Advice on a Defender

Hi,

Looking at getting myself a defender 110, to do some off roading. I have found one I like, but would like a bit of advice please.

How difficult do you think this will be to repair? I wanted to repaint it anyway, but if the rust/oxidisation can not be removed, I will look for another 110. Thanks.

another blinder of an intro

Dr_evil said:

another blinder of an intro

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Yes, fair enough lol. I should have introduced myself.

My name is Dom, I live in Oxfordshire. I am 22 and looking to get a Defender and put some work in to it, for some off roading and potentially some expeditions.

I am pretty good at DIY ect. but will most likely need some guidance on a few bits and bobs.

PopaDom said:

Yes, fair enough lol. I should have introduced myself.

My name is Dom, I live in Oxfordshire. I am 22 and looking to get a Defender and put some work in to it, for some off roading and potentially some expeditions.

I am pretty good at DIY ect. but will most likely need some guidance on a few bits and bobs.

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Wrong area for intro, but common mistake lol


The rust on the doors is fairly common, not much you can do.

The rust under the vents is another matter,

I think its a sign of bulkhead rust which is a pain to fix I believe,

If you can, get the vent plates taken off and have a better look at it,

BTW a 110 is better on road, 90 is best off road,

That'll do better than the other noob who started to spit his dummy out!


Bulkhead bottom is easy enough if you can weld, make up a couple of cardboard templates then have them made into 1.2mm steel

A 110 and 90 are actually very similar off road, you may have an issue on tight turns but thats it, other than that they're more or less the same

Thats not rust on the doors either thats aluminium oxidation, best bet is to just sand that back and re paint then hope for the best, worst case is re-skin or new door after a while

Dr_evil said:

That'll do better than the other noob who started to spit his dummy out!

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I think the difference is I know when I am a noob lol.

yeah, I was looking at the 90's to start with, but they won't be big enough to take my kit and have a few passengers. so 110 is best I think.

okay, so if I can take the vents off and have a better look and find its just that top part that needs attention. If I sand it back, treat and repaint, it should be fine? or is it still a welding job?

The door situation is as I thought, if I buy, I recon I can rectify that.

thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

weld it, it'll only rot again or if you don't plan on using the vents or want extra leaks then just sand it back paint and smear a whole load of tiger seal in there in order to get it water tight.

Wont rust again but wont open obviously

Hummm, okay.

I will get a better look and decide what a want to do. Depends how deep it goes I think. may have too look for another defender. -_-

half a days work if you're able to use a welder and grinder

PopaDom said:

Hummm, okay.

I will get a better look and decide what a want to do. Depends how deep it goes I think. may have too look for another defender. -_-

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There are plenty out there so choice is good. However, costs are high for good ones so you have to look around. Anything can be repaired and your own skills will determine how much it costs. If you can't weld or fabricate, it will cost more as someone else will have to do the work for you. But on the plus side nearly everything will unbolt so you can just get a good replacement and bolt it back on. The bulkhead can be removed and replaced relatively easily, albeit time consuming.