A40 and other family cars - Freelander grot busting

[Matty]

37 minutes ago, chadders said:

I nearly had it bored out to 1950cc with Twin Cam pistons, 1 and 3/4" SU s and all the rest of the works.

Then the lads came along and that was it for 25 years or so and now there's weddings and flats to pay for. I should have studied Latin, not an option at Comp though, and then I'd have heard of Carpe Diem

Still time. Supposedly theyre still pretty much bullet proof and tractable even at that point. Treat yourself.

[comfortablynumb]

And when the lads arrive, if they're into cars, like two out of three of mine are, you start losing parts as they mysteriously appear on their cars..🤷

[chadders]

33 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

And when the lads arrive, if they're into cars, like two out of three of mine are, you start losing parts as they mysteriously appear on their cars..🤷

Neither of mine have shown any interest unfortunately.

[Matty]

Ive two daughters. But the youngest, in fairness to her, gets that its a family thing, goes to stuff with and generally gets involved. I dont for a second think that old cars will be a thing for her (although i could be wrong) but its nice to have her at my side while i blether shite at her. End of the day time moves on and you cant project what you want on your kids. But when i think what it was like for me with my Dad uncles and grandads it feels like a link lost.

[comfortablynumb]

I guess I'm fortunate then, MK1 son has a 2 door Range Rover classic, and a 1964 Landy s2a with a V8, and is slowly rechassising my 1985 RRC, but then he was using it when it was crashed into.

MK2 son runs a 1988 sierra sapphire, pretty highly modified, 2.9v6, is building a MK3 Capri with a 302, and has a cortina MK1 GT stashed ( In my garage!)

I recently swapped a 1979 minivan in kit form for a running MK2 cortina estate he'd got renovated, although there's still plenty to do, and he's had several fiestas and the 105e Anglia I mentioned before.

I've now got three grandkids, two boys and a girl, and she's my biggest hope, if I put a tool down she snatches it up, she's two...🤣

[Matty]

Finally back at it. Bit of winter work been a prop rebuild, bit of gearbox work and a new alternator. Still got valve clearances, oil change amd finishing polybushing at the front and back. Didnt have screwed rod to hand to drop the spring pans and couldnt be arsed dropping the rear springs in the garage at home. So those bits of jobs can wait till i get back from working away.

Good to get out though. I hate winter just looking at it, but they put so much salt down round here it just isnt worth it.

 

[Mr Pastry]

4 hours ago, Matty said:

Didnt have screwed rod to hand to drop the spring pans

Not required!  You need four long screws per side anyway.  Remove two opposite screws from spring pan, replace with long ones and run the nuts right up.  Remove the other two, slacken the nuts on the long screws to lower the spring pan.  Fit long screws and spacers in the vacant holes,  put the nuts on, then remove the first pair of long screws to fit the spacers there.  Hope that is clear. 

IIRC a 3/8" thick spacer will lower it about 1" which is probably enough.  3/8"  or  M10 plain nuts make nice easy accurate spacers, these of course clear the 5/16"  screw thread.

 

[Matty]

6 hours ago, Mr Pastry said:

Not required!  You need four long screws per side anyway.  Remove two opposite screws from spring pan, replace with long ones and run the nuts right up.  Remove the other two, slacken the nuts on the long screws to lower the spring pan.  Fit long screws and spacers in the vacant holes,  put the nuts on, then remove the first pair of long screws to fit the spacers there.  Hope that is clear. 

IIRC a 3/8" thick spacer will lower it about 1" which is probably enough.  3/8"  or  M10 plain nuts make nice easy accurate spacers, these of course clear the 5/16"  screw thread.

 

Its already on spacers at the front Tony. Ive not measured them as it came to me like that but i will now youve given me that info! IIRC its on Minor leafs at the back as apparently A40 ones take up a sag very quickly. No idea if thats right just what the PO said. Cheers for the above though 👍

[Mr Pastry]

2 minutes ago, Matty said:

IRC its on Minor leafs at the back as apparently A40 ones take up a sag very quickly. No idea if thats right just what the PO said.

