Masochistic Early Midlife Crisis - Old Land Rover Content

36k since rebuild is how I'm doing the service schedule plus whatever maintenance may rear its head in between.

It gets a basic service every 6k (oil & oil filter plus a grease around) and the annual 12k is per the LR schedule depending on milage.

Blimey, a while since I updated this.

A service is well overdue on time, if not on miles.

I've replaced the "p" gasket today. This is the gasket that sits at the rear of the water pump and between the aluminium bracket holding the ancillaries and the steel block. It is a weak point due to the differing expansion rates and coolant dribbles down the side of the block.

I've ordered a fuel and oil filter and oil. Fuel filter isn't due, but after the breakdown last year due to water in the filter freezing, I thought an extra £5 or so was worth it. I've also ordered a new master cylinder. I'm not happy with the braking performance. They work OK, but sometimes pedal goes to floor without much effort and when you give it pump they work fine. Is suspect a dodgy seal somewhere.

In an ideal world, the sump needs removing and resealing but I think that can wait until the spring. I can deal with it marking its territory on the driveway. If it isn't the sump, it's the front crank or cam seal as the timing cover is wet with oil.

Nice little modification done today. It is one I've been meaning to do for ages.

I've wired the work lights on the rear to come on automatically with the reverse light as the standard one is poor. I have a three position switch so I can still switch them on by themselves should I wish.

That’s one benefit of LED rear lights.  The reversing lights on mine are like spotlights, which means the reversing and surround cameras are really effective in the dark.  The Golf has really bright reversing LEDs as well.

Thank fuck for that. The squeaky belt/pulley issue is sorted. I think the water pump pulley being off and so close to the tensioner was the issue and it kept knackering the tensioner bearings.

Of course you do.
If it was 100% reliable you'd have got rid of it ages ago 

How much do you need to spend to get a decent buy crap (as in one you can off road in) Defender? I like the idea of one for off roading.

You should get a nice TD5 for £10k and possibly one with a galvanised chassis.

Age old debate.

Personally, I would take a 300TDi all day long.

TD5 is powerful and sounds nice and is very mappable. It has electronics pre OBDII so you need a Nanocom or Hawkeye for diagnostics (or your specialist does). Injector loom can leak oil back to ECU and fry it. First signs are a misfire. Some heads crack and chuck diesel in the oil and it will eventually run away. People still swear by them though.

300TDi and TD5 both use R380 gearbox and LT230 transfer box which are reliable.

I'm happy once again. No oil underneath after a couple of decent drives.

Wind related cattle trailer / Land Rover interface this afternoon. 🙄 That's probably karma for me backing the Keenan feeder into the new skid steer loader yesterday. To be fair to me, the boss had parked directly behind me. 

Anyway, I'm not replacing the rear panel as it involves removing all the capping which will mean roof lift at the least, so a couple of chequer plate repair panels and a new fog light should suffice. Total cost less than £30.

All repaired - just waiting on the fog light.  The rear panel required some adjustment with a hammer and lump of wood prior to fitting the chequerplate panel.

Possibly. It would be expensive though!