Escape

For my P38 I chose a standard tank (I think from Flowfit) with about the right dimensions and had it modified to a perfect fit. Easier and cheaper than having it made from scratch. I'm sure there are models about the size of a battery that should fit under the seat.

I don't think the 4.6 ever came with a manual option, either in the P38 or D2. Unlike the P38, the later D2 with Bosch/Thor 4.0 V8 was available with a manual as far as I know.

I also used an R380 with a 4.6, no problems or signs of wear (but not used long). I'm confident it will last with the 5.0 as well, given some mechanical sympathy. Filip

I seem to recall the "Professional Off-Road" classification was introduced to allow specialised tyres to still be sold, even if the manufacturers can't be bothered to do the testing necessary for the EU classification (the letters for noise, economy etc). Which could mean they are considered illegal for use on public roads.

And the EKA code. If the alarm is armed, (most) diagnostics wont be able to communicate. You do not need Ebay parts.

Ben was kind enough to let me join him for part of the testdrive and let me take the wheel on the way back to the Workshop. I came in from a completely different angle, knowing it was not a vehicle to my taste (way too modern with too many automatic features, like most of the cars on sale today), but I was hoping a drive would make me more positive. It didn't really... For reference, my first Land Rover was a newly bought Defender TD5 used as a daily, followed by a number of P38 Range Rovers. For the last couple of years my daily is a Lotus with the Range Rover still put to good use as a workhorse. I had seen the new Defender at the offical presentation in Belgium about a year ago, and was keen to have a drive. It's certainly comfortable, both on and off road, and has you moving effortlessly at a swift pace, in a nice seat and with ample room. It drives a bit too effortlessly even (unless you watch the rev counter, as Ben already said), feeling quite detached. Which is fine for something designed to just move you from A to B, but I had expected more from a Defender. The steering is very light, the brakes annoyingly touchy. Off road it handled everything we could find without a fuss. As expected, I never doubted this would be a highly capable vehicle, just like other (modern) Land Rovers. The advantages of the independent suspension certainly outweigh any negatives, especially for mixed use. I've always been a fan of EAS, no surprises there. In the new Defender it can also be controlled from the boot, making it very easy to hook or unhook a trailer. Perfect for a working vehicle that wants to offer as much comfort as possible. We didn't get a chance to really explore the different settings of the Terrain Response. I think you'd really have to push to reach the limits of the standard setting and benefit from the other programs. There is the possibility to configure some settings, like throttle response and how quickly the e-diffs activate. I still think having to play with a touch screen while off road is a bad idea. If not a simple lever (or 2), I'd prefer the single big button as in the Disco 3/4/RRS. On the plus side, the gearstick is much nicer to use than flappy pedals. And most controls are more or less where I'd want them, didn't have to look for much. Visibility isn't great, the cameras do add a lot but I don't want to have to rely on them. There a several design details that I don't understand or like, but that's personal taste. In conclusion, if it was my money and I'd have to chose something recent, I wouldn't hesitate a second and go for a RRS or even a Disco4. But I certainly wouldn't say it's a bad car and I can clearly see a market for it. Filip

While browsing for a pneumatic rivet gun, I came across a riv nut one for the same price (€50). So cheap ones do exist, no clue if they deliver good quality (more important for a riv nut than for a simple rivet) and last a reasonable time. I've seen adaptors for an electric drill as well, at even lower prices. I wonder if that would be any good. We don't often use rivets, but when we do it's not something I enjoy... Airpower could make things a lot easier. Filip

We've always run those cams with standard lifters, with good results. I do have a set of Rhoads lifters in a newly built engine, but that car is still far from finished. As Elbekko says, the gasket doesn't give that much. And all bolts/studs will stretch to some degree, to take up both settling and temperature effects. Filip

Good to see one getting used and dirty! Would have been interesting to show how the different vehicles tackle the same obstacles, to get a better idea of how the new one compares to the older Landies.

Some very good points! Could you explain why switching earth is preferred for electronic switches? I usually switch live, to avoid the risk of an accidental earth. But I did notice a lot of the standard circuits switch the earth. Even if it's with a simple switch. So following this topic with much interest. Filip

Looks like a good read! 🙂 Just to be clear, as far as I'm concerned the world maybe be heading towards destruction, but I don't let that intervene with trying to bring happiness to myself and those close to me and enjoying our time on this rock orbiting a star. 😉 And to stay on topic, towing with an electric car doesn't really fit into that. Filip

Soylent green is people.

