My plan is to transform a tatty 110 defender into a new and off road ready machine.
Well, I picked her up today. a 19 year old Defender 110 3.5L V8 in beige! Nice
Very pleased with the overall condition, slight surface rust on the chassis, engine runs sweet. Most of the electrics work, seems the ideal platform to work from! But it being a a Defender there are the usual spots of rust; bulk head has had a repair, looks to be good so far but might need another patch. Rear cross member is showing signs of rusting but not to the point that a new one is required. Waxoly treatment should sort that out. But the doors are mint! can't believe it they are normally the first thing to go.
However i can't stand the LPG! massive tank taking up most the back, crappy performance and a nasty smell all for a couple of pennies? Good bye LPG. On the flip slide to that argument the V8 really likes to drink petrol/ LPG.
The journey back:
Filled up on the way £30 LPG is a full tank and £53 is just over a half tank of petrol. used half the LPG and an 1/8th of the petrol getting back from Bristol.
Quickly realised after shooting across multiple lanes on the motorway that the bushes on the steering set up could do with a change. I think i will make this the first major job! Quickly followed by the brakes, hate to think how an emergency stop would go currently - as least the bumper is box section steel!
Back at home decided to get a steering lock (after the disappearing act of my last Defender) and some belts as the current ones are on the way out. Fitting the belts ran in to a few issues; new alternator means longer belt is needed, back to Halfords. In the process we (I said we because I don't want to blame Ed completely even though it was his fault) moved the distributor cap, resulting in the engine being unable to ideal. Quick twist and its back to running sweet!
We also remove the stupid seized steps, couple bolts needed cutting but they were soon off and the defender looking much better.
Then a full clean was in order, removing some of the crappy carpet left in. There must have been 19 years of crap in there! Much better now. We also removed the very tasteful rear boxing and returned it the the boat it came from!
Big thanks to Ed and Phil for helping out with all of the above all day, good effort.
Photos by PM Photography
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