Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2024 i Land Rover Monthly

Noisekiller under new management Having successfully run Noisekiller Limited for the past 24 years, Steve and Grant Bithell are now taking a back seat, as Dan Smith picks up the reins. Over the years Noisekiller has built a solid reputation for offering exceptional soundproofing and security products and services, and Dan intends to maintain the same high standards, enthusiasm and dedication. Head to nkgroup.co.uk/ to see the full range of products. JLR speeds up retrofit of security updates for older vehicles In a bid to combat recent thefts, Jaguar Land Rover is accelerating the roll-out of security software updates for Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar models that date back as far as 2016. The aim of the update is to bring them up to today’s security levels, with more…

SEAT RISER £71.74 Website: exmoortrim.co.uk The seat position in the classic Defender can be quite limiting, as drivers with longer legs will attest. These seat risers allow you to slide the seat slightly further back, and also benefit drivers wanting a slightly higher seating position – so paradoxically it works for shorter and taller drivers alike. For best results, use on station wagons or double cabs, or on models with the centre bulkhead removed. FUSE TWEEZERS £25.92 Website: lasertools.co.uk Like the mullet hairstyle, the tools in this three-piece tweezer kit (part no. 8668) have different functions at each end. Fitting the three most common sizes of smaller fuses (standard, mini, micro 2 and micro 3 blade fuses), one end has tweezers to help you easily remove the fuse, while the…

THIS month saw the birth of my second daughter (just secretly, I am referring to her as the ‘Series II’). Having successfully brainwashed my first daughter into all things Land Rover I will, of course, be encouraging baby Merryn to get on board with this Land Rover thing as soon as possible. My other daughter (Series I) absolutely loves them so fingers crossed for the new addition. I have been putting my paternity leave to good use. Aside from baby duties, I have also been scouring Facebook Marketplace for various Land Rover parts (I have a really exciting forthcoming project that I cannot wait to share with you). It feels like it has very much become a buyer’s market. Many ads have been up for months and my suspicion is…

AT first glance it looks pretty much like a normal Defender 110. But look again and you begin to spot the differences. Under the skin is a heavy-duty 110 chassis and drivetrain, the rest is anything but a standard Defender: it has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3500kg and a kerb weight of 2450kg, is armoured to withstand a close proximity attack by an AK47 and has limited protection against anti-tank mines and explosive blast. This is Project Taurus, a design for a Light Armoured Vehicle conceived in 1999 in South Africa by two local companies, Paramount Logistics International and Mechanology Design Bureau of Johannesburg, and brought to life with the support of Land Rover’s Special Vehicles team in the UK, and BMW’s executive board in South Africa. At…

I’VE I’ve been a member (or ‘friend’) of the Dunsfold Collection for many years now. Since Philip Bashall repurposed the DLR workshop to become the museum, I’ve been volunteering, along with a few others, largely working on the huge archive. This means that every few weeks I embark on the 250 mile round trip to get my geeky Land Rover fix. The last few times I’ve used my Tdi 90 for the long trip, which buzzes along the motorway happily at the legal speed limit. That said, it is a very noisy experience, mainly due to the low gearing on the small 205/80 R16 tyres. I think I have to concede that it needs to go back on to 7.50 R16 rubber to make motorway work more comfortable. This was…

AS a long-term reader of Land Rover Monthly and the proud owner of a Defender 110 Heritage that sadly left my possession and then thankfully re-entered it some time later, I thought I’d share a little tale of how Land Rovers can unexpectedly bring excitement and minor fame into your family life. It’s not every day you have to hitch up to a broken down Pinzgauer 6x6 and tow it – along with the military cannon it was pulling – to safety, but that’s exactly what I found myself doing with my Defender 110 a couple of months ago. I even made it into the local paper. I’ve had Yoda, my 2000 Defender 110 Heritage Edition, since 2008. He only had 44,000 miles on the clock then, but the mileage…

LAND Rovers of all ages suffer with rust. It’s a well-known fact – some get a better chance of surviving the dreaded rot than others thanks to being rustproofed early on in their lives, but eventually parts of the chassis and body may succumb to corrosion. Series Land Rovers are no exception, and they’re actually at the simpler end of the spectrum to repair than their younger stablemates thanks largely to the relatively simple construction of their chassis. Thick, boxy steel and decent access to areas make them well within the scope of most competent DIY welders to repair, and the number of pre-made sections available from companies such as DDS Metal mean many fixes can be done in a weekend. The rot spots on a Series Land Rover are…

