Land Rover Defender 110 Rebuild

[julianf]

I really won't "dilute" this thread by more than a couple of posts, but you may be interested...

Yesterday, i purchased this -

It was about 4 1/2 hrs drive away, and I'd only seen one single photo...

I'm driving home tomorrow. As you can imagine, its got more than a couple of faults...

We have a 101 and a 300tdi disco at the moment. I kind of think i must be a glutton for punishment...

 

[octo0072000]

looks like the tyres are on the wrong way round for starters

 

[KimB]

I really won't "dilute" this thread by more than a couple of posts, but you may be interested...

Yesterday, i purchased this -

View attachment 76248

It was about 4 1/2 hrs drive away, and I'd only seen one single photo...

I'm driving home tomorrow. As you can imagine, its got more than a couple of faults...

We have a 101 and a 300tdi disco at the moment. I kind of think i must be a glutton for punishment...

Are you going to restore it ?

 

[KimB]

Small update.
Today I finished the front brake lines just need to make the bit from master to the rear axle flexi which is very straight forward. I run out of pipe and should have more Monday or Tuesday I hope.
Also fitted the new steering box. Along with the servo pressure pipe. Put the water bottle back on as well.
I do need to work out which way round the pipes go on the PAS but got oil for that as well so I'm ready to fill that.

Had a small tidy up as well. Need to package up the drive shaft I have and advertise a few bits too. I'm getting super excited to start it.
Id like to have steering done before I start it and also need to work out where the earths go as I can't remember nor can I remember what I did with the Earth straps :'(
I'll sort have no fear

 

[julianf]

Are you going to restore it ?

I certainly plan to keep it for some years.

I'm prepared to re-chassis it, etc, but I don't know if I will go to the lengths that you have gone to.

The initial plan is to sort the engine, then drive it till summer, whilst I get an idea of all its (many!) faults, then, maybe, use the summer to get it sorted.

I would like to do a restoration, but I'm also aware of how long they take, and that it will be a working vehical, so I worry about somthing too smart, and then being too precious about it.

It would be nice to have it mechanically spotless, but still with a load of rough body panels, but I know I'd get carried away and end up with it shiny.

Its early days. I've wanted a 110 for ages, and finally one has come up in the type I want (300tdi csw) for project money.

Really, I need to get it drivable, drive it for a while, and see what's what.

 

[KimB]

Spent many hours doing odd jobs today.
Biggest achievement was finishing the brake lines and bleeding them all

So all the brakes work but like the clutch I'll probably have to re bleed in a week.
I Plummed the steering up and started filling it with oil. As well i fitted the steering arms.
I'm missing a bracket for the steering coloum other then that I'm ready to fit the steering coloum and get the controls finished

Still can't find the wiring loom in other news

 

[Robotstar5]

Still can't find the wiring loom in other news

Have you asked Santa for one?

Put your feet up and enjoy xmas tomorrow

 

[KimB]

Have you asked Santa for one?

Put your feet up and enjoy xmas tomorrow

I wish, I'll see. May do some more. I'm really not feeling Great this year so would rather work through it all

 

[Kayos]

Have you asked Santa for one?

Put your feet up and enjoy xmas tomorrow

Before families and children I spent many a happy Christmas in the garage, sadly not these days

 

[Cobbler]

Before families and children I spent many a happy Christmas in the garage, sadly not these days

I took the gearbox out of the car on Christmas morning many years ago to change the clutch & repair the box. Repaired the box in the afternoon, then sat down to the xmas meal in the evening. Box back in on Boxing Day morning. People said why did you do it then, but had no option, had to be back on the road to go to work after the break. Still it saved having to talk to the outlaws! Got more sense out of the gearbox.

 

[Mark E]

Before families and children I spent many a happy Christmas in the garage, sadly not these days

Ain't that the truth! Thankfully, my Mrs. is the kind of girl that will happily assemble her Xmas jigsaw puzzle alongside my transmission, bring me beer, tea and mince pies when necessary (or even when not!) and then willingly reach into the depths of the engine bay to access a nut or bolt. I'm a lucky man.

Happy days indeed!

Merry Christmas folks!

 

[julianf]

Kim,

I'm interested in the money side of your re-build, assuming its not rude to ask?

Have you been watching / recording every spend, or just buying as you go?
Did you have budget expectations when you started, and are you anywhere close to them?
And, i guess, how will your total finished spend compare with what is on the market, complete.
(i mean, what will the comparison be like between what you will ultimately have, and what you could have just gone out and bought)


I know that last one is a little worthless, as its not all about the numbers, but im curious all the same.



