Got my Defender

Just got my Defender and drove it home. It's a 1986, which I think means it's really a Land Rover 90, but near enough to a Defender to me. Most notable features are: CSW body (two seats and cubby box in the front, four seats in the back), 200TDi engine, 6-point roll cage, those rock slider bar thingies on the sills, and a thick ally steering guard. Also has a couple of twigs and a CB, not fitted (antenna and power wiring is done). The engine conversion was done by a LR specialist (at a cost of nearly 2K).

After driving an MR2, this feels pretty woolly, but it seems to steer okay, and the brakes pull up straight. So far, jobs to be done are: change bulbs/fix headlights (high beam duff on one side), fix passenger window winding mechanism, install CB. Also need to consider changing the cappings on the rear tub - they're pretty rusty in places.

Other than that, check tyre pressures, fill up with fuel, go for a drive and take some pictures.

nice one and welcome!

Cheers.

And here's a picture of it...

Nomad Z said:

Cheers.

And here's a picture of it...

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She looks sweet Exo cage too nice one .

If you got no history with it , Id give it a FULL service , all the oils and cam belt - at least you know where you stand without the wonder of when/if stuff was done .

At a minimum Id get under it and check the oils .

But nce looking 90

Nomad Z said:

After driving an MR2, this feels pretty woolly

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I had a couple of those... try the defender on a ploughed field at 40mph compared with the MR2 and all of a sudden it'll make a lot more sense

Nomad Z said:

So far, jobs to be done are: change bulbs/fix headlights (high beam duff on one side), fix passenger window winding mechanism, install CB. Also need to consider changing the cappings on the rear tub - they're pretty rusty in places.

Other than that, check tyre pressures, fill up with fuel, go for a drive and take some pictures.

Click to expand...

I remember the delusion of the first few weeks of Defender ownership... if you think that's the list of stuff to do you've either got some rethinking to do now or some repairs to do in the not too distant future.

Ignore the cappings, they'll keep for ever and a week - instead change the oils in the:

Engine (15W40 diesel engine oil - tractor engine oil is spot on)
Axles (EP90 or EPx 85 GL 4 or 5)
Mainbox (ATF)
Transfer box (EP90 or EPx 85 GL4 only - not GL5)

Check for oil in the swivel housings - if there is any, replace it with one shot grease or a 50/50 mix of LM/MS grease and EP90 - make the mix before putting it in the swivels.

Grease the sliding section and UJ's of BOTH prop shafts.

Adjust the handbrake properly and check the inboard pads of the front disks for excessive wear.

If it's an early 200Tdi the fuel return from the injectors has a habit of working loose, check they're tight if there's any sign of fuel on any fuel pipe.

Check the dipstick tube is securely attached - a loose one can mean the difference between +/- 2 litres of oil in the sump according to the level on the dipstick.

Check for play in the driving members of the hubs - they're a few quid each and worth replacing when they're worn - 5 bolts per driving member and about £7 or £8 a corner, you don't even need to jack it up to change them.

Seriously, I'd do all the above before looking at anything else on your list. There's probably stuff I've forgotten, but you'll get there

Well, the photo flatters it somewhat - it's a bit tattier in the flesh, but by no means a junker. After the last winter in the MR2, I know that the Landy will outperform it in certain respects. I was meaning that the feel of the steering and brakes on the road is generally a good way to tell if anything is amiss. Did about 100 miles yesterday, and it seems okay, with the caveat that I'm trying to guage things after a few years driving something much sharper.

I'm under no illusions about the need for other bits to be repaired/replaced, and I agree with doing a service as soon as possible. The MOT is due in late June, and I plan to get that done quickly (MR2 is late July, and I want them separated by a good few weeks - each will act as the 'courtesy car' for the other). There's a guy local to me (called Alex Lindsay) who's been specialising in Landys for years, and I plan to take it to him to sort out MOT and service.