Turbocharger

ribbon. Pushed into the weave, three bits appear out of the fairlead when you're getting near the end of the rope. One at 6 wraps, one at 10 wraps and one at 12 wraps, which is just visible from the cab when 6 wraps remain. Other highlights of the day include my housemate losing the shed key, deciding it was in the shed, cutting the lock off the shed, finding they're not in there, emailing a housemate who took them but is in China, finding out her boyfriend has actually been using the garage and kept the key and summoning him so I could make quasi-Chinese statements with international 'wheelbrace' underlining about why I didn't want him to keep the keys.

I'd say stick with what you've got. If 5th gear is beyond what you want then use 4th; the number on the gearstick doesn't matter, it's the ratio that does. If you swap boxes, your new 5th will be halfway between 4th and 5th currently - will 'half a gear' help? I use a 1.2 in my Defender, because it was too revvy at speed. I'd say a 1.4 box is the solution if you're having trouble with 1st gear, not 5th.

Bronco are not responsive if you have a problem - I had blocks shedding from my Dirt Devils and they told me to buy replacements, wouldn't entertain a replacement under warranty. That said, I bought a set of 285/75 Grizzlys subsequently because the price is good. They're noisy and wear very fast, but seem to do well offroad. On the road you have to be willing to handle their 'characteristics'. As my Ninety is my everyday car, I bought a set of road tyres and rims too. I trashed one sidewall last time out, and I'm trying to decide whether to buy one more, a pair from another manufacturer or another full set from somewhere. My 3 tyres are worthless on their own but I'm reticent to buy one brand new Grizzly. I wouldn't buy them again.

There are certainly some forums that would be proud to be branded pornographic... PS Trodden - While you're out of the country I'm going round to do some hammering with your missus tomorrow, ok?

Pugwash - I'm working for one of the bus companies, just coming to the end of my month here. I've been keeping an online diary (the above is an extract): http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/JohnBickerton/ I've got a flat about 5 mins from Tin Hau MTR station, ideal for work at the east end of the Island. The Buddha itself is reasonably impressive and not too tacky if you ignore the 'Donate now' boxes everywhere. The rest of the monastery is very consumerised though. I found a quiet spot for some writing though, very peaceful until the Am'ricans arrived. Trodden - I wouldn't argue with your missus when she's in a bad mood. In fact, even in a good mood I usually agree but she's often offering food...

Are you in Hong Kong?

It seems there’s a formal code for walking in the street in Hong Kong. There are two speeds: “amble with obligatory zig-zag path” and “Get out of my way I’m late”. Both are the same speed but the second uses quicker, smaller steps and you tend to travel in straighter lines. Most importantly though, get in other people’s way. It doesn’t matter how you do this but techniques often include not looking where you’re going, not looking like you’re going where you’re going, walking diagonally, looking backwards, slowing down in narrow gaps (or ideally stopping; past-masters will change direction) and walking straight across the front of other people. Examples include leaving a shop and not even contemplating the chance that there may be someone walking on the pavement already, crossing at a pedestrian crossing and showing surprise when you meet people coming the other way, and wondering why all these people are leaving the train/bus/shopping mall as the doors open and you force your way in. If you’re having trouble making a nuisance of yourself, try reading a broadsheet newspaper as you walk or just struggle with a heavy bag on an escalator, then stop dead at the top. Make sure you and the bag completely block the gangway for the two rows of people who are being motored towards you at a fast trot. After all, Hong Kong has the fourth highest population density in the world so it’s hardly likely you’ll annoy anyone, right? Last week I was walking quite quickly to work (late) and catching up someone moving at “fast amble”. Just when he was an arm’s length away he turned on the front foot and came back towards me. Already irritated by the customary idlers who trip me up on the walk to work, I had a fascinating momentary pause where I considered trying to avoid him. I’m ashamed to say I decided that ploughing into him would somehow educate the whole of Hong Kong and he hit my shoulderblade heavily with his forehead before rebounding as if sprung, then crumpling to the floor. For theatrical effect, his briefcase opened too. Did I feel guilty as I picked him back up? Perhaps a little, but I still think it was his fault for turning around without even thinking there might be someone there. Today has torrential rain, so there are some necessary additions to the code to allow for poor weather. The weapon of choice is an umbrella – hit other umbrellas with it. Since I’m taller than everyone else, I’m at spoke height and have the scars to prove it. If you’re not carrying an umbrella and it’s tipping down don’t worry, most of the buildings have overhangs along the street so you could travel in the dry… if the overhangs weren’t full of people with umbrellas, forcing you to take to the gutter with the threat of eye-loss. Once you’re in the downpour, the umbrellas form a Roman Tortoise formation and it’s impossible to break the phalanx until the next road crossing. By this point there’s no point seeking shelter because the torrent in the gutter is about as wet as you are, so you run to the train station, arriving at speed to dart around the coffin-dodger who’s fighting a battle with an invisible assailant wielding her own umbrella in the doorway, slip and measure your length on the wet polished tiles. To cap it all, I then queue between the two cash machines in the station to get some money out, but as the left-hand user takes his money I realise there are people waiting on both sides of me, and I’m suddenly queuing for the imaginary middle ATM. Of course, nobody lets me in front and I have to join one of the new lines and wait my turn. I love commuting.

