EventsEvents
2010 National Indoor Show
Last Updated (Sunday, 21 March 2010 19:49) Written by Martin Lines Sunday, 21 March 2010 19:20
So were you there??
A lovely, but long, trip to Stafford for the TOR Indoor 4x4 show. It was nice to have a totally indoor show even though the weather was warmer this year. Although the venue was slightly larger it seemed to be a lot emptier of visitors although there was a very long queue at the door for the "Pay on Entry" visitors and an equally long queue for the only catering establishment on the premises!, it was quite a long drive for what was a strongly Landrover orientated set of stalls.
It was really good to meet up with some of the faces from the Suzuki off-roading world, Gary (funkyjimny), Richard (Rockwatt), Dave Jones (Bits4Vits), Richie(Shropshire Suzuki), Jamie (from Tong), Ezz must have been there somewhere as his car was on display. More Jimnys in the car-park than on display in the event.
As you can see in the pictures below there was some space in the crowds.
Still, Dave from Bits4Vits was entertaining a few customers on his stand.
Over on the Off-Road Armory stand, James was showing off his smart blue Jimny (and yes, my son did point out what a lovely interior it has, a lovely gearbox action and a smooth clutch and no, I didn't let him buy it!!)
I even got Jamie to pose - but he was still a victim of my sales technique ;)
Ezz's Jimny features in the modified car display.
Under the bonnet lurks its V6 engine.
And perhaps the least recognisable Jimny at the show was this "Smart" Jimny.
And a little Suzuki to drool over.
Whilst a few more lurked in the car park - are any of these yours!
07/03/10 - Nellies Dell
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Martin Lines Sunday, 07 March 2010 19:18
So with it being the first Sunday of the month it was off to Nellies Dell. As always it's been a bit touch and go whether we would be able to go. The replacement (updated design) axle shaft retainers from Muddyzook appeared at the end of last week and had to be fitted before I could go anywhere as my use of the hub backing plate was causing problems. However, I decided that one of the rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced whilst I had it all in bits so I did that as well.
On Thursday I took it for the tracking to be done and they found that the rear axle is about 2 cm off-set to the drivers side, looks like I will need to fit my adjustable panhard rods!. When I fitted the new axle shaft retainers I took it for a test drive and there is a lot of rubbing noises coming from the back, particularly every time you turn a corner. So as the Jimny leans something is moving and rubbing. Also there another re-occurence of the "Death Wobble". As my joints, bearings, wheel balancing, wheel alignment (front) and steering damper are all correct and good then there is something else to find and fix there somewhere.
So with rubbing noises from the back, a shimmy as I went through 30 MPH and a leaking front-diff it was off to Nellies Dell (well I needed to get out and drive it, I have spent a while underneath it this month).
James loves "hugging" the trees when he drives! He claims this one "just jumped out"
03/03/10 - Next outing
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Martin Lines Wednesday, 03 March 2010 08:38
I managed to get the new axle retainers and replacement brake pads fitted to BigJimny last night (an updated article on fitting the rear disks will follow soon). Therefore we are ready for the Thames Valley 4x4 event this weekend at Nellies Dell, Hampshire - see DETAILS HERE - Does anyone else in the south feel like coming along?07/02/10 - Oxley's Shaw
Last Updated (Sunday, 07 February 2010 19:47) Written by Martin Lines Sunday, 07 February 2010 19:21
Of to the TV4x4 monthly off-roading event, this month at Oxley's Shaw. We ran a tracking device so you can see where we went, if you track over to the left hand side of the overall picture and zoom in on the end you can see us going around the course!
And, unusually for our club, it was a Jimny fest with 4 different vehicles attending!
New to our club is Phil Summers (Summboy on this website) who is playing with a Jimny whilst buidling a special SJ.
Flic brought her little silver Jimny along but her day ended early after it had an arguement with a tree.
And, of course, we were there!
Phil was very enthusiastic in his 3" KAP lifted Jimny running 215/75 R15's with ORA Caster Correction arms
Here I am winching out a Mitsi Exceed (aka "Camper Van")
Phil managed to loose his exhaust on the way to the site, so it was not the quietest of Jimnys.
Here we were a bit delayed as we slid back down the hill onto the log you can see behind the car.
Ryan (also from this website) was hoping to sell his modified Jimny
01/11/09 - Broxhead Common
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Martin Lines Sunday, 01 November 2009 19:05
Well not such a good day out. It poured with rain at Broxhead today and we got soaked through. Very quickly after arriving we were going to climb a hill in the mud run when there was a bang from underneath and we lost 4WD. Once we had winched out a quick inspection showed that the drivers side front wheel rotates happily on its own, so either the halfshaft has snapped or the CV joint has failed. I would put money on the CV joint as this is the weakest part and the steering gets very stiff on full right lock. I unbolted the freewheeling hub to ensure nothing could jam and we drove home very carefully!!! Also disappointing were the brakes, they were extremelt spongy and the handbrake was very poor. I guess I still have some work to do somewhere on the brake conversion.
Still there was one highlight of the day. We did winch out a very stuck V8 Range Rover!
So its back into the garage.
Now if only I had won the Euromillions on Friday!
Martin
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