Alice, Jono and I got quite a bit done on Big Car yesterday. We refitted the refurbished fuel injectors and fuel injection pump. We put some fresh diesel in and flushed the fuel tank and pipes. We fitted a new fuel filter and we primed the fuel system.

We couldn’t get Big Car to start though. We went to squirt some Easy Start into the inlet and found that it was blowing instead of sucking. It was blowing so much that all of the Easy Start blew away!

I’ve put this message on Landyzone.co.uk asking for ideas. We figured that some of the inlet valves could have become seized open, so taking the rocker cover off may be the next step.

Take care all, Bob.

Last weekend I got Big Car’s fuel injectors out. Luckily, the battery had enough charge to turn the engine, and the compression in the cylinders popped three of the unbolted injectors out. The fourth injector soon submitted to the advances of Draper’s finest claw hammer. I took the injectors down to the Bosch specialists during the week and they tested them. Two of them were fine, but the other two needed new nozzles. Also, Shaun’s suspicion that the injectors weren’t seated properly was confirmed because two of them had carbon deposits where they shouldn’t. I picked the injectors up yesterday and (weather permitting) we can have a go at putting Big Car back together again at the weekend. We also need to drain the tank of the contaminated diesel and flush it and the pipes with some good stuff. We could also do with a new fuel filter. Take care all, Bob.

I picked up the repaired fuel injection pump this morning.

The fella at the injection specialists said he’d test Big Car’s injectors for free. I think we should take him up on that offer because they might also have been ruined when we tried running Big Car on a mixture of diesel and water. We need to get rid of all the contaminated diesel that we have and get some proper stuff. Also, it might be worth flushing out Big Car’s diesel tank.

Take care all, Bob.

Mel has created a group on Facebook for Si. Please feel free to check it out. There is also a Big Car group.

After a lot of hunting around for replacements, we have finally decided on what to do with Big Car’s Big Fuel Pump – have it reconditioned by the Bosch people. The savings made in trying to get a replacement would have been very slim compared with the cost of reconditioning it and this way we are guaranteed to have a working pump with the people who gave the g’tee just down the road should we need it.

Bob is going to drop it down to them soon for them to get underway.

Exciting!

My Dad showed me this brilliant video on how to take a Landy off road. Take a look.

EDIT: Here’s a version of the video which should be quicker to load…

Just wanted an excuse to try out this new eBay thingamajig…

Big Car sure would look cool with a set of these bull bars though…

Take care all, Bob.

It turns out that the fuel injector pump is full of water and has seized. It would cost £350 to fix, but I think we’ll be able to get one cheaper off eBay or from a scrapper. Matt and I suspect that we’ll need to flush the entire fuel system and replace some other parts too. I’ve put a message on LandyZone.co.uk asking for some advice.

Don’t worry, we’ll get there in the end. Take care all, Bob.

EDIT: I’ve asked John Craddock Ltd to quote us for a reconditioned fuel injection pump, but they need to know if we need one for a naturally aspirated engine or for one with a turbo fitted. Whilst Big Car is currently naturally aspirated, I think her engine originally had a turbo fitted. I’ve posted a further message on LandyZone.co.uk asking about the differences between fuel injection pumps for naturally aspirated engines and for turbo engines so that we can work out what we need. Take care all, Bob.

EDIT2: I’ve found out that it’s the naturally aspirated fuel injection pump that we’re after and I’ve been quoted £224.42 by John Craddock Ltd for a reconditioned one. The question is: do we go with this, or take our chances with one off eBay or from a scapper?

Mel’s next door neighbour Bill came by to take a look at Big Car today. He showed us a good tip for removing the fuel injectors – unbolt them, turn the engine over and let the compression pop them out! No need to get the claw hammer out next time! Anyway, we found that the injectors are being provided with some fuel, but not at any pressure. I’ve whipped the fuel injector pump off Big Car again and I’m going to get a specialist that Bill knows to take a look at it.

…I’m gonna give this another go. Let’s hope I can do better than last time. Take care all, Bob.