Winter weather operations in a Lightweight?

[derekchace]

Hey Guys,
I will be running my 1975 RHD 24v Lightweight soft top this winter and I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas to make it a better experience. I have installed 235/85/16 studded snow tires so that should help. I have also built a somewhat basic (but I have no idea how effective) radiator muff out of a moving pad as no-one stocks one for a lightweight. Also when should I use it? and should I cut a flap in it that I can open to increase airflow? Are there any other things I should do to the Rover this winter? Thanks for all the help.

Pictures of the Radiator muff:

[navydevildoc]

I'll let some of the guys and gals in the colder climes than I answer this.

"Cold" for us in San Diego means I consider putting the door tops on.

[rwollschlager]

I would cut a flap in your muff for when you drive on the highway. You can install a fume curtain in your soft top (cloth that seperates front cab from back cab) to minimize the cubic feet your heater needs to heat. I would definalty reccomend waxoyl or some other rust preventative on your chassis to combat the salt along with frequent washings of the undercarriage.

-Rob

[derekchace]

I have a roll bar fitted and I have a blanket separating the cab from the back. What temps should I have the muff fully closed? I mostly drive small roads at about 50 mph with very little highway use. How hard it it to waxoyle the frame it is some thing I could do or do I need to take it to a special place. Also would it be worth replace my thermostat with the 190 degree one our host make and how hard of a job is it to do that.
Thanks for the help Rob

[NickDawson]

You can install a fume curtain in your soft top (cloth that seperates front cab from back cab) to minimize the cubic feet your heater needs to heat.

thats a great idea! Was thinking about that empty back space the other day

[gudjeon]

I run a bog standard 195f thermostat all year round in my 2.25 petrol. it is the common one used in 350 chevs and such. It will fit right into the base of the thermostat housing like it was made for it. The only mod is to make a spacer that makes up for the room of the skirt on the original stat. I made one out of a copper strip and soldered the ends together to form a ring to take up the space of the skirt so the O-ring can do its job. I have had one in 5 years now and still works great. Not bad for a $10 Napa part.

For in town,~30mph, I leave the rad covered up below freezing. Higher speeds, open it a bit. Highway running open it quite a bit. When it gets really cold, ~20c, I keep it all buttoned up all the time. I keep an eye on the temp guage to see if it needs adjustments.

Keeping the rad covered makes it warm up faster and retains heat better when parked for a short bit. It also gives your stat a chance to get up to temp.

[yorker]

I run a bog standard 195f thermostat all year round in my 2.25 petrol. it is the common one used in 350 chevs and such. It will fit right into the base of the thermostat housing like it was made for it. The only mod is to make a spacer that makes up for the room of the skirt on the original stat. I made one out of a copper strip and soldered the ends together to form a ring to take up the space of the skirt so the O-ring can do its job. I have had one in 5 years now and still works great. Not bad for a $10 Napa part.

There is an 88c(190F) skirted thermostat made for the 2.25 part # 542192 .

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/Drivetrain.SkirtedThermostats.html

http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/Thermostats.htm

[NickDawson]

dont have the part number, but the guys at RN sold me a 190F thermostat that was a direct fit in my 2.5L engine. It runs about 3/4 way up the temp gauge most of the time, although never in the red. It hasn't gotten super cold in VA yet, but the few times we have turned the heat on, it has worked very well.

[yorker]

Nick I think the 2.5 uses the later flat or in other words non-skirted thermostats- might be ETC4765?

[yorker]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-AIR-PORTABLE-RAD-MUFF-KINGSBURY-NEW_W0QQitemZ140364440172QQcategoryZ31348QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D11%26ps%3D63

[Les Parker]

Warmth

A few years ago I used the Air Portable year round, with a soft top on.
The heater was a neccesity, for me and the windscreen. I used one of RN's Mansfield heater units and made a distribution box for the passengers side, so at least my feet had more than the exhaust to heat it up.
Yours being a RHD will not have this luxury (?), so a dist. box is even more critical.
A fume curtain worked well, as did a good blanket over my knees and a travel mug with some hot chocolate plus the usual winter tools - torch, tow rope, rubber floor mats (for traction), snow shovel etc.
Now a days I prefer the relative warmth of the Discovery, the Air Portable stands in the backyard awaiting Spring when it'll be roaming the roads again.
Bravo ! to you for rising to the challenge of winter driving in a Series vehicle.

[Tim Smith]

Where abouts are you? If you are way up north, you'll probably want to concentrate on those door seals that don't really seal in a lightweight. The standard heater can be adequate if you aren't on the highway much. If you do find yourself on the highway on very cold days, you'll find more of your heat leaking out through the doors and canvas than you can recoup. Bring a blanket.

There was a special arctic heater that was used in lightweights. You don't see them much but they basically take the place of the whole center section where your battery should be. That would be a very nice option to have.

[Lalo88DK]

I used a sort camping mat, works great

Here You can see how I did (Google translation )

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=da&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freewebsite.dk%2Flalo%2FDIY%253A%2BK%25C3%25B8lerafd%25C3%25A6k..php&sl=da&tl=en

[JackIIA]

Steen - that's a great pic of your 88, nice staging and content. I've got a new screen saver shot!

[Lalo88DK]

Thanks glad you like the pic.