Gazzar

The indicator stalk in my series 3 was getting a bit tired, so I bought a new genuine one. eBay, don't you know. Lucas, green box. It felt genuine. It might well be genuine, but it didn't fit like the original. Nothing major, but annoying. The wiring was all good, similar colours, correct plugs and sockets, same gauge. The castings were fine, and the contacts looked sound. There were two problems: The bracket wasn't for a series, too small and no clip for the shroud attachment, the set screws were too short. No problem, swap the old one over. But the biggest problem was the stalk itself, this was massively out of line compared to the old one, and a sod to bend right.

That was the smart thing to do. Some days I'm not smart. I'd love to heat them, but it's yet another project, (along with heated screens and seats) so I think I'll just get a new glass for now. There must be done way to stop the flake.

My first night time green laning expedition resulted in a broken door mirror. Is there a better option than glass? These are the larger mirrors, which are great for towing. Oh, and is there a DIY option to repaint the arms, that doesn't flake off? (Posted in the defender forum as they are defender mirrors - but fitted to a Landrover LWB)

Soz, brain not engaged.

Santana was a Rover licenced copy, as was Phaser(spelling). Austin became part of British Leyland, with Rover, so I expect the IP aspect of that amalgamation/disaggregation is probably totally covered.

Quite. Could you scale up from this ( internet search result )?

Exactly. That rear bulkhead is 2 inches or so closer to the front on the 88". eBay.co.uk for a series truck cab infill panel. I've no idea what shape the modern coil spring things are in that area. Though I suspect that they don't have this difference as the "90" and subsequent defenders are quite a bit longer than the 88". I think the seat belt fittings are the same for the truck cab, though, big bracket thing in the cab sides for the upper, Socket bolted to the floor and a bracket from floor to chassis.

This? The mark is the centre of the cap over the half shaft. 43" and 13/16ths. As to centrality? The second two measurements were at the height of the valence, so that might give to an idea.

The 88 rear bulkhead is much closer to the front bulkhead: when fitting a truck cab to an 88, one needs an infill panel to bridge the gap, the back of the truck cab being about 2 inches behind the rear bulkhead.

The outer side panel, from the door aperture? Where it folds for the door seal?

Which parts? The profitable part? The engineering innovation part? The function over form part?

Yes, I agree. I'll pursue clarification, even if I have to visit Swansea in person.

It sounds like social media, I'm afraid, and I do neither!

Agreed, I don't do instachat, but I'd love to see the work, pop up a project page in the members vehicles page, if you have time.

It's lighter, too!

Of course!

And I wouldn't bash the guy, he's just doing his job the way he thinks he should. I can educate him, which will do. Nicely. G.

Actually, the DVSA have come back, and I'm even more confused. "Rear fog lamps are commonly wired so they can only work when the headlamps are on. This is logical as you wouldn’t need to use a rear fog lamp unless visibility was seriously impaired, in which case you should have the headlamps on." I don't know if that means main beam or dipped beam, or both. A good beak could argue for any of these scenarios. And the user of the word "can" gives a lot of wriggle room. I've asked for clarification. I'm impressed by their responsiveness, though, so full credit to them.

Pass! Dance of victory!

I know, I know, if I go to another garage, I'll get it passed, but I sort of trust this guy. He's a jobsworth, but he's honest. And if the DVSA come back in my favour, I can educate him.

I've read the manual, he's correct. Wrong, but correct. The hazards would fail on my truck, as it takes a while for both sides to work, but they aren't tested, as that only applies after 1984(ish), but there is no scope in the manual for age for fog lamps, after 1980, they must be an all the time. We'll see if he fails the fog lamps for going out when the side lights are off, in an hour or so. The DVSA have referred my query to the vehicle regulations team.

Or it could be a lot simpler than that. Maybe the swivel plates just arrived in the factory in a big stack, and they were hard to separate into individual plates. They might be stuck together by oil, grease, paint, whatever. So they just two on?

Done that. We'll see if they ever respond.

It's an independent garage, with a tech support phone line. That avenue is exhausted. My options are another garage or modify the loom.

The rules have changed, he's not wrong. It's daft, and unfair, but he's following the rules.