Many of you fellow froggie chaps & chappettes know that I'm preparing Moby Dick to take part in the Peugeot Re-Run starting in April this year. This will involve the Whale taking part in a 10,000 Km drive from Sydney to Sydney via Bundaberg, Roma, Pt Augusta, Melbourne & the Snowy. Definitely the scenic route! On the way we'll be having all sorts of fun with Hillclimbs, Autocrosses, Motorkhanas and Navigational trials.
Now I'm in the process of preparation at the moment and I thought I'd bounce off the Brains Trust where I've got to so far, and seek any further advice in regard to things I still need to do.
I have a checklist of spares I plan to carry with me which I'll publish later and seek input for, in the meantime this is what I have so far done to the Great White Whale.
Engine is only 30000Km old since a full rebuild, so I don't anticipate any major mechanical failures. Clutch was new then too, is not slipping and feels good, so I reckon it whould be OK.
Drive shafts are excellent. Right hand hub assembly I have replaced because the bearing felt a bit loose and this has also got rid of the rattle that was apparently an upper ball joint with excessive play. All four driveshaft boots are new.
I've fitted a new Bosch alternator (85A) which is a standard variety available nearly anywhere. The cooling system has been completely cleaned and re-worked (see the DS Cooling Saga below!) and the lower hoses, the thermostat, the radiator cap and the radiator mounting rubbers are all new. All the drive belts are new and I will carry the old ones as spares.
The hydraulic system has been flushed with new LHM and the brakes bled. I've also replaced the brake controller as this was the alleged reason for rapid cycling of the pump and premature sinking of the back suspension. (Both now appear to be fixed!) Regulator return line is newly replaced with high pressure power steering hose.
I've created a new undertray from 2mm aluminium checker plate. The spheres will all be re-gassed, and I'll be carrying a Pleiades Emergency Repair Kit on board.
The gearchange mechanism has been carefully tightened and re-lubricated, as has the clutch operating bits. Clutch cable was new in October last year, and I have a spare on board. I plan to fit some new tyres to a spare set of rims, as the relatively brand new Michelins are too expensive to wear out in motorsport.
I still have a rhythmic "rump rump" noise when driving along. Varies with speed but it doesn't change when braking, so I'm discounting driveshafts as the source. The left rear wheel bearing is a bit noisy, however, and is high on the list for attention.
Still to come is the sign writing and the bullbar to complete the illusion of a replica of Jean-Claude Ogier's car from the 1970 Ampol Trial.
Apart from an exhaustive list of spares, can anyone suggest anything further I need to address?
Cheers, Pottsy.
Now I'm in the process of preparation at the moment and I thought I'd bounce off the Brains Trust where I've got to so far, and seek any further advice in regard to things I still need to do.
I have a checklist of spares I plan to carry with me which I'll publish later and seek input for, in the meantime this is what I have so far done to the Great White Whale.
Engine is only 30000Km old since a full rebuild, so I don't anticipate any major mechanical failures. Clutch was new then too, is not slipping and feels good, so I reckon it whould be OK.
Drive shafts are excellent. Right hand hub assembly I have replaced because the bearing felt a bit loose and this has also got rid of the rattle that was apparently an upper ball joint with excessive play. All four driveshaft boots are new.
I've fitted a new Bosch alternator (85A) which is a standard variety available nearly anywhere. The cooling system has been completely cleaned and re-worked (see the DS Cooling Saga below!) and the lower hoses, the thermostat, the radiator cap and the radiator mounting rubbers are all new. All the drive belts are new and I will carry the old ones as spares.
The hydraulic system has been flushed with new LHM and the brakes bled. I've also replaced the brake controller as this was the alleged reason for rapid cycling of the pump and premature sinking of the back suspension. (Both now appear to be fixed!) Regulator return line is newly replaced with high pressure power steering hose.
I've created a new undertray from 2mm aluminium checker plate. The spheres will all be re-gassed, and I'll be carrying a Pleiades Emergency Repair Kit on board.
The gearchange mechanism has been carefully tightened and re-lubricated, as has the clutch operating bits. Clutch cable was new in October last year, and I have a spare on board. I plan to fit some new tyres to a spare set of rims, as the relatively brand new Michelins are too expensive to wear out in motorsport.
I still have a rhythmic "rump rump" noise when driving along. Varies with speed but it doesn't change when braking, so I'm discounting driveshafts as the source. The left rear wheel bearing is a bit noisy, however, and is high on the list for attention.
Still to come is the sign writing and the bullbar to complete the illusion of a replica of Jean-Claude Ogier's car from the 1970 Ampol Trial.
Apart from an exhaustive list of spares, can anyone suggest anything further I need to address?
Cheers, Pottsy.