Reply With QuoteI too wanted an auto Defender. This is relatively easy to do on a TD5, as you can use a Discovery TD5 Auto Box and most of the bits are available off the shelf. You do need a Auto Box computer to control the auto - or use a pre ECU based auto. But you will need to find a donor Discovery, and budget for an auto rebuild. I ball parked around $10,000 minimum to do a decent job on my TD5. I decided not to bother, as whilst an Auto is better offroad in some situations, it was not worth $10k to me.
I've since looked into converting a PUMA, this is more of an issue as there is no factory auto box that fits a PUMA engine - even in the Transit world. I reckon it would be >$15k to auto a puma. I'd rather have the LS3 V8 and auto instead!
The air suspension mod would be a better mod IMHO. The stock suspension in a Defender is designed for a 1000kg payload and is very harsh unless you have a decent load on it. I had longer softer springs installed in my TD5, which has made it almost Range Rover smooth. But it's different modding the suspension on a PUMA, very easy to break things with a small lift, when I get around to it, I'll put in longer softer sprints but also need to look at changes to the front driveshaft too - so that adds a chunk to the cost.
If I had a garage that did not fit my Defender - I'd get a concrete cutter to cut some tyre grooves 5" deep for the wheels to run in.
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