the no dosh LJ revamp

[donkeychomp]

Pics are rather small but it looks like it needs total restoration. Sod it, take it to the post office...

[donkeychomp]

All the headlights now work as they should, the wiring has all been sorted out. Indicators likewise. She needs a new brake caliper and that is arriving tomorrow morning. Had to order a throttle cable, the old one is too short and isn't aligned properly meaning it sticks open on full welly. Not a good thing. The pools of water in the foot wells come from a lack of door seals, ordered universal stuff. The underside is a mass of oily residue. Natch this is coming from the engine so a steam clean, run the engine and see where the leak is coming from. Also it's covered in grease...hmm. Might be hiding something. New number plates made up, not got the log book yet but I am the best customer at my local motor factors and he said he can wait for it to arrive. Still need to order new seats to replace the Smart car ones and some harnesses. The horn wiring is fubar so all that has been replaced, will run it to a stainless steel button that will be mounted on the dash. Steering ball joint has failed. Can't find anything on ebay so will be taking it out in the hope it has a serial number on it.

This is taking a lot of time and work. I'm not going to say I've bought a lemon because hey, this is an LJ! And she looks the pups. But underneath the surface there are a lot of little problems, and maybe one big one with the engine. Stu (mate doing the lions share of the work) says he can get her through the MOT and then we can sort out all the niggly bits.

Fairy Nuff.

[donkeychomp]

Got the radiator out, and the SJ replacement is a bit too big. Not a chance of getting an LJ one so it will be, err, 'adapted' to fit. And yes the viscous fan is coming off to be repainted!

[donkeychomp]

Loads done today, horn is now on the dash, gave up trying to wire it through the steering wheel (which won't come off...the wheel does but the boss won't so it's staying put!). Front brakes are done and now doing the rears, brake shoes look like new so they can stay. Made some spacers out of billet and now the 410 rad fits...just. It looks in the pic as if it's too high but the bonnet does close ok. Then came the nightmare. All the steering is (in mechanical terminology) shagged. Some of it was gaffer taped together, everything is worn out. Called Dave at Llama, who put me onto someone else and then someone else until finally we get to Rhino Ray. He can fix it all but at a price, £200+. I'll box it all up and send it to him I guess...no choice really. It's all original LJ stuff and impossible to find. On the plus side it has all new poly bushes so I have a complete brand new set that came with the car! The fan belt I was guaranteed would fit didn't...of course, so I took the old one with me and got the right one. Hoses arrived from Malta but there is a custom charge so I will go pick them up tomorrow. Door seals were on my doorstep when I got home, and I finished trimming all the door cards too. Got new plugs, leads etc to do a service. Old plugs were ok but...old.

Phew.

Will crack on tomorrow.

[Darrell]

Coming along nicely

[donkeychomp]

But not quick enough I fear...no chance for an MOT with no steering! Hey ho.

[Anton]

Great!

£200 seems steep - no way an SJ steering bar would fit?

[Cyprus Geoff]

Looking great !

[ScottieJ]

I have LJ steering stufffffff! Save your money and have a chat to me

Also Apparently the lj ball joints can be removed and changed using sj balljoints And there is a way to use sj410 steering links but the pics have gone http://auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 69&start=0

[Cyprus Geoff]

I hate it that photo's "vanish" you find a great thread with good info but the lack of pics is a PITA!
OOPS! Sorry OP that is a hijack .... deep grovel!