Landrovers and Wine.............

Hello all,

I hope you are all well.

Nothing really interesting about my Landy, but here’s some info;

She's a Series 111 LWB Safari, her first owner was the “Mid-Wales Ambulance and Rescue service”, then Keith Gott Landrovers brought her in 2000, and sold her to a meticulous owner who spent ££££'s on a complete mechanical overhaul, incl a 2.5 Diesel. Then spent even more £££ on her, incl recon gearbox, overdrive, and many other bits and pieces over the next 4yrs, including the interior.

She was then brought by a family friend, and I brought it of him. Since 2000, she’s only covered 28,000 miles.

Chassis/body very well up together, as is all the mechanics, has just had an appraisal by Keith Gott, actually met the same mechanic who did all of her work in 2000!

Obviously, getting a number of things for her, split-charging system, fridge, BFG’s and numberous other things for September, but I also plan only to be back for about a week after the Landyrally, then I’ll spend about 6 weeks travelling Iberia, Andorra and France, visiting vineyards.

That’s it really, best regards,
Mark

Mark, are you going to the Landrover show in Driffield (12-13 May)? If so, pop in and say hi - Come to think of it anyone can pop in and say hi!!- I think Tom will be lurking around as well... and if your lucky you may spot Paul (stuck on the offroad course!!!!)

CarpeDiem wrote:

Hello all,

Obviously, getting a number of things for her, split-charging system, fridge, BFG’s and numberous other things for September, but I also plan only to be back for about a week after the Landyrally, then I’ll spend about 6 weeks travelling Iberia, Andorra and France, visiting vineyards.

...back for a week and then off again for six.... Thats just darned right greedy, or is it just jealousy??????

Hi Jon,

Many thanks for the reply, and comments.

No, I won't be making Driffield, hope you have a good time.
All the best, Mark

Had a great 4x4 weekend in Wales, plenty of off-roading etc and in glorious scenery, just stunning!

On the way back, head gasket blows!

Apart from having the head done, less than 2,000 miles (Nov 06) ago, it went outside Shrewsbury, 200 miles + from home. Nearly blew the head off the rad, blew the head off the top of the expansion bottle.

So, it was recovered, and on it's way home, to a Landrover specialist, and I will be visiting the previous garage were the head was done.

I know these things happen, but sometimes you doubt your faith in Landrovers, albeit for a split second.

I hope you all are enjoying better luck!
Best regards, Mark

Mark,
I'd suggest that you get the head put on a skimming machine - not necesserily to skim it but to make sure its still flat.

Perhaps obvious..but, if the last gasket was put on right, it shouldn't have gone again so quickly - I suspect something is amiss somewhere and therefore everything needs looking at rather than simply replace the gasket and forget about it.

I'll have a think when the wine hasnt been flowing sop freely!!

Hi there, I would also check that the radiator core is good. I have known for radiators to be back flushed and all the other things to make sure it was running good, but only to find that the cure was a new rad.
Best of luck

Many thanks for your replies, Jon, and LuckyTrucker!

It hasn't been losing oil, or water. Running hot, yes, but nothing new to a series 111, suspected the gauge overreading.

Anyway, it's going to a mechanic who knows this Landy inside out, and practically built it for the last owner.

Could have done without the extra £££!

My mate says, you should have brought a disco. Yeah, thanks for your help.

Anyway, worst things happen at sea.
Hope everyone else has better luck.
Best regards, Mark

Hi there, you know what they say :?: A Disco is a poor mans Range Rover but the Disco is a thinking mans Defender

A Series is okay, and at times even more fun then a coiler (but discounting a SI which is in a league of it's own), a Defender okay as it is still a true Landy, a Disco is okay too as it's based on a RR and although some don't like to admit it we all know which is best , the Freelander is ... well, I don't like it personally but the model did save LR from going under and let's face it a lot of folk love it but the RR Classic has to be the best all-round 4x4xfar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Says me ... !

