Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

[Richard Moss]

It'll probably end in tears.

[rovercoup]

Along with blood and sweat.

[dollysprint]

Dont want to give you false hope Richard but there is a rumour going around that Landrover actually started building them properly after 2002. You never know it just might be true!
In my 1995 example I'm currently welding in metal to areas where Landrover once put some but then forgot to seal it and paint it with anything vaguely adhesive

Oh and its nice to be back, thank you.

Dave

[Richard Moss]

Glad you got back in Dave. Did the "forgot password" thing do the trick?

Rust isn't an issue out here - although heat damage to plastics is. I need the front wiper cowl (sound familiar) and on front screen pillar trim. most of the rest seems to work and I'm due to get the beast tomorrow.

[MG Mal]

After 2002 the TD5 was much improved.but the higher cc V8's did continue to have issues.

But don't damage those head lamps Richard!.

Over here, they are so expensive and hard to find, that ner'do wells nick them during the night! (and the day sometimes)

This link may be of help once you've registered.
http://forum.lro.com/viewforum.php?f=19 ... a5f0cb0bcb

[Richard Moss]

Thanks Mal. Vehicle crime here is very low-level - and most of the likely perpetrators drive old Nissan Sunnys

I've signed up on one forum already LRO next.

[MG Mal]

Just thinking if they are hard to get hold of here, if you damage one off piste, you may have issues getting another out there.

[Richard Moss]

There's always the USA and ebay.com

[Richard Moss]

Work done in the last few weeks:

New ACE actuator - ACE system bled and working beautifully and now NOT leaking oil everywhere. This thing handles REALLY well on road
All brake pads replaced. Every single pad was down to less than 1mm of friction material and the brakes were potentially lethal.
Transfer box oil seal replaced - oil now NOT coming out all the time
Axle oil replaced - the stuff that came out looked like black treacle with metal shavings in it and could well have been in there since "The Tank" was built.
Steering track bar and balljoints replaced
Missing A-pillar trim replaced
Broken C- pillar trim repaired
Mangled rear bumper and reversing lights repaired - properly
Broken breather hose repaired - properly (rather than the previous bodge).
Coolant replaced
Cooling fan clutch replaced
New tyres (bigger than standard at 265/65x18)
Rubber coil spring inserts to firm up the suspension
Front scuttle trim panel replaced (lower windscreen trim)
Proper cupholders fitted to the centre console
Plus lots of those little jobs that you can never remember doing when writing up a post like this

Additionally, I've got a trusted garage to replace the leaking power steering pump, do an engine/transmission oil change, fit a new engine accessories drive belt and tensioners and fit replacement rear shock absorbers (dampers).

Initial impressions of OFF-road performance are good - plenty of power, better AC than the Jeeps but you can really feel the extra weight and bulk working against you. The permanent 4WD seems to work well but I think that it would benefit from a locking centre differential (autumn project, I think). Once I've got the hang of, it it should do the job nicely. ON-road it is much more civilised than the Jeeps but the seating position feels like I'm sitting on it, rather than in it.

[Richard Moss]

Photo catch-up time:
Old water pump and new water pump - spot the difference. When will people realise that you still need anti-freeze in the desert? (not for the frost protection but for the anti-corrosion properties). The amount of crap that I flushed out of the radiator and engine was incredible.




Windscreen lower trim panel replaced. The old one literally fell apart when touched (damaged by UV light). The missing A-pillar trim has been replaced.



Bigger tyres fitted on the standard wheels. By flipping the spare wheel carrier through 180 degrees you gain enough space to fit the bigger wheel on the tailgate. I found that the wheel studs were ripping out so I welded them back into place.





The steering trackrod was replaced because of worn balljoints:



Rear bumper repaired. Front to do





Finally, here it is on the sand

[CHR15E]

Nice looking truck Rich, must have missed this before.

Joe has one now, though his is diesel. He likes it a lot. Says it reminds of an 800 quite a bit?

[Richard Moss]

It has a definite Rover feel - especially on the pre-2002 models. The 2002-2004 models (like this) are a bit less Roverish but I still like the way it feels.

This could be the death knell for the Jeeps.......

[rovercoup]

more prestigious than the Jeep as well

[CHR15E]

Joes is a 2000 I think.

Haven't been in it yet.

[BlueRover]

Does every 4x4 have a 2m band radio fitted ?