Dave's 'New' Grand Vitara "Build Thread" and subsequent use, etc...

James also gets parts from jimnybits, delivered to your door cheaper 

Saturday the 22nd of August I got a letter from the DVLA... it said that they could not renew my upcoming road tax DD as my MOT had run out?! So I went on the "Has my car got an MOT" function, and realised yes, I'd missed an MOT!

So I rang my mate and quickly arranged one for Tuesday the 24th...

 

Epic fail!

 

Some structural welding and the two front ARB drop links I'd only fitted a year ago had failed dust caps already...

 

So Wednesday the 25th...

 

Underneath...

 

With a wire cup brush in Mr. Angry the angle grinder, and I was left with a load of Bran Flaes on my tarp'...

 

Shoot! It's a long way back to half decent metal to weld to!

 

Some CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) and make up some patches... and fold them to suit...

 

The other side was even worse / harder!

 

Battery connections off and "glue" (MG!) them into place...

 

 

And then seam sealer and Tetrosyl -

 

 

And then today the 1st of September...

 

Swap the ARB droplinks for better one ones (old ones £20 a pair off eBay, new ones MOOG brand from local garage supplier £50 - "buy cheap, buy twice" !)

 

Repeat for other side...

And then message MOT friend to book a retest... an hour later  

He must be a great bloke, his name is Dave as well

 

PASSED! Just need to restart the road tax DD now it's got an MOT...

Another (few) years happy motoring out of the old bus / shop van these days! LOL




 

 

You have deprived another punter of an MOT fail. Good work fella.

Yes, it’s MY blue heap!
 

 

My run of bad luck continues... the Boogie buggy has been recovered four times already, and on Wednesday - with the buggy in the garage having it's head re-done, I decided to get out in the NGV and take the dogs for a nice walk by a local reservoir...

Coming back, first the battery light came on, and then the temperature started rising... I pulled over and discovered the water pump pulley had sheared and gone all floppy, that had taken the belt off, which had stopped the alternator charging, so I rang my mate's recovery firm...

Me : "Hi Toby, it's Dave"
Toby : "Hello mate, what do you want? Your buggy is in the garage next door"
Me : "Would you believe I'm in my road car?"
Toby : "Where are you mate?"
Me : "Outside the Shell station in Denbigh"
Toby : "One of the trucks will be with you in twenty minutes Dave"

You couldn't make it up?

So both my vehicles are off the road awaiting repairs...

I'd buy a bicycle, but the wheels would probably fall off knowing my current luck?! :lol:

So excuse me if I'm quiet on the board for a bit, I'll be back soon though!

Sad to hear of the failure Dave. Your not having much luck lately.

I think I have a spare water pump for an M series engine if your needing one...

It's back!

 

It first had a virtual compression test which proved ok, so I hadn't cooked the head whilst getting to a place of safety to be recovered. 

A new water pump and auxiliary belt have been fitted, and new coolant / antifreeze, and it should be good for a few more... errr... dare I say, years? LOL :lol:

Great to have it back
 

Yay. More tetris pictures will be imminent then?

Dave you would be happy if it was all plain sailing .....

I miss my old GV,,,,

I'm still off my feet waiting for my right foot to heal properly... but in the meantime my wife and I have separated after 33 years of marriage, and I've moved out of the big house and into a rented cottage...

So the GeeVee had to come with me, even though I can't drive it yet :lol: (The Jimny Buggies are still in the garage though, I've hung on to access to my man cave!), anyway, it meant after nine months languishing on the drive, it needed an MOT...

And it passed?! First time?! 

So here it is parked outside my little cottage -

 

I washed it yesterday... and looking at it I felt the front suspension had sagged a little since it's 2" lift kit was fitted? The back looks fine, but there's quite a rake to it?

So, lots of time on my hands I started googling new lift kits, as you do. and then saw the price! 

Put the kettle on, had a cuppa, and my mind started ticking over.. it can't be the front strut spacers? It must be the old tired springs and struts themselves? So I looked at car part websites for fresh items, and then my brain ticked again.. instead of putting my own personal registration number in, I jumped on eBay and found an advert for a 1.9 DDiS model, and used that registration... indeed the aftermarket springs are different part numbers for the heavier engine! So I ordered new struts and springs for £150.and will get my mate at the local garage around the corner to fit them, as he has the special machine needed to fit the springs onto the struts... Result! 

The rear springs and shocks are already new replacement lift units, so a complete refresh on the tired suspension then  I'll let you know how it turns out  

(If you look a few posts back, you can see the rake of it)

Well that's a lot of information to process.

Sorry you have had to move out.

Congratulations on the pass.

Hope the healing process is on track.

Glad you're feeling well enough to be back here and looking at parts for cars.