Getting ready for a trip to Mexico

[dibsen]

Nice 109. Is that a Ducilleur distributor you have? If so, throw away that crap and install a Lucas 45D4 with a petronix in it. My old Ducilleur would crap out whenever I got within 20ft of water.

yup. I've had that happen, she shut down right in the midle of a long, 2' deep puddle. Its kind of funny when the old rover can bash through all kinds of bush and hills but just a little water and she's shutting down.

 

[dibsen]

Bad news.

I can cant go to Mexico right now. Maybe come December this will settle down but right now the risk is too high.

However, I will keep work on the Landy

 

[LR Max]

I have one word for you:

Utah

Well I have many words for you actually: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California.

There. Now you can still go on an epic trip of off road awesome. Problem solved.

yup. I've had that happen, she shut down right in the midle of a long, 2' deep puddle. Its kind of funny when the old rover can bash through all kinds of bush and hills but just a little water and she's shutting down.

Yeah get rid of that.

 

[dibsen]

Well I have been patiently waiting for my parts to come in from Great Britain, but there not here yet. They may be here next week but I have a chance trip to Costa Rica that happen to fall into my lap. Now once I get back, the parts should be here, then its game on. I kind of feel like I should have her partially stripped and prepped, that way when I parts get here I'll be ready to go. Trouble is, I have ha really bad luck buying parts from the UK in the past and I know once I start tearing her down, old rusty parts will start to break and there will be no turning back.

This way I can inventory everything and then just work in stages, more like a rolling resto. I would like to drive her in-between stages so I can see/feel how the new parts work. I'm most curious about the suspension and the steering. I think my leaf springs are just about shot, so the new parabolics should be a god send. Shocks too.

Looking forward to getting that little 2.25 out and cleaned up. Love to do a 300tdi swap but its not in the cards yet. For now, a new set of gaskets will hopefully keep more of the oil inside my engine then on the ground. My motor was a MIL swap with low miles, only 13k but its the years, everything is dried out.

I'll drop a few pics from the costa rica trip on another thred when I get back. Once I get started I do my best to take pics for y'all.

 

[dibsen]

Parts are in!

We got bad weather this weekend, i'd like to get the rear axle removed. I have also been wanting to take the top off but I haven't seen too many wagons topless, in fact I have never seen one. Is there a reason for that?

 

[dibsen]

LRMAX,
Is this the dizzy you were talking about? I don't think I can use this one, it says it is for negative ground, which I'm not.

 

[overlander]

I have been wanting to get back to Belize/Guatemala for a while now, but I have the same concerns about time as you. Very interested to get more info on this Florida ferry. thanks for that info. I have NO interest in not driving down in my 110.

Also, it's funny you say Defender vent seals. Many of us Defender owners actually replace our vent seals with Series vent seals, which are rubber, not foam and way more durable. We also install the newer style bottom door seals; way more effective.

Looking forward to more details on your plan.

 

[dibsen]

Mark,
You must have missed the part about the trip being on hold until they lift the ban on military in Mexico.

On a different note, I am starting to realize my Series III will never be pretty. After just doing 3hrs of work on it in over six months, I am starting to think, if I don't just bolt these new parts on I will never drive it again.

 

[LR Max]

LRMAX,
Is this the dizzy you were talking about? I don't think I can use this one, it says it is for negative ground, which I'm not.

No. That is a points replacement system. The Lucas 45D4 is an actual distributor. You can get em from just about any parts house.

Also Petronix is a company. Google them and you can see the kit they have available.

How are you NOT negative ground? Its a series 3. The only way it couldn't be negative ground is if it is 24V or someone took a TON of time to screw with it. I looked in your photos. Check the top of the radiator, to the left of the radiator cap. I think there is a sticker there that tells you what you've got.

Oh and to cross post, I can't make it to SAE this year. In fact my entire September is shot. However we are all talking about hitting up some trails in October.

 

[overlander]

Mark,
You must have missed the part about the trip being on hold until they lift the ban on military in Mexico.

On a different note, I am starting to realize my Series III will never be pretty. After just doing 3hrs of work on it in over six months, I am starting to think, if I don't just bolt these new parts on I will never drive it again.

Nope, missed that. Saw your reference to postponing due to the risk being to high, but didn't see a specific reference to travel ban for the military. Must be active duty. I'm in the Guard and haven't heard anything on it. Wouldn't stop me from going. I've never heard of a ban that applies to guard/reserves.

 

[Rovertrader]

If it helps, I just had a friend return from the very same trip- a month long trip, from Brownsville down the coast road.No issues, just one typical $50 ticket from a local cop. The Federallies are great...