Freelander 1 Alloy sump guard/ undertray

Lol!

A little update on this thread. A couple of off-road/ green trips since the guard was first fitted. It did it’s job, but to be honest, 2.5mm thick alloy isn’t really resilient enough.

I took the guard off, and all the nasty vibrations and “zzzzzz” noises went: it was vibrating with new harmonic frequencies as a result of Salisbury Plane remodelling it....


I can’t seem to upload pictures right now - shame! Will hopefully be able to upload later?

After removing the guard I could see that the bolts to the lower engine stay were digging into the alloy, as was the subframe extension that protects the under engine sensor and wire.

I reshaped the alloy to clear using the BFH.

It did the job

In the longer term I’ll remake out of 5mm alloy - but this will be a lot harder to bend...

rob_bell said:

A little update on this thread. A couple of off-road/ green trips since the guard was first fitted. It did it’s job, but to be honest, 2.5mm thick alloy isn’t really resilient enough.

I took the guard off, and all the nasty vibrations and “zzzzzz” noises went: it was vibrating with new harmonic frequencies as a result of Salisbury Plane remodelling it....


I can’t seem to upload pictures right now - shame! Will hopefully be able to upload later?

Click to expand...

I think I used 4mm checkplate because I have very limited metal fabrication experience and must have been lucky because still ok. But like you it said, mine payed for itself immediately on Salisbury Plain on some very deeply rutted tracks that I was simply guard sledging down. I have never made noises like that with a car before haha.

Just looked back on this thread and I said exactly the same stuff before haha. Probably will again too haha. Old git me.

Lol!!!
Nothing if not consistent Phil

Rubber washers on each bolt and a sound insulation pad with metal backing ( looks like tin foil on it) stuck in the middle of the guard will stop most of the rattles.
Mike

Thanks Mike: I've taken it for a test drive: with the guard now clearing the previous interference points, no nasty vibration noises! But good thought regarding sound deadening material

Managed to reduce the size and up load some pictures.

First, this is what the undertray/ sump guard looked like after Salisbury Plane:



Not too pretty - it got quite a bashing - but I guess it served its purpose!!!

After taking it off, you can see again how misshapen it had become:



Bent and distorted in every direction - where before it was nice and straight!

On inspection, there were three main marks on the engine-facing side:


Above: my fingers pointing to two deep indents where something had been rubbing and wearing away the soft alloy, and...


Above: - an indent and some paint leaving behind a tell-tale.

These correspond, respectively to:
Above: the lower engine mount bolts on the offside - my finger has wiped of some alloy shavings from one of the bolts


A particularly massive steel sensor protector - paint now worn a smidge thin!

I didn't take any more pictures of the "remodeled" undertray, but essentially just crudely reshaped the worse of the bends and used the BFH to dent/stretch the metal to clear the interference points identified.

Now blissful normal K-series engine noise on turning corners and going into reverse.

The longer-term plan is to remake in heavier gauge metal - what ever the local engineering company has in stock and can bend for me

L

rob_bell said:

Lol!!!
Nothing if not consistent Phil

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I did think that it was nice that I remembered the same things ha. I do not think I had the same issues of things rubbing on my TD4 engine.
Not yet anyway but I have not been allowed to use the car much lately. Wife using the FL to get to work. Selfish is what I say. Ok, maybe working from home means I don’t actually need a car to get to work but doesn’t mean I might not need one at some point. I mean, it snowed at least once. I might have slipped over. If I had gone out.

Philgt50 said:

L


I did think that it was nice that I remembered the same things ha. I do not think I had the same issues of things rubbing on my TD4 engine.
Not yet anyway but I have not been allowed to use the car much lately. Wife using the FL to get to work. Selfish is what I say. Ok, maybe working from home means I don’t actually need a car to get to work but doesn’t mean I might not need one at some point. I mean, it snowed at least once. I might have slipped over. If I had gone out.

Click to expand...

LOL

She's so inconsiderate! May be you need another FL1?

I cut/drilled two holes to match those to bolt heads. The front pipe support bracket bolts are under the exhaust cut out on my plate.

Some nice badges of honour there.

htr said:

I cut/drilled two holes to match those to bolt heads. The front pipe support bracket bolts are under the exhaust cut out on my plate.

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Good idea that - plus plenty of drainage to let the water out!

Alibro said:

Some nice badges of honour there.

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Yup! LOL

Also a sign that the suspension needs a bit of a lift...

Looking closely at your pictures I notice your cat needs glasses. It's missed the cat flap, walked into your patio doors and broken the glass.
Mike

LOL - it does look a bit like that doesn't it? Luckily, no feelines were injured in the taking of these pictures

rob_bell said:

LOL

She's so inconsiderate! May be you need another FL1?

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Or, maybe I need 1 less wife.....I cannot believe I wrote that haha she will kill me. Not really dearest love of my life, I was only joking honest. Please forgive you know I love you......