SteveG

Scotland's changed a lot since I was last there, must be global warming With some decent rear arms on you'd get some travel out of Gwyn's set-up.. That was just a joke by the way good pics Steve

As it's the Gap it must have been March, so five months after buying and still less than a year old. That's front garden was quite tricky in places!

not to be outdone by the TDi's Here's mine doing some extreme off-roading/overlanding on the front lawn.. Steve ;)

So here's the calc with VAT.. Fuel duty 50.35 +VAT = 59.16 July 2008 129.9, minus 59.16 = 70.74 minus VAT = 60.2p Today 124.9, minus 59.16 = 65.74 minus VAT = 55.95 So approx 7% decrease in price between peak and now, yet there has been a 27.4% decrease in barrel cost. Sorry but I don't agree with the commodities futures buying argument too. With the amounts involved any fuel retailer that is not a producer would have to be calling out trading provision risks in their financial reports. For example the supermarkets are one such example, and you won't find any provision in their annual report calling out risk from future placements in the price of oil. To have an impact they'd have to be placing pre purchase contracts running into several hundreds of millions of pounds and then call out the risk associated with doing this. Unless you can prove that this is happening then for now I doubt this is having any impact. Cheers Steve

I left it out as it's a constant on both figures and it is a linear calculation, unlike fuel duty which is a fixed cost per litre. I could do the full calc, but it's going to be close to above. Cheers Steve

Similar, as in from a distance if you squint ;) Out of interest what do Silverline rate those alloys at? Just wondered if they were sufficient for the weight specifications for a 110, as most LR alloys are not. Cheers Steve

Sorry about the amount, problem with running on a US keyboard with no pound symbol. Put price in pence and then went to get pound symbol and forgot to move decimal. Anyway to discuss the raised justifications of tax and dollar rate.. Taken from the latest budget the current fuel duties are.. Fuel duties All fuel duty rate changes will take effect from 1 October 2008. Pence per litre (unless stated) Old duty rate Change New duty rate Ultra-low sulphur petrol/diesel 50.35p +2p 52.35p Sulphur-free petrol/diesel 50.35p + 2p 52.35p Biodiesel 30.35p +2p 32.35p Bioethanol 30.35p + 2p 32.35p Liquefied petroleum gas used as road fuel 16.49p per kg + 4.28p per kg 20.77p per kg Natural gas used as road fuel 13.70p per kg + 2.89p per kg 13.70p per kg Rebated gas oil (red diesel) 9.69p + 0.38p 10.07p Fuel Oil 9.29p + 0.37p 9.66p So let's take my current local Sainsbury's price of 124.9p, take away duty of 50.35p and you have 74.55p The peak price for Oil was $147.7 on July 11th 2008. On that day the exchange rate was $1.98 to the pound. Today's rate is $1.79 to the pound. So the delta in exchange rate is 9.6%. So on 11th July a barrel of oil cost £74.60 and today it would cost £54.19, which is a reduction of 27.4% I don't know what the price per litre of fuel was on 11th July, but the highest I recall it going up to locally was 129.9 at Sainsbury's. So minus fuel duty that is 79.55p So it was equivalent to 79.55p in July and it's now equivalent to 74.55p today. That's a 6.3% reduction in price, when the raw cost has reduced by 27.4% taking into account fuel duty and currency fluctuations. In percentage terms if the price at the pump is following the cost of a barrel of oil, we should be at about 108.10 pence per litre of diesel. As I said before the sums just don't add up. Cheers Steve

if the cost of oil is now at $97 a barrel, down from it's peak of $147 in mid July, why am I still paying at least £124.9 at the pumps near me?? The mathematics just don't add up to me. They were raising daily when then the price of oil was going up by $3-4, yet when it shed one third of it's price there's hardly any movement. Cheers Steve

I ran 245/75 16 MTR's and 255/85 16 BFG MT's on my p38. The 245/75's will fit on a standard p38 no problem and these are slightly bigger diameter than 255/70's. If you hit a bump at the lower motorway height and get compression you may get a slight rub on front inner wing but that's it. By the time I fitted the 255/85 16's I'd fitted custom front bumper and had the ride height recalibrated, so can't answer for sure, but my gut feel is that on a standard bumper they will rub at the front. You could try re-calibrating standard and motorway height settings to give you some extra room and this may help, but you'd have to experiment with the 255/85's. Here some pics to show both sets on.. 245/75's on high setting.. 255/85's on recalibrated motorway... On recalibrated standard height.. full compression at recalibrated 'high setting' ... Here it is still with arb's fitted. If you want more travel it's a lot of work as you have to reposition height sensors and re-wire abs sensors all round, plus brake pipes too.... Cheers Steve

more tales of current Defenders Off Road here.. http://www.landrovernet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132157 That's if, being up on the ramps at the dealer workshop counts as Off Road :lol: Steve

If I was in your situation, I'd fit the Mud stuff bulkhead removal kit first and see how you are first. It's easy to fit and will allow your seat to go back enough that it should ease your problem. Changing the doors out is time consuming and potentially expensive as you need to change out locks, door strikers etc too. Cheers Steve

The front wouldn't be standard at all Nige. Remember that Gwyns mounts are +2". With the right choice of springs and shocks the limitation of articulation would move to the front radius arm. Which I suspect is the same as yours. Unless you have kranked rear arms then there is no point with the A-frame balljoint. I have x-arms on rear plus X-springs with Gwyn'e OME N 73 shocks and the limit of travel on the rear is now the shocks, not the A-frame. I find this set up on mine is very stable and works well for what it is. Cheers Steve

and you'll have to do without the vents Steve

Thanks for the post Michele, it reminded me on Wednesday to see if Jez had any left. He's picking me up a set from Russia, so I'll be looking forward to fitting them. They look good with your install. Cheers Steve

if a P38a RR counts as a Land Rover it has two fitted from the factory. A bit more robust though, as it's a U shaped metal bracket. Maybe, their thought process was that a RR owner is unlikely to be found under their vehicle with a grease gun! Steve

