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You will need the special tool to remove and tighten the nuts on the first motion shaft and layshaft. These are the only special tools needed as far as I remember. It's been many years since I played with series Landies. I've had 110 V8 csw for the last 23yrs.

The guy with the Wetspot van, please tell me his name was Mike Hunt!!

Ah, the joy of owning older cars. 😁 At least you're not paying several hundred dollars every month on a PFC. You drive something with style!

Any early pre-BMC Austins? Also, the Farnia A40's 55's and 60's? Also, anything British.

The Post Office have these. I can confirm that the build quality is less than optimal. The interiors don't seem to last that well. That and the fact that they are battered to shite. As to the padlocks, if it works, why knock it?

My Dad had a Bluebird. It replaced his Volvo 240. 1.8 automatic with all the toys, power steering, windows and sunroof. Went pretty well. They normally ended up as minicabs doing intergalactic mileages, particularly the diesels. Very reliable and great as A Car. All of the Nissans at that time seem to have more toys than the European offerings.

It's alive!!! That is such a satisfying thing. No clouds of smoke and horrible banging noises!

I agree with this. You have an excellent example there. It is worth getting it done correctly. Yes, compared to anything modern they will be slow. However, it will keep up with modern traffic, after all 70mph is the speed limit on the motorways. With all the cameras out there, you very rarely see people doing stupid speeds anymore. Just enjoy it for what it is.

I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it. A new valve block, if available, will certainly be the way to go.

I've had several Fiestas over the years. As a driving instructor I tend to get through a few cars. We had the 1.25 sad face, then, due to supply problems went over to the Focus. They early 1.25was no ball of fire but was well screwed together with air-con, that when you put on, you could feel the power loss! I later had the 1.4 and the Ecoboost models. The 125bhp Ecoboost is a fantastic engine. I now have a Puma mild hybred for teaching and love it. More space, more power and economy. The reason these are popular, particularly with the older motorist, is the ease on entry and exit. Less 'old man' noises getting in and out. Times move on. Electric is the golden child at the moment and diesel is the spawn of the devil. I have heard that VW and some oil companies are working on some kind of synthetic fuel, which apparently is much lower on emissions. Who knows, in ten years' time we might find that electric cars are the evil polluting monsters and diesels are the saviours of the world!

This looks amazing. As for the rat look, I'm afraid I'm not a fan. Get it tided up and a new coat of paint. It will look fantastic!

I must say that thing looks epic!

This is a lovely barge. Being the turbo, I expect it goes as well as it drinks!! 😁

Sorry Lanchester, not Daimler

I never ran a Minor but did run the mechanically similar Austin A40. The 1098 is perfectly adequate. A steady 60mph on the motorway will return 40ish mpg. Compared to anything modernish, then slow and steady is the name of the game. What's happening to your other cars? What are you doing with the Maestro, the Princess or the Daimler? Are you selling any of them or just increasing the collection?

So pleased to see this up and running. Must be great to finally have it on the road.

So it's the usual bodge of just slap the panel over the top and secure it with some doggy welds and use plenty of pudding to cover it.

The big question is, is it supposed to be double skinned? Has someone just slapped a repair panel over the top of it?

I think these are based on a Mazda, cannot remember which one, I'm sure other more knowledgeable members can confirm this. See if the parts for said Mazda are cheaper that Smart does.

This was a know problem with these. I worked on them when they were new and this was something we did regularly under warrantee.

This does look epic. Cannot wait to see the finished product.!!

The latest Seat has different setting for the dash. I know on one all you get is a simple digital speedo. On the others it can light up like a fighter jet! I remember as a lad looking at the speedos of things like A60's and Vauxhall Victors. They had 100mph speedo's. Only if you drove them off Beachy Head would they do that. 85mph max and that was optimistic.

But at least it will be done right! Just think, it could be inner arches and sills made of cornflake packets and P40 with copious covering of underseal with an MoT from 'we pass any car' I even saw a U tube video where the guy 'repaired' accident damage with a floor tile and copious amounts of wob!! He posted this and was proud of it!!

So sorry to hear about your friend. As had been said already, 49 is far too young. Your van will be a great tribute to him.

This is looking amazing. It will be so satisfying to drive once it is done and you will know that it has been done properly. It is terrifying to think of how many fiberglass and pudding specials are out there especially as these no longer need an MoT.