 was the wrong way round meaning the brake was dragging while winching in, thus the winch was down on pulling power. The only reason it lasted as long as it did is because I used to winch out instead of freespool and most my winching is on flat ground so didn't notice the brake failing. Mike

Yeah I know a man who likes winches he recommended one for me. Mike

Don't know for sure. Anyway more done tonight. I've had to relive the cross beam in way of the winch mounting uprights (the light grey painted area). The X9 is in (the right way round) and working but still need to splice the rope onto the drum and finish putting the seatbox back together tomorrow. Mike

I think it might be to do with the way the brake engages and drum rotation, ironically if I'd pulled of the top of the drum it would of been rotating the same way as if mounted on the front in this orientation. Mike

The ep9 is out. I've had to alter the seat mount that runs over the top as the X9 is a bit bigger. I think I may of worked out what killed the brake on the ep9. When I mounted the ep9 in the tray originally It obviously didn't occur to me the the winch line now goes out the back therefore the winch needs to be fitted the opposite way round. This may not be the problem but in my head it would explain it. Mike

I think the discolouration in the original splines throughs your eye off. Mike

Yes you can fit a disco axle but as retro says you'll need the radius arms to fit the axle. Panhard rod is fine as far as I know. Calipers are different and you will need 110 calipers (I believe they are the same on very late disco). You'll need to swap both the steering arms to the defender style or swap the drop arm on the steering box to disco. Mike

Maybe the 19kgs is what they have removed not what's left. Mike

I can absolutely guarantee the ibex structure is right up there with a cage for roll over protection. There have been at least 3 ibex rolls both end over and side over (granted all were relitively slow), all were driven home with only broken glass and minor dents. Below is the main hoop on ibex up to F8 (the F8 is built differently but just as strong). As said it's not motorsport compliant. From memory @MogLite had Ali rub bars on his ibex but again non structural. Mike

Personally I bolt the box to the chassis then tighten the tie bar, then sort the tracking and finally adjust the drag link. I certainly don't drive it with any of it loose (at least not intentionally ). Mike

Finally got round to fixing the leaking drive flange caps hopefully for good. Mike

Bear in mind if you change the disco rear cross member to a defender style then it will need an IVA. There was one on here that made a frame for the body to sit on this no mods to the chassis I think he used a hi cap rear tub to hide the discos rear overhang. Mike

I can put something on Facebook amongst mini Marcos/jem owners. Mike

I think they are some kind of byproduct of aluminium corrosion. It's the same as we see in the marine environment. Mike

Yes it is corrosion, caused by dissimilar metals and salt water. Needs cleaning up and touching in but I doubt you'll stop it just slow it down. Mike

I agree with Bowie, looks like a bodged second damper mount. I'd cut it off completely. Mike

I've always cleaned up blocks with wet and dry on a piece of perspex. I've been known to do heads too, both Ali and steel but I always check with a straight edge after. Never had issues that haven't been attributed to something else. Mike

New seals will take a while to compress and take up the new shape. So I would bear with the new ones for a while. Mike

The 110, Body, most of the interior, both axles, suspension and brakes. The ibex, Body, chassis and windows foers. Front axle, engine and gearbox discovery. Rear axle, transfer box, brakes and suspension. 110 pick up. Mike