Project Rusty.

Trip out to Alton today to Kieth Gotts for some bolts for the seat belt mounting fiasco and I got carried away.

Turns out they had the wheel arch extensions I need for the big tyres, just so happens that they were cheaper there than advertised online, not that I was going to buy online but I wanted to see what was available.

75mm wheel arch extension kit with all fixings, instructions and trim



Happy bunny









Fit the seats and the interior trim first and then see how we get on lol

Today was awesome, apart from my white wine fuelled misunderstanding of the seat belt top mounting bolt hole

Seats are in and I just need to crawl under it to put some nyloc nuts on the back bolts, one side has the seat back catch fitted and it locates and locks as it should, the other side is half way there but it needs a bit more trimmed off it to make it fit the rebuilt wheel arch.

First up some M8 bolts needed trimmed down a little and some penny washers needed drilled out to fit the M8 bolts.







Got the captive nuts drilled out from M6 and tapped to take M8 and it's all gone just about as it should.......... Well not quite, back bolt holes are too small and won't accommodate the heads of the M8 bolts so screwed that idea and went with M6x50mm hex head bolts and washers, will just have to slide under and get the nylocs and washers on and then spray grease it all up so it cuts down the opportunities for it to rust out.

Seats are in, seat belts are 90% in but just need to get the catches in when I find the tie downs for them to be bolted in the boot floor.









Proper getting there and it feels rather good.

Ok the wheel arch extensions are home and can be fitted when ever so that's no drama, it's not like I've only got the wide tyres on so it's a job that can wait.

Finish it off tomorrow before we head over to mums for new years day dinner.

All the best to all you guys.

The Mad Hat Man said:

All the best to all you guys.

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Happy new year to yourself and the Mrs, go easy on the bubbly, you'll have a terrible head in the morning lol

New years day, deep joy, just put tax on it, so we are insured, MOT'd and now taxed, just a few bits to finish and we can get out and drive it.

Busy with the seat back latches at the moment, it's a bit of a bind as nothing much is lining up as there has been quite a lot of fabrication in the back and much trimming of the latch boxes are a must.

Need to get me skates on, dinner is at 2 and I would like to get there before the table is laid lol good job mum is only 10 minutes up the road hahaha

@resto_d1 @The Mad Hat Man @Hicap phill I hope the heads are not too sore this morning and that a good time was had by all who snuggled up with their hot water bottle for an early night, I didn't, poor little Max is petrified of the fireworks and I was tasked with keeping him calm while the neighbours woke up every kid on the island lol.



Cute little fella ain't he

Your Max is cute as is my Boo!
Happy New Year dude enjoy your first drive!...

All fine here. I’m sure our dog is deaf/thick.
This is 00.15 with all the fireworks still going.
Key goes in the door & he awakes.

The old sheep dog, was ok, she's use to loud noises!

Worry not the Freelander is sold

Family loaded up for the first ride out



Packed the boot with tools an oil just in case



Torqued the wheel nuts up on the way round as I like to check them.

And arrived at my mums all safe an sound, with just the biggest to ear grin



Now sitting down for turkey, duck an chicken roast thing, yum

dieseldog69 said:

And arrived at my mums all safe an sound, with just the biggest to ear grin

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Good!! I'm chuffed that you stuck with this marathon rebuild - I have enjoyed reading and watching and I salute you sir, for your perseverance and ability. Great picture of it outside your Mums too

Nice work dieseldog69. The photos at the beginning of your post remind me of a Land Rover project a did a while back. Lots of rust , but fortunately only a small amount of burnt wiring. The first time I pulled out the left front carpet and mats, I could see the garage floor! Also like the photo of your dog sitting in the cargo area. My dog loved to sit in the old Land Rover. Happy New Year to everyone across the pond

Disco1BFG said:

Good!! I'm chuffed that you stuck with this marathon rebuild - I have enjoyed reading and watching and I salute you sir, for your perseverance and ability. Great picture of it outside your Mums too

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It has been a real mission, I have been so close to calling the scrap man to come get it so many times.

But that feeling of driving the big old blunder bus again is just amazing.

Had a good thrash round the island in it, gotta get the tax and insurance printed off to go in the folder and it's golden, admittedly I still have a load of interior trim to fit and I would like to get a few other jobs done before I go back to work like the rear spots and extra reversing lamps and the on board air etc, etc, etc.......

You know how it goes. lol

Doogendburgh said:

Nice work dieseldog69. The photos at the beginning of your post remind me of a Land Rover project a did a while back. Lots of rust , but fortunately only a small amount of burnt wiring. The first time I pulled out the left front carpet and mats, I could see the garage floor! Also like the photo of your dog sitting in the cargo area. My dog loved to sit in the old Land Rover. Happy New Year to everyone across the pond

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Happy new year to you too, yeah he was a bit crusty and very crispy in the beginning, after years and years and years of tinkering and fettling it is back again for another tour of duty lol

Amazing work and will keep me marching on!!

The Mad Hat Man said:

All the best to all you guys.

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Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you're part of a team...

The carrier plate which held my fuel tank in place is rusted to buggery.
However, the part is now obsolete, and even the aftermarket suppliers have deleted it.
Can anyone suggest where I can find another one?

dieseldog69 said:

It has been a real mission, I have been so close to calling the scrap man to come get it so many times.

But that feeling of driving the big old blunder bus again is just amazing.

Had a good thrash round the island in it, gotta get the tax and insurance printed off to go in the folder and it's golden, admittedly I still have a load of interior trim to fit and I would like to get a few other jobs done before I go back to work like the rear spots and extra reversing lamps and the on board air etc, etc, etc.......

You know how it goes. lol



Happy new year to you too, yeah he was a bit crusty and very crispy in the beginning, after years and years and years of tinkering and fettling it is back again for another tour of duty lol

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Congratulations on having finished. If only I were a quarter of the way along...

Kiwi Jim said:

The carrier plate which held my fuel tank in place is rusted to buggery.
However, the part is now obsolete, and even the aftermarket suppliers have deleted it.
Can anyone suggest where I can find another one?

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Evil Bay ! - I bought one not that long ago... - even fits

Kiwi Jim said:

The carrier plate which held my fuel tank in place is rusted to buggery.
However, the part is now obsolete, and even the aftermarket suppliers have deleted it.
Can anyone suggest where I can find another one?

Click to expand...

Disco1BFG said:

Evil Bay ! - I bought one not that long ago... - even fits

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Here you go @Kiwi Jim -

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223770679169