Team Idris Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Sometimes I go into 'bodge' mode and chuck it all back together in a hury and sometimes I go OCD and clean all the parts properly first and paint them. Either works when I'm on a downer, as one gets it rebuilt quicker but needs work later on, and the other makes it a quick job of chucking re-furbed bits back together. Both are about personal-achievement for either a small or large task. But the "standing by the vehicle" normally works, as I can't help but mess with something once I get into the workshop. The main thing is I don't condem myself for blatting some repair plates on if it gets the thing moving Infact, there are times when the race truck wants sheeting up and hiding so I can't see it, and so cannot think of things to change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted May 13, 2013 Author Share Posted May 13, 2013 Some of my biggest hurdles at the moment are the cost of parts!! I have spent so long trying to get things done on my project in as near perfect way as I can so I don't have to come back and do it all again, I want to replace the whole inner wings and fit once and forget and cut chunks out of the floor to repair that too and chop out the entire bottom of the door post to put that right, but at the moment I am struggling to find the money to source both inner wings and the new shocks, the other problems such as the window wipers now deciding not to work in intermittent or high speed wiping is a nuisance too but I have been talking with my girl friend and we devised a plan....... Originally wanted to...... 1) Replace both inner wings 2) Replace shocks with Koni Heavy Tracks 3) Replace springs with OME +2" Decided to....... 1) Patch inner wings for now to a standard good enough to get through the MOT with a mind to buy the new replacement panels to be fitted before the next test. 2) Will replace old shocks with Britpart cheapies to get through the MOT, see note 3 for reason why.... 3) Will not replace springs until the cheapies are shot and will do complete Koni and OME+2" suspension set all at once. There, feel better after talking it all over with herself, bearing in mind I use her wages to subsidize the build too So been out and done some measuring of plate sizes needed and will be busy cutting those out tomorrow night, and then welding them in on Wednesday as it will be my day off So thanks a lot guys for the encouragement to get on with it and to stop looking for reasons not to get it done for the Belgian national Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Good man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Well I'm sure if the cost of parts is an issue, we may be able to help over here? (Don't know if bits are substantially more expensive over with you?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted May 13, 2013 Author Share Posted May 13, 2013 Well I'm sure if the cost of parts is an issue, we may be able to help over here? (Don't know if bits are substantially more expensive over with you?) Hell yeah!!! Normally the hitters are exchange rates and shipping if from the UK but over here anything to do with Landies is expensive!!! I looked at Heavy track shocks and found them 2/3 the price in the UK compared with over here and simple consumables are expensive too, I quote 54.09 euro for a bottle of locktite(small bottle too!) either that is expensive or I really am out of touch I am hitting all of the parts suppliers with my offer for advertising within my build thread on the Belgian forum as it gets a lot of hits with every new post(in excess of 25-30 new views with every new post!!) so perhaps there could be some sort of sponsorship for parts from one of them? I have had some freebies in terms of refunds for the polybush kit for the D1 and the H/D drive members have been refunded too as a gesture from a very impressed store owner who I have already spent a lot of money with, so will see what they say when I hold out my begging bowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Being a little spoilt by living in a country and location with lots of space, relatively low energy and fuel costs. stable economy (for now), all attributes conducive to building, using and maintaining vehicles, I do take my hat off to many of you in the Northern Hemisphere for your hardiness, determination and enthusiasm to even in some cases get out there in the cold, rain, sleet or snow to pursue special builds, repairs, or even basic maintenance. I feel very much a slacker by comparison. Well done to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted May 15, 2013 Author Share Posted May 15, 2013 Being a little spoilt by living in a country and location with lots of space, relatively low energy and fuel costs. stable economy (for now), all attributes conducive to building, using and maintaining vehicles, I do take my hat off to many of you in the Northern Hemisphere for your hardiness, determination and enthusiasm to even in some cases get out there in the cold, rain, sleet or snow to pursue special builds, repairs, or even basic maintenance. I feel very much a slacker by comparison.Well done to all. When this picture was taken Bill it was minus 1 Celsius and beginning to snow again, couldn't use my heater cannon either as it would have blown the shielding gas away when welding but it did see a lot of use that night and day!!! http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/dieseldog69/media/paulspictures036_zps35873ea2.jpg.html'> This is from the torrents of rain we get here regularly, although it normally