Happy Mother's Day!

Here's what Mother's Day looks like when you're possessed by a Landy... :-)

After

Olivia's looking very small without her top bits!

If you have LRUK membership and want to amuse yourself at my learning-curve expense, you can follow my progress here.

Battered & Bruised, but Started!

Well I've done it - started work in earnest on Olivia! And boy, am I feeling it this morning....

I've decided to get her into daily-drive mode as soon as I can, but also sort her out front to back. Although the entire tale is related elsewhere, I'll update this blog with the basics now and then.

Yesterday I took off the rooftop tent. Single-handedly. Bit of a mission! But it's now stowed safely. And found some interesting things inside when I opened it up...




I also started removing the roofrack, which will either be replaced or will be sandblasted, hot-dipped/galvanized and perhaps reworked slightly - at the moment it's straining the bodywork thanks to how it's attached at front and the driver's door has closing issues as a result.

The kid will have the job of sanding and refinishing all the teak boards - but he doesn't know yet :-)

I also removed a square of rusty metal mesh behind the grill - mere cosmetic surgery.

Unfortunately the roofrack is still in place, as I first have to remove the spots and their wiring before I can take it off, but (weather permitting - or perhaps in spite of the weather) that gets done after work today.

Crawling around on knobbly teak boards, reaching far up to undo bolts, hauling a tent off the roof - these take their toll. I'm now bruised randomly from knee to ankle. And in various other parts. Stiff to the point of needing an extended massage (could do with one, stiff or not). Sleeping last night was a mission - every time I turned over I hit another scrape or dent I'd forgotten about!

But it's started. Olivia's getting organized. My favourite expert will be redoing the wiring and pimping other things I know little about. Who knows - she may even get a coat of paint!


(meet my little helpers)

Timing is Everything

This is a bit of a double-barrelled post.

Firstly, yes - I do need to sort out the timing on Olivia. I've been looking long and hard for a local Series specialist who can give me a push in the right direction by doing a thorough test of a number of things, and a change of a few other things. I may have found one - if I can just get him to talk to me. And timing will be sorted.

But there's another timing issue here too. I'm still settling into the new job/home routine and my weekends, which used to be mostly free to do whatever whenever, have become filled up with other things. Clogged up, more like it - leaving me a lot less time than I'd like to work on Olivia, to get her to where I want her to be in terms of becoming my daily drive.

I sit here and can see her right outside my window, patiently waiting for attention. I get going on small jobs now and then, but I'm still struggling to fit in the big ones, to cut off one large block of a day and tackle the to-do list.

Tonight I'm feeling especially guilty. I'm not going to have everything done in time to join the Landy expidition on Friday that I was hoping to. I can give you the long list of excuses as to why, but it boils down to Timing. Both Olivia's and mine.

I'll get it right eventually....I have to. Before I get any more frustrated.

Bright & Shiny

Olivia got a new tow-plug yesterday!

Here's before:




And here's after!





Took some doing, but it looks great.

Bad Owner

I've been doing penance... I've been very very bad.

The issue is, I let Olivia stand for two months without even starting her. After the tyre-changing episode I heaved a big sigh and let grass grow around her. Until last night.

Last night I was in desperate need of a bit of peace & quiet, a place to think - so I headed off to sit in Olivia a bit and talk to the old girl, tell her all my problems - from "I'm an idiot" to "what am I going to do?". She's a very good listener, and gave me the most fantastic sunset view through her split screen to inspire and comfort me.

While there I thought I'd better see if she'd start. Anticipating problems after such a long stand, perhaps battery, or turn-over-and-die.

But...

She started! Almost immediately! She must have loved getting attention again and decided to give me some back!

So while I was sitting there, I looked up at the Ford - he of the "what the heck is wrong now?" daily drive. And wondered... I'm pretty sure I can get the last few goodies on Olivia sorted out and make her my daily drive instead! Sell the Ford (it does need to go), and still have something to mosey around in. Mosey it will be - ain't going nowhere fast in this particular Landy.

So I think she's forgiven me for being a bad owner. For neglecting and deserting her for an entire 2 months. For not giving her enough love and attention.

Now if only I can convince my fellow Landy-owners that I've reformed.. :-)

Portrait

I had the opportunity to take a load of photos of Olivia today, so thought I'd post a few here.

Mini Filter

The "Things on the Back Wheels"

A lot of folk have asked "What the heck are those things on your back wheels?" when they see Olivia for the first time.

They're wheel hub winches. The simplest form of getting out of a sticky situation. Straps attach with pins to the barrel shape on the back wheels, then to a third point - and "roll up" as you go, moving you out of whatever you've got into. Well, that's the theory anyway. I really only found out about it myself after spotting an explaination in a LRO magazine.

