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Yep! Brake cylinder was leakin’ (Post #126) 1/19/2009

Not my exact one, but as close a picture as I could find
I changed the oil today on the Range Rover Classic. It was past due. I also gave her a run down the street. I was quickly harkened back to the days of my youth. The growl from the steering pump reminded me of my 1973 Ford Maverick Grabber. It was always leaking steering fluid. And once the pump was ruined it didn’t matter if you had fluid in it or not, it still growled. Why it never occurred to me to swap it out is still a mystery.

So I checked the reservoir and sure enough it was very, very low. I filled it up. I also checked the brake fluid reservoir. I could not believe how low it was. I had only noticed it puddling up on the drive way this week.

So I pulled her into the wife’s side of the garage and got the left (driver’s side) rear tire off. I proceeded to pull the caliper and this is what I found.

As you can see in the picture the seal has slipped out. The ring around the outside should sit flush to the caliper. This seal must have been leaking for quite awhile. The grime was pretty heavy.

I pulled the seal and cleaned the ring and groove for the seal with the wire wheel on the end of the Dremel tool. I also cleaned the outside of the caliper with some brake cleaner. I forgot how good this stuff was at removing paint and soon the acid etching gray I sprayed on there during the restore was coming off. So I blew everything off with the compressor to stop the mess. As I have done this job about a million times it was pretty easy. Actually I have only done this about 6 times. As with the last repair on the calipers I’m hoping the seal holds this time.

I buttoned everything up and gave her a test drive. She stopped when I pressed on the brake. So I have that going for me. I’ll let you know if it doesn’t hold.

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Window Regulator Installed (Post #125) 1/18/2009

I got some happy time with my Discovery yesterday. Several things had piled up and she demanded a few hours of quality time. The weather was predicted to cooperate and it did quite well. It was a pleasant 55F outside. Which was nice compared to the 10F we woke up to the day before.


So out to the garage I ventured. I pulled the Discovery in the wife’s side of the garage as mine is now full of electronic devices our house has begun eating and other projects I’ve been too lazy to address. Broken antique chair (not sure how to fix), dead TV (probably going to part out), dead microwave (trash not fixable), dead Chi hair straightener (waiting for part). My side also contains my son’s weight bench which he NEVER uses.

Once I got the Disco in I got started. I had begun to smell oil burning and knew something wasn’t right because I was not loosing oil in the drive way. So I crawled under and sure enough there has been oil leaking at the oil filter. I started the oil change. When I got to the oil filter I really struggled to get the filter off. I’m not sure what I was thinking when I put on that filter last time. It was impossible to get off.

I struggled with it for a while and finally got it off. I am guessing that I must have put the filter on too tight and damaged or got the gasket in a pinch which allowed oil out. The mess underneath was going to be unpleasant to clean up.

While I waited for the oil to drain I got the diesel rags out and cleaned as much dirt and oil off the bits underneath. I was able to clean it off under there without too much trouble. And over all I’m pleased with the effort and it’s results.

I once again put one too many quarts of oil in on the fill. I’m not sure what I’ve been thinking when I’ve been filling the disco. I need to look up once and for all the proper amount and put a label on the inside. That way I won’t do that again.


The last project for today was getting the window regulator I bought from Rover Cannibal installed. The children were tired of pulling on the rag I had tied to the door and my wife was tired of the bare panel. She’s gonna hate it when I buy a Series.

The panel went in pretty easy. I only failed to install 2 parts. One bolt and the sound dampening cup for the large speaker. I was not in the mood to take the door panel off once I got the top lined up. You cannot push your luck when you are working with the plastic friction push posts. They have been off and back on this panel 3 times at least. I didn’t want to risk breaking them for those few things.

I also managed to have a couple of beers with one of my neighbors who came down when he saw the garage open. I have great neighbors and we are always in each others garages during the summer months and it’s nice when we get a few minutes during the winter.

I must get started on the laundry today as tomorrow I am going to tackle the left rear brake caliper. It has left a nice puddle of brake fluid on the drive. I had trouble with the front right last year as you frequent readers are aware. With the extreme weather change recently I’m hoping we don’t have any major trouble there.

So I’m off to my laundry duties and to enjoy “Chasing Classic Cars” and “Wheeler Dealers” on HD Theater Channel. Today’s show on Wheeler Dealer they are referbing a Saab 900 turbo. One of the troubles was non-working electric windows. The mechanic Ed called working on the electric windows, “a fiddly little job”. I’d have to agree.


Were you paying attention to the picture of the garage? I forgot to tell you all about the Range Rover Classic furniture I made for the garage. I took the old knackered seat, fitted a frame I made and voila instant cool seat for the garage. Wheels will come later.

Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

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Barn Find…if you could only be so lucky (Post #124) 1/6/2009


In America finding an automobile in an old barn has become a cottage industry. There is even a guy out there that just looks for old blue jeans in barns and abandoned mining camps. Of course finding anything in a barn that is old is pretty cool but finding a rare automobile is probably the coolest.

I know someday that long lost uncle I didn’t know I had, or perhaps my biological father, will die and a hoity-toity lawyer from “back east” will call and tell me that I was left an old estate and in the barn was a 1947 Land Rover Series I. Then again, if we are going to dream, lets make it a whole garage full of cars I’ve always wanted to own and an estate that would allow me to stop working and play with my new toys 24/7.

A family recently found a very rare Bugatti in their father’s garage that is original and has been untouched since 1960. It should/could fetch above the 4.3 million dollar mark.

A quote from the article on Yahoo News.
“Relatives of Dr. Harold Carr found an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante — a Holy Grail for car collectors — as they were going through his belongings after his death.

