Wednesday 2 October 2013

From the Horse's Mouth

Finally managed to track down a previous owner of my Jeep in South Africa.  Turns out he runs a Jeep dealership.  This is what he had to say:

"Hi Tom,

The transfer case has been upgraded to a 242 with a 2 wd option for just  a situation you have now.  Also to help with fuel mileage.  It will be fine to drive without the front driveshaft installed. Other than the T-case, there have been no modifications to the drive train."

He has even offered to supply me with all the bits I need at, when I compare them to the internet and especially what they want to charge here, very reasonable prices.  I'm also going to go for heavy duty shocks, new control arms and a heavy duty sway bar.  OK, the guy is a salesman and I am a sucker for a good pitch but if it makes the car safer for Marcia to ride around in, I'll go for it.

Actuallly, while I am at it I might as well go for new filters, plugs, brake pads, assorted suspension bushes etc and really tighten the car up.  It is too good a car to spoil for a ha'porth of tar.

I tried driving the truck which has been our back up transport but it was too painful.  Now that I know I can safely drive the Jeep (which is automatic so I can drive with my left foot), tomorrow I will whip up to the restaurant site and take photos of the new cottages going up.  I have been laid up for nearly two weeks because of an irritating little snake bite and am starting to feel left out.

15 comments:

  1. Hurrah! What did he have to say about the driveshaft spline? Part of the upgrade?

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    1. Yeah. I reckon the seized spline caused the UJ's to fail. The car also had a tendency to wander when the front suspension was compressed, say when driving into a depression. I reckon this was bump steer caused by the splines not sliding and pushing the front axle forward.

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    3. Get out the liquid wrench, stand up that drive and soak the spline! , it may break loose, or have you already broke it loose? Back to the Tale of the Toe. Flash lights, for flash light worthy walks.

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  2. A perfectly logical reason for an illogical set of circumstances. While you are at it - put some monster wheels or a propeller shaft for crossing the river - a new tourist experience http://www.aquaduck.com.au/

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    1. i'd love an original DUKW! The one you gave me the link to is too pouffie Australian for my taste!

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    2. Well, I did imagine you would change the paint job. I found the following that could be good for fishing trips on the Kwanza river. It would need to have a few serving nieces on it though.

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  3. The bit for the horse's mouth; you see I wasn't so far removed from reality.

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    1. I would say you are closer to reality than anyone around this blog!

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  4. Don't suppose you thought to upgrade the driver with a pair of heavy-duty bush boots? Just saying... ;-D Glad you found a source for Jeep parts, Tom. You're persistence usually pays off. Good for you!

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    1. Why should I buy my driver new boots? I pay him his salary, he can jolly well buy his own.

      I own three pairs of solid bush boots and some genuine Australian Light Horse leather gaiters from the First World War, lovingly cared for all these years but it seemed, at the time, a lot of effort to pull them on just to switch a generator off and go to bed.

      Now that I can no longer get my right boot on, I phone the boy-in-the-shop and tell him to switch the gennie off at night.

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  5. So glad to have been introduced to you via Owl Wood. "An irritating little snake bite..."? I'm more dramatic about a mosquito bite.

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    1. Welcome, me old son. I do read your blog which I also discovered via Sir Owl.

      You are quite correct, mine was a typical example of English understatement. I should have said, 'a jolly irritating little snake bite'.

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  6. Huzzah and well done that man!

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  7. Glad it's fixed...as for DUKW, they keep sinking or catching fire over here...papers are having a field day!

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Please feel free to comment, good or bad. I will allow anything that isn't truly offensive to any other commentator. Me? You can slag me without mercy but try and be witty while you are about it.