1991 Defender help/advice needed. Future restoration thread?

[Rabit]

Hello all, this is my first thread so go easy on me I'll add as much information here. I have just purchased a 1991 (H plate) Defender 90 2.5 n/a diesel pickup (135k) from eBay & would really appreciate some help from you all.
Re: Fuel gauge;
I looked up on this & found out that it's either the gauge, wiring or sender unit, or maybe all of them? I loosened the dash panel to see which wire went into the back of the gauge (Black/Green) & then I'd know the right wire on the sender unit (I couldn't find the wiring diagram online). I got to the unit & that wire wasn't even connected & full of mud, plus pin it connected to was bent. I tried cleaning it & just testing the wire against the pin but nothing happened, fuel gauge still showing empty? I didn't get a chance to check the full wire for breaks etc so do you think it could be just a wire I need as fuel gauges are quite expensive :-( . I didn't open the actual sender unit, I guess I need to do that too? Also, if the green/black wire is for the gauge, what is the black wire & white/grey wire for? How can I test the unit or gauge in basic layman terms?

Pictures will be coming very soon. Just imagine a big dirty red Defender pickup with big farm wheels for the time being.

 

[craigyb]

I'd forgotten most of it by the time I got to the end.
Where are you based?
Someone may offer help/guidance on how to do things.

 

[Rabit]

I'd forgotten most of it by the time I got to the end.
Where are you based?
Someone may offer help/guidance on how to do things.

I'm sorry about the ridiculously long post, I've cut it down now with a new title. I'm in W.Yorkshire. I have since taken it to the garage regarding the aforementioned issues. Hopefully it just needs 2 ball joints/track rod ends? (apparently they are seriously gone & he advised it gets fixed immediately) on the bar that runs to each front wheel. The power steering unit was low & leaking all over the steering box (loose pipe, thankfully not a split pipe). I've given it a good wash & now leaving to see if it leaks again overnight & then I can make a decision about whether to keep the car or return it. I found a local guy in a farm who sells LR parts & rebuilds them, & was quoted £25 for 2 of the track rod ends for both sides plus he'll throw in a rocker cover gasket (There's a slight leak round that cover). If all goes ok with no leaks I'll remove that bar, new ends & tidy the bar up.

 

[craigyb]

I'm sorry about the ridiculously long post, I've cut it down now with a new title. I'm in W.Yorkshire. I have since taken it to the garage regarding the aforementioned issues. Hopefully it just needs 2 ball joints/track rod ends? (apparently they are seriously gone & he advised it gets fixed immediately) on the bar that runs to each front wheel. The power steering unit was low & leaking all over the steering box (loose pipe, thankfully not a split pipe). I've given it a good wash & now leaving to see if it leaks again overnight & then I can make a decision about whether to keep the car or return it. I found a local guy in a farm who sells LR parts & rebuilds them, & was quoted £25 for 2 of the track rod ends for both sides plus he'll throw in a rocker cover gasket (There's a slight leak round that cover). If all goes ok with no leaks I'll remove that bar, new ends & tidy the bar up.

Just watch how much they charge for labour. The only thing I would pay someone to fix on my Landy is the gearbox. Everything else is fairly simple, just made awkward by land rover if you ever need a hand doing anything give me a shout, if I'm off work that is

 

[Rabit]

Just watch how much they charge for labour. The only thing I would pay someone to fix on my Landy is the gearbox. Everything else is fairly simple, just made awkward by land rover if you ever need a hand doing anything give me a shout, if I'm off work that is

Thanks for that, I really appreciate it. I'll be doing the work myself as I have watched a few videos on how to do those track rod ends & they seem quite easy to do, then I'll book in for a 4 wheel track, or would it only need the 2 wheel track when doing the front track rod ends?

 

[defender11069]

if there anything like my track rod ends i neaded a vise a big fook of hammer and a lot of brute force

 

[Rabit]

if there anything like my track rod ends i neaded a vise a big fook of hammer and a lot of brute force

My bolts don't look too new so I'll mostly likely be fighting with them. The videos I watched they all placed a big hammer on one side & hit the other with another hammer, like using it as an anvil?

Did you replace the locking bolts & locking pins when doing yours & if so, where did you get them from?