the no dosh LJ revamp

[r-nottz]

I was going to ask the whole piglet sinaro, you explained it for.me!

[Anton]

Sorry, meant 6. I knew the current one was 6, not sure why I typed 5.

You and your piglets - starting to sound like an episode of Thunderbirds...

As for getting rid of 3, the problem you'll have is that it's a modded vehicle, and that means getting a decent return on it involves bumping into someone who wants the mods you've done.

I guess I'm saying that you might not get what it's worth. The mini would sell all too easily I think, because it's - a MINI - but as much as I love the Vitara (it's the best handling Suzuki 4x4 I've ever been in and by far the nicest to drive on the road) if you're keeping 6, then it makes much more sense to keep the Mini than the Vit. I know you've had a problem or two with reliability in 6, but that was mostly just snapping cables - and you've sorted those problems now. It should be as reliable as 3 now.

And just a seriously wicked offroad beast. 3 is a decent offroader, but no Vit is ever going to challenge 6 offroad. No IFS vehicle could ever hope to truly challenge a solid axle vehicle, all else being equal. And they're not equal. 6 is on 33's - and should go 35's without too much hassle, maybe even just swap them on, where 3 is going to struggle to go 31's or more without a fair bit of love with Mr. Angry Grinder and a russian fighter jet. Sorry, a MIG.

You know all this stuff though, really it comes down to which you love more - the cash this thing costs you, or having a great backup vehicle sat around gathering dust?

If you want to keep it, do you know anyone who could pay the tax and insurance for you, with the proviso that they get to go play in it? It's a long shot, but if you know someone who'd be willing to do that, you could have the best of both worlds?

[donkeychomp]

As I keep on saying the Mini is long gone!

Still unsure about the Vit...having a think.

[Anton]

Right, yeah, I do remember you saying that the mini was sold...

My brain has been on the fritz for a while now. I have trouble remembering things sometimes, since I got ill again.

[donkeychomp]

I realise matey...hope it all clears up very quickly. And thanks for the LJ compliments. Think she'd look rather good on 35's but would the drive components like it?

[Anton]

I'm told that the wheel bearings get munched through quite quickly with 33's, I don't know how much worse 35's would be. But don't the Murican's run 35's quite a lot?

I think they're quite tough when it comes to things like diffs and other drivetrain components. From what I can tell, it's the halfshafts that are the weakest link - which is why I'm going to go chromoly on mine all round.

I think Mike Harris runs chromoly front, I don't know about his rears. He's been on 37's for a while, and I think he's now moving to 38.5's. Having said that, his is mostly just run in mud, so how that affects things I don't know. I know mine takes much more abuse when I'm mudding than when I'm on the road, but I get axle windup on the road with my setup and I don't offroad. So maybe my "abusive" offroad tendencies are actually easier on the drivetrain than just pulling off in 1st on tarmac?

Dunno. I dream of 35's too, but realistically I don't think that's going to happen.

[donkeychomp]

The halfshafts were my main concern too. But the wheel bearings are all good after a years worth of abuse from my right foot and quite a bit of mud!

[donkeychomp]

Been a while since I posted anything about P6 as there has been no point. All fine, till now..

Starter motor packed up, dammit. Was expecting the usual nightmare to replace it but a doddle really. I could reach the bottom bolt through the wheel arch, top bolt was a bit of a faff but all done. Then a bonnet latch failed. And it wouldn't shift so I got violent with it (I like hammers) and a new one is on. I will tidy up the mess I made!

And I've been trying to find a wheel insert to replace my broken one. I can't even find out what wheels they actually are so I made one. Used a mouth wash bottle as it was curved, cut out the right shape and fibreglassed the two bits together, bit of filler and paint and job done!

[Anton]

Loving what you've done with that wheel! Trim looks factory now!

I'm not a fan of getting to the top bolt on my starter either, it's a total faff. Still, it's not the worst job in the world, you just have to find the right length extensions and you're away. Not a job I'd want to do in a hurry though, or in extreme cold (I know I'd skin my knuckles on something).

[ROBBIE]

I got a starter on the floor ready to go in the Jimny, but it took 3 hours to get it out because you cant even see the top bolt. I dont want to lay out there in the cold and wet