JACK DOBSON
Dobbo Dow n Under
“The last time I tried to rebuild a carburettor I ended up having to take it to a specialist in pieces”
IN MY last two columns I said I would get cracking with the re-wiring of Grandma. This month I can finally report, not only did I make a start, but the wiring is now done (if you ignore the absence of panel lights, but who needs them anyway?). I had set aside an entire weekend to get this fearsome task done but the reality was it took more than double that, maybe even three times as long. My initial mistake was to rely too heavily on the colour coding – what I should have done from the outset was to trace each wire using a circuit tester, it makes much more sense that way. Once I had figured out the importance of double-checking everything and applying absolute caution before hooking things up, the task became relatively straightforward. Enjoyable almost!
With that done, I am now that one step closer to completing this rebuild. The remaining big ticket item is to refurbish the carburettors. They were covered in soot and there is a huge amount of play in the accelerator mechanism. I am actually taking the easier option with these and outsourcing the refurbishment. The last time I tried to rebuild a carburettor I ended up having to take it to a specialist in several pieces; small springs and gaskets are not my speciality. Once I get the carburettors back it will be a case of bolting these down to the inlet manifold and refitting the whole assembly, hopefully minus the coolant leaks. There will not be a great deal else to do after that – just fitting a new set of seats from Exmoor Trim and some fancy canvas door cards. Then I will be onto the registration process, the most feared part of this project. I have a sneaking suspicion that an imported vehicle with non-standard engine will open up a whole new level of pain.
With all the focus on the rebuild, time has been very limited for other tasks but, somewhat randomly, I did manage to attend a Youtube workshop over at the Google Headquarters in Sydney. The trip down there was the perfect opportunity to put Old Girl through her roadworthy inspection at my usual garage ( just a seven-hour road trip). I think everyone that owns an elderly Land Rover needs a garage that is sympathetic towards older vehicles and the one I use is no exception. They must have been feeling particularly generous, as she passed with no advisories, though somewhat amusingly her wipers stopped working almost immediately afterwards. Is that not just typical – we have only just had the wipers fixed on our Defender. Anyway a great relief and another year of motoring ahead.
Back to the Youtube workshop, it was quite a funny experience – a room full of people that have made it big on Instagram and now were being groomed to shift over to Youtube. The session started with introductions; we each had 90 seconds to talk about our niche with one another. Kind of like speed dating, only a little more awkward if that is possible. There were all sorts of people: models, comedians, international DJS, photographers, actors and a rather awkward ‘jackuar_land_rover’ talking about his love for all things Land Rover. I did my best to educate these poor deluded souls and a few of my classmates actually started following my account.
Anyway, fresh off the course I have done my first two YouTube videos. A quick search and you will find them (maybe try searching under ‘awkward guy talking about his Land Rovers’). I can safely say it is a work in progress and I can only hope I find my natural rhythm soon. Talking to camera in a relaxed way is practically impossible but I will persevere; I think the more I practise the easier it will become. Who knows, perhaps in my next video I will post up Grandma’s first trip out of the garage. I really cannot wait to fire up her V8 – fuel is much cheaper in Australia than the UK so perhaps I will actually be able to afford to run her this time round.
Perhaps the most exciting part of this month, we currently have a very slick Santorini Black Range Rover Velar parked on the driveway. The neighbours must think I have won the lottery. It is one of the press vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover, so this thing boasts absolutely every option imaginable. Without doubt I have never seen so many options which include seats that not only heat you up or cool you down but they also massage you. I know, I know, it could be considered perhaps a little unnecessary but wow they are comfortable on long trips (or even just popping to the local shops).
Initial impressions of the Velar are very positive on my part. The technology it has seems very clever and it looks stunning on the outside; very futuristic. Were our driveway not already full of Land Rovers and were I to have a spare $180k then I might be seriously tempted. We shall see how the love affair evolves. I am hoping to find some time to take it to the Snowy Mountains which are a couple of hours away from Canberra (maybe even less in Dynamic Sports mode).
One last thing, I finally see it is raining again in the UK so you can all stop being so smug! When Brit Jack Dobson emigrated to Australia in 2010 he brought his passion for Land Rovers along with him.