Abandoned Range Rover P38... Resurrection or Bust
Discussion
Tyre Tread said:
Mrs TT drove the Lord Nelson on her own for the first time today (I was trying to trace a water leak on the Jazz dogmobile which rendered it unavailable for her to take the pooch to meet a friend so her choice was limited to the Lord Nelson or the Lexus - she chose Nelson.)
Waiting to hear the verdict as she has come back and gone into her office to do some marking.
Has she arrived home again or are you still waiting? Waiting to hear the verdict as she has come back and gone into her office to do some marking.
The Jazz and TVR both have new MOT's so Yay!
The headlining is back in the Range Rover but all trim bits not back in just yet as I need to sort some broken clips.
It was dark when I stopped for the evening so no pics.
Had to pop out and drop off a gearbox earlier and really enjoyed how well it's running and the versatility of the old heap.
The headlining is back in the Range Rover but all trim bits not back in just yet as I need to sort some broken clips.
It was dark when I stopped for the evening so no pics.
Had to pop out and drop off a gearbox earlier and really enjoyed how well it's running and the versatility of the old heap.
Had the old boy up to the Autogas man earlier in the week to check the mixture on gas. It was bang on lambda for part throttle opening and very close on tickover but very rich at WOT. Autogas man says probably needs new gas injectors but I'll probably not bother. Mixture is good on Petrol too; well as good as a petrol P38 Range Rover will ever be.
When I removed all of the pillar covers some of the clip posts snapped off. I ordered some velcro so I could use it to secure the covers but before it arrived I had a brainwave and managed to repair them using plumbers pipe adhesive.
I put the (covered) A pillar covers back on (after repairing one of them) and was about to put the seatbelts back (temporarily) but couldn't find the rear seatbelt nuts. I then spent the next 2.5 hours looking for them. I'm usually very careful and put things either back on the nut/bolt they came from or in a box. As I was looking for the nuts I was doing a few little jobs. The rear seat back release button on the passenger side had been so sticky since I got the car that each time you pressed it, it had to be pressed so hard that it was bending the release rod and the button disappeared inside the rear trim. It seems it needed greasing and adjusting after which it released beautifully. I also sorted the base release on the drivers side.
I was tidying up, giving up for the day and as I put the rear seats back in place I moved the seatbelt brackets out of the way and spotted that the nuts are in fact captive in the brackets! Doh! Oh well, at least I attended to some of the smaller jobs that make it a more usable car.
Today I spent an hour and a half at the utility room sink cleaning up the B/C/D pillar covers with a toothbrush, microfibre cloth and soap. I was considering covering them in the same material as the roof but they've cleaned up so well I don't think I'll bother.
Example of some of the marks (apart from the general grubbiness)
A bit of soap, water and elbow grease later:
I reckon the suspension knock is the Panhard bushes so I've ordered a set and a set of bolts as I understand they can seize.
While I had the bonnet up with the Autogas man, I managed to locate a squeak on the engine which is one of the idlers is on it's way out so I ordered one of those too.
Just need some warmer weather now so I can get out there and see if I can get some of the jobs done on all of the cars.
When I removed all of the pillar covers some of the clip posts snapped off. I ordered some velcro so I could use it to secure the covers but before it arrived I had a brainwave and managed to repair them using plumbers pipe adhesive.
I put the (covered) A pillar covers back on (after repairing one of them) and was about to put the seatbelts back (temporarily) but couldn't find the rear seatbelt nuts. I then spent the next 2.5 hours looking for them. I'm usually very careful and put things either back on the nut/bolt they came from or in a box. As I was looking for the nuts I was doing a few little jobs. The rear seat back release button on the passenger side had been so sticky since I got the car that each time you pressed it, it had to be pressed so hard that it was bending the release rod and the button disappeared inside the rear trim. It seems it needed greasing and adjusting after which it released beautifully. I also sorted the base release on the drivers side.
I was tidying up, giving up for the day and as I put the rear seats back in place I moved the seatbelt brackets out of the way and spotted that the nuts are in fact captive in the brackets! Doh! Oh well, at least I attended to some of the smaller jobs that make it a more usable car.
Today I spent an hour and a half at the utility room sink cleaning up the B/C/D pillar covers with a toothbrush, microfibre cloth and soap. I was considering covering them in the same material as the roof but they've cleaned up so well I don't think I'll bother.
Example of some of the marks (apart from the general grubbiness)
A bit of soap, water and elbow grease later:
I reckon the suspension knock is the Panhard bushes so I've ordered a set and a set of bolts as I understand they can seize.
While I had the bonnet up with the Autogas man, I managed to locate a squeak on the engine which is one of the idlers is on it's way out so I ordered one of those too.
Just need some warmer weather now so I can get out there and see if I can get some of the jobs done on all of the cars.
Tyre Tread said:
It's all back together but Mrs TT has decided she doesn't want to drive it as she can't get in and out easily (hip problem) and the neighbours are complaining about "that bloody thing" and "too many cars" so it looks like it'll have to go. 
It's so bloody useful. I picked up a s/h Ikea Poang chair and a s/h chest of drawers yesterday and just chucked them in the back. It's running so well too. Looks like someone will get a good project that's mostly sorted.
Oh well, at least its not going to be scrapped.
Tyre Tread said:
It's all back together but Mrs TT has decided she doesn't want to drive it as she can't get in and out easily (hip problem) and the neighbours are complaining about "that bloody thing" and "too many cars" so it looks like it'll have to go.
Oh no! That’s a hard kick in the nuts after all the fettling you’ve done.That’s life, I guess, so good luck with the sale and thanks for a great thread.
As others have said, I've really enjoyed your attitude towards this old truck, and admire your persistence to getting it roadworthy again.
All that being said, it was always going to be a challenge to press this Range into regular service, moreso if your partner struggles to get in easily.
Even if you do move it on, you can take comfort in knowing that you saved one from scrap.
As mentioned above, there's no need to go 'full Avensis' from here, even if you need sensible motoring. You could always compromise with something a bit more rugged, like a Subaru Forester/Legacy/Outback or V70XC.
All that being said, it was always going to be a challenge to press this Range into regular service, moreso if your partner struggles to get in easily.
Even if you do move it on, you can take comfort in knowing that you saved one from scrap.
As mentioned above, there's no need to go 'full Avensis' from here, even if you need sensible motoring. You could always compromise with something a bit more rugged, like a Subaru Forester/Legacy/Outback or V70XC.
Tyre Tread said:
It's all back together but Mrs TT has decided she doesn't want to drive it as she can't get in and out easily (hip problem) and the neighbours are complaining about "that bloody thing" and "too many cars" so it looks like it'll have to go.
I would chose my words carefully, tell your neighbours to go f
k themselves! Mrs geeks has a similar issue with my E46 estate, she has never liked it sadly and the getting in and out issues just compound that, sadly I think that will be going as well so I know how you feel.MDMA . said:
I forgot to mention earlier in the thread that I think I know the previous owner. Someone I used to work with years ago went on to become the landlord of The Lord Nelson and we are both from Wigan.
Looks like it’s been quite a journey!
The landlord did own it for a bit but sold it to his "boss" who owns several pubs I believe. Looks like it’s been quite a journey!
Ask him if he wants to buy it back
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