WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR TRUCK TODAY!

Put two new all terrain tyres on.....let it snow let it snow let it snow

Pit is nearly dry, found another AC condensate pump that has a higher flow rate, it can get down to just under 1" of water with and it has a built in float switch it so this is going to be my sump pump once the pit is dry

Did a few minor jobs on the Frontera, removed drivers headlight as the reflector was a bit faded, fitted a replacement only to find the headlight aim was way off and the adjusters were seized. Removed newly fitted headlight and freed off the adjusters, cleaned up the threads and slapped some copper grease on before refitting. Checked and the adjusters were seized on the passengers headlight so off came that for the same treatment.

Fitted a pair of Osram Nightbreaker bulbs and adjusted the headlight aim

Are those bulb's good Chris??? I have seen some good reviews but its better if you know the person. :thumbup:

Replaced nearly 80% of front suspension. Damn, this is a new car now.

Finished mopping up the last of the water from the pit, the concrete is still wet but at least there is no standing water in there.

Replaced the mains cable on my welder and then noticed I'd left my battery inspection lamp inside so had to remove the cover again to get it out :oops:

Bought a 4 into 1 push fit manifold for my extended breathers and fitted that along with a clear filter so I can see if any water gets sucked into the pipe under the bonnet when water wading

Replaced timing belt, water pump and the leaky seal on water rail that runs behind timing belt case.

And today I replaced the front discs and pads, stripped out cleaned and regreased the wheel bearings, and also stripped and cleaned and regreased the auto hubs.

stripped down what seems like the whole front end to replace timing belt and water pump. All good to go back together now but wondering on tension of belt - see post in 2.8 section.

Cleaned up body bolts and wd40 again ready for lift.

Radiator being replaced but impressed with fins on old one :oops:

replaced cv boots on drivers side, cleaned re greased bearings, that's the front all been done now

Took the head off Trucks old engine last week (more of what was found later in the original thread) Just spent a few hours today stripping it right down and giving it a good clean so I can check the valve/valve guide tolerances, re-seat the valves (if they pass the check that is) and fit new seals.

Once all that's done it'll be a quick head change on the New(ish) engine that I put in the truck as it's got a leaky head gasket (oil bubbles appearing between the gasket layers below the intake manifold), the gasket change should (I hope) cure the leak. If not then it's engine out/engine in again lol...

Today it took me some while to remove the lower ball joint due to rust, nasty stuff! aaaand removed the upper.
Went to fit the upper ball joint and discovered that the part that came in was wrong, so waiting to hear back.
aaaand fitted the lower ball joint.

Once the upper ball joint is done I can hit the new hub and auto-lock mechanism.

Not too shabby.

Dug out the recovery points that were fitted to the front of my 2.8, drilled the mounting holes out to 12mm and made 2 reinforcing plates to go behind them.

They now need a really good clean and paint and they can then be fitted to the SWB

Okay, over the weekend.... What with Truck now leaking more oil than a oil tanker and the 'boss' working on Sat the head change job finally reached the top of the 'things to do' list.

The old one came off the engine easy enough once I had the coolant drained and all the bolts n stuff undone. The nut's and bolts went into old chinky trays (one per major part, ie all bolts connected with the inlet manifold into one tray and so on) makes for easy re-assembly laters.

The head gasket had failed between No 1 cyl inlet valve push rod hole, between No's 3 & 4 cyls and between No 3 cyl and both the inlet and exhaust valve push rod holes. Helps to answer why there was oil/air bubbles coming through the edge of the head gasket.

In addition, No 2 cyl has a nice 'wear ridge' that may well align with one of the ring gaps... all cyl sleeves are well worn which wouldnt help in respect to possible higher than normal pressures in the block and rocker covers.

After cleaning up the top of the block a quick once over with the dial gauge put the measurements right on the border between a 2 notch and 3 notch head gasket, so a 3 notch gasket was used. The previously cleaned up head then went on with no problems, and was torqued down as per spec in 3 stages (Stage 1 @ 49Nm Stage 2 + 60 deg then stage 3 another 60 deg). Re-assembly of all the add on bits went well with NO nut's or bolts either left over or missing (the chinky box idea works well).

All went well, tappits adjusted the coolant mixed and put in.... And it started. Would like to say first time, but with no fuel in the pipes to the injectors it needed a bit of a turn over to get going, but once running it was as quiet as a 2.8 can be... :thumbup:

Left running for 30 mins to spot any possible leaks, which went well and I then took it for a 12 mile test drive.... :problem:

Got as far as Lechlade, pulled in to fill up and found steam... lot's of steam... Stupid thing had split a hose. Quick temp repair and more water in the system and limped it home. Funny old thing, having a couple of engines on the deck meant there was a spare hose ready to go on, now running happy with a 3.1 hose and so far no more coolant leaks. Oil leaks also seem to have disappeared which was the whole point of the excercise. In respect to crankcase pressures, that's still a bit higher than I'd like but now controlled with an oil catchment unit in the breather pipe. Long term wise the engine will do for now while the old one is sorted and then come the summer I'll be looking to either put that back in or the 3.1 engine. I don't see a long term relationship with the current lump.

Got annoyed with EML. Stuck code reader on. Read codes. Noted codes. Cleared codes. Tutted. Made a cuppa. EGR wants some love. Later.......

Been a little quiet with no recent progress on the Frontera, been building a workbench instead

Last week picked up a wide track Trooper front axle, driveshafts, hubs, carriers and propshaft so the front will match the rear wide track axle fitted to the SWB. Only downside is it is off the later SOF Trooper so some modification is going to be needed to make it all fit. No rush, just that the parts came up at the right price so couldn't say no.

Have had a small splurge on eBay buying some exhaust flanges so I can finish off the exhaust on the SWB and get it off for an MOT

today i got my new heater matrix for the duck...
and then 2h later i have hot air now

and that is a job i dont like doing

Talking of heater matrix's Fudge, one arrived here today for Truck...

As you obviously have experience in ripping out the dash (and I assume replacing it afters...) to fit the heater matrix .... (hint... :think:

)

its not as bad of a job as i thought it was...
but it is fun... and the duck did look like a bomb had gone off inside it