Jon W

I have missed this thread and need to sit down and read it all. Sounds like my dream build! You may have covered this already in the thread but make sure you rust proof everything well as the sprinters do like to rust. Also heard about moisture getting in the sides where the black plastic trims clip on. Look forward to getting half an hour to read it all

Best bet is speak to Gwyn Lewis, he will be able to advise on spring rates and shocks to suit the setup, very knowledge able and will know the pros and cons of the different types he sells. Give him a list of the stuff you have on the truck and he can work from there

A shame to see, but understand your reasons, its nice to have the toys but even nicer to actually have the time and funds to use them. I have just seen the for sale ad, some one will get a bargain with this to get into racing. You can always get another when the girls have grown up, hope to see you out in the 90 soon

How about 90 underseat fuel tank with an 044 pump. Then some aux under wing/rear tub extended range tanks and do away with the rear 110 tank completely? Just have a transfer pump to move fuel to the main underseat tank? Then you can fit the which behind the cross member?

Ahhh but that is 6 drums vs 4 discs. But yes drums require less effort hence many didnt have a servo originally

If you can squeeze it in I would put the reducer at the turbo end. Keep 76mm pipe as far a you can

Gutted to have missed this years event. Normally try to get there once a year and its normally me and Darthdicky amusing ourselves. It much more fun with a group/mini convoy to give a bit of peer pressure and challenge each other 😁

Don't think I will be getting anymore BFG as supply has dried up. I have one set left at the moment but they are provisionally sold and just awaiting collection. I have found the new bfg very quiet, but they do get noiser with wear and age I find.

I used this guide and managed to change the seal myself. A job i wasn't looking forward to but I managed and also got it it all set correctly as well. I did it with the pump on the bench as much easier access etc.

Here I am with a blatant plug. I have several sets of waffles for sale of the size you mentioned, I'm sure I could do a deal for a couple of sets. I am in North Wales is the only thing but the forum relay can normally get things most places unless time is off the essence. Or I could look at delivery cost If you do use waffles make sure you wear gloves as the splinters can be nasty Maxx tracks are another option but I havent used them, but I have a feeling they are a lot shorter, so good for getting out of a hole but maybe not spreading the weight over such an area? Thanks Jon

I shall be there, Navigating for Darth Dicky in his 90. We are hoping to get to all the events this year. The southern ones in his 90 with him driving and the Northern events in my 90 with me driving Very much looking forward to it Jon

Have heard many a horror story about Shielder. Ultra bulkheads may seem a new company, however from what I have heard they know what they are doing having previously made chassis's before changing business model. They also have a distributor in Holland (Yellow Trading) so may be easier for you to get hold of logistically. I haven't used either as when i rebuilt my 90 there wasn't anyone doing galvanised bulkheads so I just galvanised a good bulkhead i had Jon

Yes it is, they do make some great videos, and whenever i have seen them at any events competing or filming they are a great laugh and don't take themselves too seriously and are there to enjoy themselves which I think some people loose sight of when they are 'in competition mode'

Boosts will still have the problem with the drum braked axle and possibly the front axle drive flanges if they are the thick type. You can get round this by fitting 30mm wheel spacers and this also allows more steering lock. Some people hate wheel spacers but that a whole other story/thread. Other option is to just buy some modular steels.

This may be of no you but looks very much like a Devon 4x4 so if you wanted to buy one they could probably provide one. But you would probably rather make one. Anyway the point of my post is having used these a friend modified his so it dug In a lot better as the standard anchor tends to struggle to bite to begin with. He had welded a ground anchor pin the length of the blade in the centre which gave a good sharp point which helped initial bite

The 525 PTO driven by shafts we had on Darth and I 90 was ok but the let down was the PTO shafts needing lots of maintenance and being hard to grease without stripping apart. So hydraulic would seem to solve that. As mike said spooling in was Done in 4th or 5th but shafts were noisy. Winching was done in 2nd and 3rd mainly. The main issue was not being able to drive assist so on steep hills it would pull you into the hill rather than up it putting a lot of strain on things, or in deep middle would build a massive amount of muddy in front of it, deep clay mud wasn’t so bad as could spin the wheels but they would’ve massively faster than the winch. If you could have crank driven and an under drive it would be a perfect combo for self recovery. Free spool was easy to engage and if I had kept it I would have got an air freespool made up. In the end I sold it and went for ease of fitting and use and went for a second hand ep9 which is fine for the amount of work I give it. Most work is moving trees about and the odd self recovery

Can't make it this year due to too much on with barn/workshop build (also financial constraints). May make the jeep one if its on in November. If not there is always next year

Bama Event is end of October. Not sure which Seven sisters event people are referring to?

Don’t be put off by the rattly side windows you can always swap them for panoramic glass so wished, or for hardtop side like the utility station waggon. Another thing to note is road tax some are £600 a year road tax based on emission and some are commercial. So also worth thinking about it’s classification if you are near any low emission zones which charge you to enter

Saw this advertised quite locally to me, which seemed a very tidy example for a fair price. May be worth a look https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1199983840735390/

Have a look at gwyn lewis site he has the open and closed length of shocks given, and will give advice on the different shocks he sells and amount of damping provided. Also good to ring and speak to about recommendations for spring rates as well.

TD5 with an over drive would be my preference, a lot nicer sounding and smooth engine and dashboard which doesn't get in the way too much. Can get aircon in them as well. Also TD5 issues seem to be the easier to rectify where as TDCI issues seem to be more terminal engine failures. Having said that I haven't got either and drive a 200dti but have driven both and could happily live with either

The Breslau looks to be a great raid style event. One to look at

In my V8 series I used a Davies Craig electronic fan controller which allows you to adjust the temperature that the fan kicks in. I was finding it was getting too hot with the x-eng thermostat temperatures even when i used the lower stats i could find. This allows me to adjust it to come on sooner if i am off road and heat is starting to build. I can also see the temp of water existing the rad on the display. This uses a bottom hose connector though so it won't help your locating problem. For a Tdi standard temp senders/stats should be ok as seem fine on my defender I mounted fan in front of rad by used of simple metal angle iron and mounted a spal push fan.

I must admit I wasn't struck by a lot of the people driving cars from the UK out there loaded with aid, I thought it was an expensive way of moving kit and there are cheaper ways and would be better to donate to the big charities who have the links required and logistics. However reading Jez's story tugs on the heart strings and can see he is having a genuine impact. Have duly donated. Keep up the good work