Another request for advice

Yes I'm new too. Just looking at getting my first landy and having been geeking out for about two months I think I have found the one to pop my cherry.

Its a 1984, 90, with a new galvanized light weight chassis, aluminum body panels, its had a 3L tdi put in and I think it is the LT77 gearbox (excuse me if thats wrong, reverse is past first on the left). Its been re-sprayed at some point (silver) and there is some rush/oxidation on the rear door and a few bits on some of the other panels. The battery box has a big hole in it and will need to be replaced I think. Petrol light doesn't work but gauge does, dif lock light isn't coming on either but shifter moves alright.

Right, thats the details, heres the questions:
1. is the gear box ok with the engine, will it do the job, anything I should watch for.
2. Battery box, easy to replace myself?
3. lights, should I be concerned?
4. There is a leak in the front bulk head I think as the guy said there is sometimes water that come in from under the dash next to the passenger door. Again, easy to fix?

5 And most important I guess - is this a good defender and yes I know they are all brilliant but in comparison to others. I'm wanting to do some offroading but mainly for pottering round scotland with a tent and family in tow.

Sorry, should say really say hi and hello to ya's all and thank you for all your chat in the archive, been very handy so far and not even got a landy yet.

it might be a good point at which to point out that this isn't a forum for psychics so a few images would help

as would telling peeps what make/model of "3L" engine it's got in it

let's not go down the "it's not a depender" route just yet eh

welcome to LZ btw

oh and the battery box is easy to sort - a few patches MIGed on will be fine - YRM do a complete replacement

lights not working will probably justbe a bulb

water coming in is normal - bath sealant will sort it

and yep it'll be brill for pottering around in

Are you sure it not a 300tdi engine? Which would be a 2.5 litre.

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry not got pics handy but will try and get some just now. As far as engine goes this is where I let myself down. The engine was replaced by a dealer up north its a 3 Tdi from landrover. Not sure more then that but work was done in 98.

Will go and get some photos.

Here you go, hope I've attached these correctly.

Duncydoo said:

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry not got pics handy but will try and get some just now. As far as engine goes this is where I let myself down. The engine was replaced by a dealer up north its a 3 Tdi from landrover. Not sure more then that but work was done in 98.

Will go and get some photos.

Click to expand...

sound like a 200tdi (2.5) being on a lt77 and all.

as you have a galv chassis you can't really go too far wrong...

ah just seen the right side snorkel...Hmm.

Duncydoo said:

Here you go, hope I've attached these correctly.

Click to expand...

Aye ye have, but whit aboot the engine photies?

Oh and welcome, hope ye've got a thick skin and a guid sense o' humour

Like a rhino and always like a bit of banter. Thanks for the welcome's nice to be actually taking part rather then just reading.

Snorkel on the right hand side???? Engine is black, no photos I'm afraid.

its a 300 Tdi, so is that in fact 2.5L?

Ha, yes 300tdi just like I suspected! Welcome to Landyzone. It looks spot on and the chassy sounds good, you will get used to the leaks most of us do, the engine and gearbox are not a factory fit so that will depened on how well the work was done. The lights on the dash are small problems but you might have to sort out the linkage on the transfer box. Good luck

tidy, with a galvizzled chassis... jealous!

Duncydoo said:

Snorkel on the right hand side????

Click to expand...

200 left
300 right

but not set in stone for conversions

Thanks for all the help/advice. I'm going to go round tomorrow and see what deal I can do. Thinking £2500. Any comments on if this is a good price would be welcomed.

Thanks again and will let you all know the out come.

You'll be lucky for £2500! hope you can take him laughing at you.

spuddog said:

200 left
300 right

but not set in stone for conversions

Click to expand...

was gna say... my 300tdiu b reg has a near side intake - it came with me wings

Ok well I guess £2500 was maybe high hopes but £2750 seems good to me. Got it home and loving it. Just spent the day cleaning her up so I can see exactly what I've got, apart from about two ounces of dog hair!!

Love it, needs a few things sorted new radiator and a couple of hoes need filled but I'm good with that. Seams to run a little hot (nearly in the red after a good run) but i'm putting this down to the lack of fins in the raditor. She has two intercoolers one next to the radiator as you would expect and another on top of the engine under the scoop.

Is this a common setup?

Other then that there are a few leaks and the electric seam to be in a bit of a mess, everything works but there seams to be no logic to the cables and there is a lot of sharing of circuits.

Oh and she has a heated windscreen, like a ford but not sure who fitted that as it wasn't mentioned, no way of testing it till it gets cold I guess.

Any how thanks very much to all those that responded with reassurance/advice.

Are you SURE the chassis's galvanised?

Well I took a power-washer to it yesterday and while its not the light grey I was expecting there is no rush on it, swing-arm's etc have some rush but none on the chassis. how else can I check?

Duncydoo said:

Well I took a power-washer to it yesterday and while its not the light grey I was expecting there is no rush on it, swing-arm's etc have some rush but none on the chassis. how else can I check?

Click to expand...

Do you mean rust? What colour is it? - if it's bare metal, it needs to be light gray if it's galvanised but some people paint galvy to stop it getting nicked so if it's black hammerite then that doesn't mean it's not galvy - if it's just bare metal and it isn't light grey then it isn't galvie. I only ask coz you've paid the normal amount for a normal chassis one (a bit over the odds but not too much) but for a galvie one you would probably expect to pay twice that if it's any good and the rest is in reasnable nick so you have either got a real bargain (in which case check the vehicle's identity really carefully) or you've been had (albeit not too badly) on the galvie bit.

If something sounds too good to be true.....it probably is!

Been out and had another look, still can't see any rust and it is painted black so who knows, guess I just have to see how it goes!! Don't like to think I've been had but I love it all the same and can't wait to start working on it and getting it out and about. Thanks for all the help.