The engine and gearboxes are now in the car, and the engine has been fired up and given a test run. Now the team is working its way through the driveline, from transfer ’box out to the wheels. En route the factory handbrake is being swapped for a mechanical disc type, not for reliability, but more for weight saving in the driveline. Much like lightening the flywheel, removing the heavy factory handbrake drum, backing plate and twin brake shoes helps lighten the driveline, allowing the engine to spin up and down more quickly. Beyond that, the brakes are being swapped for Terrafirma drilled, grooved and wavy discs, performance brake pads and braided hoses. While the brake components will bolt straight on and offer refreshed, reliable performance increases, the hydraulic bump…

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO MARTIN@LRM.CO.UK Lift and shift It’s the time of year when I remove each of the old Landy’s wheels to give her a good clean and Waxoyl underneath. But every year I’m a bit older and it feels a bit harder heaving those big wheels onto the hubs, so here’s an idea. By jacking up the corner and dropping the wheel on to a dolly I can then just trundle it out of the way once the nuts are removed, and it is already aligned ready to go back on once I’ve finished. Simple! Also, by putting the opposite wheel on a lump of wood, this keeps the axle horizontal which makes it more secure on the axle stands. I hope this helps any of your other…

IT’S interesting to compare two pinnacles of Range Rover luxury separated by over 40 years of evolutionary, and sometimes revolutionary, development. During that period, the brand was part of British Leyland (which starved it of investment), British Aerospace (which didn’t really want it and couldn’t wait to sell it on at the taxpayer’s expense), BMW (which assetstripped Land Rover’s 4x4 knowledge but also had a hugely positive impact on the direction of the L322), Ford (which never really understood what it had), and finally Tata (modern luxury reimagined). Every Range Rover fan knows that the 1981 In Vogue was intended to test the market for a more luxurious Range Rover. Land Rover’s view of luxury back then was polished wooden door cappings, air con, a lockable stowage box between the…

I have had two Defenders recently in for MoT which turned out to have ineffective handbrakes to the surprise of their owners. It’s probably a Norfolk thing: I doubt a non-working handbrake would remain unnoticed for long on Exmoor. These vehicles, in common with older Range Rovers and Discoverys, use a very substantial transmission brake which should, in good condition, hold the vehicle and a heavy trailer on a steep hill. If you can roll the vehicle forwards with the handbrake pulled hard on, the brake is probably overdue for attention. These transmission brakes tend to be neglected until they fail the MoT test, mainly because the rear propshaft has to be removed to take the brake drum off for access to the internals. It is quite common for the…

EVERY Defender owner does something to improve their Land Rover. From an extra USB socket right through to an engine transplant, whatever your interest is, or how you use one, there are as many ideas to improve a Defender as there are grains of sand on Red Wharf Bay. But every so often that process involves elements that deviate wildly from Solihull’s original componentry. When did you last see a build that stayed on the factory palette? Our cover star is pretty much exactly that: a straightforward, enthusiast-spec 300Tdi. More than that, it is probably the best example you will ever see. The car was originally a 1998 Defender 110 County Station Wagon. I say was, because while the 110 clocked up 60,000 miles merrily hauling staff around fields for…

“Land Rovers have been part of the RNLI for many years and serve a critical role” THE inaugural RNLI Poole Lifeboat Land Rover Meet, held for the charity on 7 April, defied a storm warning and smashed its attendance expectations, attracting green oval fans old and new from as far afield as Edinburgh. Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers the length and breadth of the country adore their Land Rovers. The marque has played a part in saving lives at sea for more than 50 years: nowadays, specially-equipped Defender 110s play a crucial role launching D Class inflatable lifeboats the up and down the UK. It’s inevitable, then, that volunteers might be inspired to run a Land Rover of their own. With the 200th birthday celebrations of the RNLI ongoing this…

THIS is primarily an introduction to a project that I have been planning, but is also the tale of no less than three Land Rovers. Three Land Rovers with non-factory-fitted engines. The primary project – or perhaps I should say the first one to be worked on – is a blue 1984 Ninety. But the other two Land Rovers have an involvement, and at least one of them will also become a rebuild. The Ninety was owned by a dude in Essex who had it booked in with me to have a new chassis and bulkhead fitted. He thought so much of the Land Rover that – trusting no one else – he paid me to collect it from his yard near Colchester, rather than trusting an unknown vehicle shipper.…

