Defender 110 CSW full restoration

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SafariChris

Member
Posts
28
Location
Stoke on trent
New forum member and thought the best way to increase my post count is........ A rebuild thread
Shameless attempt to improve my status I know.......but seriously who can resist a re-build thread !!
Anyhow, I started this old girl up after 7 years besides the hedge in the back yard. I'd promised her a restoration after many years as a faithful family hack and all she needed was a new battery before starting first turn of the key.
A rough plan was drawn up, kind of like a list of works required and at this point barn space was sourced in preparation.
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Front end stripped out and engine removed to be sent away and reconditioned. The whole strip down was as expected, nothing would undo without buckets of plus gas or the angle grinder.

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The old 200tdi was running well but smokey when last used, so was due an overhaul, I'd decided to have it completely rebuilt by a specialist along with the turbo and fuel injection pump. The gearbox had been reconditioned around 10,000 miles before lay up so was in good condition and other than oil change was to be cleaned up and re-fitted.

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In the mean time the strip down continued, as expected the rot had seriously set in with the side frames and bulkhead suffering badly.
I had sourced some TD5 side frames in excellent condition so these were sent for blasting and galvanising, all doors were shot and the rear tub needed serious work.
The body cappings were rusted through and the chassis was good in the middle but rusted through at front and rear. I had replaced the rear quarter chassis some years before but this was now beyond its best.
I had ordered a chassis from Marslands as a direct replacement in preparation for this.

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The rear tub was worse than I'd thought. Once the old carpet was lifted there was extensive panel rot, other than inner and outer wing panels there was much to remove and I'd decided to go with 3mm thick ally in the rebuild.

I'll post more as the days go by but feel free to ask questions or criticise or even offer other ways I could have done things, always a school day as they say......

Cheers
Chris
 
I did the same 14yrs ago but mine was worse. I've got no pics though other than hold in your hand pics off 35mm film and don't have a clue how to get them up on here or anywhere for that matter.
I also used 3mm plate for the tub, got a fabrication place to fold the kick panel and wheel boxes cos they were too long for my folder.
You can run wires up the b posts for extra stuff like interior lights and central locking.
Get the new (you'll need one) removable tub support cross member galved too.
Oh, and the rear floor supports.
 
Also be prepared for alloy rot where the seatbelt brackets are, up behind the front face of the wheel boxes.
 
I did the same 14yrs ago but mine was worse. I've got no pics though other than hold in your hand pics off 35mm film and don't have a clue how to get them up on here or anywhere for that matter.
I also used 3mm plate for the tub, got a fabrication place to fold the kick panel and wheel boxes cos they were too long for my folder.
You can run wires up the b posts for extra stuff like interior lights and central locking.
Get the new (you'll need one) removable tub support cross member galved too.
Oh, and the rear floor supports.
modern camera's (even on phones) are good enough you could place the photo's on a sheet of paper and photograph them again.
Simples. ;)
 
Thanks Flossie,
The 110 is MOT'd now so other than a few small jobs the project is nearing the end. I found just the problems you mentioned and did end up replacing the rear tub forward cross member with a galvanized one. The floor bracers under rear tub were in surprisingly good condition and only needed blasting and regalvanising before refitting. I did the same with the outrigger top brackets, bulkhead brackets and engine/gearbox mounts.

Speaking of rear seatbelt floor mounts, I refused to give Land Rover over £120 for these two small plates, so made my own identical pieces for a couple of quid. Seems we had similar issues with rot in the same places.

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These are the expensive rotten belt floor mounts
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New pieces going in.

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Chris
 
Bloody hell Retroanaconda !! That's identical to mine is this the exact stage you're at right now ?

Please ask away if you need anything, I learned so much on my rebuild and perhaps more importantly what I should have done as I went and then had to put right later, if you get my meaning.

I'll post some more photos over the next few days
Chris
 
Superb job Flossie I got same copper hide hammer and work light too I can really appreciate the hard work that went into your rebuild.
How has she fared since ? Do you still have it?
 
Oh yes! I'll never ever sell her, owned for 15yrs now.
I do suffer driving her for long distances cos of bad joints and stuff now but we are one for as long as possible.
 
Fared? Well...I've changed the rear drum Salisbury for a disc brakes one, fitted a 200tdi to replace the 2.5nad and fitted a disco transfer box and a snorkel during those 15 yrs she's been on the road. Paint and carpet looks scruffy now and I've got a dent and gouges from laneing.
Everything was rebuilt at the time except gearbox and diff's and I've just had to rebuild the calipers again and bushes are starting to fail as are the dampers. Minor things really, chassis was a new galv and the bulkhead was a second hand mint condition one that I also had galved. I no longer fear Mot time!
 
Very pleased to hear that, I've done near enough the same to mine, ie disc braked rear axle, snorkel etc.
The difference from your purchase photo is startling ! Lovely rebuild mate
 
Bloody hell Retroanaconda !! That's identical to mine is this the exact stage you're at right now ?

Please ask away if you need anything, I learned so much on my rebuild and perhaps more importantly what I should have done as I went and then had to put right later, if you get my meaning.

I'll post some more photos over the next few days
Chris

Unfortunately that was six years ago and this is all I've managed to achieve:

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Moving house/country twice in the intervening period hasn't helped, but there's hope on the horizon.
 
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