New Rear Springs and Brake Pipes

I've now fit the new parabolics from GB Springs on the rear along with my tidied up standard dampers. GB advise standard dampers should be appropriate for their parabolics for general road use and light off-road, so I am going to see how they fare once I'm on the road - especially as I already had them and they are not leaking.

I can see she is sitting higher than she was, and standard check straps are too short even with some weight in the back. I will have to wait until she's out the garage and had chance to settle before torquing up and measuring up to make some check straps.

I've also flared and fit six new brake pipes and three new flexi-hoses which replaces the whole brake line in its entirety. Next job is a complete brake/clutch fluid replacement and bleeding operations. I have bought a one-man manual bleeder on recommendation. Time will tell if I am going to need a pressure bleeder of some kind.

Brake Pipe Flares and Flaring

I had a slow start making up new brake lines to replace the old ones on the vehicle. I spent some time practicing with some copper pipe and a cheap tool that could not guarantee the pipe was held straight when forming the flare, and that did not constrict the shape of the flare on formation to the precise shape it should be - results were average at best with 3 in 4 flares being unusable.

I upgraded to a hand vice style tool (about £30) which does ensure the pipe is held perfectly straight while performing the flare, and crucially, also constricts the shape of the flare to precisely what it should be. There is no lining things up by eye and watching the process as it takes shape - the pipe can only expand to occupy the precise shape required, so you essentially get a perfect flare every time. This tool can also be used "in hand" laying under the vehicle if necessary - which I have done when I needed to remove 2" off the end of a pipe I'd already made up and half-fitted.

In addition to changing the tool I was using I also switched to copper nickel ("kunifer") pipe before starting to make up any final pipes for actual fitting. It's slightly more corrosion resistant than copper and amounts to the "same price" over 25'.

I've fit 4 new brake pipes now, with the easier 3 of 7 to go. I've also fit the 3 new flexi-hoses. I'll post some photos once they're all done and report on the subsequent bleeding operations at the same time.

Underneath the Bump Stops

I went 'caving' under the Landy recently and while I was down there I found the chassis rail above both rear bump stops are going to need repairing when the welding weather returns.

I'm not overly worried as it looks quite localised and the base of the rail sides all seem solid. When I can get her on the drive on a bright day I'll deal with them. In the spring then..

Photo (16 months)

New Rear Springs - Before

I've got some new rear parabolic leaf springs from GB Springs ready to fit, and will also be fitting new check straps and cleaning up the axle and chassis and shocks on the back. If I'm lucky I'll get this done over the Christmas holidays ready to move onto new brake pipes in January.

Some 'before' shots..

This time I had the sense (and familiarity with the grinder!) to cut the old u-bolts off. Much quicker!

New Fuel Tank

With both fuel tank outriggers replaced I was able to fit the new fuel tank recently. This went smoothly for me, but these reproduction tanks have a slight issue in that the filler neck is in a slightly different position. Because I was replacing both outriggers I was able to position it as I needed, but others have had to cut their tub about a bit to get the filler neck in position. Not good, and it's been going on for a while with no sign of the manufacturer of these tanks wanting or trying to fix the issue.

Spot the difference..

 The sender unit was so corroded the float arm started bending before it would hinge. The gauze filter on the bottom of the elbow pipe was gone completely. I ordered OEM versions of both and fit them as new.

Old fittings needed replacing

The new tank is on the vehicle now. I'm missing a photo of it in place at the moment, but it looks good.. :)

Front Fuel Tank Outrigger

There was hardly any wind today so I jumped on the last of welding for the year. Front fuel tank outrigger in place and painted. With the rail already repaired it was a straightforward couple of hours.

Next job is to fit the new fuel tank and hoses, and then finish off cleaning up and painting the chassis here under the seat base.

When that's all squared away and tidy I'll put her on axle stands and start on the rear suspension and axle and chassis cleanup. I need to order some new springs for the rear as they're too far gone for a simple refurb. Also need new check straps as they're not even there anymore. The strip light in the garage should make the evenings in the garage more doable this winter.