Denis after seeing it in the flesh................AMAZING. I loved it well done xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Barbie Car let me tell you boy-oh, it's a true off-roader, it aint a Tesco's shopper or a taxi for johnny and Sally to go to school in.

It'll pull you out of a dung heap in low reduction gear even if it's axle deep in cr@p, it's a real farmers motor Phil, a true off-roader, maximum speed in low reduction is only 15mph in 5th gear.

Most of the fancy 4 x 4's today would'nt pull you off a short grassy field, I fancy a trip down the mud-flats on the river Forth, anyone up for it ?

I can't believe it is the same car and after seeing it, thought it had always been your much loved garaged jeep.

Well done

Well done Dennis, I used to do abit of 'restoration' but I never would have tackled a job like that, can't imagine how you got those springs back on working alone.

Ah so that's where it came from Have you had a chance to drive it yet

yup have driven it a few times since it left home. TBH, I was never that keen on it, but it did come in quite handy for the horses,, and all those muddy fields, lol

Awww it's cute, I like it.

Great job! How much you end up spending on it though?

Well folks it's back to the dirty overalls again.

I've noticed a miss-fire on one cylinder the past few days so I blasted "Barbie" up the motorway yesterday and sure enough, the cylinder head gasket has blown.

I deliberately over-revved it to make sure my suspicions were correct, It's better to find out these things when you're not too far from home rather than being stuck in the middle of nowhere, never mind, it'll give me a chance to do the valves while I've got the head off.

Around £500 Kel, not including the scrap value I paid Shona, I got most of the parts from a breakers yard in Perth.

This is what I found when I removed the cylinder head.

Number 2 piston had blown the gasket.


You can see the piston's clean due to the water and steam.


The old gasket.


The valves needed done as well.


But she's up and running better than ever now.


It's just about the worst engine I've ever rebuilt, getting access in the engine bay was a nightmare.


Methinks a lady was on the design team when they drew up the plans for it (apologies ladies).

but on the bright side, its keeping you busy