Dear Diary
during the week a little job re-organising the console to suit the dog was completed with the help of Stevie and his carpentry skills. We ended up with a neat looking jarrah hardwood drink cup holder for a pair of largish stainless holders. The holders/the wood sits inside a 50cal ammo tin. I don't think it wise to have drinks and the dog in situ simultaneously however. Cheap fix. The console is evolving as they say.
Yesterday the LRCV got some attention after a 2 day effort on the sister FFR 50-169 (Stevie's). Stevie's FFR (slowly) got a new diesel tank after much looking at alternatives. A LR 90 steel tank was fitted. The filters were changed. But the bleeding procedure caused a day of drama. We got air bubbles when cracking the injectors etc but not much fuel and the LR would fail to fire up for longer than 5seconds. Not enough fuel? We had checked the little troublesome bolt/filter under the transfer pump and it was clean. A new hand pump was fitted on the next day, again not much improvemnt. Back to the sedimenter to 'prove' where the fuel was, all the way to the lift pump. During this double check I found a blocked fule line and used a coat hanger wire to clear it (a mud wasp had moved into a fuel line while the LR was tankless). Bled and fired up and then it had an hour or so run w/o drama. For the trip to Corowa the console and CB was refitted, it got a canopy change, and it got a wheel change as well.
So then yesterday our own FFR / LRCV got some TLC.
A recond. radiator had been waiting about a year to be fitted. It has an Adrad recore not Natrad asian core. At this stage, I sat the radiator on some carpet I filled it up and emptied into a 10 litre bucket to measure how much water it takes to fill the radiator. I did this twice. Both times it was just under 4 litres. Hmmm. The radiator went in all okay. The loose cowl was secured as well.
The front heater hose, the straight one 6 inches long at the front of the 4BD1, was cut off as it looked ancient, and it was replaced. Ditto the old clamps after using the exposed heater pipe to flush the heater core and the block (used a garden hose).
The engine saver was fitted (mech part of the job -not electrical part). The install in the top radiator hose, near the radiator mount, was quick.
The new 300TDi coolant tank was fitted. This required use of two M6 captive nuts and bolts with a center rubber buffer (drilled two M6 holes in the lip of the inside 'guard) and then the third part of the tank mount, the leg downwards from the side closest to the engine, had to be made. The kit does not come with a correctly bent and angled 'leg'. So its a case of getting some aluminium tube, cutting to the length needed, then flattening (hammer) one end then drilling a M8 bolthole on the flat. This will be for the bottom mounting of the leg. I found an existing M10 or m12 bolthole in the steel interior guard, and it was 'in line' for the leg, almost like the factory knew... its down near the chassis rail. The leg was then test fitted to find the right angle to suit the top end of the leg, the plastic tank mount. Then the leg was removed to be flattened at the top end (at the correct angle), drilled for the M6 bolt and then refitted and tightened up. That was it for the tank.
Next was the steel T piece into the lower radiator hose and the connections to the underside of the tank. Last thing: filling the system and getting any air out. I used the bolt on the top of the thermo housing to completely fill 'er up.
More info once the third FFR arrives from Newie (Scotty) and the drive down to Corowa is done.
ed - pics added
