Thread: No such thing as a cheap Defender.

I forgot to add to the list that it has a brand new exhaust as well, that its a 1996 300TDi 110 single cab ute and that the more I undo the thing the more I find that the previous owner had an aversion to bolts, there were only two holding the bellhousing to the engine and about 4 missing from the left hand fender when I took it off this afternoon.

that is rusty we have to fix the rust in our defenders chassis soon its pretty bad

Sorry to hear of your recent woes.

Your answers to your questions are easier answered if you ask yourself 2 questions:
1. How much time do you have?
2. How much money to you have?

As you are now car less, I would see if you could get a new chassis but I am pretty sure you will be waiting a while.

Either way, which ever way you choose to go, your Deefer will be off the road for a while I would suspect.

You may need to get a cheap runabout while you reconstruct the Deefer.

Best of luck.

Mate give Rovacraft a bell...or PM Stuart on here, he runs RC Vic

they have Brand new chassis in there catalogue find out how much they are

the part number for 300tdi galvanised is DA2057
and for the TD5 galvanised the part number is KVD500730

obviously there not going to be as cheap as chips but I guess it depends on how much you saved on your cheap defender.....by buying one might make it the same proce defender as everyone elses, but fitting a gal chassis I would of though would command a little bit more money on resale

Have a galvanised chassis it will be fit and forget and will last you a lift time..

You have purchased your self a great donor for a project
I assume you would have picked it up for what the running gear is worth.
You now need to find a "high roller" that has worn out, had a light roll etc but not from the coast!

Thanks for your comments, I think I might see if I can get a few parts to get her back on the road for now (radiator, etc), I'll need those in the long run anyway.

I'll give them a call Dullbird, I had planned on sandblasting the current chassis before getting it hotdipped so if I have to replace it a pre gal one would be great. On a bright note to I think it would be great fun stripping it right down and then rebuilding from the ground up. Maybe I could replace a few of the bolts along the way.

The defender cost me 5200 plus 800 to get it down from Queensland, I was told at the time that a reco 300tdi was worth about 5000 so the vehicle was worth it.

I'm a little short on cash at the moment as I'm looking for a job so if I can avoid buying yet another car that would be great, it really does tick me off when I have to spend money on the falcon - it would be much better spent on the fender.

While I'm asking questions, if I was to get a damaged TD5 how different are the engine mounts? Can the change in mounts position be done by a home mechanic? And does anybody know the legalities of putting a new chassis in to a vehicle?

Thanks again, Jonathan.

Richards Chassis Land Rover chassis manufacturer, LandRover
or Marsland Chassis - Land Rover 110
or Land Rover Chassis - 110" Replacement Chassis Options and Pricing

There are some specialist chassis builders in the U.k. and the last one in the list will do bespoke alterations at very good money.
I would not touch one from rovacraft with yours or anyone elses for that matter, It may work out to be the same-ish kinda cash (couriered to your door fedex are good uk-aus) but you can't beat getting one fresh from the Manufacturer.
As for bulkheads I would look at John Craddocks or Simmonites I have dealt with both and Craddocks are consumate pro's,
You may be on a sticky wicket when it comes too buying a new bulkhead I have just done mine and apparently because a lot of parts dealers in the U.k. were undercutting L.R.'s recommended (or artificially inflated ) retail price Land Rover have stopped the flow of bulkheads out the factory, It is now pretty dry of New bulkheads apparently.
I would look at the ebay u.k. selection there are some cracking Td5 ones for good money.
Regards Andy.
P.s. have just done my Bulkhead is a piece of **** but i don't want to do one next week.
I have a how too on here have a butchers ...Also are you sure that your chassis is actually totalled as you can buy parts to replace such as outriggers and crossmembers from Land Rover (crossmembers need a jig but)

P.p.s. You can re weld the mounts for the engine and gearbox if you have the savvy but if your welds are crap or you don't have the experience i wouldn't do it in all honesty....personally before you chuck the baby out with the bathwater get under the landy wirebrush the chassis and find out what you have, if it's that frail i wouldn't shot blast it or you might just be left with the loom and an indicator lens...And for the bulkhead get some close ups of the main areas of rot it may be savable

why not rovacraft?