Trimmers

Mrs Bingham · Post by **Mrs Bingham** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:56 pm

To answer map1275’s original question I think Sams Trim is what you are looking for and yes, Sam is a she.

If there is anyone out there that knows I would be very interested to hear about a good trim manufacturer or supplier as I would like to replace all of mine.
I have been looking at the generic stuff at the shows etc but have not yet decided on anything definitive. So far I have only noticed that Exmoor Trim do the door trims that resemble the originals, but reading this it does make me think, so an alternative manufacturer would be well worth knowing if of course one exists so we can compare.
Seat wise I’ve only seen Exmoor and Sams Trim in the flesh. Both look equally good with the latter offering multiple colour options if you want to spice it up a bit. Sams Trim also do a headrest version that is in the Series deluxe pattern. What I have noticed however, is neither seem to use the beading/piping that is present on the original seat edges, so one for the purists to think about. I’ve noticed Britpart also do a headrest seat version in the deluxe pattern but does anyone know who actually makes them?

map1275 · Post by **map1275** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:15 pm

Possibly the Moderator should forward this discussion (or summary thereof) to one or more of the glossy magazines.

Assuming that the editors are actually L-R focussed, they may want some public feedback about their major advertisers that isn't ultra positive.

As per the prophet (Benny Hill); "when you assume..."

map1275 · Post by **map1275** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:21 pm

To stab the moderator again, they might also consider approaching Exmoor or Sam's on behalf of the rest of us.

The real pity with Exmoor is that the product is close to what it should be. Sorting out bugs and product quality is in their interest.

sebking · Post by **sebking** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:58 am

there's been a lot of this talk on the http://forum.landrovernet.com/

Seems that the Mags are not really interested in this as they have a conflict of interest between advertisers and readers.

Sh*tpart being a prime example - I'm waiting to see what else falls of the recent 90 and 88 rebuilds sponsored by the previously mentioned supplier.

Exmoor i'm surprised at, actually no I';m not as I've got door panels made that don't fit for toffee (purchased by Previous Owner).

I'll put some pix up of my Sams Trim seats later - now installed in the 1st and 2nd rows.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:18 am

LaSalle also do door trims for Series vehicles, perhaps theirs are the best quality.
Has anyone got or seen them?

map1275 · Post by **map1275** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:03 pm

Most of the writers (journalists???) don't appear to be very hands-on. Certainly waffle-on though.

It wouldn't hurt them to identify some problems. Then they could praise the advertiser for sorting it out so quickly.

Mik · Post by **Mik** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:23 pm

LaSalle are excellent, but not for the purists

disco2hse · Post by **disco2hse** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:51 pm

Why not send the link to the thread to a journalist or two then, instead of the editor/publisher?

map1275 · Post by **map1275** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:23 pm

I have done in the past but you could say that some of the responses were towing the company line.

Just sent off an e-mail to L.R.O Magazine about Exmoor, so we shall see.

disco2hse · Post by **disco2hse** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:14 am

Let us know how you get on. Might also influence what mag's one buys

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:37 pm

What an interesting thread. Poverty has been the usual reason I've made my own stuff, but now I'm glad it's worked out that way. It's just ridiculous what these companies get up to, and you know, I've been reading Landie magazines for almost twenty years and it hasn't changed - they just keep getting things from these companies and writing lovely articles about them.

A big thanks for the heads up! I was thinking that one day when I've got a little money I might get some of these parts . . . but I'll just keep making them myself.

I might get into making Landie parts one day, if I can get the space somewhere.

disco2hse · Post by **disco2hse** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:13 pm

Davo, I reckon bits made by people who actually use the machines usually work better and are made to work. There are parts that are frustratingly hard to get like decent PTO gear for the LT95.

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 3:29 am

Well, you can't do worse than what disinterested sellers and manufacturers get up to. By contrast, you only have to look at the Series I stuff to see how a very small but enthusiastic market can support a few specialists.

I was thinking about making and repairing some Stage I parts one day, like front output flanges and swivel balls and so on. I just don't have anything like a workshop these days! But I'm going to look into it in the next few years. I've got a feeling that there should be enough work given the crappy replacement parts and the growing need to keep old cars on the road.

map1275 · Post by **map1275** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:17 pm

That's a fair point. Though Series I owners are in a slightly different situation to most of us; vehicle age, interest, usage, alternatives (MB Jeep, Champ or the first Land-Cruiser)... That sort of concentrates the spending money to the few providers of niche products.

By the nature of what our cars are getting up to, you have to appreciate the lack of owner interest in spending more than petrol money. There are too many alternatives for the tightwads and this includes scrapping the cars.

I rebuilt four steering relays from parts I collected. In order to rebuild to a standard I was happy with, I calculated a retail cost of $450 exchange. Mainly because the arms and pins can be guaranteed buggered on every one. No owners will pay that.

Similarly, 90% of Australian Series III seat covers fit into two choices: base model brown and upmarket black. Patterns are the same, a very close material match is available and they are an extremely simple pattern. Something that could easily be subcontracted to a trimmer for slack periods, QC by the retailer, add some clips, seal in a bag and you have a DIY kit. But no one is doing it.

The Stage One swivel is a modified Ser III unit. I would have thought by now that some one somewhere in the world would have bought a pile of new standard parts and geared up for the mod. If we can really trim 110 CV's and grind in a new circlip groove, then let it be so.

Otherwise it will be far too late. Looking at the state of the ADF's Land-Rover fleet and the recent change to 2 year service intervals, plus how old they will be when finally sold off, what a pig they are to drive compared to today's cars etc. How long do you think they will be staying on the road? When I first got my licence, 1 in 4 vehicles driving on the beach was an ex army Land-Rover. Now the only ones I see are on ebay in pieces. I have started to notice how many NZDF Rovers are being wrecked on Trade-me.

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:27 pm

All true . . . but what was happening to Series Ones in the '70s? And what's happening to SIIAs and SIIIs now? The same thing: the SIIA and SIII these days are common and old, just like the Series I back then, and nobody wants them. Sure enough, once most of them are wrecked and thrown away, there will be an interest in them simply because they will be old and interesting. You can tell by the number of neglected examples on eBay. That's a sure sign these models have hit rock bottom, which always happens before something becomes collectible.

Give it another five or ten years. I mean, could anyone have imagined that you would be able to get proper canvas, new chassis, or reproduced body panels for an old beat-up farm Land-Rover?

And the amounts of money someone will pay just so they can have a nice, restored old car? All cart-spring Landies will be in that category sooner or later. After all, they all give on old-time driving experience that's getting more and more remote from modern life.

Hopefully I will actually have a workshop and some machines before this happens!

Stage 1 V8

Trimmers

LRO etc