The dusty two-seater, unused since 1960, didn’t look like much in the garage in Gosforth, near Newcastle in northern England.

But only 17 were ever made, and when it’s cleaned up and auctioned in Paris next month, experts believe it will fetch at least 3 million pounds ($4.3 million) and possibly much more.”

I had no idea what this car was until reading about it in the story. It’s a pretty awesome find. Other than finding a similar one and selling it this would not be the vehicle I would like to find. I’m kinda weird that way. If I found something in a barn it would hopefully be something I could AFFORD to play with.

You can’t just take a 1937 Bugatti out for a spin unless you are perhaps Jay Leno. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this didn’t end up in Jay’s garage. But then again, maybe he already has one. This is a truly classic automobile and as rare as they get. Imagine if Bubba in his 1974 Buick Riviera decided to pull out in front of you?

So I’m going to compile for you a list of cars I’d like to find in a barn. With the criteria as follows…
I could:
1. Afford to repair and drive the vehicle
2. Afford the insurance to operate the vehicle on Oklahoma roads
3. Do most of the work required to restore the vehicle
4. Have a place to store and work/play with the vehicles

Here we go.


Land Rover Pink Panther
Voted Top Gear’s 84th most sexy car. This is the end all be all of the Land Rover Series vehicles for me. And if you are going to find an old Land Rover in a barn this would be the coolest. Of course finding any Series IIa 5 door would also be awesome.
Given enough time and money you could convert any of the long wheel base Series vehicles to a pink panther.


Volkswagon Bus
I have fond memories of driving around the island of Guam in my dad’s VW. I’d like one just for the fun of driving around in it.


Morris Mini
Just about any 1960s era Mini would be a fun car to drive around. I had a chance to buy one of these from a guy about 15 years ago. I didn’t have the money or time to take care of one properly.


Vincent Motorcycle
I know I don’t belong on the back of two things, horses and motorcycles. But I think touring around on a vintage cafe racer would be a lot of fun.

And with that in mind…


A World War II era BMW R71 complete with side car. Yeah, if it’s cool enough for Steve McQueen, it’s cool enough for me. Chinese motorcycle company Chang Jiang is making replicas. They are cheap and copied, but again, affordable fun.

Here’s another pic of one I thought was funny.


1964 MG
My uncle had a late sixties model. This is a vehicle I could definitely afford to drive today. I just don’t have the time or place for it. Repainting it would be my first priority. Baby blue…seriously?


1964 Austin Healy 3000
Sexy. Cars don’t get much sexier than this. This is definately at the end of the range of cars I could “play” with. In all reality I don’t have the coin to buy one of these today. But if I found it in a barn I could probably pull off the costs of keeping it on the road.

I’m sure if I put more thought into it I could come up with a half a dozen more. I can think of a Mercedes or two I’d like to find for sure.

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Christmas and New Years (Post #122) 12/24/2008


As another year comes to an end I wanted to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It’s been a long year for my Land Rovers. With fuel prices reaching the highest they have in the history of automobiles you and I stood our ground and drove a little less. With a little bit of love I’ve managed to keep them both on the road. Our Discovery took us through the entire Southwest of America on our summer vacation, while the Range Rover got my daughter to school and work most days.

Here’s to next year hoping it brings us each another year with our beloved Land Rovers.

Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

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Observations at 181818 miles (Post #121) 12/20/2008


I managed to wrest the Range Rover from my dear daughter’s hands for some much needed care. I took the Classic down and got her a new exhaust. As you have read in previous posts, the catalytic converters were gone. They needed replacing in the worst sort of way. Also recently the right side exhaust gasket was also gone. So the sounds of the 4.2 had become a horrible caucaphony of sounds. I couldn’t stand it any longer.

So I swapped Rovers with her and when I got in I found that no less than three homeless people have been living in the spacious rear of my Classic. Okay, maybe not, but one nearly 18 year old was living out of the backseat. As you can see in the following picture an amazing collection of items have found their home in the floor of the spacious Range Rover LWB.

I don’t remember much about being 18, but I’m sure I didn’t live out of the back of my 1973 Ford Maverick Grabber. People actually sat in the backseat of my car on occasions. Yeah I know it’s hard to believe but I did have friends AND they liked me driving them around. I’m not sure any one can sit in the back seat of the Rover in it’s present condition.

So if you don’t have kids yet remember this picture. That way when you pass one of your beloved Land Rovers to your spawn you know what to expect.

While you are expecting the inside of your beloved British import to be trashed never fear, the outside will also be assaulted. As I remember marking on my friends cars with “shoe polish” I don’t remember it ever damaging anything. The kids have decorated my daughter’s Rover with many coats of shoe polish over the last two years.

The collection of stickers I have placed on the Rover have taken a beating. As you know stickers increase the off-road capability proportionately to the number you adhere to the outside of the vehicle. As you can see in the picture the stickers have been bleached clean by the application of shoe polish and the associated washings to remove the caustic stuff.

So each time you apply your own particular flavor of magic to keep your Land Rover motoring about the familiar landscape of your home town and the trails to your favorite fishing spots or camping sites remember no amount of maintenance and parts replacement can protect your Land Rover from an 18 year old. Eighteen year old’s and their affect on Land Rovers cannot be protected by applications of Waxoyl or installation of brush guards or applications of Lexol to keep your leather seats intact. No products have been invented that can protect your Land Rover from the day to day use by an eighteen year old. Only luck and the magical event of your dear little rug rat getting their first career job and their desire to “drive something else” will protect your Land Rover from the unanticipated affects of an eighteen year old.

Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

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