Landrover Defender 110 300TDI rebuild for a trip from the UK to SA

Hi All,

I am planning an overland trip from the UK to SA in 2019, for this, I am in the process of completely stripping and rebuilding my 1998 defender 110.
My chassis seems pretty solid bar the nearside front outrigger and a very small "5cm x 2cm" hole on the rear chassis rail in the dip where they all rust. For this reason, I decided I'll rather completely strip and rebuild the 110 using a galvanized chassis and bulkhead. I'll also replace as much of the screws and fixings with stainless steel and use nylon washers where steel and aluminum bolt together to avoid oxidization. I will also convert from a 110 hard top to a CSW.
As I progress I'll add a load more pics. Please feel free to share your advice and any tips and tricks that may help me.

Sounds great, and very much like what I am doing:

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/sting-rays-89-90-complete-restoration.317719/

Where are you planning to get your B posts and rear tub from? I'm undecided as to whether to do the CSW conversion or stick with the van configuration. If the latter, I will be in the market for a tub and side panels

Have you got a route sorted, or is that level of detail some way off?

Sting Ray said:

Sounds great, and very much like what I am doing:

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/sting-rays-89-90-complete-restoration.317719/

Where are you planning to get your B posts and rear tub from? I'm undecided as to whether to do the CSW conversion or stick with the van configuration. If the latter, I will be in the market for a tub and side panels

Have you got a route sorted, or is that level of detail some way off?

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Great reading your post, perhaps we can bash ideas and questions off each other. Im trying to get mine finished within the next year as I would like to do some touring around the UK before my journey through Africa. 110 is definitely the way to go.
I'll troll EBlag see if there are any semi decent B posts on there but I'll probably end up buying a set of galvanised ones from Ashtree. As for the rear tub ill probably get one from a breakers.

My plan is to travel the west route of Africa but the exact route is yet to be plotted. I think ill do this closer to the time as the situation in Africa can change by the day. The general consensus is to take about 9 months and see as much as I can. I would like to cross from the West to the East through Angola then drive back up to Rwanda to see the gorillas then down to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro then down the coast of Mozambique to Cohorra Bassa dam drive along the Zambezi through the Caprivi strip back into Namibia then down the coast to Capetown. When are you planning your trip?

Quick Question, How did you get your Marsland Chassis? I just called them and they said they only sell to the trade. I would need to go through a garage. Grrrrr

Shayne Wentink said:

Quick Question, How did you get your Marsland Chassis? I just called them and they said they only sell to the trade. I would need to go through a garage. Grrrrr

Click to expand...

I've not got mine yet but can order through a chap who works on LRs near me and chuck him a few quid.

Swapping a few ideas sounds good - will you be at the show this weekend? I'm in my mates Disco 2 sat in traffic some 23 miles from Peterborough.

I haven't planned which year to go yet as I know it ordinarily takes longer to restore vehicles than expected - it took 11 months to restore my motorbike; certainly before I'm 40 though, which gives me a few years yet!

I've driven the Caprivi, Namibia and South Aftrica (I actually set off from Namibia, crossed through Botswana into Zimbabwe and then down into South Africa and then back up into Namibia) and the trip was absolutely stunning.

I've wanted to do the trip you guys are planning - so will read these threads with great interest

looks good! i will follow with interest as i am converting my own 300Tdi 110 into an overlander.

Was at the LRO show yesterday... Only saw your message this morning GRRRR. I've ordered and paid for the Chassis from Shielder Chassis. They are very nice people and you are able to modify and do what you want with the chassis as they are all hand built, The quality looks pretty good, it is built from 2.5mm steel and the rear cross member is 4mm. As I said you can request the whole chassis be made from 4mm if you want. At £1750 it's not too hard on the pocket either. I've given myself 8 Months to complete the rebuild, I know that's not a long time but I will put a lot of effort into getting it back on the road in that time and then the outfit will be an ongoing project, tinkering until I have it perfect.

The LRO show was amazing, got a lot of ideas and a lot of business cards for a few mods, Quite like the Kevlar clutch and quick shift from Syncro, Apparently, the Clutch will run fully submerged in oil and has 4x the lifespan of an OME clutch. Will definitely look into this.

Hi Rob, I'm from SA so have spent a lot of time driving around Southern Africa, You are right it is amazing, I am complete when in the bush with the wildlife.
Hey Lee, your Landy looks really clean and neat, I've seen a few that have been left as a van and the gullwing doors fitted on the side that look really neat, there are so many options and combinations it really is down to personal preference.

Missed the show - really disappointed. Next year!

The bush is fantastic - and I know the feeling you describe

£1750 doesn't seem too bad for a new chassis. A winch bumper for a Disco3 I spotted in LRO costs almost the same!