The Ark Royal (92 12v HDJ81)

[Pumpy]

My mate called it the Ark Royal for it's fabulous turning circle, the name has stuck













Modifications
Center differential lock has been modified to be selectable from dash rather than come on automatically with low range gear selection.

Raised Suspension 115mm:
EFS suspension kit, +115mm springs, EFS Gas shock Absorbers,
Front and rear anti-roll bar extensions,
Front and rear Bump stop extensions.
BOSS (FNB) radius arm drop boxes for castor correction.
Front and rear Adjustable Panhard rods.
New EFS Steering Damper.
Some Bushes Replaced with Polybush upgrades, anymore that need replacing will get Polybush upgrades.

Chassis & Body cavity treatment by Rustbusters.
ARB Heavy Duty front Winch bumper.
ARB Heavy duty Rear Bumper step with detachable towbar.
Intercooler
Safari Snorkel with snazzy BOSS stainless bullhorn cover
Autohome Columbus Variant series Rooftop Tent.
Patriot Alluminium Roof Rack
Oztent Foxwing Awning with 2xTapered side Sheets.
Toyota Winch with 50M Synthetic rope & HD recovery hook
Winch-it synthetic rope fairlead
Engel Fridge/Freezer
Gullwing doors (replace rear side windows)
Parrot Bluetooth Hands free telephone kit
Side & rear windows tinted
External Windscreen Sun Visor with 4x LED roof light spots
LED winch light
2x HID spot lights
Kenwood KDC-DAB4551U CD player/Radio/MP3
Wouxun KG-uv950P Tranceiver
1xCB aerial, 1xVHF aerial, 1x aerial splitter
Cabin lights upgraded to LED x2 with LED light strip worklight inside tail lift
110ah Leisure battery installation for fridge with 5x12v sockets for additional outputs
Bespoke LCD battery monitoring system in cabin
Blunt Force Cargo Netting above loadspace
Blunt Force Spare Wheel Bag for Firepit/BBQ
Bespoke overland storage system/draws/cupboards in loadspace/rear seating space
Hayes Security digital vehicle safe
Bespoke front seat covers from Escape Gear S.A.
Bespoke side steps/Heavy duty tree/rock gaurds
HD Aluminium Steering Guard/bash plate
HD Aluminium Under body Transmission Guard
Side window Smoked glass wind deflectors x 4
Cooper Discoverer STT 315/75 R16 tyres

Restoration Repairs & Work Carried out Since Purchase:
Air conditioning system service & regas 22/8/15
Front Axle rebuild LHS 1/12/15
Handbrake rebuild 1/12/15
Injectors refurbished, fuel pump reset & sundries
LSPV replaced and load-tested/bias set 12/12/15
Brake Master Cylinder replaced & sundries 21/3/16
Oil & Filter change 21/3/16
Engine rebuild, new pistons, bearings, conrods, big ends 11/5/16
Cylinder head rebuild, pressure tested 11/5/16
New waterpump 11/5/16
oil & filters 11/5/16
timing belt & bearings, and sundries 11/5/16
Post engine rebuild oil & filter 26/5/16
New Wheel bearings 16/6/16
Post engine rebuild oil/filter change 16/6/16
New Rear Brake Calipers, ARB drop links, bump stops 23/6/16
Retorque Wheel bearings 23/6/16
Drop boxes fitted 23/6/16
New handbrake shoes 23/6/16
Oil & filter 26/9/16
New fan belts & Air con belt 26/9/16

 

[clivehorridge]

This is a lovely looking truck Pete, and the mods are really impressive.

What a credit to you, it is .

I've always been impressed with the turning circle of my 80, it's something that doesn't get much of a mention, usually.

For a full time 4WD solid front axle, it doesn't lose any agility IMO.

 

[fbnss]

I was honestly surprised at the turning circle after driving a surf for a couple of years, that was bad!

 

[Shayne]

"Ark Royal" the majestic flagship of the fleet , i love it

 

[StarCruiser]

Don't know how I missed this earlier. Looking great Pete. Like the wooden drawers, very nice. Gullwings look good too.

 

[Pumpy]

Replaced Transfer box due to seazed Difflock Actuator, not sure the box suffered catastophic damage but the noise it made when the new actuator was fitted gave me the heebie jeebies so felt it was prudent, new input seal, new gearbox output seal 17/10/16
Engine oil & Filter 17/10/16
Greased props 17/10/16

With the difflock now working the FR CV complained bigtime, also the rear difflock light not showing solid - next on the list.

 

[Danny b]

Love this.. have I see this on Northants 4x4?

 

[Pumpy]

Love this.. have I see this on Northants 4x4?

You have indeed matey, 4 trucks off to the Pyrenees in... less than 4 weeks now

Had the CV done before Trev shut up shop, think it was Feb/March, the difflock light is down to a corroded connector on the indicator switch (which I've still not done, need to find a source for those plugs?) Also fitted a bigger Alternator since the original was fubar (must resist wading lol)

Dicovered the roofrack legs are loose, seems the alluminium plates have reacted to the stainless bolts on the Patriot, most of the threads have stripped out, just contacted Patriot for replacements.

MOT this week then we should be all good to go

 

[Danny b]

I would love to do Pyrenees!! Have a great trip.

 

[Pumpy]

House build has gone £25k over budget, debating selling the 80 since it'd just be sat here waiting for a time we can afford another overland trip.

It owes me £22k, is £15k with all the extras a fair price?

 

[karl webster]

yourll regret it mate. 100s end up doing after they have let them go.
get a 0 % credit card instead.

 

[Pumpy]

just thinking about it makes me feel physically sick mate

I don't need to sell it tomorrow kinda thing, maybe I'm over-thinking stuff cos the Ins/MOT is due... but if I SORN it'll be sat here for ages since a massive brand new bare house will take some budget to decorate/carpet/tile/furnish/etc. which we ain't got, let alone have the budget to go overlanding.

All our plans are up the wall, if it'd been done on budget we had loads of overland plans, HTF do builders go over budget by %25 and not give any indication until it's too bloody late to scale back plans

I reckon £15k is fair, that'd give me a 7k loss on it too, so if don't make that I'm keeping it