g&t

166k on it's own should not effect the performance that much, I had a 3.5efi (15 horses down on yours) that had done 155k & still went well although it had a top end overhaul at about 120k. If anything has been done to change the overall gearing it will not help the situation & also don't expect saloon car figures from these vehicles as that's not what they are about - the engines were tuned for a compromise between both off & on road use plus the power losses through the auto-box, transfer-box & two diffs is considerable compared to a 'normal' car.

Sad news indeed, had the book for many years.

Could be worse I suppose for a (heavily?) modified vehicle, probably not much difference to ours if the car still had the original lump.

Very sorry for your loss mate. Hope the pondlife don't start showing an interest in V8's, I've got agreed value on my RRC but would hate to lose it. Bugger all security on older RR's so I had a Thatcham cat 2 fitted & use a disc-lock as well. We all shop around for the best insurance price these days but it's only at times like this that you find out whether you hard - earned has been well spent.

My God, £43 vs £1169! & we think we are hard done by over here. Don't want to off-topic too much but how do your insurance rates compare?

I'm not a mechanic but, based on my own past experience, the 'pressure still present when removing cap after a long stand' senerio sounds like head gasket. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Mother - in - law in the back seat? Sorry, couldn't resist it!

Been used for launching boats (into salt water) perhaps? I've had four 'classics' the oldest being '85 & never had major chassis corrosion.

Don't think puss would be that pleased either!

If by hidden you mean underslung then that could reduce your ground clearance, depending on how low they hang (no vulgar comments please guys!). Depends on how much off - roading you do I guess, good luck with your perspective purchase - the Classic is the best all round car I've ever owned in 47 years of motoring, but not the cheapest!

Sprag clutch has inverted. Can be driven in that condition but the cure is either a 'box removal & overhaul or a recon. 'box. Budget for min £1000 (to include labour) I would think. Personally I would walk away.

Probably depends on what 'they' class the offence as. ''Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition'' covers a mulitude of sins.

Naughty - naughty! Not only potentially lethal to yourself & others but also an offence under C & U regs with fines up to £2500 with possible penalty points. New year's resolution perhaps?

You might like to read my reply to your query on the 'other forum'

Agree entirely, used compo's on my old '89 3.5efi (heads checked by engineers, skimming not required) & noticed no 'real world' diffference. Also it could be argued that a slight drop in CR is no bad thing if you are running standard 95 octane as, according to the handbook, these engines were designed for 97.

Thanks for all the replies folks, some have been more specific to my original question than others but all have been interesting. A Happy New Year to all & lets hope that we are still enjoying our 4x4's this time next year, though some of the prospects are not looking bright.

Thanks for the reply Pooh, that would indeed account for the variation. Though I'm fully aware of the current thinking re tyre age I'm reluctant to scrap four good Michelin tyres that although old were on a vehicle stored undercover before I bought it. I can't remember the spec (I'll take a look next time I'm at the car) but they seem to have an AT type tread & are also designed for stud fitment. Returning to the original subject, most people know that you should only check pressures when the tyres are cold, but with lower winter - time readings does this mean that inflating the tyre to it's correct pressure is in fact over - inflation(?) or am I opening a can of worms!

My 3.5efi RRC is a second car so not a daily driver but nevertheless I check the tyre pessures weekly prior to giving it a run of about 20 - 30 miles. As the weather has got colder I find the the tyres need more 'top - up' than they did during the summer months & thought that because the tyres had been fitted 20 years ago (well before my ownership of 3 years) but still in exellent condition ie no cracks at all on the sidewalls etc. that this was the cause. However, two other cars that I check at the same interval, inc our five year old Ford that had new tyres last year, suffer from advanced pressure drop during cold weather. All the vehicles have alloy wheels so I wonder of this material contracts more that steel, thereby causing air to leak from the rim/bead seal on tubeless tyres?

Too right Will, the most obvious point being that they never factor in Ed's labour costs.

My excuse is that I've not owned a series since '89 so I didn't spot that!

I'm normally a fan of the 'wheeler dealer' program but the recent (or was it another repeat) episode where Mike bought a yellow stage one rag-top made me cringe. First off Ed has the gall to claim that 'it's actually quite a good spray job' when the lads decide that the budget won't run to a re-paint, what a load of b......s it looked nothing more than a 'blow over' job to me. Not only is there overspray everywhere but the cappings have been painted as well & in places ( the fuel cap recess for a start) it looks like the spray guy has only shown the gun to the alloy! Whilst freely admitting to not having any experience of carb V8's, as all four of my RRC's have been EFI, I don't think I would spend a grand on converting a lump with those emission figures to LPG! The stage one, preferably in station wagon form, has always been my favourite series LR but this program left me feeling very underwhelmed.

This subject always provides me with endless amusement when I read private seller's claims that the number 'looks like' ....... What a load of b......s in most cases - the only way the claim could be true is if (a) the buyer has no imagination of their own & (b) don't mind the risk of failing an MOT or getting pulled by the plod (when they can be bothered) for having illegal spacing of characters on the plate. I'd love a personal number but a 'proper' one would cost five into five figures so I'll have to leave it! To me owners who go for these artificial groupings of digits are, far from attracting the envious looks they crave, simply telling the world in general that they want a personal plate but can't afford one.

Oil leaks to be a failure item? that's going to knock out most LR products! I've even seen new Defenders in the showroom with drip trays under them. I agree about the 'new' MOT cert. typical government - keep jacking up the price & doing their level best to force older vehicles off the road whilst they can't even give you a decent quality cert.

That's interesting, your experience seems to fly in the face of the accepted wisdom that a narrower tread is better for snow. My RRC has the original spec 205's & did well in last year's weather, although to be fair the car is not a daily driver.

Just after WW2 there was a judge in London, probably the Old Bailey, who always handed down maximum sentences to anyone convicted of receiving, on (his) assumption that if there were no receivers there would be no thieves The problem is that there are far too many people ready to hand over their cash for parts just as long as they are cheap. Perhaps as members of the Land Rover community themselves owners should be more willing to question the scource, as one day it may be parts from their own pride & joy on the 'market'