RichardAllen

Lancaster charged me for amendments for each modification, almost equivalent to my annual premium, and then the 75% premium surcharge when SWMBO got a SP30 speeding ticket. Two bumps without me claiming and my renewal premium goes up nearly three times. Don't I just love Lancaster. I appreciate they are the broker, but I don't feel they are doing anything for me other than just taking my money. I would rather pay a bit more than insure througfh them again.

I am looking to insure my 1997 300TDi 90 CSW, modified for expedition use. I don't have an unblemished record, but nothing serious. I really don't rate my current broker, Lancaster, at all highly and am already talking to NFU. Any other recommendations ? All help gratefully received Regards Richard

Britcar for me. OE or genuine, comprehensive choice easy torder online, and very helpful if I need to ring, very fast delivery, never had a problem.

I only have one angle grinder, so I tend to do most metal removal with a flap disc as I find it gentler and there is then less wheel swapping. When there is a lot to remove, or an awkward corner to get into (ie usually bad weld to grind out and do again !) I use the grinding disc. I got the tip of using flapwheels from watching a couple of episodes of some people making fancy custom bikes in the US. I cannot remember the name, but I recall a father and son that argue a lot. Regards Richard

Bought some from rightlines. Great products, great service, arrived next day Thanks all Richard

Thanks all. Regards Richard

That is where I usually get them, but where a grinding disc is only 89p a flap disc is £3.99, so I am hoping somewhere out there I can get good quality but much cheaper than four of our English quids. Richard

Since I am a pretty sh*te welder (which I blame on having to do it all outside) I get through a lot of flap wheels/discs tidying the job up with the angle grinder. So where can I get good quality long lasting 115mm flap discs ? All help gratefully received Regards Richard

Chicken is done at 75deg C, and there is a whole cuisine of slow low temp meat cooking using vacuum packing and temperature controlled water baths, so I think given long enougn time chi9cken and fish should not be too difficult. Beef and lamb can be eaten rare, so do-able but probably tough. Pork I would not try until the technique was well tested. So the cooking I am OK about. When it comes to welding pipe onto a thermos, I am sure the idea is not new and am hoping someone has built one of these before. Richard

I have been looking into engine bay cooking, and most ideas seem to revolve around putting ingredients into a thick foil parcel and tying it onto the exhaust. My idea for cooking is along the lines of welding a couple of stub pipes into the outside jacket of a thermos flask and connecting it into engine's (300TDi) cooling circuit between cylinder head and heater matrix. The idea being that the hot coolant circulates through the outer jacket of the thermos, which is where the vacuum would normally be, cooking the food (casserole or similar) inside the thermos where the drink usually goes. The thermos lid would have to be drilled to prevent pressure/steam build-up, and it would need some arrangement so that the food can be removed once cooked and the thermos cleaned, maybe by having some quick disconnect couplings or swivel hose connectors. Is this idea as daft as my wife thinks it is (ie pretty daft) ? Anyone done anything similar ? All help gratefully received as normal. Regards Richard

One rugby shirt in XXL please

Still waiting for mine - urgent loo seat job needs best quality Loctite

Was this a locked box of any kind (along the lines of my key safe idea), or just one fixed well out of sight? Regards Richard

Sounds like a pretty bad idea then. Thanks for the help Regards Richard

After a recent theft of keys, for expedition use, I have a plan to weld in a weather proof push button combination key safe underneath somewhere. The idea is that it would be better to hold the keys securely on an immobilised vehicle than in jacket pockets or a bag. I would be very grateful for all views on whether this is good idea at all, if anyone has done something similar and what key safe was chosen. Regards Richard

David has my vote too. Regards Richard

Great spot, thanks. Regards Richard

pm sent Regards Richard

I am not unhappy with my purchase, and certainly do not want to get on my high horse with Brit-Car who have always been very helpful. However, I will look into the Bearmach suggestion as they have a place in Swindon which is not too far from me. Thanks for the help. Richard

I should just be clear for this thread and fair to Brit-Car that I paid for an OEM lift pump, not a genuine one some £40 more. I did buy another item on the same order, paid for genuine and got a genuine Land Rover bagged and badged item. I did once get an OEM belt tensioner, made I think by Dayco, but which came in a Britpart box. I assume it is the same with this lift pump. From the strength of feeling on this forum at least, there is definitely room for an online business selling not-Britpart items. Perhaps even better would be for Britpart to sell parts for longevity and reliability, not just pound-shop prices. Regards Richard

The Britpart number is ERR5057G. The supplier, Brit-Car, who I have always found to be very helpful, tells me that the G signifies OEM, and now that I look at the label on the Britpart box more closely it also says OEM. I am slightly re-assured especially as it is only a get me home spare. Any thoughts ? Regards Richard

Not island 4x4. I will take it up with the supplier and see what they say, as they have been helpful and quick in the past. Interesting on the Bearmach tip, as I did not realise they sold direct. I bought a wheel carrier off them at Billing - very impressed with the build quality. Regards Richard

A slightly over the top solution, pehaps, but I moved out of London because of b*****ks like this. The only emissions I have to deal with in Gloucestershire are those from my neighbour's lamas !! Regards Richard

I have just bought a spare lift pump for my 300TDi engine. I had the option of genuine, OEM or piece part, in reducing order of price. I paid for the OEM item and received a pump in a Britpart box. The pump has no markings on it of any kind but does not look like the best quality I could imagine. However I have nothing to compare it with, short of taking the current one off the engine. Like many on here I have had a bad experience with Britpart bits. Does anyone know for sure if Britpart were, or were not, the OEM for 300 TDi lift pumps, or whether there should be any distinguishing marks, before I take it up with the supplier ? Incidentally, does anyone know any suppliers who never supply Britpart bits, except of course Land Rover ? Apologies if this has been covered before. All help gratefully received Regards Richard

Henk, Flatback, Thanks for your help, I now have the Ozi maps and am now learning to use Oziexplorer. Regards Richard