New 110 owner looking for help

[bgbiteme]

I just bought my first ever 4x4, a 1997 Defender 110 wagon. After recently becoming unemployed, my family (wife, 5 year old son and I) have decided to do the 'big trip' across the Nullabor, up to the Kimberley, across to Katherine/Darwin and back down.

Everyone I've spoken to since deciding to do the trip, has advised me that a Landcruiser diesel is the only way to go ("It's the only car that everyone in the Outback knows how to fix", "A Land Rover will let you down and you'll be stuck without parts" etc etc), but I just hate Toyotas and have always had my heart set on a Land Rover. Then a couple of weeks ago, I was in country NSW hitching a lift and I got picked up by a farmer who told me that his Defender is the best car he's ever owned. So that sealed it and I bought one, and I couldn't be happier.

Now that I have the beauty home, I need to prepare it for the trip, including a few repairs:

- knock in the left front suspension
- shudder at 95km/hr
- dull thumping (from the diff?) when I pull up slowly at lights
- rust hole left front firewall (presumably from the aircon hose)
- button missing for driver's door handle (have a spare one but not sure how to fit it)
- tyres are a bit old and crusty
- booked in for a RWC on Wednesday so bound to be other things

(Funnily enough the car was sold with a RWC so it must have been a shonky one, never mind.)

And I'd like to do the following improvements/upgrades:

- bull bar (doesn't have one) & winch
- spotlights
- fridge
- 2nd battery (or solar panel?) to charge fridge
- storage system in the back
- some kind of rack to store my mountain bike and my son's BMX that we'll take with us (although they may be best inside the truck out of harm's way)
- storage for jerry cans
- installation of shelf for cooker in the rear tailgate (if that's wise?)
- possible heavy dute spare wheel holder
- possible installation of 3rd seat in front for my 5 year old son, so that I can take out the back seats and allow more storage in the back - not even sure if that's legal?
- possible cargo barrier
- probably other things I haven't thought of yet??

Unfortunately I've never done much more than replace oil/filter in my cars in the past, but now that I'm not working for the first time in my life, I have some time on my hands and am super-keen to learn and do all the work on the car myself.

Being a nuff-nuff when it comes to mechanicals, I figure the best way to go forward (other than buying a Haynes manual), is to try to find someone who can 'supervise' me and basically give me instructions on what to do and help out with a loan of any special tools that I'll need. Having said that, I'm happy to buy any new tools that I will need to take on the trip.

Is there anyone close to me (I live at Carlton North) who would be prepared to come and 'supervise' me doing some fix-it work on the wagon? Happy to pay in beer or wine.

[big guy]

Did you get the car checked out by a Landy Mechanic by any chance?

Some stuff is pretty basic of what you have described like tyres etc- You just have to decide which ones.

Do a few searches here and go from there.
I am not much chop with a spanner either, my trusty mechanic can do that.
I would take it to a good reputable Landy meachnic and fix what needs.

For extras that you would like, look in the market section here although that can be a bit pricey or ebay-- many bargains are there.

Hope all works out for you.

;););)

[alien]

Welcome to the forum:D

See if you can get along to this ..http://www.aulro.com/afvb/upcoming-events/104725-vic-110-120-130-meet-up-bulleen-27-jun.html
Might be just what your looking for:)

[rockyroad]

The reason there is so many toyota parts are in the outback is because they do break down.

Sounds like your going to have a ball in getting the rig ready and even more fun when you set off.

Find a good Landy mechanic and get the basic stuff sorted then everything else should fall into place. Most of the storage stuff you could build easily yourself but I would spend a little bit more on roof racks and bike racks etc.

[Scouse]

- knock in the left front suspension Check damper/shock absorber bushes to start with, then the other bushes. And make sure all the suspension bolts are TIGHT.
- shudder at 95km/hr Wheel balance?
- dull thumping (from the diff?) when I pull up slowly at lights Probably a tight handbrake but check propshaft unis too.

[miky]

... have decided to do the 'big trip' across the Nullabor, up to the Kimberley, across to Katherine/Darwin and back down.


I would respectfully suggest that if you are intending to stay on formed roads that you could forget buying the winch.

As has been said, get it checked out by a decent LR mechanic. Just ask for one around Melbourne and ask people to PM.

[Didge]

Forget the Haynes manual, download the one here. Go to Files at top of home page, Technical manuals, down to bottom of page, Category, select General land rover related, then scroll to 2/3 to bottom half of page and find 1996 Defender manual. It's the genuine one and better than Haynes (in my opinion at least). And most of the jobs aren't that complicated. I'm no great shakes at mechanical repairs and having watched the mechanic fix a few things thought I could have done it and saved a pretty penny or two.
cheers Gerald

[land864]

Hey BG :)

Come to the 110 day on the 27 June in Bulleen;)

You will get lots of good info from owners there :cool:

Have a look in the events section

Pete

[Michael2]

Welcome, from a fellow 1997 110 owner. Let me address some of your queries,

... After recently becoming unemployed, my family (wife, 5 year old son and I) have decided to do the 'big trip' across the Nullabor, up to the Kimberley, across to Katherine/Darwin and back down.
Congratulation on becoming Time Rich. You now have more time than any millionaire can buy. The time spent travelling with your family will be reflected on for the rest of your lives, a year spent at work disappears into oblivion.