Well I have learned something, as I did not know that Minor springs would fit an A40, but maybe they do - hopefully I will never need to find out!

[Matty]

1 minute ago, Mr Pastry said:

Well I have learned something, as I did not know that Minor springs would fit an A40, but maybe they do - hopefully I will never need to find out!

I could quite easily be talking bollocks mind 🤣

[Matty]

Here we are again. Im aware that the quality of my updates is defo on the wain. Problem is the little fucker just works. At some point ill have to tackle the gearbox again, but apart from that, all the big ticket jobs are done. Basically ive taken it as far as i wanted to. So now its just maintain and use.

Ive got an eye out for when @TrabbieRonnie coach paints his P4. I hate the colour and finish of mine and if his turns out well then im prepared to spend a winter hand painting and polishing it. The value of the car negates stripping prepping and painting it so if his goes well then ill have a do.

Recent work includes finishing the polybushing. Front to back its all done now. Not a minute too soon as there were some seriously snotty bits of rubber in there. 

I had an MOT booked for weds. Got one of the lads to run me down home to pick it up, got it out, no brake lights. Shorted accross the switch, lights came on. Cancelled MOT 🙄.

Now thats the second pressure switch in 3 years. But what can you do, parts are shit now. Derek at Farina Club spares sent 2 to my house for 20 quid delivered. One for the car one for the glove box. Cant whack that really. Superb owners club all in all.

Changed it this morning.

Bonnet up

Bit of heat shrink to tidy up

New switch (little bit of tape to help the taper)

All done

Lights come on 👍

Then a quick run out with my assistant (our youngest). She helped me bleed up after then came with me and made a bit of a video. I really am crap at this. Certainly no Tiff Needel. I dont think my accent and talking shite helps either. Anyhow, see what you think. Dont think @Twin-Cam needs to worry too much 🤣

 

[Matty]

Big show this weekend coming at Piece Hall in Halifax. Didnt find out till late on so unfortunatley we cant exhibit as its full. Still going mind. The Piece Hall is stunning and a lot of gigs on there. Ideal place for a show. Any Lancs Yorks lads who fancy a look, its on the 24th and 25th. Top of my head @Dave_Q and @hairnet. @purplebargeken too tbf.

[Dave_Q]

Yeah I could be TBF, will have to drag the children along but they like a lot of the shops there.

@DeanH isn't far away, @Mally could be interested?

[Matty]

6 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Yeah I could be TBF, will have to drag the children along but they like a lot of the shops there.

@DeanH isn't far away, @Mally could be interested?

Bloody hel @Mally. How could i forget. What d'ya reckon Pete, fancy it? Ill be there saturday.

[DeanH]

It's looking like I'm going up to the lakes Friday to Sunday so won't be around unfortunately. Thanks for the heads up though.

[Matty]

11 minutes ago, DeanH said:

It's looking like I'm going up to the lakes Friday to Sunday so won't be around unfortunately. Thanks for the heads up though.

Sorry Dean, didnt know you were local. Really we should try to resurect (not assuming it isnt still happening) the northern powerhouse during the better months. Calderdale would seem ideal for the lancs/yorks border. Have a good weekend pal 👍

[auntiemaryscanary]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

. I dont think my accent and talking shite helps either.

Nowt wrong with your accent. As for talking shite...

Dtr Matty made me smile, "get work to get you an Apple phone"!!! 

Car looking and sounding great.

[Matty]

1 hour ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

Nowt wrong with your accent. As for talking shite...

Dtr Matty made me smile, "get work to get you an Apple phone"!!! 

Car looking and sounding great.

Wanted a laugh react and like at the same time. Yeah shes a card 🤣

[Mally]

3 hours ago, Matty said:

Bloody hel @Mally. How could i forget. What d'ya reckon Pete, fancy it? Ill be there saturday.

It's good at the Piece Hall, I had my Harley in a show there 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, Fortunately, I'll be having a drink on the Port in Fuengirola instead, with a bit of luck.

