No such thing as a cheap Defender.

[jplambs]

Hello All,

I bought a cheap defender from up near Cairns about 9 months ago and I have now learned a few things 1) There is no such thing as a cheap defender - if its cheap there is a reason and 2) don't buy a defender if its come from the tropics.

The front bearing in the power steering pump chewed itself out on Saturday night coming back from dinner in Kingston, my Mother was driving it at the time and given the circumstances did rather well. Anyhow I am ordering a new bearing and seal for it tomorrow but in the course of taking it off ( I removed the radiator and surrounds) and then taking the tray off I have discovered a number of problems.

When I bought the vehicle I knew that it had rust in the firewall (see pic of hinge and door post) but its a lot worse then I thought, there is also really bad rust holes behind the third cross member. At this stage I am thinking that it is going to need a new chassis and a new firewall. The door frames are really rusty as well.

On the positive side the cab is pretty good, except for the very back on the right at the bottom (see pic). All of the rivets are really good and there is no movement in any of the panels. The seats are also new-ish, they are from a TD5 and have no tears. The body work is a little rough in places but the engine was completely rebuilt about 10,000 kms ago and the drivetrain is great now that I've fixed it up, there's almost no backlash and all gears are smooth. It also has brand new suspension, bushes and shocks.

The radiator needs replacing as does the pipe that comes off the thermostat housing, when I took it off last night the rubber had been pushed over the holes in it and fastened with a jubilee clip, it worked but I can't risk putting it back now I know it is there.

So after all of this there are a couple of questions I want to ask people, 1) does anybody know of a good chassis and firewall that is available and should I go down this path, or 2) should I strip it down and sell the parts and try to buy another one in better condition.

The problem with the second is that its my first defender and I really love the thing. Regarding the first I was wondering if my best bet was to wait until a defender comes up with a blown engine and then just drop mine into it. I have to do something because I totalled my falcon on Friday (car verses a deer) so at the moment I don't have wheels. Now I have to decide which vehicle to fix.

Thanks in advance for any comments or help you all can offer.

[jplambs]

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.

[Landy Smurf]

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

[SVX37]

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.

[dullbird]

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..

[Rangier Rover]

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!

[jplambs]

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.

[lardy]

Richards Chassis Land Rover chassis manufacturer, LandRover (http://www.richardschassis.co.uk/defender.htm)
or Marsland Chassis - Land Rover 110 (http://www.marslands.com/chassis/90/110.htm)
or Land Rover Chassis - 110" Replacement Chassis Options and Pricing (http://www.designa-chassis.co.uk/110replace.asp)

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

[dullbird]

why not rovacraft?

[lardy]

Lamby i just looked at your pictures : the first one is of the bulkhead where it kicks out before the footwells that can be cut out and a repair panel put in.
Is the second one of an outrigger or the chassis ? if an outrigger that is a cut off and weld replacement.
I can't identify picture 3
4 looks like the A post which is also a replacement part it joins above the footwells with a weld and is folded against another sheet again a replacement part but i would buy the footwells you look like you need em.
The last is the crossmember if its under the gearbox you should be able to unbolt it or grind it off and replace.

[lardy]

why not rovacraft?
Just my personal dislike for the way they operate,
There are other companies that have similar practices to them ....but this is not helping lamb and his 110

[dullbird]

why is it not helping?

I don't think you having a personal dislike to a company is not helping when you have no idea whether they could potentially be cheaper for him to be honest.

The reason I posted them is they would take the hassle out of the importing side of things. which for some people is a big hassle.

[jplambs]

Thanks Andy,

The second picture is of the chassis, just behind the third crossmember, its the same on both sides. Thats what I am finding peculiar, it the chassis not the outriggers or crossmembers that are rusting/rotting, I'm beginning to think that it might have been through a bit of salt water in its life time, either that or it clogged up with mud and nobody bothered to clean it down.

Regarding the firewall, that's not all the rust there is, I ran out of space to upload the photos last night so I left it as just those. The rust is almost symetrical, if its on oneside of the firewall its on the other, I haven't taken the heater off yet to look behind that but I think I might have to.

Photo number 5 is just some damage to the bottom of the cab itself, looks like something has eaten the metal away, doesn't look to serious though.

Those chassis' are a fair bit cheaper than I thought they would be, they work out at around $2000 + freight. I meant to ask on your other thread Lardy, where did you get your firewall from?

[lardy]

why is it not helping?

I don't think you having a personal dislike to a company is not helping when you have no idea whether they could potentially be cheaper for him to be honest.

The reason I posted them is they would take the hassle out of the importing side of things. which for some people is a big hassle.
No dullbird you got me wrong my disclosing why i wouldn't recommend Rovacraft was taking us away from the subject in hand, that was the bit that was not helping

[lardy]

Thanks Andy,

The second picture is of the chassis, just behind the third crossmember, its the same on both sides. Thats what I am finding peculiar, it the chassis not the outriggers or crossmembers that are rusting/rotting, I'm beginning to think that it might have been through a bit of salt water in its life time, either that or it clogged up with mud and nobody bothered to clean it down.

Regarding the firewall, that's not all the rust there is, I ran out of space to upload the photos last night so I left it as just those. The rust is almost symetrical, if its on oneside of the firewall its on the other, I haven't taken the heater off yet to look behind that but I think I might have to.

