Project Freebie...

'Ello all!
I've been a member of this forum for a fair number of months now and have had no end of questions that have all been answered by the good people inhabiting this portion of the internet.
Having had so much to get stuck into on my old X Reg K series Freebie, i've decided to record my ventures on a project thread.
Work already undertaken:
-New rotary coupling
-New brake discs
-New brake pads
-New locking solenoid (deiver rear)
-New expansion tank
-New thermostat
-Re-installed original radio
-New headliner
-New inlet manifold gasket
-Removed jiggle valve (inlet manifold)
-New rear exhaust box
-Repaired exhaust manifold
-New drop links (left and right)
-Re-installed prop shaft
The cylinder head is also due to be resurfaced and rebuilt over the next few weeks and i've got plenty more work lined up in order to get her off the road and onto some green lanes!
Thanks again for all the help and support so far...

Very nice, we are quite helpful around here aren't we

Nice to see a Freelander build thread, there aren't many on the net I must admit

Definitely, i've found this site very useful since i joined... especially being a novice mechanic.
I've noticed that there aren't many Freelander builds on the net. People, understandably, go for Discos and Defenders but this being my first Landy and something of an underdog (the infamous 1.8 petrol), i'd quite like to see it returned to some form of glory!

Landy-Pandy said:

Definitely, i've found this site very useful since i joined... especially being a novice mechanic.
I've noticed that there aren't many Freelander builds on the net. People, understandably, go for Discos and Defenders but this being my first Landy and something of an underdog (the infamous 1.8 petrol), i'd quite like to see it returned to some form of glory!

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The humble Freelander is the most underestimated vehicle in the range and often neglected when it comes to modifying due to them being considered a soft-roader SUV type vehicle.

On the old LROi boards (now defunct and not even an archive sadly ) there was a great Freelander 1 build, lifted, rims, tyres, snorkel, roll cage, rear limited slip diff, custom front winch bumper and custom rear bumper and rear muffler guard, it was in Poland and the guy spared no expense and covered every detail, it was a work of art.

You're on my watch list and I look forward to your updates

dieseldog69 said:

The humble Freelander is the most underestimated vehicle in the range and often neglected when it comes to modifying due to them being considered a soft-roader SUV type vehicle.

On the old LROi boards (now defunct and not even an archive sadly ) there was a great Freelander 1 build, lifted, rims, tyres, snorkel, roll cage, rear limited slip diff, custom front winch bumper and custom rear bumper and rear muffler guard, it was in Poland and the guy spared no expense and covered every detail, it was a work of art.

You're on my watch list and I look forward to your updates

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Anything is possible..

Even though i tease about the 'lander it is quite a good vehicle, for its intended purpose..

Henry_b said:

Anything is possible..

Even though i tease about the 'lander it is quite a good vehicle, for its intended purpose..

View attachment 171623

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I often tease also but I know that they can compete when in good order with a decent set or tyres and a driver who knows what they're doing

I had a 2003 TD4. I bought it to tow a caravan as the Vectra estate I was using wasn’t man enough (yeah I know). Anyway, after a few months of wondering why I didn’t go for a defender, I started to modify the freelander. Some of it was documented on here, although it was around 2010 I think. I ended up with a 2” lift kit (I had to machine it down slightly as I couldn’t get it to clear at 2”), 38mm wheel spacers, and ATs on the 17” rims. I went everywhere my brothers L200 went. It’s one of only 2 vehicles I regret selling.

Thanks for taking an interest guys. And for the inspiring anecdotes!
I'm excited to get the cylinder head rebuilt and treating the ol' hippo to some real TLC.
As i said, having done barely any vehicle repairs before i bought the Freebie, i am a new hand with the spanner so the posts may be slow but they will keep coming...

Ok, update numero uno!
She's in the garage (well actually, she's in the barn) which will be her home for the next week or so whilst i remove and refit the cylinder head (inbetween work).

As you can see, i've got as far as removing the two manifolds...
The plan is to have the head removed by tomorrow evening and taken to the specialists before i start work again on Wednesday... we'll see how that goes...

Day two and the cylinder head's off, ready to be handed over to the chaps that actually know what they're doing...

You planning on honing them bores out a little to break any glaze and scour them piston crowns before you nail it back together?

Not a terrible job, you can get away with a bit of rag on tp of the piston to catch the oil from honing and any debris that comes off with it and if you wind the crank round to put all the pistons at the top of the bore and buff the crowns clean, just smear some grease (or vaseline if you don't have grease ) between the piston and bore so that when you turn the crank and lower the piston all the carbon an crud will be stuck to the grease and easily wiped away with some kitchen roll.

Definitely, that'd be great. But is there an effective way of cleaning the crowns and bores without having to turn the crank over? I'm a little apprehensive about moving the cylinder liners and breaking the seal...

If the liners move just turning the crank with a socket and bar then you have bigger problems than just a head gasket

I see, well i'll definitely give them a clean anyway!
Having nice shiny combustion chambers and piston crowns aswell as a fully rebuilt cylinder head sounds good to me.

Landy-Pandy said:

I see, well i'll definitely give them a clean anyway!
Having nice shiny combustion chambers and piston crowns aswell as a fully rebuilt cylinder head sounds good to me.

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Make sure you don't turn the crank, or move the liners in any way, or you'll need to drop the sump and oil rail so each piston/ liner can be removed for re-sealing.
IMO, if the pistons are in one piece, then leave them well alone.

Nice to see a thread on the FL1 build though.

That was my thinking, i've seen alot of posts on here and other places about how flimsy the liners can be.
I still don't have a clear idea of what the end product should be. I think i may add a raised air intake at some point allthough i understand that on this model, it would be more or less aesthetic and i've also made some enquiries on AT tyres.
Also... the cylinder head's done! I picked it up yesterday but haven't done any more work as i've been tragically struck down with a sickness bug!
Gutted.

Nodge68 said:

Make sure you don't turn the crank, or move the liners in any way, or you'll need to drop the sump and oil rail so each piston/ liner can be removed for re-sealing.
IMO, if the pistons are in one piece, then leave them well alone.

Nice to see a thread on the FL1 build though.

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I thought that the liners were a press fit on the K series? Happy to be enlightened if I'm wrong

dieseldog69 said:

I thought that the liners were a press fit on the K series? Happy to be enlightened if I'm wrong

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Not at all. They're a loose fit, and clamped into place by the head. If the crank is rotated while the head is off, then the liners come up with the pistons. This then requires the removal of the liners so they can be re-sealed.

Nodge68 said:

Not at all. They're a loose fit, and clamped into place by the head. If the crank is rotated while the head is off, then the liners come up with the pistons. This then requires the removal of the liners so they can be re-sealed.

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Oh dear, will have to remember that

I presume that will be the same for the KV6 as well then?

dieseldog69 said:

Oh dear, will have to remember that

I presume that will be the same for the KV6 as well then?

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Yes it is. Incidentally the only components that the shared between the K4 and KV6 are the liners. Every other component is different between the two engines.