October 7-14, 2023
Arriving at the Narrogin Caravan Park we discovered our Landcruiser had developed a misfire. A little later, after some investigation, it seems we had a blown head gasket from the water jacket as it was by then blowing steam! The conclusion was that the climb up Bedfordale Hill out of Perth metro was spent behind two OD Loads at a steady 12kmh for over an hour which had not shown any significant engine temperature rise but was enough in the cylinder head to pop the gasket somewhere.
After checking the town workshops we ended up at Narrogin Toyota who had the shortest waiting list of only 2 weeks but promised to check it over as they could fit it in and were true to their word in doing a full diagnosis in the first week (just gone).
We had already booked here for 2 weeks and so reserved a third week which should (?) take care of the time required.
Keith worked in the district here from 1976 to 1980 for McDougall Weldments at Cuballing, some 15km to the North, and we had arranged to catch up. On letting them know we had a breakdown they immediately loaned us their Falcon Ute to get around in – wonderful friendship after over 40 years!
McDougal Weldments is the manufacturer of the McDougall Transportable Sheepyards which are still being made after being introduced to the market in 1974. Keith spent some time in the manufacturing before a period of over 2 years travelling the Nullarbor delivering these to the Eastern States customers and promoting at Field Days before setting up in Tamworth as the local distributor in late 1980. A little history here:
