Barnby

Hi my landy was sadly left to rot in a field for 5 years. (Until I came along and rescued it.) The chap I was working for owned it for 9 years and used it for 4 of them. When the engine blew he had a new one put in and at the same time had a re spray. Then one day him and his brother decided they had had enough of it and parked it in there field and left it for the remanding 5 years. Then I came along aquired it for NOTHING that’s right ziltch. (I seem to have this thing with vehicles. I think its luck but im not sure?) anyway I took a new batt to it and some fresh diesel and first time on the key away it fired and I drove out the hole it had been in for so long. It then went to a mates farm for some repairs a bit of welding new radiator ( 16 quid from ebay) minor electrical problems new belts and a good service. Then in for the MOT and got advised on one rear tyre. Not to bad hey. A good find (sorry barnby is a def 90. 85 model) I call it barnby because of its No plate B---NBY. So now for some proper mods before the rally just the norm winch, driving lamps,rock sliders,etc,etc. I look forward to speaking and meeting with you all

Nice one Batty, but much as it pains me, I can top your find – in a BIG way.

I got to know some crazy Swedes whilst reporting on the 1998 Rainforest 4x4 Challenge of Malaysia for 4x4 Mart & Off-Road Drive magazine. Out and out off-roaders themselves, we immediately clicked and before they headed home they invited me over to their annual 4x4 bash called Villingsberg in Northern Sweden. Well, I say 4x4 but as it was held on the Swedish Army’s tank-training range, all manner of privately owned wheeled and tracked vehicles could appear. Returning in year 2 (out of 3) my friends triumphantly arrived with a very rusty looking ex-military half-track. Apparently, although made by Volvo it was based on a tried and tested German WWII design and was actually manufactured in neutral Sweden in 1945.

Whilst out off-roading in a remote, rarely trodden/driven area up within the fjords, when my mates found the old girl it had been in a field untouched since having been abandoned in the early 50’s. It transpires it had been used as a farm tractor in the post war years, that was until ‘real’ tractors became plentiful again. They promptly negotiated a price with the very same farmer who tilled the fields, and armed with a battery and a gallon of diesel simply walked up to it and within seconds had it running. That is why when I saw it, the rust was so prominent – they had only retrieved it days previously. That said, it was only surface rust and not a piece of important metal had perished; astonishing!

Like your Landy, diesels seem to have the ability to withstand everything nature can throw at them and still fire up. Much as I love ‘em, try that with a petrol V8 !!! Top that story Mr Fink!

Well mabey I cant top it but my vehicle history is quite good. I started with the vicars old escort 1.4 green and yes it was FREE. Then I got offerd a 1.8 seara very clean and only cost 70 quid for an MOT and did I say it was FREE. After loving it lots and getting married in it my brothering law offerd me his BMW 318 great car and loved that to. O did I mention it was FREE taxed and mot. Then while working on a pig farm I met a chap whom wanted to get rid of his BMW 525se witch on a G plate was again clean as a whistle and by god dose it go sport exhaust and chiped it will monster most things like porsh boxta s and all the silly big boy racers on the roads. And all for a meer £250 not bad. And I still have that one. (Plus 2 FREE work vans during all that.) And now I have the landy witch was FREE to. I don’t think ive missed anything out and hey who knows mabey a Bentley or roller will be next.

Nice one. Shame about having to shell out for the BMW, ruined what otherwise would have been a blemish-free track record. Out of all those you'll find the Landy will give you the most pleasure, but if you abuse it off-road, financialy the most pain as well. But hey ho, life's all about playing and in a Land Rover "the world's your lobster Rodney".

Regarding the Sierra, don't quite understand the part about ... "After loving it lots and getting married in it". Surely there wouldn't have been enough room in it for the vicar/best man/bridemaids/ushers/family/photographer/catering staff ...

As for Rollers, they have been know to compete in the Paris-Dakar, so you never know!

Well the seara was better than the escort and didn’t leak 2 liters of oil every time I drove it. and actually the vicar drove it and we were in the back.( I will explain) my wife and I didn’t like the thought of spending silly amounts of money on a wedding so we had a humanist wedding ( being lovers of all things great and small) witch took place in kingly vale under some of the oldest yew trees in the country. We dragged loads of good mates into the forest nice and early one morning including my best mate who was not only the vicar but the shofa to. So I polished the old ford and we used that. Good memories that’s why I loved it so much. After all that we poped to registry office had a quick ceremony then on to the best bit a GREAT BIG PARTY. Loads a fun

And there was me being all clever and witty by picking up on your comment about "After loving it lots and getting married in it". I thought you had used it as your wedding car to and from the church/registry office, not that you actually got married INSIDE it! Got that wrong didn’t I? Good one!

