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Corbs

Active Member
Posts
141
Since I'm probably going to be starting numerous 'what is this noise?', 'what is 710 and where do I buy it?' and 'why can't I overtake?' threads, I'd better introduce myself.

I'm Corbs, 24, from Bristol. Hello!

Entered into an agreement at the weekend to purchase the family landy from my father, who has had it for years.

It's a 1996 Defender 110 300TDi in satin black (Formerly white), an ex Land Rover vehicle fitted with air brakes I believe.

It currently has bigger than standard wheels/tyres on it, A-bar, spotlights, worklights on the back, small ladder on the back, spare wheel moved to the bonnet, allard intercooler fitted, light guards, and much more. Maybe images would be better.

It's been an excellent workhorse and faithful runner to us over the years, carting kayaks, furniture and windsurf equipment around the country, pulling foreigners out of ditches, getting us to the airport in a blizzard, brilliant!

My main concern with taking this vehicle on is that the piston rings may be on the way out. The 5 minutes after start up are quite white smoke-y when off throttle. I'll be looking to check thoroughly first (This is what I may need help with!), things like stem seals, turbo seals, compression test, all the main culprits.

Anyway, looking forward to being a part of the community!

EDIT, found some photos of the automobile.
Pic110.jpg

Pic111.jpg

Pic112.jpg
 
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Now that looks like a very businesslike machine. Nice house too. I liike a bit of well dressed stonework.
 
Thanks! Aye, bit o'yorkshire stone there. Sadly I live in a terrace in Bristol with bloody stonechip all over it.
 
Nah that's my folks' place, I'm not picking the landy up until autumn (Dad's still got it) but thought I'd better get researching and prepared for what's to come.
 
White smoke? Doesn't sound like rings to me.

Air brakes? Are you quite certain? They'd put you through the windscreen if you stopped in a hurry!! Sshhhh!
 
White smoke? Doesn't sound like rings to me.

Air brakes? Are you quite certain? They'd put you through the windscreen if you stopped in a hurry!! Sshhhh!

Ha! Well whatever it had, it doesn't have them anymore. Possibly 'air brakes' was one of those things that gets lodged in your mind when you are a kid, and it's not until someone questions it when you are older that it seems silly.

It's the two mystery switches on the dash that always puzzled us, we were told it was something to do with it being an ex-LR vehicle that towed the display stand to shows. It also had a light board near the back, now there are just holes in the roof.

Anyway, smoke...

If I describe the symptoms perhaps it will be clearer (frankly, if it's not rings I'll be overjoyed)

About 5 minutes after startup it can be very smokey, and if not left to warm up before being driven, when you let off the throttle great plumes of the stuff come out of the exhaust, back on the gas and it goes away (To an extent).

I've been doing some digging on here and had a look at various options. I know better than to trust a garage's opinion without researching it, that said we were told it was the rings by a landy garage - but I don't know if they did a compression test.

Thanks to all for the welcome and comments :)
 
Finally got the machine!
Made the journey from bristol up to scotland in my trusty nissan, dropped that off, and drove the landy back. Loving every minute of it so far.
It's got a few holes and leaks around the place but the chassis looks pretty solid at least.
Looking forward to being a part of the forum.
 
Finally got the machine!
Made the journey from bristol up to scotland in my trusty nissan, dropped that off, and drove the landy back. Loving every minute of it so far.
It's got a few holes and leaks around the place but the chassis looks pretty solid at least.
Looking forward to being a part of the forum.

Is it still smoking, or did you get it fixed?
 
Well it hadn't been moved in six months (Apart from a brief trip into town a few weeks ago). Left it to warm up for about 15 minutes before driving it, wasn't too smokey then.

From what I've been reading on here, it sounds more like turbo or possibly stem seals than piston rings? Oil level is pretty good, doesn't seem to be burning a lot. There's a fair bit spilled down the side of the block, and the centre diff seems to have a small leak.

Hopefully will get to have a proper look in the light this weekend as it's dark by the time I get home every day.

A few pics from the trip:
Red and green should never be seen
DSCF6631.jpg

DSCF6633.jpg

DSCF6634.jpg


Northbound
DSCF6637.jpg


Bark
DSCF6647.jpg


Away for the winter
DSCF6651.jpg


Hand over
DSCF6652.jpg


Southbound
DSCF6655.jpg

DSCF6672.jpg
 
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Cheers lads.
Yes - it is a different driving experience for sure, the landy feels twice as fast though, possibly due to it having to the aerodynamic properties of a housebrick.
Just downloaded the water ingress manual to figure out where the water is coming from that handily pours over my leg occasionally.
 
Just a two-penneth...

It has always been said you shouldn't leave vehicles to 'Warm up' before driving- they usualy reccommend starting and driving away straight away.

Could be condensation boiling off into steam - more noticable in the colder weather...??
 
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