Photo number 5 is just some damage to the bottom of the cab itself, looks like something has eaten the metal away, doesn't look to serious though.

Those chassis' are a fair bit cheaper than I thought they would be, they work out at around $2000 + freight. I meant to ask on your other thread Lardy, where did you get your firewall from?

there are some centre section bulkheads kicking around i saw in the U.K. I will have a look for them and get back to you. they look gal and are the bit you need A-post with centre ...your rot is common on the bulkhead behind the heater is usually 6-8 inches across ...can be that the heater matrix is leaking, and behind the brake master cylinder ...my bulkhead was an aquisition from Australian defence force

[lardy]

LANDROVER SERIES AND DEFENDER BULKHEAD REPAIR PANELS on eBay (end time 02-May-10 15:17:47 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANDROVER-SERIES-AND-DEFENDER-BULKHEAD-REPAIR-PANELS-/370369189803?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item563bb957ab)
this should solve part of your dramas.
it needs footwells and gearbox panel, will look at my old one and compare you can have whats on my old one if you can arrange shipping but lets see what we can get off mine to make the craddocks one up give me a buzz in the morning 0430465588

[jplambs]

How about this one Andy, LAND ROVER DEFENDER BULKHEAD TD5 /90/110 on eBay (end time 03-May-10 20:59:05 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150437706931&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en) or do they normally increase in price as the auction draws to a close?

[lardy]

That looks in good nick Looks like a bit of something happening where the footwell joins the floor but if it's minor i would watch it until the end of the auction then go large i reckon 350-400 quid, if it comes in for less than a grand and shipping you got a deal shipping might be $400 through FEDEX and will take a week . check with the buyer now that they are willing to ship to aus as some are lazy buggers and just want the cash for no work.
Dont get your hopes up until it's in the bag mate it's the nature of Ebay.
If you get it as it's a td5 the loom will be no good to you.
You will have to use yours.
But keep it it may come in handy for someone doing a conversion and you may be able to do them a good turn,when you get it steam clean it (U.K. salt on the roads that eat Land Rovers ) dry it out for a week and then treat it in the seams with Wurth Australia Pty Ltd - Catalogue (http://www.wurth.com.au/catalogueview.asp?pdf=A03_0015.pdf) the small can is $26.65 a can and will do all the seams on the bulkhead mate.

[jplambs]

Just spent lunch time ringing around, Rovacraft don't have any chassis or bulkhead's in stock at the moment but they'll get back to me tomorrow with a quote for both, ex UK.

I spoke to Triumph Rover in Adelaide and they can do a chassis and firewall combo for about $1700 (110) with the firewall being about 600-800 depending on whether its bare or if I want any of the components.

I also spoke to the landrover guru in Melbourne that I deal with and he has a bulkhead for $600 and a chassis (130) in northern victoria for $300, only problem with that is that the front left hand outrigger has been gas axed so it would need a new one, but its in really good nick other than that.

At this rate it looks like its going to be much cheaper sourcing a bulkhead locally, I would have thought that it would be dearer. If I don't end up getting the 130 chassis is anyone else interested? Apparently it has come close to being cut in half and sent to the tip.

[land864]

Hey JP:)

Which Landrover Guru in Melb:confused:

Fred , out Bayswater way?

[jplambs]

Anthony Johnson - British 4WD, out towards Montrose P.M. me if you want any more details. I use them for buying all the little bits and bobs that I need, they almost always work out cheaper than anybody else I have called to get a quote from and Anthony knows his defenders like the back of his hand. He and his wife are very friendly too.

[lardy]

Just spent lunch time ringing around, Rovacraft don't have any chassis or bulkhead's in stock at the moment but they'll get back to me tomorrow with a quote for both, ex UK.

I spoke to Triumph Rover in Adelaide and they can do a chassis and firewall combo for about $1700 (110) with the firewall being about 600-800 depending on whether its bare or if I want any of the components.

I also spoke to the landrover guru in Melbourne that I deal with and he has a bulkhead for $600 and a chassis (130) in northern victoria for $300, only problem with that is that the front left hand outrigger has been gas axed so it would need a new one, but its in really good nick other than that.

At this rate it looks like its going to be much cheaper sourcing a bulkhead locally, I would have thought that it would be dearer. If I don't end up getting the 130 chassis is anyone else interested? Apparently it has come close to being cut in half and sent to the tip.

that outrigger not a drama but get him to get the work done and guarrentee it good money by the sounds....if is as good as he makes out ...outriggers need to be precisely applied

[2234jones]

I paid $4000-00 dollars for my 1993 Defender, the engine had just had a rebuild and it was two owners from new, and was looked after, the reason it was that cheap, it needed some welding on the rear member, rusted out floor panels on firewall, and other parts, it cost me $860-00 to rectify these, lucky I could weld, and since including getting it on the road, upgrading radio, Seating and servicing regularly, I have spent $3000-00 in 1 and a Half years of having it, it doesn't miss a beat, so, I think I have a cheap defender, and it's great. :D
16 years old, 200tdi.
click below for my blog.

Land Rover (http://landroverfreak.blogspot.com)


Thanks Mark