As above, i will need to make a choice what sort of level i will go to with my 'new' 110, and some of the choices are more pressing than i thought - eg headlights -

a) fix what is there
b) replace what is there with new wipec units
b ii) and fit a new bit of loom?
c) spend huge money on led lights

I mean, im going to go for the new wipec units and new loom, as i figure, by the time i get sick of them, the led units will be pocket change, but that's just an example... (i could then replace the cracked plastic surrounds etc. too, but i think, at £60 a side, ill leave the cracked ones there for now)



One more thing id like to ask you -

The 110s are popular with thieves. Im guessing the TD5 is a tiny bit harder to steal than the 300tdi, but i think they would both be easy enough for someone who was keen.

Im certain you have a plan with security, but, given that it looks that your vehicle will be in the top of its class, how much does it play on your mind that some scumbag may just take a fancy to it?

 

[awemawson]

You've not read about Kim's spring loaded 6" stiletto spike in the drivers seat squab then

 

[Robotstar5]

You've not read about Kim's spring loaded 6" stiletto spike in the drivers seat squab then

I think there are specialist forums that cater for that sort of thing?

 

[Bigjoe]

I know nothing lol

 

[KimB]

Kim,

I'm interested in the money side of your re-build, assuming its not rude to ask?

Have you been watching / recording every spend, or just buying as you go?
Did you have budget expectations when you started, and are you anywhere close to them?
And, i guess, how will your total finished spend compare with what is on the market, complete.
(i mean, what will the comparison be like between what you will ultimately have, and what you could have just gone out and bought)


I know that last one is a little worthless, as its not all about the numbers, but im curious all the same.



As above, i will need to make a choice what sort of level i will go to with my 'new' 110, and some of the choices are more pressing than i thought - eg headlights -

a) fix what is there
b) replace what is there with new wipec units
b ii) and fit a new bit of loom?
c) spend huge money on led lights

I mean, im going to go for the new wipec units and new loom, as i figure, by the time i get sick of them, the led units will be pocket change, but that's just an example... (i could then replace the cracked plastic surrounds etc. too, but i think, at £60 a side, ill leave the cracked ones there for now)



One more thing id like to ask you -

The 110s are popular with thieves. Im guessing the TD5 is a tiny bit harder to steal than the 300tdi, but i think they would both be easy enough for someone who was keen.

Im certain you have a plan with security, but, given that it looks that your vehicle will be in the top of its class, how much does it play on your mind that some scumbag may just take a fancy to it?

Hi Julian,

To be perfectly honest I've not been watching or recording what u spend at all. I have a rough idea.
When I first started I had in my head 2k would sort it all, but then I saw it and once I started stripping I realised I was gonna have to double or tripple that figure.
The chassis alone was about £2000 by the time i collected it. I think I'll be in the region of £8000 once it's all said and done. I've no doubt in my mind that I've spent over 5k already and the painting is the expensive bit now.
In comparison to what I could've bought. I guess I could've bought a high capacity but then it'll never have the life span that mine will have once all said and done. Do keep in mind though, I didn't pay a penny for my car. If I did the final build price would probably be £10,000 I think.
If I was to have purchased a car for a rebuild it wouldn't have been in the condition mine was. We all know it was a pretty crappy gift (joking off course)

I'm no help with what level of build you'd like. In my eyes if I start something I have to finish it right. I cannot and will not bodge things. (Least I don't think any of my work is a bodge)
It's going to be something you need to look at.
The biggest expenses by far would be the. Chassis, paint job and Land Rover orders usually consisting of nuts and bolts.

Security wise I have allot in mind but I won't be divulging on here, sorry.
Kim

 

[Bigjoe]

Have you considered a ninja squirrel hidden in the cubby hole?

 

[mike os]

Magnavolt security system (robocop) is my guess

 

[Bill Edwards]

Don't do all this guessing, leave her be - it's the one thing that she wants to keep to herself and with good reason, make it easy for her...

 

[p0689109]

I had to have the power off to allow my trees to be trimmed that were under their cables. I had to report them as they do not do inspections, rather wait for them to cause problems than prevent them is apparently their operational creed! Anyway as well as having the substation switched off my tree surgeon insisted on having the cables earthed in sight of him working to ensure his safety.(He was going to trim a tree just out of the area that the electric company considered was not their responsibility but was too near for his own safety) So I had to liase with both so that they were both on site at the same time. The day before the electric company chaps turned up to view they mentioned that they would be on site first thing but had to find somewhere to park the landy manlift which was secure as people apparently knowadays nick not the vehicles but things like doors bonnets etc off them!! Beware leaving your beautiful restoration parked for long Kim!!