JACK DOBSON
Preparing for the outback
Iwrite this in the final moments before I set off in Grandma to Uluru. Do I feel prepared? Well mostly, yes. There is just the small matter of not currently having a spare tyre and I also must remember to buy a spatula! There is certainly very little room for such expeditions with a soft-top short wheel base (remind me, why am I not taking my 109 or 110?). The back is literally full of stuff including camping gear, clothes and a hotchpotch of spare parts. You really have to draw a line somewhere, I mean do I really want to haul a spare differential around with me? I think not, but there is certainly a valid argument for bringing such a thing.
Notable things to have happened this last month. Well, I have finally cured the rotor arm issue ( you might recall these were failing every 500 miles or so). I managed to track down two new-old stock genuine Bosch ones and so far, so good with over 1000 miles in. The next thing I can now tick off the list is the clutch – I was finding it increasingly difficult to engage reverse gear, then any gear. I started by playing around with the push rod on the master cylinder but that did not seem to help so attention turned to the clutch slave cylinder. Not the easiest of things to get to but as it is all still fairly new, it was easy to adjust the push rod and it made a huge difference. Changing gear is once again a pleasure,if you can call double de-clutching a pleasure.
The final issue to have kindly presented itself was the battery. One morning I noticed the starter motor sounded a bit sluggish which was strange since the battery was only about ten months old. I opened up the seat box to see if there was perhaps a loose connection. What I found was everything splashed in acid and the battery casing split open. I initially assumed it must be a defective battery but a few people wisely suggested it might be a charging issue. With a new battery, amazingly covered under warranty (think I was very lucky with that) I decided to investigate. I put a voltmeter on the terminals with the engine running and measured around 16 volts. It seemed I had found the problem. With a new external voltage regulator installed, the volts dropped to around 14.5 which is what it should be doing. Phew! I could really do with buying a brand-new regulator
– the one I used was scavenged from my parts bin and does not look to be in its first youth. I tried ordering one but it was going to take too long. As I write this I can see myself stranded by the side of the road in the outback cursing myself for not getting that particular spare.
In other news, I will be visiting the UK in July. I have lived in Australia for nearly nine years and only been back once so I am really looking forward to the return and perhaps the opportunity to source some Land Rover parts for my other Series IIA, Max. I am also hoping to meet some of the great folk I have got to know over the years through Instagram and Facebook. I guess it is a bit like internet dating, only with Land Rovers. It occurred to me the other day, in many cases I do not actually know the names of the people I chat with but I know the names of their Land Rovers. If quizzed by immigration officials about the nature of my visit, should I tell them I am there to see a Series III by the name of Matilda? Think they will let me into the country?
Speaking of immigration. I keep seeing more and more Australian Series Is appearing for sale in the UK. It seems to be a bit of a controversial subject, with many Australians upset that they are being shipped out of the country. I guess there is always going to be an appetite for rust-free Land Rovers in the UK but with that appetite and apparent ease at which they can be shipped, comes with an impact on the cost and availability of project vehicles here. Prices really seem to have climbed steeply for Series Is which is no good for me – I really want one. At least Series IIS are still fairly plentiful and do not command the same sort of price tags. In fact, this last month I have spotted five such relics that likely could do with rescuing.
Once the Uluru trip is done (assuming I make it back) I am going to turn my attention back on Max. There was that initial flurry of activity when I first got him but he has now sat idle for too long. The plan is to get him stripped to a chassis and sent away for repair whilst I am in the UK. I have some pretty exciting plans for him which just might include eight cylinders.
“If quizzed by immigration officials about the nature of my visit, should I tell them I am there to see a Series III by the name of Matilda? Will they let me into the country?”