Thanks for asking.

[Matty]

1 minute ago, Mally said:

It's good at the Piece Hall, I had my Harley in a show there 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, Fortunately, I'll be having a drink on the Port in Fuengirola instead, with a bit of luck.

Thanks for asking.

Yeah in fairness, given the choice 😄

[Matty]

Went to this today. Piece Hall Halifax car show. Brilliant place to do it so differant from the usual in a field job.

First car i met @captain_70s. Stunning.

Love these and still want one. 1800 twin carb and od box in mine please.

@Mally. Star of the show this. In the flesh they are such a beautifully realised piece of design for such a small concern. Not a bad line on it.

S800 very much in its working clothes. And all the better for it.

The first works van my Dad was given in 74

[Matty]

And the rest. Good show would go again. Good run out over to Todmorden, Hebden and onward. Starter is going fucked but then the car is a malevolant little bastard. You mend one thing it breaks another. Still goes like fuck though so ill forgive it 😄

Those Rapiers really are a work of art.

Best classic Ford period.

Yes its a Z3. So so clever though. The quality of the mouldings , paint and fittings are out of this world.

[tooSavvy]

Oooh....

Visited here.. Aug '21

Lovely 👍

🚙💨

[Matty]

1 hour ago, tooSavvy said:

Oooh....

Visited here.. Aug '21

Lovely 👍

🚙💨

Isnt it just. My mum and dad have been to gigs and a theatre show but it was my first time. Id reckon a decent gig here would be quite something (goes off to see where the Undertones are playing next year).

Edit

July the 11th this year. Bugger. Thats more money i need to spend

[jim89]

12 hours ago, Matty said:

Isnt it just. My mum and dad have been to gigs and a theatre show but it was my first time. Id reckon a decent gig here would be quite something (goes off to see where the Undertones are playing next year).

Edit

July the 11th this year. Bugger. Thats more money i need to spend

Ear & sleep friendly too, as volume dB limit & sensible hours policies feature 👍🏻🤷🏽‍♂️

[captain_70s]

On 25/04/2026 at 17:54, Matty said:

First car i met @captain_70s. Stunning.

 

Wow, those seats are amazing! Glasgow dealer badge on the front as well.

[Matty]

Evening all.

Another low quality update. Recently the idea of starting has become more a concept than reality. A lottery as it were. A twist of the key could be met with the coarse rasp of the 4 pots of Eric Barehams finest. Or a singular click. 

Fighting my usual impatient urge to just stick a new starter on, i actually investigated. Bridging the contact posts of the solenoid (a slightly nervy job as its bolted to the inner wing right under the coil "Do not make contact with either of those 🤣") brought the starter straight in. Mercifully, a "genuine Lucas"solenoid is just £18. So one was ordered.

Coil unbolted and cast aside for access

Out

Green box of undisbuted quality

All buttoned up. Took the opportunity to tidy up more wiring, including heat shrink on the incoming live from the battery which previously had quite a bit of bare strand.

First crack of the key. Real do, normal service resumed.

Thanks as usual to the likes of @Tommyboy12 @Mr Pastry and @High Jetter (sorry if ive missed anyone off) for their advice in identifying which Lucas starter i needed before i decided to grow a setand mend summat.

Other than that it just works. Very well in fact. Such a fun little bus this. Join me next time when i call in my warrenty from the gearbox rebuilder for the second time (its been coming a while).

Cheers all.

 

[Tommyboy12]

Those 'genuine' solenoids are shite nowadays. I carry a spare now as they just conk out for no reason

[Matty]

56 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Those 'genuine' solenoids are shite nowadays. I carry a spare now as they just conk out for no reason

Fuck me Tom, at this rate im going to need two gloveboxes 🤣

[N Dentressangle]

Yep, I replaced one of those not so long ago on something - Series LR I think.

I was dubious of the quality of the new one at the time, but it doesn't look like the originals can be rebuilt. Shame: presumably just a clean of all the contacts inside would fix most of them.