Jon W

Sounds like my kind of challenge, something a bit more involving than a play day but as hard as you want to make it. Shame there are down in the southwest can your expand up north a bit more or would be tempted by some in the summer so i can combine it with holidays in the south west. Fridge just use the freelander, it is a daily driver challenge after all, and you might as well explode the old engine completely! Jon

I had the 255/85 or whatever the common size was, about 33". I didnt really use 5th much when running round and didnt have them on that long as i sold them to a mate. So not much help as cant really remember what they were like for crusing speed. Depends how much acceleration you want really and what sort of driving you do. Off road engine breaking will be a bit worse. And dependiong what driving your doing you fuel consumption might change as working harder to accelerate. Is it worth it for half and inch under the diffs, as i am starting to wonder now on mine, as keep snapping shafts with my 200tdi with the same tyres on. But then the petrol will be fine as just bogs down and doesnt have the power to pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not much help am i? Jon

We have something similar to what i think you are thinking about on our 90. It isn't a full skid plate as will otherwise keep a lot of heat in from the transmission and the exhaust. It replaces the gearbox cross member, and has tubes and plate to protect the pto which hangs slightly below te chassis. Unfortunately i don't have any photos, but if you PM darth_dicky he will put some up, as pictures say a 1000 words. It does fill up with muck but then it dried under there quite quickly so should cause too much corrosion and it has large drain holes for washng out. Jon

Engine conversion, would be nice as more power, better fuel economy etc. But cheap direct replacement sounds easiest and are simple, as take one out plonk other one in and connect all the bits up again. If you put your location in your profile, there are probably some forumers, who would lend a hand as long as your willing to learn and provide all the tea/beer and biscuits needed. Jon (knowing what it is to be a skint student and left his landy at home this term )

I was looking at products like these on ebay after having a few problems with cold weather and veg oil. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=018 and http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=007 as they allow heating before the engine temperature is up enough to heat the fuel. However the glow plugs will put quite a strain on the battery. There are better heat exchangers for heating fuel avaliable on one of the grow your own fuel websites which are much more efficient but then you still have cold starting problems unless you have a 2 tanks system. Jon

Have had a look but nothing obvious, so i'm gussing the only way i'll know if the head gasket has gone is a compression test on all cylinders Jon

I have been working by the process of elimination so far. Head gasket seems fine it isn't using any water or getting hot and there is not water in the oil. I had thought injectors originally but didnt know what it would cost to have them done. Do most diesel specialist do this? If so any recomendations in Sussex. Thanks Jon

Sorry i forgot to add, i found one of the plugs wasn't working so i have replaced them all. I assume they are working as I can hear the relay and am get 12v at the wire when they are first switched on. Cam belt was replace 6000 miles ago back in June. So i was hoping that it hasn't stretched or is missing any teeth. But i suppose i can look through the inspection hole and see if my tipex marks still line up on the pulleys. Jon

This has been occuring for a while but thought it was blocked injectors due to dodgy fuel/SVO in winter temperatures and the fuel filter needed changing a few times. However problems have persisted whilst on pure diesel. After draining the tank etc and injector cleaner being used. Symptoms: Starting on 2 or 3 cylinders and will on run on 4 and turbo spools up once 200yards up the road. This gives whitey blue smoke. When it is warmed up it runs fine but when on light throttle or lifting off with a very slight bit of throttle it puffs out the same whitey blue smoke for a little bit and feels like it is a cylinder down. It is not using engine oil. Isn't doing very good mpg at the moment. But having spoken to someone recently they think that it probably isn't injectors as these would drop fuel in with a bad spray pattern and it would be black smoke if it wasn't burning properly. So they think it is due to an air leak in the inlet system or the vacum system. Where about would one start searching for an air leak and is this the right diagnosis?? It could be the vacum as the brake pedal doesn't really drop when you start the engine when hot or cold, sugguesting the vacum on the brakes is suspect. Any help on anything to check is much appreciated. Thanks Jon

But when the water gets to your already raised ecu, you get problems don't you jj. But WD40 does work wonders just like on a V8. Back on topic. Is this salvage vehicle, from flood damage. Was it flooded so parked up when the water damage occured, as in not running, as there is likely to be less damage to the engine. Jon

I currently have the old sealed beam type headlight on my 1991 defender 90. These have both expired and i am looking for replacements. i would like opinion and options as to what to replace them with. Sealed beam have been good as are water proof and haven't had any problems with water ingress, but i would like them to be brighter when on dipped beam. main beam is not a problem as i have spots on it wired for mainbeam. So what can i fit? I have seen halogens (what is the difference) I have also see nthe crystal type lights with clear lenses and my friends rates these but have found them for £60 on ebay. So what have you fitted, the cost of the units and did it need any wiring alterations. Thanks Jon

