New Freelander Project - Codename SNAKE

Hey Guys and Girls. I'm new to landyzone and I'm a first time Landy keeper. Yesterday I picked a 2001 Freelander GS Td4 - Manual - Diesel

I Bought from Gumtree (first mistake!) and it was advertised as fully running, 5 months MOT and no issues. I went to collect it to find 5 huge drill holes in the bonnet, trims a wreck, oil leak and I now know a fuel leak and drop links that do not exist. I wasn't happy at all with the condition but I'm a sucker for a good deal. I tried to barter to no luck and I was a little desperate as my last car had been scrapped and I was loosing work. So I totted up the odds and decided to purchase it anyway (Second Mistake). I got it home and took a proper look with the help of my trusty toolbox. It's a bit of a wreck. So I've decided to make this a project. I'm teaching myself mechanics so why not give it a go. Checked the car details to fi d out it only has 3 months MOT left, great! No outstanding finance so that's a plus

Mechanically I've found the oil sump is leaking and there's possibly another leak closer up near the engine, there's a fuel leak coming from some unknown location, both front drop links don't exist and there's frayed words coming out of every place imaginable with seemingly no destinations.

Cosmetically its bad inside and out. So I'm starting there. First job.....fill the holes I'm the bonet.

Welcome, gotta love a Gumtree special lol

5 door diesel will give 50 to the gallon all day long.

How was the viscous coupling?

Let me guess "converted to 2wd for economy" lol read as "viscous seized/the rear diff bearings gave up, an we couldn't be arzed to replace/repair it"

Looks like a keeper @Hippo will give you an incredible wealth of advice on how best to love your hippo.

Good luck.

The gumtree specials are the people selling the cars not the cars themselves pmsl

It might get me 50 once ive sorted the fuel and oil leaks haha

Actually the props still intact and in good condition. Looks like its been serviced as there's new nyloc bolts on it.

I've not checked the Viscous coupling yet it's on the list for tomorrow. It started belting it down so came in for the day. I'll check the quick steel on the bonet tomorrow and see if its set

Thank you for the pleasant welcome and helpful advice

One thing I am amazed at. All 5 tyres are new (or close to) road legal tyres. Must have been an off roader they've put back on the road

Must have had some strange bonnet ornament to create five holes. What are your plans to have a rough an ready for terrain use or sedate for casual driving around the country lanes of Manchester. If you're in the north end of Manchester and need a garage I can recommend my Garage mechanics if you like.

I'm actually wanting it to be a capable vehicle in the end. My job requires me to hop in and go at a moments notice and could be going from Manchester to the scotish highlands at 4am one day to just plodding around Manchester the next. I lead an irregular life. No idea what's going on with this thing with holes and wires everywhere.

I'm always happy to consider a good garage. I'm an amature mechanic but there are some thongs I can't do at home and always going to to need an MOT

And there's actually 7 holes, looks like they started and didn't realize they were drilling in the wrong place. It looks much worse underneath the hometown. Theyve torn at the steel and shredded it. I'll upload pictures tomorrow

Well Turners Garage on Oldham Road toward the Broadway A663 from Newton Heath or Failsworth if your still interested.

Thank you, that's not far. I'm in Salford

Luke Winter said:

Thank you, that's not far. I'm in Salford

Click to expand...

I'm sorry for you I didn't know accept my apologies.

Hahaha that's fine buddy. I'm originally from Altrincham and the move to salford was actually good for me. Where i live though its really quiet and nice. Been here 5 years and really love it. The rest of salford is appauling however

As promissed, heres the images of the underside of the bonnet. What a mess!

I'm now convinced of the oil/fuel leak I just can't tell where its coming from without stripping down so thats going on the job list.


Viscous coupling seems fine. I took it into 4wd before and had no apparent issues. I will test it in greater detail later as I'm rarely going to use 4wd




Wires everywhere!!! I've removed this bundle already but there's still wires hanging down everywhere. Strapped to brake lines and fuel lines, under the gear stick, under every trim inside the car.....but they don't lead to anything! They're always just cut off at the ends




Now, what modifications would anyone suggest for this car. I have read about various mods but I want to get opinions as to what you think should be done, why to use them and information on fitments ect.

Tia

Looks like you have your hands full there. Good luck. I'm sure you'll get it the way you want it soon.

Thanks Blue, been tinkering all day and think I've isolated the area of the leak.

That's the only place I can see any build up of crud and it also corresponds with the area where the oil was seen leaking onto my driveway. So its a leaking head gasket by the looks of it. I have cleaned all the crud off I could get too and I will watch it daily to see if there's a leak or build up. Also watch the driveway for continued leaking. All wires are now gone. I noted a large amount of oil inside the air intake manifold.

The EGR has been blanked by a previous owner. I've seen the kits for sale but I want to know why people are using them? From my understanding the EGR helps fuel economy. Where as it is an issue when it cloggs up and requires maintaining it is a handy implement. Can anyone tell me why they are blanking them off on freelanders?

I've cleaned up the air intake manifold and the corresponding engine ports . I believe the left hand port was leaking too so I've Added a small amount of gasket seal to the existing gaskets all the way across and replaced it. Will drive him tomorrow and see of there's any leaking

A cracking little project car. What's your plans for it? If you want to make it more capable for green lanes, then (1) this is ideal, because you're not going to worry about the paint on the scratchy stuff, and (2) I wonder whether this was previously modified for off road use?

The cuts and holes are all a bit odd, but could be explained by off-road type stuff (wires: CB installation and extra lights; removed roof rack; cut in rear trim for reversing/work lamp?)

It looks to be painted in Epsom green (same as mine). Second hand bonnets appear all the time on the bay of fleas, so if the holes offend you, you could just get a replacement for not too much cash.

IMO so long as the transmission is not trashed, everything else is easy and cheap to sort out

Transmission seems completely fine. I want it to be a good all rounder. I'm planning a respray in the future if it passes it's next MOT. I've had the worst luck with cars so I won't tempt fate and do it now to have to spend hundreds on repairs later. Holes are now filled with quick steel and that will do for now. I've also rust remedied them just in case. Going to Dremel the tuna can flaps off the underneath tomorrow haha

I fully believe it was previously an offroader. Addition of 5 nearly new road tyres, scruffy cosmetics, holes and wires in every place imaginable and a long range antenna on the back that's been shoddily fitted and previously snapped off. I want a semi decent road car that has the ability to offroader if necessary. So I think this was a wise choice for the money

The holes int bonnet are probably from a removed light pod. They look orrible - the pods that is but the holes are orrible anorl. The cut out plastic at the back above the tailgate will be for additional lights. The previous setup before that can be seen ont web if yer search for the reg. Someone put smaller lights all over it.

May I suggest yer continue to remove any additional electrical wires or at least pull the fuses out until yer knows what they're for, to stop it burning itself out. If it were mine I wouldn't bother spending money on "add on's". I would spend money on replacing all liquids (engine oil/coolant, gearbox oil, ird oil, rear diff oil, brake fluid) and make sure everything on it is in safe working condition. Peeps who sell on vehicles like this that are modded more heavily (harshly anorl) than yer average Freelander often use them a lot oft road but don't always keep up with maintenance as damage they cause devalues the price.

There's no such thing as a bad Freelander. There are some Freelanders that need greater love and affection to get them back to running and safe ont road. May I congratulate yer on the new addition to yer family.