HPLP

Hi mate, Why not buy the parts here in NZ? By the time you consider the GST and courier there really isnt that much in the price difference. Also then you can be sure of having exactly what you need rather than buying unnecessary bits and the added price of getting them here? H

The tyre market is pretty much international market with mostly the same brands. Id suggest either 235/85 or 265/75 BFG AT run at 30 -32 psi. It has struck me that most tyre fitters in nz and auz run them really hard (often mid 40s psi) which makes the vehicles so harsh and pitchy and grip significantly worse than they should. H

Id suggest keep it simple. Either a 300tdi defender 110 or a ex military soft-top 110 with a 2.5 na. The island is small so the lack of power with the na really will not be an issue. You also would get alot of ex army vehicle for what you're looking at spending as the 2.5 na is considered too slow for many to use in the UK. Looking at wiki weather it seems to sit around 30oc maximum which will be fine in any standard defender/discovery. I had my 300tdi disco in just over 40 in Auz and it was fine, even though it had 275,000 miles on it! Im sure aircon would be nice which means a discovery would be another option as it is less common in Defenders (certainly of 300tdi era). Ex-army land rovers usually come with the tough michelin tyres which if you get a good set will last for years. Id even recommend them on another vehicle as usually they're 235/85/r16 or 7.50 which is the standard army size. Otherwise a set of BFGoodrich ATs would do just fine. Send him with a brand new spare too. A comprehensive spares kit would also be a very good idea as if he has the parts to hand, he can get someone else to fit them. Anything larger, as you said can be got from home, but he just has to wait. Id consider a full set of belts, new alternator and starter, 3 fuel filters and 2 airfilters, 4 wheel bearings with hub seals, 4 ujs, cooling hoses with some jubilee clips, head gasket and water pump. There may be others things that Ive forgotten. Lastly, FIT A LOW WATER ALARM and explain to him what it tells him! These seem to be nearly standard fitment in Australia and it saved my bacon in my disco when she blew a water hose. As a part of this, not wanting to sound like a prat, but does he know the importance of checking oil and water regularly, if not daily? Alot of people don't consider this important but as he could take a older car away it could save him lots of headaches. Hope that helps, Hugh.

Thats great thanks. I'm going to try once more with a rad-weld type substance and then will admit defeat and have a go... H

Poo.... Looks like its a drain the aircon then too.... H

Hey, Just a quicky, has anyone managed to change a heater matrix on a 300 series disco with aircon WITHOUT taking the dash out? Thanks, Hugh.

The old routemasters never had that problem.....stupid PCness

even with the bling paint job Im wondering who would buy 100 land rovers driven by Italians!

David, What is it like on the flat otherwise? On a hill or in a headwind I wouldnt expect much more to be honest. If its not any better I would have thought that it sounds like she could be down on compression and maybe needing some new rings and pistons.... A 1992 engine is now 22 years old so could easily have 300,000 miles or more so maybe due a freshen up.

Aye a Disco will keep up with a defender. They ride the same onroad just more comfortable really. I looked at a few manuals and was disappointed in their condition and the jap ones seemed to be far better condition wise. If you can find a good manual, have fun but they seem to be rare here. I wouldnt discount a auto as if you tune the engine it should be just as good. H

Josh, Realisticly the NZ market is split between Jap import (the vast majority) and NZ new. The jap ones are autos with the EDC pump and the NZ new are mainly manuals. The main question I would suggest you decide is whether you want a V8 auto or a 300tdi. Rust generally, as you've said unless its been putting boats or doing lots of beach driving up north for example, is not a problem here (NZ) but severe lack of maintance is. The WOF is a joke comepared to the MOT in the UK or the NCT in Ireland. I have a jap import 300tdi auto which I fitted a non edc pump to as there was problems with the existing edc pump. I ended up with this as it was cheap and I got what parts I needed for a good price from Ross at S4wd in Christchurch. Hugh

I use new engine oil/gear oil on my land rovers before putting them into storage. I wonder how hot you'd have to get the mixture to put it through a spray gun? H

Well if they already have the VM then why not? H

double post

There a chap somewhere ( in the east of England I think) running round in I think an old Rover 90/100 car (not sure which) and I remember him saying that it got over 45mpg with a 200tdi in it. Has anyone else seen it? He had a website detailing his conversion H

What sort of rough money? H

In my view we do not change the climate, we change the eco-system structure. It has been going on since we learned to light fire and cut down trees and is not a simple, last 100 year problem. The sun provides an input and relates to the worldwide temperature which is continually changing. This we are not able to make any difference to, but we can and have changed the nature of the climate on a huge level. Most of what has changed has been caused by the removal of vegetation (forests, bush, jungle, etc). This in turn has altered where there is water and in turn where life is sustaining. There is evidence everywhere around the world and the main problem is humans, and is exacerbated by the number of us. Population growth and pressure is overlooked and seems to be a unmentionable issue. There simply is too many of us.... In reality we will never restore the world to a untouched state unless we all die, so we should be more concerned with trying to live a low resource dependent lifestyle, maximizing what is available to us. Also when something as major as this is oversimplified, it grows legs and usually ends up wrong.....

You're best bet is to ask specific tax/licence questions in Belgium/Holland or directly to people from there. Not being there/or familiar with local rules could mean that you get given wrong or bad advice. I think that there are a few members from there on here. Engine wise, anything is fittable with time and money. I would have thought that a already fitted TD5 would be the easier way to go but that is dependent on chassis and condition.

Also mate, Just wondering, would you get away with just doing a DI conversion without the turbo? H

Ive also seen a 300tdi that was high miles and there was a crack in the bore where it had worn through the side of the bore into the water gallery. H

What are peoples experience with the bearmach overdrive? Ive heard of it but never seen one. H

thats cool. its pink, just not a vivid pink. time for a change and new filter then.

that would be great Iain Its also really bar the check with gauges, how does one evaluate the condition of an auto? H

Hi, I was wondering could someone with rave possibly copy me the section regarding the auto stall test? I simply cannot find it and I want to check the auto in my disco that Ive just bought here in NZ before I go about spending some money on it. At what figure should she stop at? Thanks, Hugh

Ive managed 42 mpg in a 200tdi 90 with disco transfer box. That was maps verified and brimmed (ie filled to a markon the inside of the filler). Its amazing whats possible when you're a very broke student! H