THE Land Rover Freelander Owners Club Romania was founded six years ago and over that time has grown steadily, becoming a magnet for enthusiasts of cars, nature, culture and adventure. Two years ago, its reputation was consolidated with a rebranding that better reflected the diversity and expansion of its community. It all began with one annual meeting, but thanks to the membership’s enthusiasm the club now organises at least three events per year. These meetings are unique opportunities to explore off-road trails and visit remarkable tourist attractions, from wineries and farms to monasteries and historical monuments. The club also publishes an annual international calendar featuring Land Rover models, with the proceeds supporting children in need at a sports club in the Danube Delta. If you want to know more you…

THIS 2015 Discovery 4 with 75,000 miles on the clock was suffering a bad vibration from the drivetrain. A defective centre support bearing in the rear propshaft was quickly identified, this being a common fault which results in such a transmission vibration. The excessive play is caused by failure of the rubber surround that locates the bearing in its support housing. As the rubber perishes, it comes away from the support bracket, allowing the bearing to move in the housing, thus causing the vibration. If ignored, in time the bearing heats up and can seize, causing more damage. Originally, the centre bearing was only available as part of a complete propshaft. It is now available as a standalone part but, given the cost of the bearing and that the propshaft…

THE ‘REAL’ LAND ROVER DEBATE The smaller models are absolutely Land Rovers, but they’re cheaper to buy and run, they’re off-road capable, practical, family compatible, modifiable and there’s plenty available. In a nutshell, that’s what I argued in LRM Tech, July issue, and here’s a selection of our readers’ views. Ed Evans DEPENDABLE DISCOVERY SPORT I must thank you for the shout-out in support of Evoque and Discovery Sport. Too long have we had to suffer the smirks and sidelong glances and the feeling we should be at the other end of the car park from ‘real’ Land Rovers at shows and events. I drive a Discovery Sport TD4 SE Tech and I work in the North East and Scottish Borders as a service engineer for first-line medical equipment. I…

MORE AT LANDROVERMONTHLY.CO.UK/EVENTS/ July 20-21 CCV, RTV AND TYRO TRIAL Sibbertoft, Market Harborough arocoffroad.co.uk TWO-DAY CCV TRIAL South Elkington, Lincolnshire llrc.co.uk RTV AND CCV TRIAL Cowbeech, East Sussex sroc.co.uk July 21 4x4 TRIAL Corwen, North Wales awdc.co.uk COMP SAFARI Perronporth, Cornwall cdlrc.com LAND ROVER TRIAL Aggs Hill, Cheltenham ccroc.club TYRO AND CCV TRIAL Bryn Gwyn Farm, Gwernymynydd, Mold, North Wales nwlrc.co.uk RTV AND CCV TRIAL Cross Ash, Abergavenny wwlrc.co.uk GREENLANING DAY Yorkshire ylroc.co.uk 4x4 RTV TRIAL Helmsley, North Yorkshire yorkshireoffroadclub.net 4x4 TRIAL Brandnop, Leek, Staffordshire wormhough.co.uk CHATSWORTH CLASSIC & PERFORMANCE MOTOR SHOW Chatsworth House, Bakewell, Derbyshire greatbritishmotorshows.com July 22 NORTHUMBERLAND LAND ROVER TOUR Wooler, Northumberland uklandroverevents.com July 26-28 KING OF THE HILL CCV AND RTV TRIALS Warslow, Buxton, Derbyshire badlrc.co.uk July 27 COUNTRY DURHAM RAMBLER RELAXED AND SCENIC TOUR Standhope,…

IT’S Sunday evening in the allotments and, as I have such an abundance of strawberries, I decide to motor over to my brother’s to share the harvest. Cruising along a nice rural stretch, I pass a green motorbike and white van parked in a lay-by. I fancy I hear a shout over my engine and vaguely wonder if it was directed at me. On reflection, the van did look somewhat embedded in the verge. I press on, thinking I’ll take the same route back to check. The strawberries are well-received and, when I pull over opposite the van and motorbike combo, so am I, being greeted by a triumphant cheer. The van owner is of Eastern European origin and very excitable, waving his arms around and enthusing: “I was flying,…