Brilliantly simple!

Yesterday I took some pics for a friend who's interested in trying to make some, so thought I'd share.

Stand in the place where you were...

I've been very bad. I haven't touched Olivia in the past few weeks. That to-do list is no closer to completion at all! My time has been taken up with other things, and then there's the recent scorching heat that makes lying under a chunk of metal hardly the most pleasant of options.

Thing is, I can't delay much longer. There are places to go to, people to see, and they require that I turn up in a Landy, not a Ford. So will have to get to it sooner rather than later.

I've found out a few truths about owning 2 cars though:

* One of them is always likely to have petrol
* One of them is always going to need something fixed

The trick is to make sure you have one that both has petrol AND is fixed at the same time! Still working on that.. :-)

Onwards!

OK, I'm over that whole "I can't do this" thing (for now... :-) ). Would be a bit silly to have a Landy sitting outside and be too scared to touch it, so I really have no choice but to just move forward.

Anyhooo...

Got a couple of things I want to do in the next few weeks, time and cash permitting.

* Still haven't done a complete oil change - I merely topped up what was there. So I've got to get around to doing that, and change the oil filter in the engine bay too.

* I've changed 3 out of 6 spark plugs. Doing the rest requires removing the bonnet, a task for which I haven't had the wherewithall up to now. Will pick a good day and get the darn things finished.

* The last trip back from our Mall Experience had me worried about a slight jerkiness - don't know if the oil change and spark plug completion will help, but I suspect the timing needs sorting asap. My regular mechanic may or may not still be around - if he isn't I'm going to need to find someone else to help me with that one. Then again, would be good to have a knowledgeable Series bloke handy anyway!

* If I had complete and utter confidence in my abilities (as well as a tall covered space to work in), I'd probably get around to taking the entire engine apart and putting it back together again - but not just yet.. :-) However, there are a few things I still want to check up on. And for that I need to use the engine cleaner I bought, and scrub everything clean. That will probably show up all sorts of lovely oil leaks and give me endless fun on the weekends attempting to minimize them. (The thing about owning a Landy is that you're never bored - there's always something new to do)

* I still have to find a place that will replace the tube in that tyre that deflated. I don't have an option to go over to tubeless (cost!), nor do I want to. Tubes seem the better option generally speaking - unless someone can tell me otherwise.

* I have yet to open the rooftop tent. That should be a day's adventure all it's own!

So my list of to-do's is still lengthy, and bit by bit I'm getting around to it. Although I'd love to be bowling along in the Landy each week, I'd rather know I've sorted out the niggles first. After all, my previous rescuer is no longer available, and it's a long walk home! :-)

Intimidated

There are days when owning an old Landy is very intimidating. I put on a good show, but sometimes I wonder just what the heck I'm doing! (I'm pretty sure Olivia's previous owner does too... :-) )

It's great when I get things right - basics like the oil changes, greasing up bits, sorting out fuel filters and tanks and such. But sometimes hanging around Landy guys scares me - they start chatting about stuff I haven't even heard of, and which is apparently really important to keep an eye on. When I have time I tend to head over to the Land Rover UK forums, and all too often an entire paragraph will just be way over my head - though everyone else seems to know what's going on.

The lastest episode with tyre-changing was an up/down one. I realized I could do it at a pinch - but at the same time noted how little I know. There's still a lot of knowledge that needs hammering into the head, but it doesn't want to absorb fast enough.

Landy-intimidation + post-lunch dip = not a good thing at all! :-) Only solution is to grit the teeth and soldier on, trying not to break anything.

Learning Curve - Wheels and Tyres

1. Always take the high-lift jack (and know how the heck it works, including getting it down).

2. Before you leave home make sure that you:
a) know what size your wheel-nuts are
b) have a wheel spanner that fits
c) know where to locate bricks for front tyres (and can send your kid to find them)

3. Ensure that your circle of friends includes Landy people (local) who may be able to drop by and help change the tyre that the idiot(s) (cursed be their offspring for generations to come) damaged by deflating this week, and who may also possess high-lift jacks and/or appropriate wheel spanner sizes.

4. If all else fails, make sure you let your home-based rescuer know they have to get the jack AND the wheel spanner - so that multiple trips from mall to home are not needed. Also ensure that the wheel spanner you went to get on trip 2 actually fits any/all of the wheel nuts.

5. Always carry gifts for strangers willing to spend 3 hours attempting to help you, but failing that make sure you get their names, phone numbers and addresses (done!). Thank profusely any 4x4 fitment centre that attempts to phone anyone who may be able to help (unsuccessfully).

