2008 LEO (Lands End to Orkney) Run

Post by **Judge** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:41 am

Thanks guys, much appreciated

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:09 am

I spent a couple of hours last night trying to set the torsion bar position from scratch and it's still not right.

Three wheels on my Morris, and I'll soon be rolling along...

Post by **ndevans** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:57 am

Bigginger, Bmcecosse-as I said earlier, be careful what you wish for!

I still have that exhaust from last year Andrew, which proves my point about there being a bad batch out there somewhere......

With a new regulator I'm hoping not to have any problems this year....touches Traveller wood......

Post by **Judge** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:32 am

I fitted a new regulator, then a dynamo, then an alternator........

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:03 pm

I've just had a look at where the rally plaques can go. If they really have to be on the front, the only place it fits without covering up the number plate or indicators or something is on the grille, which isn't really ideal because it blocks up about a third of it. If we're willing to put them on the back instead, there's plenty of room to blu-tak them to a Trav rear door panel or the Saloon boot lid.

Post by **Judge** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:09 pm

I have already fitted mine to the two bolts as previously mentioned, and strengthened it a bit with gaffa tape.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:15 am

If you mean the bolts in the middle of the bumper, surely that will cover the number plate and the starter handle hole? If you put it off to one side of the number plate it ends up bent around the overrider. Also I still doubt people will want to undo their bumper bolts to fit the plaque. Perhaps you should post a photo of what you've done...

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:17 am

Got the other side of the front suspension back together last night but the torsion bar setting is still not right.

Post by **Judge** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:46 am

Here you are Alex. It does cover the starter handle hole, but then with the modified engine I can't use it anyway.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:51 am

The ones I've done are A4 size though and cutting them out weakens the lamination, so they are a couple of inches taller than that. I'll have another look tonight but I suspect sticking them on the back might be the way to go.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:21 am

I spent a couple of hours last night trying to set the torsion bar position from scratch and it's still not right

Assuming the bottom bump stop has lost its rubber:
if you get a bit less than 4 fingers (somewhere around 3 fingers...) distance between the end of the lower arm and the bottom trunnion pin (with suspension on the bottom stop) then it will be close first time.
After doing that, drive around the block to settle the bushes and park on flat ground and measure between floor and eyebolt pin.

Use this measurement to see what difference you have - if it's less than approx 1/2", chances are that the rear arm adjuster plate (using a different hole) will sort it.

If the bottom bump stop has rubber on it, then you need slightly more fingers to make the first setting.

An announcement for LEO'ers:
My new insurance paperwork has my name spelt wrongly.

Therefore no chance to get a tax disk, so unless the new papers arrive by Sat morning I will be delaying my start to Monday.
How they got my name wrong when I'm a repeat customer is beyond me, and why the paperwork delivery was so slow when insurance was taken out in penty of time is frustrating!

It does mean that I will be a lot less stressed about getting MOT by Friday, as I probably can't make the start due to no tax thanks to insurance typo.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:37 am

I think I can get it close enough with one more adjustment. Unfortunately it's going to mean dismantling the lower arm on both sides again - so at least an hour's work. Some of the trouble was caused by my trying to set it up with only one side assembled (that really doesn't work - you need the weight on both wheels to properly see the effect of the torsion bar position). In hindsight I should have assembled both sides before trying to set up the torsion bars. I have replaced the rebound stops but unfortunately past bodgery on the nearside crossmember end means that I can't adjust the vernier plate on that side, so I've set the vernier on the offside to give a matching height to the nearside (when there was no torsion on the bars). If I can get it to within half an inch of the correct height I'll be very happy - at the moment one side is practically dragging on the ground.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:44 am

I used to adjust front suspension height at the start of Rallies - depending on forecast road roughness conditions. Seriously - it's only 10/15 mins per side if the parts are not rusted up.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:02 pm

Do you have a shortcut way of doing it? Because the way I've been doing it (jack under chassis, place axle stand, release jack, take wheel off, jack under lower arm, unbolt everything on the lower arm, release the jack, adjust the arm, jack under the lower arm, bolt everything back together, release the jack, fit the wheel, jack under the chassis, remove the axle stand, lower the jack) takes about half an hour per side.

Post by **Judge** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:04 pm

rayofleamington wrote:My new insurance paperwork has my name spelt wrongly.
Therefore no chance to get a tax disk, so unless the new papers arrive by Sat morning I will be delaying my start to Monday.

If they send it 1st Class now, with luck you should have it tomorrow Ray.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:16 pm

Can't see rong speling of name would stop you getting a tax disc. Even if the Post Office notices (and they are only looking to see the reg number matches the tax form) - then just explain. When I had my Mini they made a mess of my name in the V5 - so insurance didn't match the name - was never a problem.
Alex - much as you say, but no axle stand. Just one bottle jack under the chassis and a block of wood to put under the kingpin. And it's only 3 nuts on the rear lower arm to undo. Seriously doesn't take long. It can be done v quickly with practice !

Post by **Squiggle** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:50 pm

rayofleamington wrote:

An announcement for LEO'ers:
My new insurance paperwork has my name spelt wrongly.
Therefore no chance to get a tax disk, so unless the new papers arrive by Sat morning I will be delaying my start to Monday.
How they got my name wrong when I'm a repeat customer is beyond me, and why the paperwork delivery was so slow when insurance was taken out in penty of time is frustrating!

It does mean that I will be a lot less stressed about getting MOT by Friday, as I probably can't make the start due to no tax thanks to insurance typo.

It's their mistake, they should courier it to you !

Or at least pay for guaranteed next day delivery....

Post by **dalebrignall** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:53 pm

ray if they send it special 9 am you will get it by 9 am the next day

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:56 pm

f they send it 1st Class now, with luck you should have it tomorrow Ray.

She did 'say' it would be posted today, but we'll see.
First class post is not always next day but it's now a waiting game - except I need to go and weld rather than wait ;-)

Post by **Judge** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:42 pm

If I left everything 'til the last minute, I wouldn't have any hair. Hold on a minute.........