Improvements to 1995 Defender

[wouldbeowner]

Havent posted on this forum for quite a while. Bought a 130 300tdi on this forum just over 2 years ago and drove it back from Adelaide to Nth NSW.
It was noisy, had loads of vibrations, had the turning circle of the QEII but I loved it.
Over the last 2 years I have done quite a few things to it. It has cost a bit but in retrospect it has been a good experience.
Of all the things I have done, 3 of them stand out as major changes.
1. Sound proofing. Got some relatively cheap adhesive back neopreney looking stuff off internet and covered every bare piece of metal or hole visible in the interior. This made a very noticeable difference to the sound levels and made it worthwhile fitting a CD/Radio player.
2. Got rid of the crap 265x75x16 tyres. Previous owner had them fitted on Wolf rims but they were a major mistake. They were far too wide. The car wandered all over the place unless tyres were inflated to about 50psi. This stopped the tyres from distorting but made it feel like you had solid steel tyres. I replaced these with good old 235x85 - best thing that could happen. IMMEDIATELY the car stopped wandering, the turning circle improved dramatically and ride improved dramatically as well as the tyres only needed about 36psi to keep their correct shape and not distort.
3. Replaced the rear drive shaft with a new one. This made the most difference of anything. The vibration has totally gone, The car is as quiet and smooth at 120kph on the clock (only had it up there once to test for the vibration) as at 60kph - no exageration.

All I need now is another 50 bhp and all will be well.

[slug_burner]

Havent posted on this forum for quite a while. Bought a 130 300tdi on this forum just over 2 years ago and drove it back from Adelaide to Nth NSW.
It was noisy, had loads of vibrations, had the turning circle of the QEII but I loved it.
Over the last 2 years I have done quite a few things to it. It has cost a bit but in retrospect it has been a good experience.
Of all the things I have done, 3 of them stand out as major changes.
1. Sound proofing. Got some relatively cheap adhesive back neopreney looking stuff off internet and covered every bare piece of metal or hole visible in the interior. This made a very noticeable difference to the sound levels and made it worthwhile fitting a CD/Radio player.
2. Got rid of the crap 265x75x16 tyres. Previous owner had them fitted on Wolf rims but they were a major mistake. They were far too wide. The car wandered all over the place unless tyres were inflated to about 50psi. This stopped the tyres from distorting but made it feel like you had solid steel tyres. I replaced these with good old 235x85 - best thing that could happen. IMMEDIATELY the car stopped wandering, the turning circle improved dramatically and ride improved dramatically as well as the tyres only needed about 36psi to keep their correct shape and not distort.
3. Replaced the rear drive shaft with a new one. This made the most difference of anything. The vibration has totally gone, The car is as quiet and smooth at 120kph on the clock (only had it up there once to test for the vibration) as at 60kph - no exageration.

All I need now is another 50 bhp and all will be well.

Well done. Yes we do love our Defenders.

Sounds like you need a change of username now.

[Babs]

Where's the pics?

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[clintox]

Must have been a long steep decline to get it up to 120km/hr I only dream of those speeds. The noise isn't that bad my kids are usually asleep before I get to the end of my driveway with the diesel hummm
Clint

[wouldbeowner]

Where's the pics?

Gday Babs. What would you like pics of - happy to accomodate. The insulation, the new tyres, the drive shaft?

Actually, more interesting than that stuff from a visual point of view is a storage system for the ute section.

[wouldbeowner]

Must have been a long steep decline to get it up to 120km/hr

Well, like I said - it was 120kph on the clock - probably means an actual 110kph.

[Gumnut]

ha ha,

my bog standard 95 300tdi 130 Hicap will easily pull GPS 140 (off the speedo!!) on a slight downhill decline at the back of Numeralla, being the only place I am reckless enough to give it a bit of welly. Definitely not on the Federal, Hume, Monaro or Snowy Mountains Highways at any time of the day, night, season or phase of the moon!
No dramas maintaining GPS 110 (speedo 125) on the level freeway, and only suffers a tad on hills. - we wont go there with numbers to protect the reutation of the innocent - !!

[jboot51]

Interesting about speeds.
I know that I've found the Governor @ 125km's in fourth. (1995 300tdi 130)
As for top speed, I'm not brave enough.