V8 Trialer NOW SOLD

So as to keep my expedition Landrover tidy and ready to go I invested in a 100" (actually 92.4" as it happens) coil sprung trialer which allowed me some fun days out but has now been sold.I believe it has gone to a good home and will definitely provide fun for its new owner.

I will blog and photograph the progress and hopefully become more skillful in the process.

 

What to add to the V8 on a budget?

So it has been an eventful season. I actually got to attend a few events and even drove well on one. (Almost won if not for doubling my total score on the final section). What can I do to improve the vehicle without spending a fortune?

There are many 'off the shelf' suspension and wheel packages but why spend that much money if the vehicle is only used about 10 times a year? Do I go for taller tyres to get over clearance issues with the salisbury diff at the rear? Will this compromise my steering and what tyres could I get for little money? Overall the vehicle has been relatively competitive.

Let's prioritise. First I need to fix the bits I broke or bent. My front radius arms look dubious, my rear 'sumo' bar is bent, my beautiful front wing panel is heavily bruised. I need to get the wiring sorted finally and the starter switch is still temperamental. Once this is done I think greater travel is next on the list so extended shock mounts (not a lift though) and dislocation cones or the equivalent. Maybe some secondary type of spring to keep the axle pushed down for traction when at the extremes of travel. I have some rims which are to be turned round to provide a better offset to give me a tighter lock (I lose out to the 80" vehicles). Who knows how much of this rambling will find it's way into reality? What is the budget? As little as possible. I would rather create and adapt items to see if they work, it is more fun.

The 92.4" V8 Project Part 2

Much work has still to be done to create the sort of motor I feel I can learn in. Some is mechanical and some more to do with driver convenience. I am currently trying not to inhale too many glue fumes as I create a bolster cushion to push Stephanie forward in the seat so she can reach the pedals. With the 4-point harness this will be the simplest way to allow us to double drive the vehicle.

 

29th April 2010. Spent much of the afternoon at the scrapyard getting a power steering pump for a V8. Feel a little guilty as the vehicle in question was a very early Discovery. I believe it was probably a press release vehicle. Will look up the number but for the geeks out there it was a GWAC. It was beyond restoration I guess unless you change the body! Got the pump, reservoir and pipes for £30.

30th April 2010. Mike from S&W got me a well priced power steering box and I have fitted that today along with mounting the pump. I need a different bottom pulley and a different track rod at which point I should have power steering.

5th May 2010 Mike had a pulley for me and that was fitted with assistance from Steve, had to take off starter motor again to lock out flywheel for this. I have mounted the reservoir and connected all the pipes and installed a temporary drag link (probably going to go for stronger steering bars)  It is all in place and belts are measured, ordered and fitted. I fire it all up and the steering appears to work. Next task is to look at steering protection and get wings fabricated. The bolster cushion fits well and now I need to install the relevant driver to check it out.

Week beginning 10th May Cut of ends of dumb irons and welded in a centre section after capping them. Took to Hawkestone to help set out for trial league. Engine not running that well but got a bit of help and getting closer. On the Saturday a friend tested out the rollcage for me. Vehicle not badly hurt just the bottom tube on the radiator broken a bit. Thank goodness for stop leak.

Week beginning 17th May Got a second hand exhaust to adapt and fit. Steve Blackham came over and set up carb. Told I had a misfire which would probably be down to a sticking valve and I should have the heads off to find out. Did a compression check and have lifted off the heads which will be cleaned and faced on Monday next.

January 2011 Update, I sorted out the misfire but still struggled when resting on a slope so I have just reverted back to the SU carbs that also came with the motor. Have created a bonnet bulge to make space for this and am now making wing tops. Engine runs better and I also fabricated an exhaust. Much wiring to be done and also plumbing for my diff lock. Haven't much time to complete this before I am off to work again so will get cracking and hopefully upload pictures soon.

 

July 2011 Update: Lots of work has been completed. The steering went wrong so it has been redone with another steering box (thanks to Steve Blackham for his assistance here), Carbs set up with Colourtune. Wing tops completed. Air locker connected up. Compressor mounted. Alternator changed and uprated. Twin cooling fans fitted with thermostatic switch. The upshot of all this is that I should be able to trial for the rest of the season without much else done to the motor. Will look for low cost improvements to make over the winter.

The 92.4" V8 project Part 1

Okay, here we go on the next project. With the assistance of Mike and Steve at S&W Engineering I am about to embark on the preparation of a 100" Landrover based coil sprung trialer. I intend to make it competitive but not spend a fortune. I have many ideas for it which will be achievable before the clubs start the majority of their trials. Pictures and blog will be added. I will try to see what media I can add which people will find entertaining.

7th April 2010 Just got back from 6 weeks work away and I now need to get a move on. I purchased a trailer to carry the trialer but this has needed some work and is now almost ready to try out. I needed some ramps and we came up with the idea of trying to make them out of 2 of the existing side pieces. This gave me my first opportunity to weld as I added angle iron ladder rungs to the rectangular frame. I also had to rewire the electrics and fabricate mounting points for the lights. It is now in far better shape than when it started and today I hope to see if the ramps work. Fingers crossed.

Work on the 100" so far includes changing plugs, rotor arm and replacing the plug leads with some really good ones. The air filter has been cleaned and re-oiled. The downpipe on the left bank has been tightened up. I have installed a new battery and added a marine cover over the fuel filler cap. The wings are mainly off ready to be replaced by a tubular wing arrangement which seemed the way to go as the existing wings had been destroyed. There are numerous jobs to do so I'll be off now and make a start.

9th April 2010 Big day today as I replace the fuel pipe, prepare the rear cross member and have Steve weld it up. The lads have taken 2 loads of scrap to be weighed in today and I am now in a position for the trialer to go on the trailer. Will the ramps work? Yes they do and Mike reverses the vehicle up onto the trailer. It fits perfectly and now we will have to see how it travels.

12th April 2010 Changed the fuse box, fitted fire extinguisher, fitted some more missing nuts and tightened up loose sump bolts, which at first glance, has stopped the drip of oil.

More work has gone on fitting lashing eyes to the trailer and putting temporary stays on the wing tops. I took the vehicle to Broseley Wood winch event to use as a marshall. It worked quite well but the need for power steering is highlighted. Onto the list it goes!