slim_boy_fat
Member
- Messages
- 29,532
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
@rcx Congratulations on the new addition to the family. 
- Thread starter rcx132
- Start date
jpmillermatic
Member
- Messages
- 1,094
yes, congrats!
and the work you are doing on the Vitara is very nice. great idea to run a second loom for those accessories.
JP
and the work you are doing on the Vitara is very nice. great idea to run a second loom for those accessories.
JP
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
Thanks for the congrats, really enjoying parenthood even if it means less hobby time. Maybe one day when they grow up it will be something we do together.
I know, I doubt I will do any more serious off roading in this car, I do some field work, thats all. My last Vitara also got wrecked, deep watery clay, it got into the chassis and wishbones and they started rotting from the inside, it got into the clutch, starter, and alternator.
Maybe later this year I can get on with my buggy, I've gone auto so that eliminates the clutch, I think Mercedes do a sealed alternator, water cooled, and I can use waterproof connectors so that will be for serious off-roading and competitions.
I know, I doubt I will do any more serious off roading in this car, I do some field work, thats all. My last Vitara also got wrecked, deep watery clay, it got into the chassis and wishbones and they started rotting from the inside, it got into the clutch, starter, and alternator.
Maybe later this year I can get on with my buggy, I've gone auto so that eliminates the clutch, I think Mercedes do a sealed alternator, water cooled, and I can use waterproof connectors so that will be for serious off-roading and competitions.
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
People carrier I'm afraid! This is just a spare car now.
slim_boy_fat
Member
- Messages
- 29,532
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Migmac
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,535
- Location
- Kintyre. Scotland
Been there, just down sized to a golf after 12 years running Zafiras. It’s great when your oldest passes his test and you can get a car with street cred again !
slim_boy_fat
Member
- Messages
- 29,532
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
The people carrier just came my way for £300 and has been surprisingly good, it drives just like a normal car but with lashings of space. When it's shot I might be tempted by a big 4x4 as family car.
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
Remote central locking added, it came with flip out keys, soldered in my key blade and squeezed the immobiliser chip into it:
The car has a later loom because I had a good one spare and I wanted a proper immobiliser that works off a chip and doesn't need you to disable the alarm each time. Most of the electrics are compatible but not the dash switches, so shoe-horned in the late switches:
Getting the late loom to work with the early clocks wasn't as easy, had to trace what each wire does on the old and new loom and match them up, but all works
The car has a later loom because I had a good one spare and I wanted a proper immobiliser that works off a chip and doesn't need you to disable the alarm each time. Most of the electrics are compatible but not the dash switches, so shoe-horned in the late switches:
Getting the late loom to work with the early clocks wasn't as easy, had to trace what each wire does on the old and new loom and match them up, but all works
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
Osram light bulbs to make the headlights go from unbearable to bearable
Winch cables are in and are disconnectable so the winch can be removed when not used.
Diff lock switches and aux light switches, unfortunately the interior plastics are not in great condition but this will be a working car so not changing them yet.
As of this morning the car now drives! I put it outside in the car port because next I need to learn to spray paint so I can do the paint job. The car goes outside and I've got some spare hoods to learn on.
I haven't fitted the interior as it's all going to be masked off so I can spray the door and window apertures.
Winch cables are in and are disconnectable so the winch can be removed when not used.
Diff lock switches and aux light switches, unfortunately the interior plastics are not in great condition but this will be a working car so not changing them yet.
As of this morning the car now drives! I put it outside in the car port because next I need to learn to spray paint so I can do the paint job. The car goes outside and I've got some spare hoods to learn on.
I haven't fitted the interior as it's all going to be masked off so I can spray the door and window apertures.
- Messages
- 22,922
- Location
- Birmingham
Just make sure the winch is not too easily removed 
I've known complete bullbar/winch mounts removed from Land Rovers by scroats.
I've known complete bullbar/winch mounts removed from Land Rovers by scroats.
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
Yup, I bought some unusual security bolts, got them from USA, not available in the UK, so should do the job.Just make sure the winch is not too easily removed
jpmillermatic
Member
- Messages
- 1,094
that key mod is fantastic!...love the interior switches too.....rugged case and all...perhaps a wrap of alcantara?
JP
JP
rcx132
Philip
- Messages
- 3,014
- Location
- London, UK
A wrap of some kind may be a solution for the future but for now it's still a working car that gets field work three times a year so the inside will always get damaged. Main objective of this whole project was to fix the rust that was spreading.
Wish I could say the flip out keys were my idea, but all I did was solderin the blade and shoehorn the chip into they remote. The remotes came with the alarm kit.
winchman
Member
- Messages
- 6,112
- Location
- Merseyside
May I suggest these for any winch mounts, bumper bolts etc
http://www.hafrenfasteners.com/products/nogo
http://www.hafrenfasteners.com/products/nogo
Oh some of those are really pretty!!!
I can see a couple of them being proper giggle to try and get off.
indy4x
Member
- Messages
- 3,434
- Location
- Pontypool, South Wales. UK
So how do you get them off to service the winch
