2 Door Range Rover project
Discussion
Second attempt once trimmed down has come out as a perfect match for the instrument fascia which is pleasing.
I've now cut this into two parts and am awaiting the arrival of some hinges to place between the two sections.
Decided I might as well tackle the actual instrument binnacle at the same time so dug out some scrap wood and bought a tin of p40 resin to use to bond it into place in the binnacle so that the instrument cluster and fascia can just be front loaded in situe.
Once cut to the basic shape was trying to work out how to get it fixed into a basic position securely enough to then apply the resin for a permanent solution. One of my daughters; hot glue guns from their craft cupboard transpired to be the obvious solution.
Once bonded in I added a little bit of aluminium angle iron to strengthen the arms but also to better hold a thread from the fascia screws.
A mock up on a spare dash showed that all fitted and worked. I do need to adjust the lower facing section of the instrument binnacle to amend an error in the trimming that was made previously. I've ordered some 0.7mm aluminium sheet which I will cut to shape and bond over the lower part of the front. This will also give a nice return on the bottom side for the leather trim in due course.
Off to talk to a trimmer shortly to see if they will be able to trim these up as desired.
Big upside is that I finally bought a Dremmel. Had so many jobs over the years that would have been easier with one. Downside, the workshop is now covered in a thick layer of dust. A positive though is that the Toylander LAnd Rover now looks like a barn find so has tripled in value.
I've now cut this into two parts and am awaiting the arrival of some hinges to place between the two sections.
Decided I might as well tackle the actual instrument binnacle at the same time so dug out some scrap wood and bought a tin of p40 resin to use to bond it into place in the binnacle so that the instrument cluster and fascia can just be front loaded in situe.
Once cut to the basic shape was trying to work out how to get it fixed into a basic position securely enough to then apply the resin for a permanent solution. One of my daughters; hot glue guns from their craft cupboard transpired to be the obvious solution.
Once bonded in I added a little bit of aluminium angle iron to strengthen the arms but also to better hold a thread from the fascia screws.
A mock up on a spare dash showed that all fitted and worked. I do need to adjust the lower facing section of the instrument binnacle to amend an error in the trimming that was made previously. I've ordered some 0.7mm aluminium sheet which I will cut to shape and bond over the lower part of the front. This will also give a nice return on the bottom side for the leather trim in due course.
Off to talk to a trimmer shortly to see if they will be able to trim these up as desired.
Big upside is that I finally bought a Dremmel. Had so many jobs over the years that would have been easier with one. Downside, the workshop is now covered in a thick layer of dust. A positive though is that the Toylander LAnd Rover now looks like a barn find so has tripled in value.
Finished prepping the binnacles over the weekend. The drivers side one, the lower section was too flimsy so I cut and bonded a sheet of 0.7mm aluminium sheet over this section to give it rigidity and drilled back out the fixing points and the 4 warning lamp positions:
To finish off the work I was about to go and buy a tin of Isopon P38 when I had a vague memory of having bought a tine about 25 years ago while at Uni, probably to patch a mini or maybe the headlight surrounds of a Daimler. Found the tin!!! I wasn't sure whether to use it or to put it on eBay as a rare, antique barn find!!!
Once I'd filled all the little bits with that and sanded it all down it was time to give it all a good degreasing and clean and then leave to dry hoping the other half didn't find it before I could take it back to the workshop:
Slapped a bit of primer and satin black on just for vanity really, plus it's a pretty quick way of showing up the bits that need a bit more sanding work.
Have fitted them back into the car for the time being, a bit of a test fit but it also keeps everything together. A high quality piano hinge is arriving this week so the glove box can be completed and I think I am going to replace the 4 lower warning bulbs with leds so that I can in future remove the driver's binnacle without the need to remove the under tray to push those standard bulb fittings back in from the back. LEDs on a longer wire will allow the bulbs to come away with the binnacle.
The fit of both is now hugely improved:
It's third trim lucky now!
To finish off the work I was about to go and buy a tin of Isopon P38 when I had a vague memory of having bought a tine about 25 years ago while at Uni, probably to patch a mini or maybe the headlight surrounds of a Daimler. Found the tin!!! I wasn't sure whether to use it or to put it on eBay as a rare, antique barn find!!!
