AD90

We sold our V plate, 100,000 + miles Xdi last year, it was a very good car to us. We bought it 3 YO, 48,000 miles. Not long after we had it, the VCU went solid, changed it quickly and no subsequent damage. The only other 'major' thing that went, was the brake master/slave cylinder assembly. The rest was normal wear and tear that I would expect to see on that age/mileage of vehicle. Lots of people slag Freelanders off, but I'd wager that a large percentage of them have never own one! I know that there have been some problems - head gaskets on the 1.8 petrol (not really an LR issue), VCUs leading to IRD and Diff (Change it quickly would be the advice), and I am sure others will add to the list, but all in all, I don't think they are that bad, I've certainly owned worse! AD90

Yes, we have all read the sales blurb, and some of us were gullible enought to buy it! POR-15® is a high-tech, high performance rust-preventive coating designed for application directly on rusted or seasoned metal surfaces. It dries to an incredible rock-hard, non-porous finish that won't chip, crack, or peel, and it prevents rust from recurring by protecting metal from further exposure to moisture. Let's look at my experience of it: (and I do know a bit about coating systems, but thought that POR15 sounded worth a try) application of rusted or seasoned metal surfaces - TRIED BOTH THAT It dries to an incredible rock-hard - TRUE non-porous finish - TRUE won't chip - FALSE (It's so hard, it doesn't take much) won't crack - FALSE (It's so hard, it doesn't take much) won't peel - FALSE prevents rust from recurring - FALSE I am now peeling sheets of the stuff off my chassis and finding damp corroding metal behind it! NAE HAPPY! I reckon the only thing that it really sticks to is your skin! NIGHTMARE to get off! Has anyone used it and had REAL success, I'd like to know, what you did different. AD90

Whether you can sharpen drills or not, cheap drills are not a good idea (you'll end up sharpening drills a lot!) I would recommend Dormer or Cleveland.(but there might be some other 'good value' brands that work well) Whatever you buy, make sure they are HSS not Carbon Steel or Tool Steel. AD90

Thanks, I'll try Turners. I sent The Paint Man an email weeks ago and he's not replied, is he still trading or just not that customer focused?

What Boro said! This is done a lot in industry (think railings, fences, stairways etc), where pre-galvanised parts are welded together (galvanising ground off, before an arc is struck!) and then the bare area treated with Galvafroid® Obviously in the case of a chassis the inside would need to be treated with good-old waxoyl. As some one else said the Zinc acts sacrificially to the steel so any gaps in the galvanising (as long as they were treated) should not be a big issue. AD90

I have tried to search but can't find anything specific. I have an old (1987) 90 finished in Coniston green, that needs a bit of touching up. I am happy with brush/roller finish, but I am struggling to find paint locally (Aberdeen) Any ideas? Thanks AD90

Thanks Western, Might just do that; meantime, Ear Plugs :-) AD90

Thanks Western, From the price of MUC1621 alone (couldn't find BTR341) I think the Carpet-Set might be the best option, although I am a bit concerned about moisture and smell, the truck doesn't move a lot these days, and it doesn't hold the water out. AD90

Rubber mats, I see that Paddocks (am I allowed to mention names? please delete if I have broken a foum rule) sell a complete kit (TR658) Does anyone know if that would replace my rotten panels or is it just an underlay? Thanks AD90

"you want to hear a the warsilla 91 (91 litre v18) doing a full power run on the dyno then!!!" Got me trumped there Rob. BIG 4 Stroke Diesels!