IN the workshop this month, a battered and well-used farm Ninety in for an engine change. It was a mid-1980s example with nearly 200,000 hard miles on the clock, and fitted with the 19J turbodiesel engine that was a popular option for workhorse Land Rovers back then. With the 19J Land Rover found out the hard way that it had reached the limits of development for the all-iron pushrod four that had powered so many vehicles since the late 1950s. They suffer from cracked pistons and sometimes cracked blocks. This one had been replaced under warranty quite early in the vehicle’s life, but it was now difficult to start, breathing heavily and leaking oil from absolutely everywhere. It was time for a change. The customer had supplied me with an…

WHEN freshly-built Land Rovers leave the factory they are designed to do a little bit of everything; suiting as many types of people as possible for all manner of different uses. But from the very beginning, a big part of the appeal of Land Rovers is their ability to be modified, changed and honed to be better at whatever their owner ask them to do – and that remains the same to this day. In fact, the sheer choice of upgrades and modifications on the market has expanded hugely over the years, to the point that getting started in kitting your specific Land Rover out for whatever you love to do most can actually be a little bit daunting. With so much great kit available at your fingertips, which upgrades…

Happy Torquey Torque Getting bolt and screw torques correct so they don’t work themselves loose doesn’t have to be a dark art. Clarke’s PRO238 ½in Drive Digital Torque Adaptor with LCD screen and range up 360Nm (265.5lb-ft) converts any ½in breaker bar or ratchet handle into a digital torque wrench. At just £63.65, it’s a cost-effective way to upgrade your socket sets and keep you out on the greenlanes. Going on the Pull? The great thing about owning a 4x4 is the freedom to help out a stranded vehicle or to use it as a workhorse to get big jobs done more easily. A winch gives you the pulling power to be truly useful when someone’s in a jam. Priced at just £167.98, the 35SPS12 Ninja Warrior Winch, with 12.8m…

IN the summer of 1988, someone managed to take photographs of a vehicle inside Land Rover’s Design Studio and promptly either leaked or sold them to the media, who immediately reported the story of what they described as a ‘baby Range Rover’ known as ‘Project J’. In one fell swoop, the vehicle that would be formally announced a year later as the Discovery was front page news and the story wouldn’t go away, no matter how much the company tried to suppress it. Even the UK’s local newspapers picked up on the story, an example being the Burton Mail, which on 5 August concluded its feature on the forthcoming launch of Daihatsu’s ‘new small four-wheel drive Jeep-style vehicle’ with the comment ‘Land Rover Ltd is refusing to comment on speculation…

AFTER three hours spent rock-crawling and bushwhacking our way down to the coastline in our Defender 90, the salty air was our only signal of success in the dark. But when daylight hits that private stretch of coastline, we peek out of our rooftop tent, past a few donkeys and thick foliage to the wonder of the Wild Coast. Rolling waves crash the shore, contrasting a peaceful estuary that splits the beach sand. In the distance, we see the huts distinctive of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, but closer to the water’s edge you could mistake the sloping golden dunes, densely packed with trees, for a tropical island. Equipped with new tyres, and fresh back from a basic service that revealed a surprise brake fluid leak – although you’re all too…

MY son Adam decided that we had to attend The Land Rover Series One Club National Rally near York this year in my own Series I, SXF 733. I agreed, as it was so local it would be rude not to go. I then started to think that I’d better give the old girl a bit of attention, and when I thought about it, the jobs were all ones that I’d intended to do for some time; well, if I’m honest, for years. First up was to re-waterproof the tilt canvas hood; the last time I did it was back in 2007 when it started to leak. That was 21 years after I first bought the hood, straight after I bought 733 to replace the hard top that it came…

lrmtechnical@gmail.com I’VE recently seen two immaculate Series IIIs, both restored to the hilt and to apparent perfection. I saw the 109 negotiating a roundabout so I got a good view of it and was impressed by its die-straight panels and authentic paint finish. It turned off onto the road I was heading for, so I ended up following it with my full load of passengers enthusiastically admiring its condition – until our own car filled up with noxious exhaust fumes that were being pumped out from said subject of admiration. We lowered the windows to let some fresh air in, but there wasn’t any to be had, so I closed the air vents by switching the air recirculation on, but I still had to back off a good distance. There…

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