3/4 & 10/11 October - Tx box back on and dipstick sorted.....

Two weekends worth of blog in one. Either I was too busy or just too damn tardy to get this all down?

Well the transfer box/gbx seal went in (Allmakes this time) and looked the same as the genuine unlike the Britpart one I had received then mullered previously. New set of Britpart gaskets, which seemed all fine despite some having problems with them, enabled the box to be rebuilt and refilled with the saved lube - once the transmission brake was refitted. The brake was in good condition when I removed it, but I rebuilt it with new shoes etc. anyway.

Painted what will be the outside of the bulkhead with Containergard in DBG. Interior will stay gloss DBG. It's easier to wipe down.

Using the old 'work out how long a drive belt you need with a piece of wire' trick I dropped by the local emporium and found that a Halfords HB1250c drive belt would fit (£4.50 with 'trade' discount). Maybe a tad thick as it rises a little out of the alternator pulley but I will see how it goes. There was a thinner option which was a bit shorter if I need to change it.

That was all last weekend and not much has happened during this one due to the weather and all the other stuff that had to be done. But I have sorted the dipstick!

With a 300tdi turbo assembly and the 200tdi inlet mani the original dipstick tube will not fit so something had to be done. After a bit of fettling it looked like this and even is secure on the original two mounting screws when fitted. Takes a bit of wiggling to get both it and the 300tdi turbo assy on/off but it is easily do-able if you know the procedure now.

Managed to get the vent flaps on (now painted in DBG) and most of the metalwork off the old bulkhead. Did start to fit the vent seals but dopey managed to put the glue on the wrong side so they are trashed and will have to be done again. Duoooogh?

Next weekend's plan is to fit the wiper motors and vent screens; both fuel tanks in; and to decide on the turbo outlet position. I planned to rotate it slightly to improve the fitting of the turbo ductwork but that is going to entail some fettlin' with the linkage to make it workable. I may give up and fit it anyway....or I may not. Come back next time ;)