Defender DIY Tips, Tricks and Fixes ?!?

[Dirtpod]

Hi all, Dave here. I have just joined up to AULRO and this is my first post so please be kind, hopefully I have thrown it into the right area for all to view !! (apologies if not).

I have just got my hands on a 2011 Limited Edition Defender 110 with only 3500ks on the clock. This is my first Land Rover Defender and I am absolutely wrapped with it !! :woot:. . . even the Defender quirks are cool !!

This brings me to my 'thread' topic - I have plenty of mods planned for the Fender but these all involve the usual aftermarket 4x4 purchases for which I can research and make informed purchases. . . . (i hope !!)

What I was hoping to find out from you all are all your Defender DIY Tips, Tricks and Fixes that you have made through your years of Defender experiences that have ensured your truck rolls on for years to come. Things like - superglue this hole, drill a hole in this, tie this to this, replace this immediately with this unusual thing, lube this thing over here, or anything that you think has improved and prolonged your Defender ownership ?!?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

P.S. Can anyone recommend a Sydney Defender Mechanic :bangin: ?
Cheers,
Dave

[rick130]

Dave, welcome to the asylum :twisted:

Have a read of this sub forum where most of the cool kids hang out and ask away http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/

[V8Ian]

Hi all, Dave here. I have just joined up to AULRO and this is my first post so please be kind, hopefully I have thrown it into the right area for all to view !! (apologies if not).

I have just got my hands on a 2011 Limited Edition Defender 110 with only 3500ks on the clock. This is my first Land Rover Defender and I am absolutely wrapped with it !! :woot:. . . even the Defender quirks are cool !!

This brings me to my 'thread' topic - I have plenty of mods planned for the Fender but these all involve the usual aftermarket 4x4 purchases for which I can research and make informed purchases. . . . (i hope !!)

What I was hoping to find out from you all are all your Defender DIY Tips, Tricks and Fixes that you have made through your years of Defender experiences that have ensured your truck rolls on for years to come. Things like - superglue this hole, drill a hole in this, tie this to this, replace this immediately with this unusual thing, lube this thing over here, or anything that you think has improved and prolonged your Defender ownership ?!?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

P.S. Can anyone recommend a Sydney Defender Mechanic :bangin: ?
Cheers,
Dave
You've broken it already? :o:p

Welcome to the forum. :)

[rick130]

One of the mods has been nice and moved your thread.
I hope they tell you where it's gone :D

[ugu80]

P.S. Can anyone recommend a Sydney Defender Mechanic :bangin: ?
Cheers,
Dave


Graham Cooper - St Peters
Davis - Annangrove
KLR - Kingswood
Mulgo - Mortdale for bits, pieces and advice.

[wrinklearthur]

Hi Dave

Welcome aboard to the forum.
I like: even the Defender quirks are cool !!
.

[landcol]

Hey Dave,depending on where you are,ayers auto on the northern beaches are highly recommended

[Dirtpod]

Thanks for the quick replies . . . no haven't broken it yet, just wanted to get on board with a good mechanic from the start !!

Thanks again for taking the time to read and send me your replies.

Cheers,
Dave

[LowRanger]

As far as mechanics go.I guess it depends where in Sydney you are,and how far you are prepared to travel.

[akelly]

+1 for Graeme Cooper. They have my 130 at the moment, sorting out the head gasket.

Have serviced my Disco for 5+ years. No complaints from me.

Ayers are good too, I used to live nearby and had a couple of things sorted out there.

Have fun with it mate - they're bloody addictive!

Adam

[Loubrey]

Welcome to the forum Dave!

With a 2011 it will be a good idea to keep the waranty alive with LRA's service schedule and the occasional trip to the stealers (Authorised Dealer). It's worth remembering that some mods will affect the waranty and its very much worth it to discuss each on the forum before doing it.

Cheers,
Lou

[Dirtpod]

Hi Lou,

Thanks heaps for your reply - only just learning that Chips and Reprogramming may/will effect warranty issues !! - bummer :( . . . will have to stick with the planned factory equipment upgrades for the time being.

Can you recommend a Chip that can be removed without leaving trace evidence in the vehicles ECU etc. Was thinking about the aussie 'CHIP IT' brand for the time being until I can get a complete upgrade after warranty. Thoughts ??

Thanks again Lou for your reply.

Cheers,
Dave

[Loubrey]

Dave,

With 3,500km on the clock your vehicle is still going to be very stiff. I would really wait for it to "loosen up" before playing with the ECU. All manufacturers claim that vehicles have been run in, but everyone on here will confirm that it takes a good 20,000km for a Defender to start running really smoothly and I personally would not try for extra performance until then.

IMO there is really no better option than the Alive Tuning arrangement (or similar) for a vehicle in waranty. You buy the Atric device from them (no duty, VAT or GST) and you follow the instructions supplied. You e-mail them your existing map, the create 2 "new" maps and e-mail them back to you as part of the original purchase. When the car goes for its service you just reinstall the original map and no one is the wiser.