I did, but was fobbed off back to Nene Overland whose stand they were using at Billing. Not going to bother anymore, as I've had too many failed promises of them turning up and I've had enough of chasing them up. Cheers Steve

I wish they were so consistent. Bought some M&M seat covers at Billing (210 pounds worth) only to find out next day that they were wrong type, for new Defender 07on. Took almost a month to get replacement after numerous calls and e-mails, only to have same again. I know have two sets of MY2007 on. Turns out that some packs have been labelled wrongly. Fair enough, but now it's almost two months and still no correct ones, again after many a chase up call by and promised delivery dates etc that haven't been met. Including waiting around for deliveries that never showed up, because the goods were never shipped. Really poor customer service from Exmoor and their Billing reseller Nene Overland. Lost my patience now after they failed to deliver again this week and asked for a refund now. Cheers Steve

I'm sorry, but you were misinformed, which is not unusual on automotive regulations. On this kind of stuff, I wish people would do some research and get their facts straight before posting. I looked into this when I fitted the two rear benches and seatbelts to my 2005 90 hardtop. Firstly it depends on whether your Defender is registered as a Car or Private Light Goods Vehicle, PLG. As a simple guide, CSW are usually registered as Cars, everything else as PLG, BUT check your V5 for your Defender. Irrespective of whether it is registered as a car or PLG, you’ll need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the following changes to your vehicle: colour engine cylinder capacity fuel type (propulsion) replacing or modifying the chassis/monocoque bodyshell seating capacity weight of a goods vehicle Wearing Seatbelts and the Law Drivers and adult front seat passengers must wear a seat belt, unless they have a medical exemption certificate Adults travelling in the rear of a car must also use seat belts, if they are fitted. It is the responsibility of the adult passenger (not the driver) to ensure that they are using the seat belt Children under the age of 12 or below 135cm in height must use a child restraint. A child restraint can not be used in a sideways facing seat. Fitting of sideways facing seats You are allowed to fit sideways facing seats in both Cars and PLGs. Fitting of seatbelts SVA Seat belts - Car - Yes, PLG - No, What is tested - Evidence of compliance or visual assessment at test site Seat belt anchorages Car - Yes, PLG - No. What is tested - Evidence of compliance with full type-approval standard or acceptable alternative Installation of seat belts Car - Yes, PLG - No, What is tested - Evidence of compliance with type-approval standard or acceptable alternative MOT testing Seatbelts - all seatbelts installed are checked for type, condition, operation and security. All compulsory seatbelts must be in place. For both Cars and PLG's... cars registered before 1st April 1987 There are no seatbelt requirements for Centre Front Seat and Rear Forward Facing Seats For all Cars and PLG's registered after 1st April 1987 Seatbelts are compulsory for centre front seat and all forward facing rear seats. There are then a number of guidelines for which seats must have a 3 point seatbelt depending on seat configuration. Note. 1: Rear facing or side facing seats are not required to be fitted with seat belts. Note 2: Occasional seats that fold when not in use, fitted in the rear of extended limousines are not required to be fitted with seatbelts Note 3: Seat belts fitted to the rear of the driver's compartment in a goods vehicle do not require to be fitted with seat belts, unless the seat is the specified passenger seat then a seatbelt is required. Note 4: A goods vehicle (eg. a car derived van) which has been converted to a passenger vehicle specification (ie. fitted with rear seats and side windows etc) is required to comply with the passenger vehicle requirements. Vehicles Exempt from Seat Belt Installation Checks Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon with type approved seat belt installations can be identified as follows: manufactured 1990- from chassis number 455758 manufactured 1991 onwards- all chassis numbers. To be exempt from the check, vehicles must have been fitted with the seat belt installation by the vehicle manufacturer when new. If you are aware that a vehicle with a chassis number shown above has had any seats/seat belts fitted by any other installer, eg. where it has been adapted to carry wheelchairs and has removable seats on tracking, it will not be exempt and will require an installation check. For seatbelt and anchorage compliance you'll need to buy an SVA manual at a cost of 27 pounds. Or to easily conform without buying the manual is to follow the fitting arrangements of the front seat belts. Hope this helps. Steve

Glad you got it fixed Col. Have you bought a Nanocom yet? If not they'd be a useful tool for you in checking stuff like injector performance/MAF readings etc in future. Cheers Steve

Drop Ashcrofts a mail and see if they still supply them. If they don't then I wouldn't bother taking the risk, knowing SR's business practices, like getting cheap ***t in from China and giving the impression it was Staun. Cheers Steve

hello Nige I would have thought that a wireless system would be the simplest to install and manage. Search for "wireless waterproof camera" on eBay and you'll see wireless video USB servers that come with two cameras and handle up to 4. They are probably advertised as mains powered but all are adapters and have 12v DC inputs so ideal for in car. You then just have to run power to the cameras. Here's a link to one from a UK seller that has USB and receivers and cameras are all 12V DC. Waterproof & Wireless USB System Cheers Steve

No idea Mo, who is recommending that? Cheers Steve

Surely with a set of waffles any LR could get up and down there without any knocks - no? Nobody will be in a rush so should be fine doing stanage without damage. Cheers Steve

We stayed in Bradley a few weeks back for a week, so must have been just down the road. That's a great offer for all those happy to camp, John. Ashbourne is good with lots of food options a pubs too, just a little too far from Lanes it seems to act as a base, otherwise we could look for accommodation there too. Cheers Steve

If there is not enough lanes to fill two good days, is there a good local play site that could be booked for half a day? Cheers Steve