Powerplant Gets Serviced

Thursday, 15 January 2004

Much work on the powerplant - a modified 3 litre, diesel engine with 4 x 4 transmission - took place slowly over the past few months. Many components, especially seals, gaskets, clamps and water pipes etc. of the engine were cleaned, inspected, painted and/or replaced. The oil pan was removed, cleaned and painted. A modified oil dump line was fitted and the speedometer cable was removed. The handbrake was dismantled, inspected for wear, tested and replaced. The speedometer cable was removed - it will be replaced with an electronic version. A new triple pulley is to carry a second, 100W alternator and a small airconditioner compressor. Design of the mountings for these devices has been deferred until the powerplant is mounted in the vehicle chassis to ensure a good fit. The powerplant then was transported to the Byfield factory in a special carrier (see below, left). There the unit was positioned in the chassis (below, right) and a plan of which mounting brackets to add, remove or modify was made. Measurements of the powerplant position were then made so that detailed plans for the steel floor frame can be finalised. This floor structure will then be constructed. At the same time oil, coolant and electrical systems associated with the engine must be added to the vehicle, and customised propeller shafts fitted between the transfer case output shafts and the forward and rear differentials.