General Update

I haven’t added any posts for a while, so here is a general update.

Work on the front axle is progressing slowly, but I have not done enough to be worth a specific post.  the Range Rover’s poor performance has been cured with a new exhaust – the catalytic converter was badly clogged by the carbon dislodged by fitting new injectors and a new injection pump.

My father paid a recent visit, and since he is moving to Gloucestershire, decided to have a quick look at various different models of Land Rover at the local dealership (he has decided on the Freelander 2).  Whilst at the dealership, Helena couldn’t help but have a good look around a Defender 90 Tdci.  Since the RRC, with 170,000 miles under its belt has developed  minor faults in the transmission (manifesting itself as a crunching second gear selection and a drone/vibration from the front end at 60 mph, which I suspect to be the diff, having eliminated the prop shaft, CVs, swivels and hubs) and needs a little sprucing up, we were considering taking the easy option of selling the RRC and buying Helena a 90.

A test drive with the kids in the back got Helena even more enthusiastic, but we could see several issues straight away that make the 90 impractical, including the height and lack of baggage space or room for the dogs if the two rear seats are used.  It would also be hard to do the school run with the dogs in the back for their walk as they would be likely to jump out when the kids exit the rear of the car.  The lack of a boot, the three door configuration and its height (preventing multi-storey or restricted height car park use0, combined with the much higher purchase cost and road tax made it an non-viable family car, and since it would cost about half the amount to fully refurbish the RRC, we have decided to go down that route.

As recompense, though, Helena insists that we get her a Lightweight!  We have found a really good looking one that looks completely straight and original.   It is currently painted in NATO green, with a new rag top, which would eventually be repainted to Bronze Green with bare galvanised cappings, just the way it left Solihull. I’ll be going to check it over on the 16th September, and if it’s as good as it appears in the photos the owner sent us, then I’ll be driving home that afternoon.  Apart from a military roll over hoop (as fitted to the last Lightweights in 1984) and some black vinyl rearward facing Exmoor Trim seats (either aft facing “inward facing fold up” or aft facing “forward facing fold up Trakkers”), it’ll be kept completely standard.  I’ll just be used as a weekend toy for pub lunches and so on, and probably a few runs like the Heritage Run or London to Brighton.  Thankfully, unlike the RRC or 109, it will at least fit in the garage, so it shouldn’t upset the neighbours too much.

The family have visited the Gaydon, Billing and Stoneleigh shows this year (and caught up with with Peter on the Atlas Overland stand at each show and the Brown family which is the first time we have seen them since the Alps trip – good to see you again!).  We might go to Peterborough, too, work permitting, as I need a few bits for the Range Rover.