There are many plug in/out chips out there including an apparent "untraceable" one from TerraFirma, but my personal view is that I'm not 100% convinced they leave no evidence behind that can give LRO reason not to honour waranty.

I'm playing it safe with LRA until 20 April 2013 when my waranty runs out and then I'll no doubt be looking at mechanical mods to make my car last as long as possible...

[PAT303]

Take each wheel off in turn and anti-sieze the inside of the rim that contacts the hub,they won't migrate then,also pull the rubber dust cap off the axle flange and give it a smear of grease to lube the axle splines. Pat

[Dirtpod]

Thanks Lou for taking the time to reply with details. As this is my first LR I really appreciate your information and help.

Thanks Pat for the info re wheels and dust covers, will do.

To all, I really appreciate your info, help and guidance you provide to a fledgling Defender owner !!

Cheers,
Dave

[newhue]

Yeh Dave I'd just run it for a while.
If it's going to play up it will already have done it or perhaps over the next 10 or 15K.

There is so much stuff out there to build your landy it takes time to discover and digest. Don't have a rush of blood and just go down to ARB and give them the go ahead to make it look like a cruiser.
Have a good think what you want to do with it, picture an end product. By running it for a while you will get to know it, and prove to it you are a worthy owner. It will most likely give you **** soon enough for a little test.
It's hard to say do this immediately, because they are ready for an expedition out of the box. But in saying that a Defender evolves and bits and pieces are added and tinkered with as you evolve with it.

Actually there is a first thing, find a track, engage low, and have some fun.

[Dirtpod]

Yeh Dave I'd just run it for a while.
If it's going to play up it will already have done it or perhaps over the next 10 or 15K.

There is so much stuff out there to build your landy it takes time to discover and digest. Don't have a rush of blood and just go down to ARB and give them the go ahead to make it look like a cruiser.
Have a good think what you want to do with it, picture an end product. By running it for a while you will get to know it, and prove to it you are a worthy owner. It will most likely give you **** soon enough for a little test.
It's hard to say do this immediately, because they are ready for an expedition out of the box. But in saying that a Defender evolves and bits and pieces are added and tinkered with as you evolve with it.

Actually there is a first thing, find a track, engage low, and have some fun.


Sound advice, cheers :D

[PAT303]

Do what I did to mine and give it a flogging straight up to seat the rings,no point babying the thing. Pat

[Rusnut]

is he bronze or silver

[Bundalene]

There is a lot of info in the post below.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/115591-bundalenes-puma-project.html


One company for installations of extras who come highly recommended by many on this Forum is Daniel from Mulgo,

expedition vehicle conversions, recreational vehicle conversions, camper conversions, land rover, toyota - Mulgo Pty Ltd - Australia (http://www.mulgo.com.au/)

You are welcome to come out and have a chat about Defenders, we are in Western Sydney - send us a PM


Erich

[Dirtpod]

is he bronze or silver

Got the bronze one - happy wife = happy life :D

[Rusnut]

tiz a beautiful colour alright

[RVR110]

bronze one - happy wife = happy life :D

Is that a mathematical equation? LOL

[thebulb698]

I own a 1999 Defender 130 TD5.

Every now and again I have to do some highway travel and it revs quite high and loudly at about 100kph and higher. It currently has a standard 5 speed manual gear box in it.

My question; has anyone installed a 6 speed gearbox into their Defender and was there very much modification needed to the vehicle (mounts, drive shaft length etc...)?

thebulb698

"There's tough, then there's indestructable, then there's DEFENDER!!!!!"

[Benz]

I own a 1999 Defender 130 TD5.

Every now and again I have to do some highway travel and it revs quite high and loudly at about 100kph and higher. It currently has a standard 5 speed manual gear box in it.

My question; has anyone installed a 6 speed gearbox into their Defender and was there very much modification needed to the vehicle (mounts, drive shaft length etc...)?

thebulb698

"There's tough, then there's indestructable, then there's DEFENDER!!!!!"

i know you can get an overdrive system.
i think a company called roverdrive make them, but there properly is a few others.

might be a option.

[TimNZ]

My question; has anyone installed a 6 speed gearbox into their Defender and was there very much modification needed to the vehicle (mounts, drive shaft length etc...)?




I think Ascrofts in the UK were looking at doing a conversion kit to fit the MT82 from the "Puma" to other Defenders. But an overdrive as Benz suggested would be much cheaper.

Cheers,

Tim

[Didge]

Hi Dave, welcome and happy driving. Don't forget to wave. Coopers and Roving Mechanical - Peter Davis good mechanics in Sydney. For years of happy motoring, my non mechanical advice would be to get as much rust proofing as possible done, especially in the doors and front footwells.
cheers gerald

[cewilson]

Snorkel;
Bullbar;
Spotlights;
Change the light wiring if it's like our older models; and
Cargo barrier.



Then just drive it until you KNOW what you want - and you will :)


Cheers
Chris

[VladTepes]

bulb I know MR Automotive have installed a least one overdrive system to a TD5. Might be worth giving them a call and asking about it.