Hello all, I am currently rebuilding a 96 300Tdi and it needs a lot of work. I am replacing the chassis and want to put a rear mounted Tdci petrol tank (option on Richards chassis) which means I am going to get a new rear tub rather than hacking my original one about. So moving on from that I was going to get new Puma doors, I presume they fit OK, just looks like a different latch ? Clearly the winder mech etc is different but am I OK buying these doors. I will be dry building the body panels before sending them all off to paint as I need to change a few things. Many thanks.
Defender 90 front doors
- Thread starter Biddler66
- Start date
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Its OK, I think my outlook on parts is very different to some as what I think is scrap others seem to like ! If you go on landroverdefender.org you can see pics of it. I have not got it off the chassis yet so prob wont go up for sale until new year anyway.
With regards to your initial question about the fitting of the doors, the physical size of the aperture is the same for all land rover doors from series II to end of production. So the newer doors will fit an older vehicle.If you are using a later tub that should also already have the mounting for the corresponding latch.
Nothing is ever scrap!
Everything can be rebuilt or repaired, and due to the nature of the vehicle there will always be some one who is currently using one that is in worse condition regardless of how bad your one is. The challenge is finding that person!.
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However, if you are going to spend lots of money on doors my preference would be to go for older rather than newer. Get some all ali door tops either ex military "wolf" or new from rocky mountain, some galvansied frame door bottoms, and some anti-burst locks. Will give you proper sliding windows and an extra couple of inches of width on each side. Much better choice than the new ones.
I have them, had them for 12 years now, you need to insulate them and put door cards on , otherwise they are cold and noisy, door seals that work are also a bit of a fiddle, id have swapped them out year's ago if it wasn't for having a rag top. The only reason I fitted them was so I could split them in the summer.
Thanks guys TBH I would rather go for newer doors as the 90 will be for family camping and a bit of green laning. The Mrs and kids don't like wind up windows, let alone sliding. Part of the reason I am pulling it apart and doing this work is to make it a bit more usable. In fairness I love the split doors and looks .... If I had my way I would do that and put hood and sticks on it, but we all know who's in charge in relationships !
The novelty of a rag top soon wears off when its your everyday drive, the sliding windows are a bit crap, even in the summer its a pain to take the roof off and leaving it off is always a gamble if its raining the next day and you have to drive to work in it. The canvas only lasts a few years before it needs changing and at 300 quid a pop it doesnt sound like much until you have to replace it, and contrary to popular belief they are bloody cold in the winter. I long for some comfort from my old bus, not having to shout at a passenger just to be heard would be lovely.
