I appear to have gotten a freelander... err, help!

[FridgeFreezer]

Long story short I am now the slightly bemused owner of a 1998 1.8 3-door softback, which looks like it may replace the RR as a daily driver.

It's been stood for 2 years and the fuel pump has seized up (blows fuse), so the first question is where's the best place to get one cheap, can I use one from another car or such like or are genuine ones cheap enough?

I have had a lengthy chat with Jules who has increased my FL knowledge by about 1000% (thanks Jules, top bloke!), so I think I've got most of the basics in my head. Originally I'd planned to flog it quick to buy a set of tyres for the 109, but Jules has 99% persuaded me that not only will I struggle to sell it for decent money (being a less popular 1.8 needing a bit of work), but that FL's are less pricey to run than I had assumed.

I'll ramble on about the car anyway:

It's had a new engine not so long ago (before it was laid up, it was a company car). The soft-top doesn't close on one side, I'm not really sure if it's fixable or if a replacement is in order.

Apart from that, it's clean-ish and straight, the previous custodian says it needed something to do with a diff that would cost lots of money, but has no idea what (they know as much about cars than I do about flower arranging) so it could be a new IRD or such, or it could be the rear bushes clonking as they (apparently) do.

[Jon White]

You dont want to know what they cost new........you wont get change from £200........

Jon

[BogMonster]

Could be IRD, could be a new diff/bushes, could be the viscous coupling. Take the prop off and use it in 2WD they are 2WD most of the time anyway...

I would also blag a hard top from somewhere (breakers yard etc) as I am pretty sure they are a straight swap.

May be worth trying Bearmach/Britpart for a non genuine fuel pump, not sure if they are cheaper but as Jon says the gen-u-whine ones are F expensive.

[FridgeFreezer]

That was easy - £30 from the scrappy, collecting it Saturday so then the fun begins

[Lewis]

I have a spanking new IRD still in the wrapper, that I er, found somewhere

[Jon White]

Sorted then! So when the portal axles going on??

[FridgeFreezer]

Oooooo can I have dibs on that mate? I'd like to get it running and double-check before changing the IRD.

[jules]

Easy tiger we'll get it running on sat I will come over and have a look before you buy stuff you dont need

[FridgeFreezer]

Got overtaken by replies there, what I meant is:

Lewis - you lovely chappy, can I say "dibs" on the IRD but wait until I've got the thing running to check if it actually needs it

Jon - Wallet says no , besides the whole DLander thing is sooo last year now

Jules - Cheers mate, I'll give you a bell Saturday when I've got the pump

[Corrode Finger]

Soo when you gonna post the piccies............ and when do you open the salon!!

Hat, coat, ............... leg wax................ gone!!

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Just think - if and when it breaks down clear the back of the 109 and you can pop it in the back

Nige

[FridgeFreezer]

Thanks guys And thanks to Mr White for reminding me of this one:

I'll post piccies when I find a camera to borrow.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Thanks guys And thanks to Mr White for reminding me of this one:

I'll post piccies when I find a camera to borrow.

Ooooooooooooooooo Scratch his eyes out

Nige

[Jon White]

Hmmmmmmmm actually I could do with a trim..........how much for a wash and blow dry then???

[Bull Bar Cowboy]

Hmmmmmmmm actually I could do with a trim..........how much for a wash and blow dry then???

:blink:

Sorry Jon ............ I misread that 1st time round ................ it reads Blow dry...........ah, OK....................

:hysterical:

Ian

[FridgeFreezer]

ooooh, you bitches!

[jules]

I did suggest portels but even john said one step at a time.

as a very cheap run about I don't think you can go wrong with a little freelander..

and its a soft top so it will be a right laugh in the summer.

[FridgeFreezer]

I've just discovered the MG ZT-T had a turbo'd 1.8 K-series fitted... street sleeper anyone?

[Corrode Finger]

Yeah, it was built to replace the KV6 in the MGZT, for emission purposes!

Umm, turbo and that head gasket???

[FridgeFreezer]

Paul, that seems to be an early problem and not too difficult to remedy:

More recently, Land Rover have released a reinforced MLS (Multi-Layer Steel) head gasket for the K-Series engines, which until mid-2005 were fitted to the 1800cc petrol variants of their Freelander model. A modified oil rail was also developed to be used in conjunction with the gasket to improve block stiffness. Time will tell as to whether the improved design will cure this fault of the K-Series engine, but many professionals and enthusiasts now recommend this new design over the standard gasket as fitted by MG-Rover. To date, the results appear to be good.

[Lewis]

I've just discovered the MG ZT-T had a turbo'd 1.8 K-series fitted... street sleeper anyone?

Dont bother, if you're gonna mess with it then just use a T series turbo engine, the bottom end is good for a reliable 400bhp. A colleage built one with an 8 injector setup and hydrid turbo, he saw 550bhp at the wheels on the dyno

[FridgeFreezer]

Lewis - does the T bolt in place of the K then?

Thanks to a bit of help from Jules, I slung a new battery in and we changed the fuel pump and it sprang into life this afternoon. Alternator had seized solid, but WD40 and a socket on a breaker bar unstuck it and it doesn't seem to have suffered for it. The top end is a bit tappetty, but then the oil has seen better days and will be changed. The fuel is well stale, a tank of "ultimate" or such like will be first stop to try to clean it through.

Jules spotted a few bits:

First off, it seems to be running without anti-freeze, which is less than ideal on an engine famous for cooling issues some proper coolant will be purchased & stuck in ASAP.

At some time the driver's door has had a ding and the side of the car has been sprayed, but it's not really noticeable (and I don't care )

It doesn't have ABS, which Jules reckons makes my life easier and cheaper - I'll not be off-roading it so the loss of HDC/ETC is not a worry.

The diff problem the previous owner alluded to could be a bush, there is a chalk mark pointing to it which suggests a mechanic has marked it for attention.

Apart from that, it needs a sidelight and stoplight bulb and it's about ready for an MOT (after a thrash round the block to clear the stale fuel & the rust off the discs).

Only other thing is I need a roof - either soft or hardtop, not fussy, so if anyone's got one they want to part with please PM or e-mail me.

[jules]

Remember the drive train is only good for 200bhp as my dakar was 200+ and I kept braking stuff like CV, shafts, IRD's and not to mention turbo hoses.

Vik's one is 140bhp and goes like stink and you have to be really pushing it to break stuff

if you want some fun put some small rally tyres then they really go..

A 1.8 only weighs 1400kg wringing wet

John's freebie is nice clean little truck

[Corrode Finger]

Fridge, why not just pickup it?

Be a tad different?

[FridgeFreezer]

There's nothing to pickup - take the top off and it's a pickup, but then it fills with water