does not get this bad!!! http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/dieseldog69/media/swimmingpool003_zps54e47582.jpg.html'> http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/dieseldog69/media/swimmingpool006_zpse6a525fb.jpg.html'> http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/dieseldog69/media/swimmingpool009_zps0108ad49.jpg.html'> This winter was unusually long and we saw weeks on end with minus temps and loads of snow, but that is probably why my build has been so delayed with snow into late March Also a big factor in the depression of a very long and hard winter working out in it all day every day too!!!! But as most who dip into the members vehicles forum will see the pace has been picked up with http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=79562'> Project Rusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 You're a better man than I am DD. Things may have been different when I was younger, But I would have given up on the Rover marque in favor of something Japanese if I lived in such a climate. More time wheeling or sitting in front of a nice warm fire than time out in the elements spent on my back wrestling with the same old inadequate components designed by plonkers that have probably never turned a spanner in the real world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Live easy, work hard. Spend some time / money (not necessarily very much of either) making your work environment better and it will make a huge difference to your entire project, and your happiness. Why struggle against freezing cold / damp etc. wasting days and days of effective work when a day's effort can solve or greatly reduce the issue? There's quite a few "workshop luxuries" that actually really pay for themselves - wood burner / insulation (both can often be found for free), good lighting, plenty of power sockets / leads, a good bench, multiple grinders, kettle + coffee supply, hob-nobs, workshop carpet / crawl mat, decent tool cabinet, etc. Likewise, sometimes splashing out on tools actually saves so much time / damage that it pays for itself even if they are relatively specialist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I'm going to frame that post! There's quite a few "workshop luxuries" that actually really pay for themselves... Likewise, sometimes splashing out on tools actually saves so much time / damage that it pays for itself even if they are relatively specialist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRecklessEngineer Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Live easy, work hard. Spend some time / money (not necessarily very much of either) making your work environment better and it will make a huge difference to your entire project, and your happiness. Why struggle against freezing cold / damp etc. wasting days and days of effective work when a day's effort can solve or greatly reduce the issue?There's quite a few "workshop luxuries" that actually really pay for themselves - wood burner / insulation (both can often be found for free), good lighting, plenty of power sockets / leads, a good bench, multiple grinders, kettle + coffee supply, hob-nobs, workshop carpet / crawl mat, decent tool cabinet, etc. Likewise, sometimes splashing out on tools actually saves so much time / damage that it pays for itself even if they are relatively specialist. +1, Like, etc. I've gone for a full blown central heating system in mine - even if it is a little Heath Robinson. The ability to flick a switch remotely and half an hour later walk out to a warm workshop in the depths of winter is awesome. I'm kicking myself for not putting in underfloor heating pipework when the concrete floor went down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Live easy, work hard. Spend some time / money (not necessarily very much of either) making your work environment better and it will make a huge difference to your entire project, and your happiness. Why struggle against freezing cold / damp etc. wasting days and days of effective work when a day's effort can solve or greatly reduce the issue?There's quite a few "workshop luxuries" that actually really pay for themselves - wood burner / insulation (both can often be found for free), good lighting, plenty of power sockets / leads, a good bench, multiple grinders, kettle + coffee supply, hob-nobs, workshop carpet / crawl mat, decent tool cabinet, etc. Likewise, sometimes splashing out on tools actually saves so much time / damage that it pays for itself even if they are relatively specialist. So true . Nice tools make any job much more pleasant. However the main tool I'm missing is a workshop!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 So true . Nice tools make any job much more pleasant. Not just more pleasant, but ultimately quicker, better, and likely cheaper overall. It's easy to go too far the other way and splash £££s on tools you don't need, but so often people don't value their time as a factor when for the sake of £50 a weekend's frustration can be reduced to an hour's pleasant work. Some really unglamarous stuff can make workshop life much nicer: the money I spent on pallet racking made the place so much tidier. Drill press makes life more accurate & quicker. A few extra strip/flood lights for a fiver a pop or scrounged from the skip make life much easier. Having a cheap 2nd or 3rd grinder with a flap wheel just for weld prep / deburring makes it easier to do it right. However the main tool I'm missing is a workshop!! Gazebos are cheap & foldable. There are some nice waterproof & insulated overalls