Blimey, seems to me you’ll be an interesting character to have sitting around the barbeque whilst downing a beer or two.

Sorry Mr mc maybe I didn’t word that right and also a few wires crossed. Lets get this right we used the old sierra ( look I spelt SIERRA properly) to get to the woods and the registry office. but we got married under the trees not in the car. She wouldn’t have that! And my best friend simon who is travelling India at the mo (NICE) was our “vicar” and chauffeur. It was quite a vibe having such a close friend carry out such a big thing in life. Good days

I see, it's all crystal now. Thought it was a bit odd getting married in a seara (got me at it now) but didn't like to say!

Still going to make for a good story around the barbeque.

Dam. The landy just cost me £226 today for a new pair of callipers. Outch , well it could have been worse land rover genuine parts were £274.40p EACH i went for the Delphi Lockheed. HAPPY DAYS

I dunno, a trip up to Sodbury Saturday week (7th April) could have seen you acquire them secondhand for £20-£40. Granted they would not be brand new, but as long as the pistons are not slack, coroded or worn, there should not be a problem. Then again now you have the new ones, you will feel secure on those mountain roads!

Whilst on the subject - a tip for everyone. If you haven't changed your brake fluid for ages, my advice is renew it before Landy Rally. Old fluid quickly loses its viscosity when under strain (i.e. on mountain roads), the outcome of which is the fluid heating up resulting in brake fade. The expressions “my brakes are cooked” and “the brakes have boiled” stem from this phenomenon, extremely disconcerting when unable to slow down on mountain hairpins! CHANGE THAT FLUID!

Good tip Mr Mc, have you any personal experience in this field? I'm sure all the boys and girls out there would love to hear all about it!

Boiling brakes are really not advisable!

Yes, the incident to which the Chaotic one refers involves three fruitcakes – my mate Wayne (owner and mechanic), the Captain and myself, an old Lada Riva Saloon which hadn’t been properly serviced in years, a brake system which probably contained the original fluid from when it rolled off the production line and a day’s worth of mountain roads on a charity event last year. Having spent a number of hours in the Alps negotiating umpteen hairpins and mountain passes, eventually we headed down towards the French Riviera and the welcome overnight stop. It was on one downhill stretch it all happened. With the Chaos pumping the brakes for all he was worth and shouting NO BRAKES NO BRAKES (accompanied by a few expletives naturally), navigator Wayne who was in the Land of Nod awoke with a start as he suddenly thought he was going to meet his maker. First reaction? Grab the handbrake with both hands, because we all know two hands apply the brakes TWICE as good as one! If this were true, then the handbrake should have been three times better for Captain Chaos was already yanking up the handle as far as it could possibly go!!!

With me in the back powerless to do anything, so it came to pass that three grown men (two of which were trying their hardest to rip said handbrake out of the floor) slowly but surely came to a halt yards before plummeting over the edge to arrive on the coast a tad bit quicker than planned. Basically, we got away with it.

As I said previously, this was caused by the brake fluid ‘cooking’, its structure breaking down to become virtually useless. This was quickly confirmed as all Wayne did was simply to drain off the old fluid via the callipers, kept topping up the reservoir with new fluid and when the system was replenished with nice clean fluid, we simply drove away without any further mishap.

MORAL OF THE STORY: To avoid brown pants, renew your brake fluid before you leave Blighty!

Hi there, yes that would change the colour of the undergrundies. I have been planning some new brake pipes for mine, 210,000 miles and 14 years old, I expect it is on the originals. I have been having problems with wheel bearings just recently so with a new set of those I hope we will be ok.
Cheers LuckyTrucker

Well i have been a busy bee. After sorting the calipers ( nice new shiny ones) ive been round all the oils and changed them sorted the rear load space all borded out. Ive got my cb fited and the stereo with infinity 6x9s in the back and blaupunt's in the front. md,cd multi,tuner sounds bloody fantastic. O and did i mention the defender 110 2.5 tdi, imaculate interior, all tread plates, good at tyres all round, spare wheel carrier with cover, rear seats, center console,landy A frame, light gards, and much much more. O yes this ones for you tom all for GRAND TOTAL OF £30 ive got to say it again £30 and again£30 i still have the touch i thought my luck may have run out after the old batalac but i guess not? :cyclops:

Also i have a dilema do i swap the engine's over???????? i could do with as much advise as posible with this one. Please