Mechanical Works

Knowing Steve Parker since he fitted a lead-free head to my 1983 petrol engine 110, right through to its full rebuild, I knew his work quality to be very high and in line with what I wanted. Steve has also owned several 101's and still has one. He therefore knows more about them than most Land Rover garages. Being surrounded by a good team, it was inevitable that things would turn out right!

Given the outline of my ideas, while I was away on business, Steve located a suitable vehicle and brought it back to his workshop. It was registered and made roadworthy for me to use for a couple of weeks to allow ideas to flow about the future conversion.

The following list of work was born:

•	The engine was to be changed from the V8 3.5 litre Rover petrol to a 3.5 litre Mazda 35SLT turbo diesel. Land Rover purists, leave here...

The frugality-headache of the V8 petrol, a hatred of petrol engine electrical systems, and the availability worldwide of Mazda engine parts (in some guise or other) brought about this change decision.

•	Fit power steering and a standard Land Rover 90/110 steering column. The question of power steering was a compromise. I wanted simplicity, yet I also wanted the luxury of power steering. The wimp-gene in me was stronger.

•	Raise the rear roof in the longitudinal central section to allow standing room.

•	Fabricate and fit galvanised roof racks on both sides of the raised roof section for storage of a mountain bike and the fixing of an aluminium box to store infrequently used, light and bulky items.

•	Change the double rear doors to a single entry rear door. This included changing the rear step arrangement.

•	Fit a stainless steel exhaust system.

•	Change the existing fuel tank to a stainless steel unit, and install a second stainless fuel tank to remove the requirement to carry jerry cans of fuel.

•	Remove the bulkhead between the front of the vehicle and the rear cabin to allow full through-vehicle access.