6. Never assume the wheel-nut size will be the same both outside and inside that big metal thing on the back wheel.

7. If all else fails, sockets & wrenches work. Except that you will need VERY large sockets fittings... (note to self - go buy very large ones) and a good deal of muscle power for the wrench. Count your blessings that you always carry the tool box.

8. Finally, find a tyre supply shop that actually works with tube tyres, isn't push-off-unfriendly when asked for help, and is willing to go the extra mile. Oh - and find out why the usual 30-odd Landies around the mall simply weren't there this week! :-)

Goodies

When I bought Olivia, I joined up with the Land Rover Owners Club of Southern Africa. I never got around to joining the local Cape Landy Club though - mainly because for some reason I can't access their website at all, so never really did much about attempting to get info another way. (I have since received info by email, but still can't access their site)

Well, being quite far from the epicentre of activities has had me looking a bit green with envy as they plan outings and go places and do interesting offroad stuff. I guess the local guys are also doing interesting stuff here, but with no access to their site and no membership, I simply don't hear about it.

Anyway, a mailing tube of goodies just arrived from the LROC - their magazine, renewal notice (eish... can I afford it now?), newsletter, and a HUGE 2007 calendar. I've stuck the latter up near my desk. Yup, that should do it - no missing out on what date it may be now! :-)

As much as I love goodies and enjoy the monthly newsletter etc, I'm still debating whether I should renew membership or not. There are benefits to having a LROC sticker on the vehicle, carrying a membership card etc - mostly in the form of discounts (where, I have yet to ascertain) and special treatement (which I've experienced already, sticker or not!). It's a good chunk of cash to renew the membership, which I could instead spend on a local club.

Still thinking.

In the meantime, I ain't complaining about a tubefull of goodies. I've always liked getting stuff in the post! :-)

Deflated

There's few things as bad as walking outside to find some idiot has deflated the tyre furthest from your front door, at the back - on a whim. Or for some other unkown reason. And then having to pump it back up with a footpump before there's major tyre wall damage.

Needless to say, my dreams last night were filled with plans for boobytraps with wires and guns, bricks balanced on the roofrack poised to fall on heads, and beating up whomever was responsible.. :-)

More Questions Than Answers

After our Xmas eve jaunt out to dinner and back, I find myself wanting to ask a whole lot more questions about how Olivia runs than I had before we left!!!

Yes, we made it OK - in fact very well. Slowly of course, and there are still aspects to driving her I'm getting used to. But we did it - down a steep hill, through busy traffic, even slamming on breaks a few times (aaah.. she pulls LEFT! :-) ). It was cool to be perched up so high that we could see things we normally don't in the Ford. And the kid is over his fear of riding in a strange vehicle that feels every bump, where the seats are rather slippery.

But here's the stuff I'm wondering, and will probably have to ask whomever I can find willing enough (and patient enough) to answer:

* Why are the lights either on bright or off - fuse or wiring issue? The middle setting for "normal beam" simply gives no reaction.

* What do I need to do to coax a bit more uphill power out of her? We're either screaming along in 3rd up the smallest slope, or shuddering in 4th - there has to be a way to boost the gear range and help her tackle hills.

* There's a slight jerking now and then - wonder if I haven't gotten to all the issues, or if the timing's that out...

* Engine heat goes up to about half-way on the guage - need to confirm this is normal. It doesn't seem to climb above that, which is a good sign.

* Gears are feeling better now that all the oil's been topped up too - the transmission was veeery empty... while the gearbox oil poured down my arm on opening (gonna invent a new cologne called "Eau de EP90", as I seem to permanently smell like that) - apparently that much difference in levels can blow an oil seal, so will have to keep an eye on that. Still struggling to find 3rd sometimes, but that's probably more me learning where they are than mechanical gear issues.

* I think I may still need to empty out a few compartments to lighten the load. There are some leaf springs stored under the floor level - haven't even attempted to shift those yet!

* Also need to check both other fuel tanks for gunk - I've been working from only one for now, topping it up. Need to grease the speedo cable, get it working to check mileage/fuel consumption too. Especially in light of the World Record Attempt coming up in April, which I'm definitely doing.

* Need to discover how to flash lights at other Landies.. :-) if at all possible.

One thing about owning a Series Landy is certain - you're never bored, there's always something more to do.. :-) And I'm looking forward to doing them.

Classics

New cars are all good and well. There's something to be said for aircon, no unidentified rattles/squeaks/scraping noises, a smooth quiet ride with the possibility of both music and conversation, shiny paint-job, reliability, and enough debt to buy a small house with.

But I think I like the classics better.