LuckyTrucker wrote:

Hi there, you know what they say :?: A Disco is a poor mans Range Rover but the Disco is a thinking mans Defender

and then there's the old addage... Defender's Rock!

You pays your money, takes your choice

Found out the problem with my Landy

Head cracked!

How this happened, still trying to determine! First thoughts, water shortage, but cetainly not in the last 18mths or so.

It's done less than 2,000 miles since the head was skimmed (supposedly crack and pressure tested) and replaced with new gasket!

Any thoughts most helpful, cheers and I hope your all having better luck.
Mark

Bugger, sorry to hear that mark.
How much is a new head? or the repairs?

Don't know what to suggest, I've still got my Series 3 for sale....
Buy a nice Disco??

Take it back to where it was the last time, see what they'll offer as it's gone so quickly.
If they refuse, maybe we should all go down there together??

If i can help with anything, give me a shout.

Hi,

Thx for that. £200 2nd hand/£300+ new +rad+labour and an MOT on top. £500-800 at a guess.

But once done, it better last, otherwise, I'll do a Basil Fawlty special and thrash it with a branch!

Ouch!

Maybe we best add a nice big branch to the kit list for you, just in case!
Youtried asking the garage if they want to sponsor you for the trip??

Hi thx,

Good idea! I need to see the finished result first. But you right!

All the best, Mark

These things are sent to try us mate, and try us they certainly do.

Yep! At least one half is OK!

Cracked head, so cracked open a bottle of La Chasse Du Pape. I can Swim!

Sorrows - drowning - all is well again - result.

Hello all,

Some news! It looks like it the head wasn't properly crack tested, as the consensus is the crack is old. Some questions will be asked at the previous mechanics!

So after a lot of time spent by the guys at Keith Gott (gratefully recieved), looking for another good 2nd hand head, and thus trying to help reduce the repair bill.

The decision came about to, delve deeper down the depths of pocket poverty, and get a new head and other bits to go with it.

So, hopefully soon. She'll be back.

I hope everyone else is having both better, and cheaper luck!
Best regards,
Mark

Hello all,

Thank you again for your help, and comments, truly grateful.

So she's back, and sounding very sweet, and with a new MOT!

Maybe it was a waterway blockage, or the head gasket not seating properly, who knows, but now drives very, very nice, and stays on the "N" even in heavy traffic.

So here's the mains things that have been renewed/changed;

Cylinder head (complete i.e. valves, stems, rods, hot spots etc)
Head/water pump/thermostat etc gaskets
Fan and shroud
Radiator
Temp sender
Glow plugs
Thermostat
Rad hoses
Fan belt

and various bit and pieces.

So driving her around gently for a couple hundred miles, and enjoying it.

All the best, Mark

Hi there, just ben reading through since the last time I was on here and so glad that now is all sorted. I have a mate who has a spare head in Basingstoke but he has just gone away on holiday. I was thinking of ways of breaking into his garage and digging out this head but so glad I won't have to do that now you are all sorted.

Hi LuckyTrucker,

Many thanks anyway for your thoughts.

Just got back from a couple of decent drives, now covered 400 miles since I got her back.

A lot of motorway driving at 90/95% throttle (not one for booting the nuts of vehicles, well not for the last 20yrs, anyway), she seems faster now, easily does 70 downhill and 60 on the flat. Temp hits the bottom of the red after a long motorway stint, but the moment you slow down, or turn around at a junction in my case, back to "N".

Actually went down a long hill, and hit, dare I say it, 80 , backed of a bit; 1. as above (booting the nuts), 2. didn't want a blowout at that speed in a Landy, 3. have enough points on my licence, and 4. no-one would believe you.

So from a very happy person, to you all. This calls for a special bottle of wine; Chateau Castelbruck Margaux 2004

See you soon, will soon be able to say "see you next month"

Best regards, Mark