Apologies for the colossal image. This is reduced. The original is 8000x8000. The trees on the far bank are 25-40m tall (75-120’).
Our lad was made redundant a few months ago, when his employer folded up. He is an industrious fellow, despite anything his mother might say, and made himself busy with house and grounds.
Then he found another job, slightly better paid but somewhat further afield – at the Gold Coast. This job doesn’t provide a vehicle, so he borrowed my motorcycle. This wasn’t a problem until the jeep suffered a series of major mechanical issues.
He doesn’t have much time off the new job, but he’s been steadily bringing the jeep back into roadworthy condition. This has been hampered by a succession of mishaps and parts failures; eventually we replaced with new parts the alloy head, the head bolts, the thermostat, the oil pressure sender, the water temperature sender, the top radiator hose, all the top end gaskets and seals, the head gasket (again, due to a snapped head bolt) and finally we got it all back together.
On the first try we had the timing 180° out. On the second try, it started easily, but there was a slow leak around the thermostat housing.
By this stage my back had started to hurt from bending over the engine bay for days.
We tried to replace the thermostat but couldn’t get the housing off, the stud having rusted and swelled. Our lad’s sense of professionalism wouldn’t let him ignore the leak. He did get the housing off. Unfortunately, a chunk of the timing case went with it. We had this TIG welded back on, and put it all back together. It started easily, but still had a leak. Gasket goo, I suggested. This was duly applied, and left to cure overnight.
Overnight, there was a storm. In the morning it wouldn’t start. Presumably there is water in the distributor. The distributor cap does not seal because it is from a slightly different model. I’ve ordered the correct part from Asia Motors, along with a new clasp for the rear window.