The Landblogger

A good days work

Today, being Saturday, I got out in the shop by 9 AM and basically gave it on the Range Rover all day. I started with completing and bleeding the clutch hydraulics, then finished installing the 4 gauge wire to the starter, rerouted the ground strap, and installed the new radiator in the rad enclosure. A lick of paint here and there to hide the occasional rust spot, which is mostly surface, but the inner fenderwells are calling out to be replaced sometime... 

Also installed the starter and its heat shield, the new clutch disc and pressure plate, torqued all the bolts and got the engine on the lift. Finally lifted it in for, hopefull, the last time and it went together with the transmission smooth as silk. I installed all the attaching nuts, but so far can't put my finger on the safe place I put the 4 long bolts. Hmmm. I lowered it way down with no motor mounts and tightened the upper attaching nuts. Then lifted it again, inserted the motor mounts, and tightened the rest of the engine bolts. I'll leave the motor mounts loose until I get the rad, fan and shroud in place to ensure everything fits together smoothly.

All being well, I'll have a few more hours to fiddle with it tomorrow too.

Doing the To-Do

I made a list last week of things to do with the engine out before I put it back in again for the final (hopefully) time...

Paint frame & motor mounts

paint radiator enclosure

install new rad in enclosure

fab shifter to new position

fab top of firewall to make a removable portion to make rocker cover removable easier

check input of steering box for leaks

prep heater core hose connections

replace positive battery cable with longer version

clean up fenderwells and shock towers

install clutch and pressure plate

clean up slave cylinder

install clutch hydraulic hoses

Well, yesterday and today I made some pretty good progress. The frame and motor mounts have had 3 coats of paint, I've taken apart the shifter, cut it, rotated the linkage 90° clockwise to be in a better position for left hand drive, welded it back together, and reinstalled it. I've also made my fabrication to the top of the firewall by removing the centre vent assembly, then carefully cutting a 4" by 8" rectangle and removing it. I then created an inner edge out of aluminum and installed it so that the 4x8 plate can be removed and replaced at will. This will make it a good deal easier when re & re-ing the engine as well as when the valve cover needs removal for valve adjustments. I then worked on the hydraulic hoses for the clutch. Still a little bit to do on the clutch, yet, but things are indeed plodding forward. Also completed, is the battery cable, some fenderwell cleanup and prepping the heater. I've decided to leave the shock towers alone until later as if any bolts break when I try and remove the old rusty towers it means waiting for a new spring plate, so this is a job that can be done later...