Right after snapping a front shaft/ rounding it off at the CV end, I have not been able to get the shaft/cv out of axle as must have twisted the spline on the diff end and seem to have tried everything to free it. So the easiest thing to do for now seems to be put a spare axle i have off a 93 disco under my 90. As far as i am aware the axles are the same 10 spline etc and radius arms should be the same width? Only thing i know that it different is the brake callipers, are the bolt spacings the same so i can put my existing callipers onto the disco axle?? Thanks Jon

Thanks for the replies. Hoping it is good news then, as when the engine started to run away i thought it was going to be rather a big mistake for him to have made, but will give it a look over tomorrow and be careful with it. Will let you know the outcome. Cheers Jon

Ok here is the story. My house mate over filled his car with oil today and i got the rescue call to tow him home. He only drove about 800yds max before he stopped because of the excessive smoke. So towed him home dropped the oil. (plenty of it over 7 litres when there should be 4.3) Put new oil in and started it up, it was idleing lumpy so increased the revs. This was fine but huge clouds of white smoke were coming out the back. To me white = water ??? then the major worry was the engine took off and started racing, turned ignition off but it wouldn't stop, so i stalled it asap. Now thoughts are head gasket, due to white smoke. or is it the turbo as it ran away?? or is it running away sign of the head gasket too. So if it is the head gasket, chance of warping the head as was only cold and driven very less than 20mph as it would go any faster. Thanks Jon

Cheers Tony. So i guess i go for the FIA switch then. Out of interest have you wired it so the radio presets can be saved?? or do you not use it unless necessary. Cheers Jon

Sorry I am sure this has been covered before but whenever i use the search function I can't find anything i need. I would like to fit a battery cut off to my 90. I would like the radio to stay wired in so that the time remains on it and radio channels. I have a PTO winch so wont need one which handles mega amps. But will a standard switch do as i have heard of contacts melting. These are the ones i am looking it.# http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIA-APPROVED-BATTERY...bayphotohosting probably best as has a resistor to stop it frying the alternator should be be turned off. also looks like it has terminals so i could leave the radio plugged in. Or a cheap one and then i would have to some how wire the radio http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...s_promot_widget Thanks in advance Jon

Sorry to hear that Si and we were only talking of insurance when we were at the pub. Left the pub a bit after you and Chris said i could have convoyed back with you wish i had now as could have tried to offer assistance but doubt my fire extinguisher would let out more than a fart either. I must have come back a different way as didnt see anything. I guess the LPG tank and safety valves did their job and it didnt explode. Soryy for your loss Jon

Brilliant day out, had a really good time, about 10hrs of lanes we did. Must have taken some planning Chris so thank you again for organising it all. Definately be along for another one if there is going to be one. Jon

Hi Chris Can you put me down for the meal please. I will then decide whether to stay for a few sherbets and camp or to head home, will also see what the weather is upto. Cheers Jon

Ah cheers chris was reading the post whilst half asleep so did take much of it in. Staying in a youth hostel we can get friendly with the lovely bobble hat brigade which will annoy them. Jon

As Darthdicky said. Our 90 should be there with either both of us or one or the other. Lake district is nice and close to me and havent explored there yet. Will look up the date to see if i can make it. Anyone got any idea of the likely area for a base camp/ either camping or b&b so i can look up somewhere to stay near everyone else. Cheers Jon

Thanks for all the photos and help. Have done the conversion and it is running very well, but running the old petrol airfilter with bits of guttering and want to do the job properly and be able to connect the snorkle up. I just need to find filter housing and a few more bits of pipe work. Cheers Jon

Can some one send me a picture of the 200tdi air filter set up please. I have put a discovery 200tdi engine in and need to sort the filter out as couldn't find space for the discovery one to fit. Also does anyone have a 200tdi air filter casing for sale or and the brackets if it is likely to fit Cheers Jon

Mine is 200tdi disco engine with the guage from petrol engine and sender from petrol engine. It sits to the right of vertical, just before the black, it remains here watever speed or conditions, that is with no fans running. I think the rad is a bit knackered and i need to sort ssome fans out too. Jon

Managed to snap one of the front half shafts today, when trying to pull out a tree stump. Should have just rigged up the winch but oh well. The new Tdi obviously has more grunt than the old petrol lump. Question is will shafts from a 93 discovery fit into a 91 defender axle housing. I know they are both 10spile at diff end but what about the CV end. I have the oppertunity of swapping the bits I have with another forum member who has a defender axle, which hopefully would have the right bits. Any help appreciated Cheers Jon