pondy653

48 over Rape today. 321

Hi Someone did mintion this before, but have you looked at the 'A Frame' ball joint on the rear axle. Bit of a cow to change. I've got a spare mounting that goes between the arms so I can push a new one in before taking the car off the road. It's just a simple nut and bolt job then. You'll need a 32mm socket IIRC and a big drift and a FOBH (3 lb lump is my prefered weapon). Fit the Delphi (OEM) not cheep rubbish http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/Suspension/A_Frame_ball_joint_-_Delphi_Lockheed.html However could be wear in the drive flanges/ half shafts, another common place for backlash although it will be there all the time (as mine is at the moment) Happy hunting Tony

My reply was beaten again The part of the chassis refered to above is known as the rear cross member, the Bulkhead I refered to is the big piece of steel that the windscreen frame, front doors, dash, steering column, etc bolt to. Normaly they rot around the area of the top hinge and around the outboard side of the windscreen mount/ hinge (dependant on year) and especialy the footwells. Can be repaired (all repair pieces available) but if beyond repair they are no longer available unless you happen to find a dealer with one tucked away. 3 years ago you could get a genuine one brand new for £150, they are now fetching nearly twice that for a good second hand one and the last new one I saw was £750+vat (supply and demand I guess). There is a good Defender section on Mud Club Just remember regardless of age a Land Rover is a rolling restoration project which will let you down at the most in oportune moment (I've owned them for 20+ years)

A Disco box has the gear leaver further back which means it will come somewhere near the front edge of the seat box and will be a pig to make look half decent. As has been said so long as the chassis and the bulkhead are reasonable then I would have the g/box repaired. It will be a simple fix, most likely the reverse gear idler, the weak link often smashed by towing stuck vehicles out using the front recovery points or more likely in this case bump/ tow started in reverse. Drop the box out the bottom, fit a new 3 piece clutch kit and a clutch fork while you're in there. Worst case fit a recon from Ashcroft Transmissions plus a cross drilled input gear. There boxes are properly reconditioned, not just fixed. Hope this helps Tony

Found the Essex pigeons today as I headed to Bishops Stortford, field of rape on the side of M11 between J8 and J9 (roadworks), field was completely blue (est 1000+) with a constant steam floating in. If you're from round that way I'd be doing some recce's!

My old bus at a Pay 'n' play, Self recovered via Mr Warn!!

I've been roost shooting on the first 3 Saturdays after the Pheasant etc season closes for nearly 30 years, started when I was 8, with a single barrel hammer 410, with my old man on the shoots where he was a syndicate member. I've always known it as national pigeon day..... roll on Saturday wind, wind, need more wind.

7 yesterday for me roost, All quality high flyers, not gona say how many misses!!. Total- 2627

5 today so thats 19735

On the other hand with the rape being higher than normal for this time when it does snow it'll be the only thing high enough to feed on. I remember decoying from a snow hole hide on a headland of a rape field when we had a good pile of snow in 1987. Cracking shooting for several days I seem to remember.

Heres mine at play