Looking for the part numbers of the 'tunnel mats' (if that's the correct description) for my 300tdi (R380) 90. I need the one that goes over the tunnel and the one that goes around the fuse-box and into the footwells. Mine have just disintegrated as though some solvent has attacked them? Thanks AD90

How sensible a conversion is this? I love cummins! I fondly remember a Ford Transcontinental belonging to a friend of mine, it looked awful but sounded great! I then had the privilege, of buying and installing a couple of gen-sets, one was a KTA50 and the other a mere KTA38, you should have heard these things taking load :-) Anyway, back to my point; how sensible (weight, economy) & how available? AD90 Grinning with memories :-)

I have often wondered about drilling, tapping and fitting a grease nipple to hubs so that grease can be injected into the centre and migrate to the bearings. Anyone ever done this? AD90

I bought a Draper bi-hex 1/2" dr socket set 23 years ago and the only thing not serviceable is/was the sliding T-bar, it got twisted up with an extension pipe, but the socket never let go! Nor have I burst one with the rattle-gun More recently, I bought a box of Draper self-tappers, they have got to be joking! AD90

I did that exact modification (drilled and tapped the 'stat housing) I fitted a 93degC switch and have only seen the fans on once. It's a lot better than the cr@p idea peddled by that well known fan manufacturer and a lot cheaper and neater IMHO than the X-fan thingy. I keep meaning to put up some pics of my electric fan set-up,,,,,one day. AD90

I'm with Lars, setting fire to them is a bit anti-social if you have neighbours within 1/2 a mile. I use a 1/4" drill and drill a series of holes, never broken a drill yet. AD90

Thanks Dave, Points to note for next time out. "I will wind the rope out while my navigator climbs up" That would mean the Driver geting out of the cab! His Tartan Baffies would get very messy! (Sorry Rob) :-) AD90

Maybe, I have been lucky and unlucky; Lucky - Done quite a few challenge events with wire ropes on 'standard' 8274s (XP Motors on some) and only seen one rope break and miraculously, beyond belief, against all the odds, unlike everyone else, no one was maimed, injured, killed. Unlucky - Did one event with a Plasma® rope and found it to be the biggest PITA. It didn't break so we never had to see how good they are at not killing people. But while clmbing up slippery banks and other such terrain, if I didn't keep tension on, I soon found myself headed back to wards the truck, as the rope snagged and started winding the wrong way. And yes we did try to have it criss-crossed on the drum. In addition, the constant worry about 'is the rope touching anything that might damage it' had me going close to the rope to check/re-rig a lot more than with a steel wire, so I reckon that's a negative safety point (Wire - Rig once and stand well clear!) Just my thoughts, now I'll wait to get flamed AD90

No Tilt Gurus on here? :-( AD90

We had a 1998 V Plate 2.0Xdi for over 5 years (45,000->109,000 Miles) We loved it! It was sold as SWMBO wanted a people carrier and she now wishes she had her Hippo back. Reliability? Changed VCU as soon as it started playing up - 60,000 Miles Changed an alarm sensor - 70,000 Miles Changed starter solenoid internals - 80,000 Miles Changed a T/C sensor - 85,000 Miles Changed clutch master cylinder/slave cylinder assembly - 90,000 Miles Changed both front electric window "regulators" (snapped cables, one due to SWMBO trying to open a frozen window, other due to small piece of the cable being corroded) Broke down-pipe off turbo (my own stupid fault for not having assistance when changing the timing belt) I don't think that list is too bad, considering the press they get. AD90

Hi, I am looking at changing my 90 Hard Top to a 3/4 Tilt (I have a truck cab already) What's the consensus Canvas or PVC? Cab fit or Body fit? Rear closure - lace-up or flaps & buckles? Will a tilt (3/4 body fit) c/w sticks from a 2007 90 fit a 300Tdi? Thanks AD90

Tirfors require a special rope and they are chuffin expensive! Good luck in finding a replacement rope AD90 Oh, and take it from me 10m of 16mm rope is enough to handle and you'll be ready to drop if you winch a landy 10m with a Tirfor!

Turbocharger - Not sure about the 1st April comment, the digital thermometer looks pretty good to me and they sell the relevant T/Cs on the same website. AD90 Doh! Just seen the typo 'buzzard'

Bump Is no one a nipple guru?

After cursing rounded nipples (oo-er) while bleeding my brakes at the weekend, I guess I need to replace them. Question is, what size thread are they? It's a 300Tdi 90 (discs all round, non-vented) Thanks AD90