February 16, 2005

The Joy of British Vehicles

Some car blogging for you tonight. I don't think I've ever posted pictures of my '71 Land Rover (unlike the MGA), but there's good reason...she's been "sick" for quite a while.

I've just recently (now that I've had the time) started along the path to get her running again after the engine spun a rod bearing. I'll have the engine ready to go back in soon, but I'm also doing other work such as redoing the brakes, checking and re-packing the bearings, checking the gearboxes, etc etc.

Here's how she looks tonight (at a relative's shop...it won't fit in my garage!)

Of course, she has seen better days...

And...um...worse days as well (prior to my "elaborate" paint job)...

She started out life as a farm vehicle in Scotland (it's still right hand drive and has the original plates...as you can see). At some point (early 90's I think), it was imported into the country by a company in Birmingham, AL and eventually found its way to Mississippi. I happened to know the guy that was selling it, and went down to rescue get it.

Soon she'll be back on the road again...menacing unsuspecting drivers in little cars. Oh, I might also mention that it's easier to go around traffic with this thing. I've never thought twice about crossing a grassy knoll when I don't like the traffic situation that I'm in. I miss that. heh

More: For those of you who don't know the enjoyment of owning British vehicles (FYI...my everyday driver is a Japanese vehicle), let me reminisce on a little adventure I had last weekend with the MG.

Do you know what a thrill it is to break down off of I-440 going up to Nolensville Road at 8:00pm on a Saturday night? Let me tell you...it was a blast. heh

Earlier in the day, I had replaced the pushrod that comes out from the clutch slave cylinder. It had worn out pretty badly. The new pushrod went on just fine...no problems. What keeps it in place on the clutch arm is a little pin that is held in its place with a small cotter pin. Apparently, somewhere between my house and Nolensville Road, that cotter pin fell out thus allowing the other pin to fall out as well. This isn't something you realize until you go to hit the clutch and it goes all the way to the floor without any resistance.

Well...this isn't good. I get out, grab my flashlight (recommended item for British car owners) and look underneath to see what's happened to my clutch. I'm lucky in the fact that the pushrod got stuck in the clutch arm and didn't fall out (along with the piston in the slave cylinder).

So...I pull out my coveralls (another recommended item), pull out some tools (recommended), and attempt to rig it so that it will work. Bad news was that I didn't have anything to rig it with (*note to self: add various bolts and pins to list of recommended items). I was going to be meeting some people at about this time, so I gave one of them a call. He was gracious enough to come over and take me to an auto parts store (which was about to close), so that I could get the necessary parts to make my rig work.

After all that, I get what I need, put it on, and then realize that the piston has allowed fluid to leak out of the slave cylinder. Anyone know what this means? Yeah...no fluid pressure...which also means that the system has to be bled. Keep in mind...the car doesn't sit far off the ground, and I'm having to reach up under the car to do all this with one hand. Well, I grab the brake fluid (recommended item), and we bleed the system out...many times.

One hour and thirty minutes later, I'm back in the game...good as new. Such is the life of a British car owner! Gotta love it! (*note to self: brake fluid does not take the place of cologne).

Comments:

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That's why I got a Jeep at least my parts are more common and easier to put back together if it breaks.

Posted by: Kat at February 17, 2005 11:59 AM

if you had thrown a cover over it, I still would have known it was British. Look at all of the oil stains under it. Has probably only been sitting there for 15 mintues, too ...

Posted by: jakec at February 17, 2005 05:02 PM

lol...That's about right!

Posted by: Blake at February 17, 2005 09:19 PM

I can't wait 'til this year's vintage grand prix. The Marque car this year is the Mustang, so we'll be able to take both the 'B and the Mustang, and Hunter might even race the Mustang.

Posted by: Mary at February 18, 2005 05:29 AM

In 1969 bought a brand new Triumph Spitfire right off the showroom floor. $2500...put $500 down and I think my payment was $69 a month. Great car for just about a year and then everything and I mean everything fell apart. The stories I could tell.

Posted by: mike at March 9, 2005 12:52 PM

contrary to jakec belife land rover do not leak oil there simply marking there teritory
-jon

Posted by: jon at August 7, 2005 10:39 AM