Totally agree on the last part, trains pay my bills as well. 😉 But I have no love for them at all. I avoid riding them whenever possible, the fuel cost of driving the gaz-guzzling 4.6 Rangie to work instead of taking a free train doesn't even come close to pushing me towards rail. It doesn't help that my job mostly involves reports no one reads, studies that lead to nothing, a lot of number crunching and all that steered by the political tendencies of the moment. Rarely do I get to leave the office, but when we do visit a building site or even better a rolling stock workshop I must admit I feel a lot more at home, and can marvel at both the technology of the trains and the equipment used for maintenance etc. But I still wont admit to liking them. 😛 Filip

Yeah, I've heard about that one. Aren't they using the big Belaz trucks? How I wish I could study those, instead of trains... Could make for an interesting testdrive! @Snagger so you're saying Musk is either a good-meaning Bond-villain (he does have all the traits, reminds me especially of Gustav Graves) or a mad Targaeryen who wants to be a good king but burns the city in the process. 😄 Filip

The main reason trains use diesel-electric drive, or diesel-hydraulic, is because it's much easier to have drive on multiple axles, spread over the entire length of the train. That would be very complex with a mechanical drive, and you do need to spread the tractive effort because of the very low friction of the steel wheels on steel rails. Preferably without much intrusion in the passenger compartment (flat floors, low entrances etc). For the manufacturers it has the added advantage they can use many parts like drive bogies from their electric trains instead of having to design new gearboxes. In theory you could use regenerative braking with a diesel-electric drive, but in practice most such trains don't have batteries. It just becomes to heavy and complicated. I'm involved in a study for battery powered trains, but so far it doesn't look like it's a good option. Charging takes too long and puts too much strain on the catenaries and grid. The only viable option at the moment seems to be an electric train using catenaries most of the time, with batteries to allow it to reach some stations on a non-electrified line or to overcome non-electrified stretches (like bridges, tunnels or connections between main lines). In those cases and with low frequency transport it would be cheaper than having to build catenaries. In (freight) locomotives electric or hydraulic drive helps to provide the torque to get a heavy train moving, without having to worry about wear and tear of the gearbox(es). Pretty much the same reasoning as in large size dumptrucks. Most nowadays are diesel-electric (with batteries for regenerative braking) or diesel-hydraulic (you need a strong hydraulic system anyway). Some like Cat keep offering mechanical transmissions though, they claim it offers a higher power density and better efficiency.

It looks decent, for a new car, the obvious lovechild of the G-wagon and (old) Defender. But from a quick browse through the specs seems I conclude it's inferior to the (old) Defender in pretty much every respect, apart from emissions. And price, but that might be offset by Indian engineering/manufacturing...

There's a movie out there about a guy with a Model X and a smallish trailer trying to get stuff from his field. He struggles a lot, not helped by the tyres on the X. But at least he's using it. Range would obviously be a problem, with conditions (slopes, wind etc) having a much greater impact, meaning it would be difficult to make accurate estimates. You'd need to err well on the safe side when chosing charging points.

As above, I tried that a couple of times to get a vehicle on a lift. It works, but at a cost (time and associated frustration). Now we have a cheap trailer winch with a piece of box section to mount it on the trailer, on the rear of the 4-poster, or just secured with a strap to whatever is handy (like an eye bolt in the concrete). It has been a great help! Filip

I agree a second hand engine is the fastest and often the cheapeast solution to keep a car on the road. But you do run the risk of facing similar problems before long. And there is a huge amount of satisfaction to be gained from rebuilding an engine yourself (and the V8 is an easy one) and then hearing it come to live and enjoying the renewed performance. 😉 Filip

When that sells, we know we're entering the era of Mad Max...

Cutting out under hard load can be due to a stuck wastegate. If the MAP gets too high, the ECU will cut fuel to prevent boost from rising further. As said, make sure the wastegate is operating as it should and adjust if necessary.

Good thinking! Not many would keep their cool in such a situation let alone be able to act to limit damages.

Must have been a proper scare! Glad you're OK!

Yes, 1.3Gb, a typo, I swear. I'll give it to Ben tomorrow, that way we have a permanent solution. But Wetransfer would probably work as well. Filip

Unlikely to be the ECU. As @elbekko says, usually the sensor isn't seated properly. If it is, it could still be malfunctioning. You could try swapping left and right sensors and see if the fault stays or switches sides as well. ECU's are expensive, better make sure. 😉