Help...buying my first Defender...

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Hi guys, new to the forum...hello!

Looking at buying a defender, solid underneath and good interior, some corrosion in all the right places...

I'm in need of some advice on corrosion and paintwork on the panel around the windscreen... we have flaking paint and corrosion on the panel...paint shop says should be straightforward but I wanted to know if the panel corrosion is normally a sign of something really wrong underneath or will surface treatment and paint sort it....looks like it's clogged gutters holding water over time..

Appreciate it's not always clear form a picture but thoughts / experiences welcomed...all other panels look fine....

Thanks,

Rob

doriz · May 2, 2019

Try this from a guru type on ere...

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

great, thanks doriz

doriz · May 2, 2019

Alternatively put a shout out for someone clued up on the forum to go out and give you a second opinion?

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
Hi guys, new to the forum...hello!

Looking at buying a defender, solid underneath and good interior, some corrosion in all the right places...

I'm in need of some advice on corrosion and paintwork on the panel around the windscreen... we have flaking paint and corrosion on the panel...paint shop says should be straightforward but I wanted to know if the panel corrosion is normally a sign of something really wrong underneath or will surface treatment and paint sort it....looks like it's clogged gutters holding water over time..

Appreciate it's not always clear form a picture but thoughts / experiences welcomed...all other panels look fine....

Thanks,

Rob
View attachment 176927

The windscreen frame is aluminium, so that will be fairly superficial compared to what can happen in other areas. What year is it?

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Hi, its 2013, everything else looks solid...seems restricted to just the frame and windscreen brackets..

I just was't sure whether there was any steel behind the aluminium which could have been causing the issue...

Thanks,

R

mick the builder · May 2, 2019

Solid ally. No steel in that area apart from the two self tapper scews holding the int. plastic trim.

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
Hi, its 2013, everything else looks solid...seems restricted to just the frame and windscreen brackets..

I just was't sure whether there was any steel behind the aluminium which could have been causing the issue...

Thanks,

R

Blimey, that's not very old. They do corrode there, but that's an unusual amount of corrosion for that age I reckon.
The only steel are the bolts and the plate behind the frame.

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Thanks Mick, that's helpful, should be fairly straightforward paint job then...

R

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
Thanks Mick, that's helpful, should be fairly straightforward paint job then...

R

Mick beat me to it

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Al2O3 said:
Blimey, that's not very old. They do corrode there, but that's an unusual amount of corrosion for that age I reckon.
The only steel are the bolts and the plate behind the frame.
View attachment 176932

It's been living under a tree and the gutter under the windscreen looks to have been permanently blocked so the gutter has been a reservoir! Everything else seems bang on.
r

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
Thanks Mick, that's helpful, should be fairly straightforward paint job then...

R

Just spotted your ......?
It depends on how thorough a job you want. I would take the screen out at least. If the corrosion goes under the bottom of the frame I would take the frame out altogether, which is a little bit more hassle.

doriz · May 2, 2019

Can pop a new windscreen seal in for completeness

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

ok.
seller is going to pay for it so definitely a thorough job - stop the rot...
So - windscreen out, want a proper job. The frame is spot welded to the roof though, yes?
R

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
ok.
seller is going to pay for it so definitely a thorough job - stop the rot...
So - windscreen out, want a proper job. The frame is spot welded to the roof though, yes?
R

Bolted on.

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Ok, even better...

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

so -
Windscreen out. Save the frame if not too bad, replace it if it's ugly. New brackets and bolts. Paint up.

Am I missing anything?
r

Al2O3 · May 2, 2019

retrorob77 said:
so -
Windscreen out. Save the frame if not too bad, replace it if it's ugly. New brackets and bolts. Paint up.

Am I missing anything?
r

The frame should clean up, but if heavily pitted might need a bit of filler. As Doriz said you'll want a new seal for the screen glass and if the frame is to come out you'll want a new frame to top of bulkhead seal. You can see the end of it sticking out the side on your photo.

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Also one other issue... something was bolted to the upper rear quarter panel at the back. The holes have been blanked and the panel is a bit damaged/weak.

Are the rear window framing panels available or would that be a, 'weld a plate in job' to sort it out?

Appreciate the help guys...

Rob

retrorob77 · May 2, 2019

Help...buying my first Defender...

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