Antphillips1973
New Member
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- Langleymill Derbyshire
Hi there new member looking for advice on few upgrades on defender ie smaller steering wheel rear wheel carrier snorkle are these things I can sort my self or is it a garage job 
Advice on defender upgrades
- Thread starter Antphillips1973
- Start date
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Depends on what you want to do ...
For example, if you don't have power steering it might not be the best idea to fit a smaller steering wheel,
Never known anyone fitting a wheel carrier snorkel, but if that's what you want to do, I don't see any reason to try and talk you out of it.
I believe that it is possible to fit an old Jaguar V12 lump in, with a bit of jiggling about, but what you do is entirely up to you.
For example, if you don't have power steering it might not be the best idea to fit a smaller steering wheel,
Never known anyone fitting a wheel carrier snorkel, but if that's what you want to do, I don't see any reason to try and talk you out of it.
I believe that it is possible to fit an old Jaguar V12 lump in, with a bit of jiggling about, but what you do is entirely up to you.
Jonnyb1990
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kes86
Active Member
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The possibilities are endless. Depends on what you want to do with it. Mine has got a good few add ons but to be fair I commute daily and have only been green laning a couple of times. I enjoy it though, which is the main point.
Dr_evil
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I now know what I want for xmas
Daimler lump to be exact
you can also get bigger engines in there if you try thoughHi, what is your defender?
Mines a TD5 90, Iv done a few bits on mine you might consider upgrades? or a waste of money.
I made some seat risers from 1" box to move the seats back over the bulk head to get a better driving position,
You can buy the risers if you dont fancy making some.
But then my knees touched the big old bus steering wheel so i swapped it for a smaller one, be aware a lot of aftermarket steering wheels dont come with the boss to mount them on your steering shaft you have to buy them seperate.
I put a 15" on mine and i now like it.
Iv put a bigger steering damper on mine because the original was tired, easy job.
Iv swapped a lot of body bolts for stainless ones, to stop the horrid rust marks all over the body work, I coated them in grease to hopefully discourage them from causing ally rot, maybe!
I swapped the centre exhaust for a straight through pipe because mine was all dented in and blowing.
I bought a set of disco freestyle alloys, which look better than the rusty steels that came on it.
Next for me is replacing the transfer box with one from a disco to make it less noisy on the motorway, it does my head in
Everythings been done on my Mates drive.
If you know the difference between a ring spanner and a hammer most things seem do-able
Mines a TD5 90, Iv done a few bits on mine you might consider upgrades? or a waste of money.
I made some seat risers from 1" box to move the seats back over the bulk head to get a better driving position,
You can buy the risers if you dont fancy making some.
But then my knees touched the big old bus steering wheel so i swapped it for a smaller one, be aware a lot of aftermarket steering wheels dont come with the boss to mount them on your steering shaft you have to buy them seperate.
I put a 15" on mine and i now like it.
Iv put a bigger steering damper on mine because the original was tired, easy job.
Iv swapped a lot of body bolts for stainless ones, to stop the horrid rust marks all over the body work, I coated them in grease to hopefully discourage them from causing ally rot, maybe!
I swapped the centre exhaust for a straight through pipe because mine was all dented in and blowing.
I bought a set of disco freestyle alloys, which look better than the rusty steels that came on it.
Next for me is replacing the transfer box with one from a disco to make it less noisy on the motorway, it does my head in
Everythings been done on my Mates drive.
If you know the difference between a ring spanner and a hammer most things seem do-able
you might get engines with bigger capacity displacement. but i dont think youll find many physically bigger than the daimler v12.Daimler lump to be exact
My list so far has been:
- Blank off EGR valve
- Decat the exhaust
- new fuel tank
Assuming it passes its MOT, next are:
- new rear door and spare wheel carrier
- snorkel as I have to block up the drainage hole in the air box
- tree sliders
- spots
- winch
- probably some other guards etc.
As far as working on it yourself, I did the head gasket on mine a couple of weeks ago, and I am far from a mechanic. That is the best thing about defenders is they are easy to work on yourself. Also, the guys on here are great if you have any problems
- Blank off EGR valve
- Decat the exhaust
- new fuel tank
Assuming it passes its MOT, next are:
- new rear door and spare wheel carrier
- snorkel as I have to block up the drainage hole in the air box
- tree sliders
- spots
- winch
- probably some other guards etc.
As far as working on it yourself, I did the head gasket on mine a couple of weeks ago, and I am far from a mechanic. That is the best thing about defenders is they are easy to work on yourself. Also, the guys on here are great if you have any problems
