Hippo refresh

I have had the hippo just over a year now and still enjoy it as much as the day I picked it up, 2006 TD4.



As always there are little jobs to do here and there on it so I have started to give it a bit of love and attention that it needs.

I had a new clutch put in it earlier this year and the guy who did it mentioned that it was starting to rust a little underneath and could do with a little underseal in places. This is where the little jobs turn in to bigger huge massive jobs.

So I have started at the rear and removed the arch liners, oh dear.



So having had a Defender 90 and completed a full chassis replacement this has been quite easy. as you can see by the photos I have removed all the rear suspension to gain access to the rust, this in itself hi-lighted another small issue, both rear shock absorbers needed replacing.

While I was at it I thought clean and remove the rust from the hubs and suspension arms, rear brakes etc and replace all the suspension bushes with new ploy bushes. This has to be my favourite part of the job as I like to burn the old bushes out and fill the garage with black smoke (Don't try this at home children).



So after a few hours of cleaning and grinding and generally covering everything within a 100 meter radius with rust and a paint flakes I have stripped it back to the metal, treated it with rust converter



Rear subframe and diff out and subframe has been given the same treatment.

So far I have replaced the following parts :

Both rear shock absorbers and springs.
Both rear wheel bearings (silly not to as it was all stripped off).
All rear suspension bushes replaced with poly bushes.
All new brake lines as they are easy to get to when nothing is left on the chassis.
New rear brake hoses.
New rear brake cylinders.
New centre diff bush.
New brake shoes, springs etc.

The rear end is now just about complete (I will upload photos of the finished article when I get chance to take some) but it has shown that the front is also in need of a refresh so at the moment it remains on axel stands on the drive.

Yes I must be mad, yes I must have more money than sense (No), but every man needs a hobby.

Looking good. Is the tank cradle good? Good time to do that too!

Then on to the front!!!

Can I drop mine off next week ?

ivancrx said:

I must have more money than sense (No), but every man needs a hobby.

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Well, just because you have no money doesn't mean you can't have even less sense......

I have to admit I expected much worse under the wheel arches, I thought it actually looked pretty good considering. But then I used to own a mazda.....

archman said:

Well, just because you have no money doesn't mean you can't have even less sense......

I have to admit I expected much worse under the wheel arches, I thought it actually looked pretty good considering. But then I used to own a mazda.....

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I have worked on worse, and haven’t found any holes yet, which is good. Just taking my time with it and getting it right.

Just a couple more photos of how the rear is looking now. Still more work to do, bleed the brakes, fit the arch liners back on etc. but happy so far.

Looking good. Just check those brake lines won't get nipped with suspension bounce. Esp last photo. Originally they go square under the chassis box section.
Great to see an F1 getting the refurb it deserves. Hopefully another 100k on that one! When you've finished!!

andyfreelandy said:

Looking good. Just check those brake lines won't get nipped with suspension bounce. Esp last photo. Originally they go square under the chassis box section.

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I have been waiting on new pipe clips so it is hanging down a little.

It is the things others notice that always helps people out

Onward and upwards or so they say.

Still waiting on a couple of brake pipe clips for the rear I have also replaced both rear brake cables just for peace of mind.

So it was time to start the front last week, same sort of issues as the rear to be honest jut that on the drivers side there was an old leak from the steering rack to clean up before starting.



I have worked on the same idea as the rear, going all the rust out couple of coast of rust convertor, POR 15 Chassis paint then stone chip and underseal. I have to say the grinding out of the rust is the most hateful job it doesn't matter how much you cover up you still get absolutely filthy even through overalls, and even with wearing a mask you still end up with stuff up your nose that you would not normally want.

This was all sorted at the back of last week so this weekend I have been doing the nice jobs and starting rebuilding it, as with the rear I have spent a little money on it (A lot of money), and replaced quite a few bits as I have gone along.

2 x Front Shock Absorbers
2 x Front Springs
Full Polybush of the front end
2 x New Wheel Bearing
New Brake Hoses
O/S Brake Pipe
2 x Lower Arms
2 x Drop Links
2 x Steering Rack Ends
1 x ALB Sensor (Broke one taking it out)



This is as far as I have at the moment, having looked at the brake callipers I have decided to replace them fairly cheap at £35 a side for refurbished units especially when a rebuild ket is £20 a side. Rear exhaust to put back on and then bleed the brakes before refitting all the arch liners.

Overall I am happy with how it has all turned out so far, still bits to do but then it wouldn't be a Landrover if there wasn't.

The only thing I am bothered about is the new wheel bearings the hubs seem a bit tight on them and don't spin freely, but then I don't know if they should?

Stirling stuff there. I wish I had my own workshop. I'd love to give mine this kind of treatment.

kernowsvenski said:

Stirling stuff there. I wish I had my own workshop. I'd love to give mine this kind of treatment.

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i have done all of this on my drive or in the garage. I have been playing with cars for the past 15 years or so and have amassed quite a selection of tools etc to try and make things easier.

Great work!
And although it seems like you're spending a lot of money the car will last years longer, saving you from spending stupid money on a replacement car.