91 County 4x4

[Highlander250469]

I just like the look of them better and I think it'll give me more options for adding stuff later, aircon etc

Plus I have a Ford VNR 9000 sat nav unit I really want to fit into it which needs the 1.5 din size

[Vandalism]

fair enough..im a bit of a purist ....which is ironic because there will be very little original on my van by the time ive finished it

[Highlander250469]

Bit more done today.

Fitted a 70Amp igniton relay I robbed out of a Ford Scorpio I'm breaking so it now starts on the key instead of shorting two wires together in the engine bay

Stripped out all the remaining wiring that ran overhead and down either side of the van, there was loads of it, I don't know what sort of gear they ran in it originally but there must have been plenty of it.

Removed the remaining bits of wood and flooring from the back and pulled out all the rotten engine bay soundproofing.

A lot of dampness hiding behind it all but no major problems to report.

Hopefully get another few hours at it tomorrow (and some more pics)

So next weekend hopefully the welding can begin, not got anything major at all at the front end, all inner wings etc look ok.

Got a couple of ariel holes to weld up in the roof, replace both rear arches, a couple of floor patches and maybe a patch on a sill that I dont like the look of, its not bad but its not good and I keep going back to look at it so I'll just do it

Another change of plan...

Think I'll just MOT it a class 7 for now just to get it on the road so I can use it, then I can work away on it in my own time with the camper idea.

Still on the lookout for a rear locker or LSD but the Salisbury 53 axle seems to be quite a peculiar beast and there doesn't seem to be much available out there for them even in the USA but I'm still on the hunt..

Intend to keep the twin wheel rear axle so it may well mean having to graft another diff type onto the axle at some point but thats well down the priority list.

The Dana 44 front axle however has a huge selection of lockers and LSD's available due to them being used in many Jeeps so no problem there, wasn't really going to fit a front one but they are readily available easy to install and pretty cheap so I probably will.

That was it for today really, took it out for an hour round the woods and the fields for a bit of fun this afternoon.

Makes you smile like a Cheshire Cat driving it offroad

[Highlander250469]

A few more pics.

Just been doing a lot of small stuff so it doesn't appear much different from before

Next weekend....Let the welding begin!!

[Vandalism]

i like the little side hatchon the body, you can pop your head out and say hi

why have you got a yellow number plate on the front

[Highlander250469]

Hatch was for a small gas bottle I think, at least there was gas pipes leading to it and there was a metal box behind it to isolate it to the outside.

Think I'll be welding it back up though

Not sure about the number plate, I assume the white one was broken and this was the spare one for a trailer

[Vandalism]

thought you wernt aloud a yellow one on the front, or dont you use it on the road yet

[County4x4]

Always nice to see another County turn up on these pages . . . . . .

i've often considered loppin' a bit off the tail end of mine. Lots of space, but it does make the tow hook a bit of a plough!!

[Highlander250469]

thought you wernt aloud a yellow one on the front, or dont you use it on the road yet

No you're not

It's not on the road, its running but I still have a fair bit to do before I stick it in for an MOT

new tyres
look at the brakes
welding
change front and side doors
find a mk3 bonnet
Mk5 dash
bit of rewiring under the bonnet
fit bigger sidewindows
new windscreen rubber

[Vandalism]

ahh transits aye, always things to be done

ill get on mine when the weathers better

[Highlander250469]

Always nice to see another County turn up on these pages . . . . . .

i've often considered loppin' a bit off the tail end of mine. Lots of space, but it does make the tow hook a bit of a plough!!

Yeah, it really cuts down the approach angle!!

I think I'm going to fit a plug for the socket wiring so I can just unplug it, take out the 6 bolts for the towbar frame and remove the whole thing.

[County4x4]

Always nice to see another County turn up on these pages . . . . . .
i've often considered loppin' a bit off the tail end of mine. Lots of space, but it does make the tow hook a bit of a plough!!

Yeah, it really cuts down the approach angle!!
I think I'm going to fit a plug for the socket wiring so I can just unplug it, take out the 6 bolts for the towbar frame and remove the whole thing.

Not too bad with mild green lanes. And, the good thing about the old Mk3, is it still goes round corners

[Highlander250469]

Well nothing done to the Transit at all this weekend, a mixture of freezing conditions, snow, sleet, rain, kids and broken down neighbours cars put paid to that

Went to rescue a friends sister in an old T reg Polo that had cut out on a large roundabout and was refusing to start.....

After some investigating we came to the conclusion that it hasn't had any new plugs/leads/distributer caps or rotor arms for at least the last 8 years!!

Now got a full new set of kit on it and running like a new car!

Also finally managed to track down the heavy fuel consumption problem in my own car, a very fine, nicely hidden split in the exhaust manifold!

I had a quick look at the Transit but that was it.. maybe next weekend...

Pressures on though, I have a deadline to work to now... want to have it on the road by September for the Selkirk Classis Car rally

[Vandalism]

Also finally managed to track down the heavy fuel consumption problem in my own car, a very fine, nicely hidden split in the exhaust manifold!

my little fiesta has heavey fule consumption somtimes, and other times its really good

[Highlander250469]

Well not much to report, been busy with the offroading for the last few weeks so the County has been neglected...

But, I do now have a complete set of spares for it!

Headed up to Aberdeen to pick up this today from Pat (tipperarytransnut100)



Pats had this for a good few years and been using it offroad for carrying stuff around up until quite recently

I believe it may have had the odd foray out on road too but thats just a rumour!

Pat had the "it or me" chat with the wife regarding his County so having discussed the situation with his good wife and reaching a compromise acceptable to both parties, it was put up for sale...

Its a 91 ex West Yorkshire Council tipper 2.5 Di so the exact same running gear as mine.

Before I get berated for breaking it, I would just like to mention that as Pat drove it out of his drive the chassis decided to split in two just behind the cab!

This then caused the cab/front end to tilt forwards and knocked the transfer box out of gear.

Some technical wizardry by Pat (Big Hammer) restored the drive and some heavy work on the blue ratchet strap in the pic which passes through the cab via the open windows and is hooked onto the tipper body meant the cab was restored to almost its normal position

Pat had warned me that the body and chassis are well gone, which was exactly what I was after, the last thing I wanted was another repairable County project!!

Got it home tonight and gave it a run around the field (ratchet strap still holding both halfs together)

All working fine, transfer box a bit stiff to get into 4wd but thats nothing major, everything else working great

Tomorrow morning it will be driven into its final resting place and stripped down.

Cheers for that Pat (he's the one in the pic trying to stop any more bits falling off it )

I now also have my spare set of wheels, so I can keep one set of road tyres and one set of offroad tyres