My first car was a 1970s Mini, acquired for a mere R2,000. It was dark blue with a vinyl sunroof that liked to collect rain - and pour it down your neck when you turned left. The spare in the boot was balanced on the only remaining strut that hadn't rusted through. There were holes in the floor under the carpet - driving through a deep puddle in winter would not only cut the electricts, but leave your feet sloshing around, after which the most incredible tiny mushrooms would grow under the seats. Sometimes the bush would fall off the gear lever - preferably in rush-hour traffic, where you'd be stuck in 4th gear and have to rev to immense heights to get going. Sometimes the fuel guage would give in, but for that we kept a length of hosepipe in the car - stick it in the fuel tank, turn it around - if it goes "splosh" you're OK, if it goes "clonk" go fill up. A bit of an adventure to drive, but we went everywhere. We even fitted 8 people, their surfboards and their bodyboards in - and went to the beach. Riding very low... :-) That car took me to Tech every day, to towns near and far, got stuck in sand dunes, got push-started in high heels. Even after we sold it, it brought interesting times. It's plates were found on a stolen VW Bug two years later!

Next car was an 80's Honda Ballade in dark charcoal grey. Again, not without its issues. But it went very well - until I got a neighbour to replace the brakes, after which it basically collapsed bit by bit. My mechanic eventually got so fed up that the last time he towed it he didn't return it. Instead he phoned to say it had been sold and he'd have another car for me within a week.

Enter the golden brown Ford. The Friggin'Ford, as it's affectionatly known. Also an 80's model, a 2 litre Sierra. It's been the one car that hasn't failed us spectacularly. It's tackled corrugated farm roads, mountain passes, town trips - and although we sometimes wonder if it will make it, it's done well. We've sorted out things like brakes that didn't brake, and doors that didn't lock. There are still issues in the thing that holds the hatchback boot up, a bit of a leak in wet weather, and some rust. But it's services with only one thing left to fix at the mechanic's - wear-and-tear backlash on the diffs, to be done in January. Just before my mechanic sells up his business and leaves. Probably time to up my car-fixing ability...!

Which brings us to Olivia. My first Landy - but definitely not the last. I look at the more modern ones and think that they're nice, but my heart is with the Series models. Tough, built to last, proven, simple to work on, with a distinctive style and sound, and oh-so-cool.

Already I'm looking at getting the kid a Series shorty when he's old enough to drive instead of something more modern. Alternatives to that would be the ancient round-shaped VW Kombi or - yes - a Mini. But I think we'll stick with the Landies. They're go-anywhere vehicles, can haul a multitude of friends or the most delicate of girlfriends, take a bit of late-teen driving and still come out OK on the other side.

So here's to the classics. Firmly embedded in this particular family's hearts, oiling up the driveways and providing adrenalin (whether through failed brakes on a mountain, something falling off on a highway, or the mere thrill of driving them) at every turn. Long may they chug on.

Landy Benefits

Just for the record - Landy people are the best.

I dashed down to my local Autozone shop this afternoon to finally get enough EP90 to do the under-oily-bits, and while there got a bit of engine cleaner and some new made-for-old-engines engine oil (fresh on the market). In the process, the shop owner discovered I was a Landy driver/owner. I got shown his Landy parked outside (Range Rover), got to go behind the scenes to check out some new suspension stuff he's importing from Australia which works well on my model, had a chat over other parts suppliers in the area, and got a preview of things to come on his computer screen for us Landy types.

When I got to the till to pay for my 4 containers of various goodies, he gave me 10% off just for driving a Landy! (In return I promised to give him the heads-up on our next meet-up, which hopefully will be in a week's time)

I really like these Land Rover folk. :-)

So it was a pretty profitable afternoon - a bit of education, a chance to connect with another Landy fanatic, and a good deal thrown in too. Very nice!

To top off the day, it seems insurance has finally been sorted - bar one or two things to be cleared up - so I can venture further afield at last. Greased up, filled up, and good to go.

This weekend I dive under the beast and get oily...

Photoblog: Dreams

This dreamcatcher came with Olivia - but it's not done catching dreams yet. I may add a few tiny objects to help focus them into one place sometime.. :-)

Olivia - LIVES!

Yes, it's true - she's back on the road! And the problem? Well it wasn't spark plugs (though I did replace half, and will do the other half when I don't have a thunderstorm to deal with). It wasn't fuel starvation - in the conventional sense of the word.

What it was turned out to be a lack of fuel (nearly empty tank) and a serious amount of gunk in selfsame tank! Yes, those are my finger-marks, having dragged through the debris to haul some out and see what it was. There were sticks, sand, mud and other bits, quite a collection.

I undid the plug below the tank, drained and scooped it all out, rinsed it with clean petrol and filled it up - and she started first shot!

YAY! We're back on the road! Took a quick turn around a couple of blocks and she's running well.

The only issue now is idling. It's set too low and I had to go on choke to keep her alive. But that's not something too difficult to sort out.

Here's to travels! At last... :-)