Once I'd filled all the little bits with that and sanded it all down it was time to give it all a good degreasing and clean and then leave to dry hoping the other half didn't find it before I could take it back to the workshop:
Slapped a bit of primer and satin black on just for vanity really, plus it's a pretty quick way of showing up the bits that need a bit more sanding work.
Have fitted them back into the car for the time being, a bit of a test fit but it also keeps everything together. A high quality piano hinge is arriving this week so the glove box can be completed and I think I am going to replace the 4 lower warning bulbs with leds so that I can in future remove the driver's binnacle without the need to remove the under tray to push those standard bulb fittings back in from the back. LEDs on a longer wire will allow the bulbs to come away with the binnacle.
The fit of both is now hugely improved:
It's third trim lucky now!
New trimmer has done a much, much better job. Also had the visors re-trimmed as they has been done badly. The centre console carpet will be going over in due course as the piping is sub par. Wish I had know about this trimmer at the outset as he is clearly not only better but less expense and only 20 mins away!!!
Also finished fettling the glove box to fit the trim, have veneered and lacquered it and it's now in and looking much better.
Also finished fettling the glove box to fit the trim, have veneered and lacquered it and it's now in and looking much better.
Went to fit the harmonic weight to the steering damper that was used on the last Classics and most Discos but the aftermarket downpipe doesnt give enough clearance since the 1" drop. Not the end of the world, the weight does help give a better steering feel on the road at speed but it was always one of those incremental improvements.
The swivel housing weights probably have a greater benefit and having liberated a pair from an old Disco chassis they are now in place.
The swivel housing weights probably have a greater benefit and having liberated a pair from an old Disco chassis they are now in place.
NomduJour said:
Dash is looking good now.
Massive improvement. It would need the whole top deck redoing to be perfect. I’ve been offered an unbuild John Eales 4.6 for a very reasonable price. Having spoken to John, it is apparently good for just shy of 300 BHP and LBS if built with a standard GEMs system and cam. Would probably use a cam with a mild lift on it so as to ensure the max amount of torque is above 3k so there for over taking.
Wouldn’t have the BHP target of the supercharger but at the price mooted it is much cheaper and the result would be a 100% tried and tested, brand new set up. Quite tempting.
C Lee Farquar said:
That looks so much better, you must be relieved.
Immensely. As I mentioned, I am lamenting that I didn’t know about these guys earlier as the original retrim was done with a real ‘that’ll do’ attitude in hindsight. If you ever need something done near us then: http://www.customcoachtrimming.co.uk
I turned up and the chap, Chris, looked at the project without doing any of that w
ky tooth sucking tripe that marks out the British worker to avoid, didn’t do the usual chip on shoulder tttishness that you get used to with lots of British workers just assessed the job, noted key points without them needing pointing out. Said it would take 3-4 weeks, done in two and with extra nice touches applied that only someone with pride would do and charged the amount he originally estimated on despite doing more work.
Different league and cheaper.
Work is now pretty much complete for the season ahead. It’s now a matter of using it and having fun over the next 6 months.
There are a couple of jobs outstanding such as dropping the headlining and fitting the rear wiper motor the right way round! And converting the small interior light switch to instead turn all the USB ports off as they are live and do drain the battery.
Over winter I’ll make the final choice as to whether to fit a John Eales 4.6 engine or supercharge the existing 4.0. The latter is a more exciting prospect but the former is much more logical.
Last bit of fettling this week was removing the Suffix A D pillar panels and replacing them with a set of later ones that I’ve had painted black. I was going to colour code them to the car but at the moment I think this looks smarter.
There are a couple of jobs outstanding such as dropping the headlining and fitting the rear wiper motor the right way round! And converting the small interior light switch to instead turn all the USB ports off as they are live and do drain the battery.
Over winter I’ll make the final choice as to whether to fit a John Eales 4.6 engine or supercharge the existing 4.0. The latter is a more exciting prospect but the former is much more logical.
Last bit of fettling this week was removing the Suffix A D pillar panels and replacing them with a set of later ones that I’ve had painted black. I was going to colour code them to the car but at the moment I think this looks smarter.
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