'Ere, 'ow does the second proportional manifold split the diesel and oil to return it to the tanks? Otherwise, over time you'll have a 5/95% mix in both tanks, surely?

So what you're saying is, if it won't work then you shouldn't have pressed it! My 1994 model sometimes had the fob touching the window before it would work, but it depended where you were. Behind the car was much better than pressing from in front. Think yourself lucky - with the Ninety I have to actually get the key inside the lock before the complicated near-field electromagnetic forces will allow me to open the door!

OK, some good answers and a mixture of choices. Now you're doing the same thing (long expedition, 6 months of fleet work or similar) and you have access to a field workshop but no parts AT ALL. How does that change things? ^^ just jealous

I've got a VDO rev-counter (spot on), a LandRover fuel gauge (your guess is as good as mine), a Racetech water temp gauge (had some problems but that could be wiring) and a TIM turbo pressure gauge (cheap and cheerful but sticks now and then and won't return to zero). I wouldn't buy TIM again, but Racetech definately get my vote.

I've played with 5% petrol in the diesel before, saw absolutely no difference in power or consumption and for the 0.05% saving, don't bother now. Simon - would you like to use a GPS widget to see if there's a difference in performance/power curves?

Since Mr Kelly seemed to incite violence but intended to generate debate, I'll have a go. You are going to buy three vehicles that you don't want to break down and strand you (ie you're going to the desert/mountains/Ipswich, or running a small fleet for a haulage company or something similar). The actual task is unimportant, but your use will be 100% duty (so running 24/7 at the full design speed/load/volume etc). The vehicles will be used hard, but you need to remain mobile. There are no local supplies (not even in Ipswich) and you have a workshop which could be days away. Question is - do you buy three the same, or three different vehicles? Top of the range, or basic model. Biggest or smallest engine? Turbo or NA? Give similies and draw parallels if you can, show your working, don't cross your hands on the steering wheel. (Slow day in work, again)

If you want a ready converted axle, with the spring seats moved across already, I've got one...

... but only at 88mph, right? Seriously, could you e-boost when you want the power, and run NA in cruise? I still think that OTS V8 is the best route though, less fabrication and less to go wrong!

Slightly OT and no help to your V8 quest, but Surely electrical power isn't free?

Are you sure the method's right this time, Les? Seriously, fantastic post, the kind of thing that can save people from being told 'you need a new injector pump, £800 please'. Nah, he's better than Haynes. He's often right!

Nope - I'll have to wait until I start to rebuild one then, and there's plenty of work to be done on the Ninety yet! The RAC website seems to have bad data on date of manufacture, my Ninety has the right year but says 30th Dec 1984 - V5 says 1st August 1984 (making it a very early Ninety). My Mum's old Volvo (owned from new, sitting 'spare'): Date manufactured 31 December 1983/ Number of previous owners 0 Last owner change 22 March 1983 Go figure...

Since they'll all be a similar shape I'd make a bespoke saddle/frame which will bolt to the gearbox and the trolley jack - although the lower scissorlift would be pretty impressive if paired with an air impact gun :)

That's what happens when you lower the suspension too far - the wheels don't even reach the ground.

Concensus is to fit Genuine parts where required (or OEM copy, same thing in a different box) but are there any parts where Genuine isn't best?

(List in priority order for recovery, numbers show minutes from start before stuck) [tin hat]

Moving slightly OT, I've got a number of V5s and cars from before the SORN regs came in. I don't get a reminder asking me to SORN them, but they're there for a rainy day rebuild. Do these cars still exist with DVLA? Sorry to hear about yr news Les. I'd say if you SVA it there are no probs in the future.

Are you real? Welcome.

I sold my Disco a year back, took eight weeks and it went to the only guy who enquired. Seems that you can see plenty of adverts asking £6k for a base-spec 200Tdi but it'll be the same advert every week, because nobody's buying. My 1994 300Tdi ES went for £4300 in the end, but I spent nearly £200 advertising the thing in the end.