[Update at bottom of post]

Took the Land Rover in to have a brake light replaced. While chugging along at about 50 mph, the truck went from sounding like a big old diesel truck to sounding like one of those gigantic earth movers. Something wrong. Since I was almost to the shop I kept going.

Remember that leak from the exhaust manifold?

The exhaust pipe broke away from the manifold and was dangling from the chassis. Like so many things with my truck, this just wasn’t done right the first time. But George was well on his way to doing it right. Parts ordered. He knows what needs to be done and who will do it. So in a week or two I’ll have a brand new exhaust system that should improve overall performance.

24 hours later. Parts arrived and George met with the muffler pros and explained what he wanted to do. They quickly put together this mock-up to see if everything fits.

The new, thicker flange came threaded. Not what we need so George drilled ’em.

The rebuilt engine in my truck is from a 1994 Discovery (European). People put them in old Land Rovers all the time (or so I’ve been told) but I don’t see how. In the photo below George is cutting off the end of a bolt in an effort to gain a precious half-inch of clearance between the exhaust pipe and part of the steering mechanism. He’ll make it work, with the help of a very talented exhaust guy named Henry. (We’re getting close)