Taken the plunge

[flat6buster]

Well I've just given Gertie the G Wagen her final wash before she goes off to the bodyshop this weekend for a full windows out respray.

There is a part of me that thinks I must be mad. She is in really very good condition with just one or two small areas of rust that I want seeing to because as we know, if I leave them another couple of years they will grow. However, there are scratches on the bonnet where careless mechanics have not shown her the respect she deserves and, well, many of you will understand - she is good BUT she's not perfect. So for her 25th birthday I have decided to take the plunge and get her back to as new condition.

So for posterity I have posted some 'before' photos (including a gratuitous one of the 'new to us' SL we got a month or two ago) here - including photos of the rear arches where other G Wagen owners will be annoyed to see she is rust-free. I am hoping the bodyshop will take some 'during' ones and in about 4 or 5 weeks time I will post the 'after' ones.

 

[flat6buster]

some more pics

 

[flat6buster]

final ones

 

[stwat]

SWB in silver, my dream G. Love it

 

[the prince]

Well that really hits the G-spot. I'd love one of them but for now will have to make do with the old truck. (That's the Landy, not my wife being taught how to change a tyre on a 110). Have to say that your 4x4 is a beauty already.

 

[flat6buster]

Thank you. That is one serious roof rack you have there.

 

[Dieselman]

Well that really hits the G-spot. I'd love one of them but for now will have to make do with the old truck. (That's the Landy, not my wife being taught how to change a tyre on a 110). Have to say that your 4x4 is a beauty already.

She doesn't know you've posted that picture, does she...?

 

[the prince]

She doesn't know you've posted that picture, does she...?

Don't think she even knows i took it

It's actually her car. Last year she had a few slow overnight punctures at work and after being called upon for the second time i vowed that the next time it happened it would be her turn. So i set to a training session and stood back as she wrestled the wheel off the bonnet (it weighs a ton) and watched as she jacket it up with the trolley jack (also pretty heavy) and swapped the wheel over.....and put it all away. Lets just say it was a learning curve

 

[Ted]

Don't forget you will need wheel chocks when you jack up a Landy. (Probably teaching you to suck eggs)

 

[the prince]

Don't forget you will need wheel chocks when you jack up a Landy. (Probably teaching you to suck eggs)

Yes i tend tend to use some blocks of wood and a few tyre ramps. She was just loosening the nuts on this pic. Took her a while to get spare wheel off the bonnet. Fair play to her i actually put my back out, on the day we bought it just lifting the bonnet to check the wiring as a light failed on the way home from buying it. In the time she's owned it, i think every possible electrical item has failed, i.e lights, front rear interior, horn, wipers, so i can honestly say i know how to fix most things on it. Just today i went out to start it as not used regularly. It fired up a bit slow and checked the battery and only showing 10.9v which surprised me that it fired up. It's got an Ultima Red Top so maybe that gives a bit more of a kick on start up. It goes, not very fast, but it goes.

 

[IanA2]

Nice truck.

I've told my wife to call the RAC if she needs a tyre change when driving the G. If I'm driving I'll phone

 

[Dave Richardson]

Nice looking gem. (the G wagon I mean)

 

[Dieselman]

It's actually her car. Last year she had a few slow overnight punctures Lets just say it was a learning curve

Do slow punctures now get fixed...??

 

[the prince]

Do slow punctures now get fixed...??

Straight away, lol. Jokes aside, having tubes is a pain and twice i've had tyre shops replace them only to find a flat the next morning due to them pinching the tube on fitting. That said, these Goodyear Wrangler's are reported to last for up to 80k.

 

[IanA2]

Do slow punctures now get fixed...??

In fairness they sort of do, a front wheel on my Lex was losing air, my local tyre man diagnosed oxidation on the inner rims, cleaned it, and all was well.

All free of charge of course as I always get my tyres from him, they cost a little more but his service goes way beyond the usual, including coming to my house to refit all the G tyres. No extra charge. Also did an excellent temporary exhaust weld (which lasted four months!), again FOC.

ETA: Just remembered, also fixed a steering problem in one of our ML's and on another occasion did the tracking. Top fella!