Defender chassis advice required please

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Will2008

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Hi all

I've read many threads on this forum and others, but still looking for some advice if poss please....

Recently I bought a truly battered 1998 defender 90 pick up - with the intention of getting into rtv trials.

I knew the chassis was rough when I bought it but it's worse than I thought. The front half is really solid, no rust on the outriggers or main chassis rails. But the rear half is a right mess. It's been welded in the past (badly) and painted over with silicone stuff - presumably to get through the mot.

I spoke to richards today and a new galv chassis with a few mods and vat and delivery is going to cost me 1800 quid. Bearing in mind what I want to use it for is it worth it, or should I strip down the existing chassis and weld it up, properly, maybe with a new 1/4 chassis.

What would you do?

Thanks

Will
 

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if it was me and i had the cash, galvy then never worry about it for a long time. much bigger job than just a new rear half though and you will find loads of other bits to replace when you strip it to change the chassis which will bump the cost up a lot
 
I'm in the middle of putting mine on a galv chassis. Cost £1,530 through local Landy specialist and that was to their workshop. A mate brought it the 10 mile home in his Ford truck. The delivery costs directly from RC seemed high. However, mine is a CWS and is going to be a keeper. If I was using it for trials I would weld.
 
Thanks for input.

I like the idea of galv chassis but it's a lot of money and there will be loads of other stuff as you say.

Plus it's a truck cab and it will never get used for anything other than trials / pay and play etc. it's not a family wagon and I don't need to tow heavy loads with it.

I think next step is to take tub off, attack chassis with a wire brush on a grinder and see what's left.
 
Lifting the tub off is not too bad. If you go the whole hog, as flat said earlier, you'll end up having to replace lots of stuff and the costs mount very quickly.
This is what's left of mine and the list of new bits needed is as long as my arm.
 

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Last edited:
It's not too bad for being over 17. I had it waxoiled inside and out when I first got it about 10yrs ago and it has obviously worked a treat. I'm rebuilding it cos of the ali corrosion, not the chassis. It looks like it's not worth much, so you're welcome to some/all of it, but I'll be cutting out the VIN number. PM me if you want info as to where I am and positives/negatives about the chassis.
By the way, if I turn my laptop upside down, the bit you have cut out behind the trailing arm looks like it will weld ok.
 
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