The short way round

Well, our trusty steed for this jolly jape is my rather well trodden 300Tdi Disco, dressed in still reasonable black, she has covered in the region of 260,000 miles!

Used to belong to the manager of Pink Floyd, back when it was a complete road standard ES Discovery.

Since being owned by me, she's had -

Another Gearbox!
Steering and diff guards
Snorkle + Raised Breathers
Roof mounted Spots
Winch Bumper
Winch
HD Rear bumper (thanks to Earley Glass for the rear ender resulting in their insurance paying for the new rear bumper and nice new back door!)
Load guard with work lights
Jate Rings at the rear
Heavy duty Jump start/power sockets front and rear
and a few other surprise extras!

Hopefully a few other bits and bobs between now and september, also planning on getting the AC fixed!

Party, Flashing lights and a Disco! :afro:

Sounds well sorted. With that milage a LR gearbox every now and then sounds reasonable. Mine has done 210.000 on the same gearbox It will let go one day I just hope it isn't at the most inoppertune moment.
Cheers

wow, that is high milage for a 1st gearbox!
Mine was changed at 80,000 (as per Land Rover reccommendation) as it was Land Rover main dealer serviced by the first owner, then i fitted a 3rd one last year as syncro had failed on 2nd, and reverse was being really sticky, so only time left!!
Fingers crossed yours will carry on, at least until agfter September!! if not, i reccomend those nice people at Ashcrofts!!

Sounds like you've had good experiences following bad gear box experiences too Tom!

By the way, where's your bit in here?? i know your the organiser, but still part of the gang!! what're you driving etc?

Sounds intreguing! still, at least it's Land rover!

Will look forward to hearing more about it when it's ready!

Agree with good news bad news etc, also never heard a wrong word against ashcrofts, i had a small problem with my latest box, and there was nothing they couldn't do for me to help.
usually know of at least a few probs with places, garages etc, but not these guys.

BTW, your website's starting to take shape - Richard's done a good job. I'll ask Badger (my right-hand man who set up this Landy Rally site) to add a link to www.theshortwayround.co.uk

Hi there, I must admit I was leaning towards Ashcrofts, the clutch I think is on it's way out so I thought I would take it to Ashcrofts, let them do the clutch and decide on whether it is worth putting the same gearbox back in. I know they will always err on the side of caution but as we still have a little time to go we will decide then.
I have LR history on the car until 170,000 miles and I have know it since then and no gear box Does this mean that the LT77 is better than the R380 :?:
Plenty of heavy towing and off roading to do before September so plenty of time for it to fail

The one to get is the LT85 - the Santana box - only you won't (unless you've very lucky) as these is as rare as rocking horse's do dah. Basically it's the bullet-proof box that all the Comp Safari lads like to use when racing, hence they are snapped up as soon as one becomes available.

Start hunting!

New Tyres arrived today courtesy of CarCarC for donating them, and my Dad for going to pick them up!!

5x BF Goodridge Mud's, 235/85R16, bring it on!!

Just taking a moment to introduce yet another local sponsor for our team, Kenlowe have very kindly offered us a replacement high power electric fan for the disco.

On seeing Tom's post about overheating, and extream temperatures, really happy about this one, fingers crossed for a nice cool drive!
-just need to air con fixed now


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Hi there, I'm going to trust the LR cooling system, I say trust :| recently I have fitted a new thermostat, viscous coupling and radiator, so it had beter not overheat now I had been having problems when towing a 3 ton trailer, fortunatly it never boiled just got a bit warm, so no damage done. Recently took a car trailer down to Lewes, Sussex. Long hills on M25/M23, throttle pedal flat to the floor in third gear mile after mile and gauge just in the middle. So the Alps and Pyrenees can throw what they like at us and I will be confident it won't boil, definatley, maybe, I hope.

Well, after a very succesful weekend, with only a small trip to CHallenger 4x4 for a pair of replacement front turrets, we have now fitted the 2" Lift, and fitted the new bigger tyres!

Having some trouble this week getting sponsor logo's in the right format for the graphics company to print for us, but hopefully getting that sorted in the next day or so.

Still got the Kenlowe to fit, and hoping the new hyclones will arrive soon so they can be fitted as well. The roof rack is almost finished, light mounts are down, although i need it without lights on in mid August for the BAJA GB Rally in Wales, so work halted on that projest for a while.

Fingers crossed and touching as much wood as is really healthy, nothing much has gone wrong yet, and we're hoping to test the camping equipment this weekend down in dorset somewhere.


So much to do, so little time!


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Providing it's seperate from a vehicle, got some grass out the back here in sunny Bournemouth ... pitch away!

hmmm now theres a thought! we've not been able to book it, just have a turn up and pray with the campsite, so if we get stuck, we'll give you a ring!!

did a little playing in the woods this weekend, not lots of work, but did get to trial the new springs and tyres well.




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Just found the photo's of the spring change, not a bad job really!

Old


New


a slight trim to body work, and hey presto, tyres fit!


Although i did discover this weekend, that some more trimming is required at the rear, and i have a nie bent bit to show me where! when i checked the clearence when the axles where articulating, i forgot to allow for a heavy a load in the boot. when loaded, it changes (obvious really - Doh!) how it all moves, therefore, it went bang, and bent the wing, lucky for me only a little;. lesson lernt. has everyone else thats just done this checked this?

have fun!

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Very nice photos!

Ok, broke something!

Driving the car today, went to flash headlights, and all of a sudden, the stalk oin the left side of the wheel will no longer go back or forward.

It still goes up and down to work indicators, and twists to turn on side lights and headlights, but won't budge for main beam.

--Not a major issue you say, live without main beam for a bit - IF ONLY!

I think the stalk has broken inside, just between where it selects main or dipped beam. Of course when you select main beam, dipped goes out as you can't have both filiments of a double filiment bulb on.

My problem is now i haven't got either main or dipped beam at all!!
had to drive home with roof spots and sidelights only, was interesting...

Panning on getting a new stalk ASAP, anyone know anything about doing this job??

RSVP Please ASAP! i have tomorrow (Monday) to do this job, then i'm on Nights for 4 days, so I really need to be legal :farao: and see my way to work!

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Thankfully have found a replacement, lets just hope it's not a big job!

This part for those interested, is part number STC 4017, and is £95+VAT as a genuine part, and no others are available.

My suggestion to any other owner of a 300Tdi is to find one from a breaker or doner, and keep it spare! i was lucky, Paul at Challenger 4x4, one of my Rally Sponsors has one spare!!

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£95
wow thats expensive,

good luck fitting it

cheers kieran

Gotta say the Disco looks bare without your Land Rally stickers. At the very least, surprised you did retain the door stickers until the next event. No, not just bare ... POSITIVELY NAKED!!!

Ah but Tom, look at the dates....

Those are the before pictures, shiney and naked! (The car that is, i'm behind the camera so you can't see....! !

It still has the stickers on now, and a fair bit of mud etc, didn't you notice at oxley? i know i was only there for about half an hour but!

Are you about at home this weekend? only the Sunseeker Rally is on, and i'm down with the Rescue unit if you're about?


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