out there for the likes of farmers on quad-bikes, splashing £100 on overalls may seem extravagant but it's cheaper than a workshop and can enable a lot more & happier outdoors working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 I have a greater luxury than most in having the barn to work in where as a lot of guys have only the driveway/roadside to work away on but as this is the back of our barn I can't really kit it out too much in terms of turning it into a full blown workshop unfortunately, but I did buy a second cheapo grinder for exactly the reason you mentioned, save for the fact that it now features part of the main tool selection as the good one decided to retire early!! Although, our current barn will be torn down and a brand new building will be put up in the next year or so, I am in discussions with the boss about having a proper workshop to all to myself, not just for my addiction of fixing old English cars but to maintain our farm equipment too, there have been so many a time when I have wanted to fabricate something for the loader or build a piece of machinery to use on the farm but often the lack of proper place to be cutting and welding steel without setting fire to the straw stocks has always been a stumbling block, but over winter when things are very much calmer here I have a much slower turn over of straw and can keep the stock area quite low and have space for tinkering for a good while without worry, but like now we are in the middle of the breeding season with the horses and I have literally just come in from the evening shift, and we are set to get busier in the coming weeks too, but I have my plans for my days off and use the time wisely now, I can spare an hour here and there for cutting plates and getting everything ready for the free day to get it done. Gotta get my buying head together now as parts need to be ordered in advance and the build must continue!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Surely it would be easy enough to stick a cheap pop-up gazebo or even a wooden or tin shed inside the existing barn as a work space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 You want rebuild blues diesel dog? My day has just gone to sh!t. Went to have a go at adjusting my headlamps and the fcukin threaded rods on both have bloody snapped. Perfectly good headlamps now relegated to the scrap bin because of cheap and nasty bits of bloody threaded bar. AHHHHHHHHHH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Surely it would be easy enough to stick a cheap pop-up gazebo or even a wooden or tin shed inside the existing barn as a work space? Kind of yes and no all at the same time we are now in the middle of the breeding season, I do have a bay of my own at the back of the barn but at this time of year we are working an average of 90hrs/wk and although I do get an hour here and there to fettle a little it can be an uninterrupted two hours or just about to pull something apart and the vets walk through the door and it is time to start scanning the evening mares, I do have my whole day off to tinker and do a bit but with the really freaky mares it is not a good thing to fire up the grinder to start popping and fizzling the welder when they are in the control box and the vet is up to his arm pit in its back side, lets just say that I have had some very close calls to being seriously hurt by the freaky ones and that is just handling them and getting them into the box to be felt, we have a current such beast that is being sent home without being felt in the control box simply because it can not be safely handled in the barn yet alone in the control box!!! I have times when it is ok to work away but it can be a mornings wait for the vets to go on their rounds and for the grinding and welding to commence!! I have my plan now and I am going to stick to it, not as much grinding and welding as was originally planned and ok it will have to be cut out and done again in the future but I have no problem with that now as I am having to put some of the planned mods on the back burner due to actually wanting to drive the truck before the winter sets in again, when winter comes back I will be putting up a garden marquee inside the barn and should be able to keep it warm enough when working on Rusty during the quiet period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 It was good to read this back a few days ago when I was struggling after the recent events. Glad I posted this thread as I now have something to look back on when the going gets heavy. The weld-a-thon continues as I discover more bodges but I am at a point now where I almost couldn't care less about how long it is taking, steady progress and a list of stuff to cross off when it is done, getting closer with every weld and with every nut and bolt. I hope to get it tested before Christmas but if not then someday will be good enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Keep at it! Also - pictures! A couple of 500W floodlights on a pole in the gazebo makes a bright workplace & takes the edge off the cold too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 Keep at it! Also - pictures! A couple of 500W floodlights on a pole in the gazebo makes a bright workplace & takes the edge off the cold too. 500s? I got me 3X 1000W, I dont pay the electric LOL Best buy this year was thermal overalls €20 in the local Lidl! Worry not, when I have time to fight with the bucket of photos you can have a good butchers :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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