Cordwell.net

I haven’t been here much recently as I’ve been busy with other projects… some that make money and others that just seem to cost money, but one day… who knows?

My main line of business is in IT Consulting and Project Management – this is what  pays the bills. I do have a website but don’t keep it updated as there isn’t a lot of point since most of my work is with the Australian Government and I can’t really shout out about the work we do. Check out Cordwell Technology if you care.

In February 2010 I purchased a business called Hard Range that supplies aftermarket parts for Range Rovers, in particular the P38A model. Why? ‘coz I love my P38A Rangie and it was the original Hard Range demo vehicle. You could say I liked the car so much I bought the business. So, my mate Andy and I bought the business and turned it in to a Pty Ltd company and have been re-stocking and getting the online site up and running again. Check it out at Hard Range. I’m not expecting it to be a big money spinner, but I enjoy helping out fellow P38A owners and I think I’ve got a few useful skills to contribute to the P38a Range Rover community. We are slowly expanding the range to cover other Land Rovers as our mates demand, but the P38a is still the main focus. Maybe one day it will turn a profit.

Other projects? Well, maintaining and updating the house seems to be a never ending saga. Nothing flash here, just a normal 4 bed suburban house with an add-on 5th bed/study that has developed a leak in the recent heavy rains, the new front door, fixing/replacing bathrooms, kitchen, flooring (tiles/carpet/wood?). Outside? converting poo hill (dogs area) to something useful like a shed, overgrown landscape at the rear, cracked concrete on the front driveway, rotten sleeper logs at the front, cracked ridge capping on the roof… it goes on and on.

Then I decided in needed a ute if I was going to do all these domestic projects. A 2005 Holden Crewman Cross6 seemed to fit the bill. Not happy with the stock Blaupunkt stereo, I found a way to integrate the iPod so that the Blaupunkt controlled it natively. This took longer than expected but works well. Next I need a tonneau cover for the ute so it doesn’t get too wet or dirty when it isn’t carrying stuff.

Did I say I’ve been busy?

There is a too-large area exposed at the front of the Rangie as shown in this photo

RR-evolution.com do a very nice bash plate but it doesn’t quite suit mine. I want/need a bash plate that covers this area…

Fiddled around with the bump stops and Electronic Air Suspension (EAS) on the Rangie today.

Hopefully, the ride will be smoother now that the front bump stops have been chopped by 30mm, and the “Standard” ride height increased by approx 40mm. No more bottoming out on bumps on the road I hope. Will find out tomorrow I guess.

The saga continues here.

Put some of the red coolant in the Rangie today and was surprised to see it dripping underneath within an hour.

Land Rovers don’t just leak water and oil – they are marking their territory!

More here.

There is something about this song that just keeps bringing me back. Is the Elton John sound or the lyrics?… dunno…  just can’t get past it yet… maybe it is going to be one of those songs that I keep in the back of my head… along with other personal classics like “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens, “Little Bird” by Annie Lennox, and “Together in Electric Dreams” by Girogio Moroder.

Here’s the link to the clip on MTV – Second Chance

I like the clean, crisp LED interior lights on some modern cars so decided to update the interior lights and number plate lights on the Rangie.

See this page for more details on what LED lights I used.

Wine of the Moment

Brand: Jacob’s Creek
Blend: Shiraz Rose
Year: 2008
Origin: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Cost: less than $20 (Australian)

Aroma: berries
Initial taste: tangy and light
Aftertaste: ok
Drink again: probably

Wine of the Moment

Brand: Jacob’s Creek
Blend: Reserve Shiraz
Year: 2006
Origin: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Cost: less than $20 (Australian)

Aroma: oak and berries
Initial taste: plum and pepper
Aftertaste: nice
Drink again: absolutely

I suspected that I was getting an air leak from inside the valve block on my 1999 P38A Range Rover.

So I got a o-ring renewal kit from Rover Renovations and have documented the renewal process here.

I had previously replaced the seal and piston ring on the compressor and renewed the vibration mounts but didn’t document these.

We picked up a 2001 Land Rover Freelander TD4 today. I like it, but more importantly my wife likes it as it is now her primary mode of transport.

It is a 2L Turbo-charged Diesel with 5-speed Step-tronic automatic gearbox. Quite a nice driving machine as it is, although she tells me that I’m not allowed to fiddle with it. We’ll see… I just know it’s aching for a 2″ lift, bigger tyres and some body armour.

The TD4 auto is supposedly the “pic of the bunch” in the Freelander range. Good low down torque and useable Hill Descent Control, ABS and Traction Control… not that my lovely wife plans to take it off-road or tow with it.

Here’s a pic. I might post some more info about it later and when I get to know it better.