Everyone I've spoken to ... has advised me that a Landcruiser diesel is the only way to go
You have mechanical simplicity, a lighter vehicle that can carry more weight, greater economy and coil springs, plus an online network of assistance.


- knock in the left front suspension shock absorber or mounting rubbers
- shudder at 95km/hr wheel balance (probably)
- dull thumping (from the diff?) when I pull up slowly at lights could be axle hub splines
- rust hole left front firewall (presumably from the aircon hose) be sure to pull the drain hose off the A/C and blow / flush it clear. there are 2 hoses that meet into one, and one sometimes blocks up
- button missing for driver's door handle (have a spare one but not sure how to fit it)
- tyres are a bit old and crusty given you're fiscal constraints, you can often get a complete set of tyres with low milage on ebay for the price of a single tyre. Last week a friend got 5 General Grabbers with 90%+ tread for his Defender for $250 the lot.


And I'd like to do the following improvements/upgrades:

- bull bar (doesn't have one) & winch
- spotlights get a 2nd hand set of good spotties and fit HID inserts, these will use less power and give more light. Or you can save money by getting better headlights, and leaving the spotties until you're ready to go and are sure you can afford them.
- fridge if you buy 2nd hand, Engel, Waeco and EvaKool are good brands. EvaKool is less known, and creates less of a bidding frenzy on ebay. About 47 litre capacity is more than enough for a family, any bigger and you'll have trouble lifting it in.
- 2nd battery (or solar panel?) to charge fridge both
- storage system in the back you can get square alum tubeing for about $5 p/m and then get clip in corners to join it all up at less than $2 per corner. Then pop rivet some alloy plate over the top to seal & strengthen it.
- some kind of rack to store my mountain bike and my son's BMX that we'll take with us (although they may be best inside the truck out of harm's way)
- storage for jerry cansif you can get a long range tank, then you won't get fuel over your clothes trying to refill, plus it will save on space and keep all the weight further down
- installation of shelf for cooker in the rear tailgate (if that's wise?)the shelf is a good idea, you may get cooking smells in your headlining though
- possible heavy dute spare wheel holdergood idea, especially if you want to mount bikes to the back
- possible installation of 3rd seat in front for my 5 year old son, so that I can take out the back seats and allow more storage in the back - not even sure if that's legal? it's do-able, but it would be very squashy in the front. If you must remove the back seats, consider leaving the single one on the LHS and perhaps replacing it with a 2nd hand front seat (Triumph Rover SPares in SA have plenty in stock)
- possible cargo barrier you can store up against it, which increases your storage capacity. I fit a family of 5 in my 110 for 3 weeks on the road, so you should be able to fit your family in without having to remove the back seat

Be sure that the mechanicals are sound before spending too much on accessories. Things such as the timing belt, and consider when the clutch was last done. My clutch lasted 165,000, so getting a new clutch before your trip could be peace of mind and reliability. The 130 Defender clutches are heavier duty. If your timing belt has done over 40,000, you may as well replace it before the trip, rather than have to replace it half way though the trip.

[Vin Rouge]

I endorse all of Michael2's comments. I would however, emphasize that if you have any doubts about when the timing belt was changed, get a new one fitted and take the opportunity to replace the pulleys as well. Generally, a broken timing belt can wreck the engine, so it's not an item for compromise.

Also, for Land Rover manuals, see Legion Land Rover Colombia :::::: Bienvenidos!! (http://www.legionlandrover.com/index.php'sec=3) The site is in Spanish but it's easy to find and download what you want.

Best of luck.

[Snapper]

Everyone I've spoken to since deciding to do the trip, has advised me that a Landcruiser diesel is the only way to go ("It's the only car that everyone in the Outback knows how to fix", "A Land Rover will let you down and you'll be stuck without parts" etc etc), but I just hate Toyotas and have always had my heart set on a Land Rover.

Over 70% of Land Rovers ever built are still on the road today. Thats 60 years worth of vehicles. (http://wikicars.org/en/Land_Rover)

Toyota had a tax break for primary producers so parts would be easy to get when your out in the sticks. Everyone out there owns one.

[mike_ie]

I just bought my first ever 4x4, a 1997 Defender 110 wagon. After recently becoming unemployed, my family (wife, 5 year old son and I) have decided to do the 'big trip' across the Nullabor, up to the Kimberley, across to Katherine/Darwin and back down.

Well he made it as far as Adelaide anyhow - had his Defender parked in my back yard this morning. Nice looking machine to say the least, and I wish you years of happy travelling in it mate. :)