The GT racing and my birthday are now over, so here's a quick update to catch up with real world progress.

On Thursday evening I replaced the rubber seal around the drivers side vent lid (the flaps that open under the windscreen to get fresh air into the cab when driving). This went ok, apart from the fact that the seal was for a Defender, and as such didn't fit quite as well as the original.

On Saturday, my uncle and I did install the new windscreen washers as planned and on the whole this went well without any unforeseen problems. The one small problem we did have was that once it was all connected none of the wiper/washers control would work at all. This was ultimately traced to a bad fuse which had been put back in accidentally. Once this was replaced everything went as it should. We also managed to complete rear brake piping replacement, and apart from the tubing needing quite a bit or rebending, the only problem was having to drill out the bolt on one of the old cylinders. We couldn't actually drill off the back of the bolt so we simply drilled into the cylinder and went straight through the bolt shaft, a bit desperate but it worked! The only part we found we needed and didn't have was a small plastic clip that holds the left pipe onto the axle, and I was able to get one of these for free from RJ's on Monday, so all that remains now is to refill the resevoir and bleed all the brakes (and hope we can get the bleed nipples open on the fronts). We also fitted the other vent flap seal whilst we had the vent flap off for working on the screen washers.

On Monday night I fitted the new clip I'd got for free, and started reassembling some pieces of inerior trim. I put the sterring column cover back, but found I still need one more bolt, typical, and put some new screws in the plywood sheets on the inside of the door, not at all original, but effective.

As I didn't want to spend long on the Landy on Tuesday night, as I wanted to be inside enjoying a few beers (well it was my birthday afterall!) I simply reattached the drivers side vent flap. Only a five minute job, but one that no longer needs to be done. I had also planned to drill the front bumper stay (mentioned in the entry 02/07), but couldn't as the front wing stops the drill getting the right angle from above, and the suspension from below, so this needs to be thought about some more, at least I have the bolt now! :)

Well it's been while since the last update so here's the news so far.

Sometime since the last update I picked up a good second hand tow hitch for £25, but I don't intend to fit it until after the MOT etc. I did manage to get the bolt for use on the front bumper from RJ's but haven't fitted it yet. Sadly they didn't have the grill screw I needed.

My uncle returned to help me on Saturday (8th) and we got started on a number of tasks, but generally had an unsuccessful day. Our attempt at fitting the new windscreen washer failed because the new squirter is designed for a larger tube size. It seems the late production Series 3 vehicles, along with subsequent Land Rovers used the same diameter tubing from the bottle to the T-piece as to the squirters. Mine being an early beast used a smaller diameter after the T-piece...typical. We next tried to fix the bonnet catch, so the bonnet would lock down properly. We eventually got this to work, although to release the bonnet I now have to shove it to the right while operating the lever. The mechanism is worn so won't ever operate properly (and particularly after we "modified" it while trying to fix it) so I expect ultimately it will need to be replaced, but it can wait. Next we investigated the fluid leak onto one fo the rear brakes, and discovered it was as had been suggested the axle oil seal leaking. Whilst doing this we tested the brakes and found the cylinder to not be operating properly, and it filled up with fluid preventing us from reassembling the drum. We tried to bleed the brake, but the bleed nipple sheared off, and attempting to remove the brake pipe simply broke the pipe itself. On one hand this did drain the cylinder, but now we need to replace it and all the pipe work on the rear axle - not helpful. On the plus side we did get the front left wing seated properly and bolted up, but this was offset by a flexible brake hose in the engine bay deciding to crack in the heat and letting all the fluid out.

On sunday I tackled easier jobs and started by putting one of the grab handles back on the rear crossmember. The other still needs to be broken free of the old section of crossmember that's in the back on the Landy! I finished off by fitting the battery retainer, that my uncle had fixed the day before. I would have done more but the wind was blowing everything around and lying under the car just meant you got sand blasted. After cleaning up I ordered some more parts to fix the rear brakes and the windscreen washers as well as some other small jobs.

The parts arrived yesterday, so last night I went out and bolted up the other wing as per the manual, but in doing so I broke the welds on the new part I had just fitted meaning that while the wing is held on securely, getting it off again will be very hard indeed. This will be a problem as I need to replace the inner wings before I start going off roading as they are lacking the plates that stop water splashing into the engine bay. I also screwed in the grill cover as I finally had the right screw, hooray, but while replacing the bonnet in it's hinges I broke a plastic bushing, for a second time. I think this is due to the hinge needing to be cleaned out with a file, and I'm not risking another bushing until I've done that. On the good side, I now have 2 new style squirters, a new T-piece and enough tubing to get the windscreen washing system into working order.

Today I went down to the Land Rover agent, RJs in Sawtry and picked up some JCB 2 tonne axle stands, some new bonnet bushings and some injector cleaner so things look all set for progress next weekend when we plan to redo the rear brakes. I'll only have saturday to work this week as I'm off to Snetterton on Sunday to watch the GT racers and then it's my birthday meal in evening (although it's two days early!).

The parts arrvied from Craddocks on Thursday (29th) so I've been able to progress some things. Sadly one of the battery cover rods they supplied is damaged and will need to probably be replace if the thread on it can't be recut. The windscreen washer I got is of a completely different desing from the one we removed, being plastic not metal. In some ways it is superior, but won't look like the old one, so I suspect once it's through an MOT the other washer will be changed to match.

Using the new parts I have been able to get the brake pedal return spring to work as expected, and hopefully now the brake lights will work consistently, I just need a second set of eyes to confirm this. I have also reattached the grill with the proper fixings, although I find now I need a certain type of screw that I don't have to finish the job, (I suspect a trip to RJ Land Rovers will ensue). I have also been able to drill new holes in the front chassis to screw down the plate under the grill, so this won't flap around, or rattling annoyingly.

The biggest job, that I undertook yesterday, was to replace the old metal headlight bowl with a new plastic one. This needed to be done as the two photos below show. This proved to be a tough job as the screw heads on the old fixings had to be drilled out. Luckily the new one has different fixings, that it is supplied with so I didn't need any extra parts.





In the parcel came a new flasher unit to replace the one that shorted. It fitted in quite easily, and worked straight off, which was good. This unit has a much louder click when the indicators are working, which I suspect will be more useful given the fact that the cabin is not a quite place when the engine is running.

The only new job I spotted, was that one of the bolts on the front bumper was not actually equipped with a nut and was thus loose. On closer inspection the bolt is the wrong type (too short) and even if it was it could never has a nut attached as there is no hole in the bottom of the bumper stop on the chassis for it to go through. I know the previous owners had to weld new plate onto the bumper for the last MOT it had (and failed) and it seems they never cut new bolt hold in the it afterwards. If I can get the correct bolt down at RJ's I suspect I'll have to make the hole myself. It won't be a straightforward drilling operation as the bolt hole needed is much larger than any drill bit I own, or that would even fit in my drill. I will need to make several holes, and then join them up using a saw blade to make the required size.

Lastly here's a picture of Hero with all the lights finally working taken before this the last bits of work were done.