My first Defender project and need help

Evening,


I have had a L322 for some time and this week bought myself a early defender as a project.

It turned out to be a 1985 90 and has had a 22l 300tdi lump put in some time a go. The defender has been on a farm for the past 10 years and done no more than 6k miles in that time.

The chassis is not to bad at all and bulkhead needs some minor work.



As I'm new to these i kneed to know what i need to do/ check/ replace to get it in tip top mechanical shape. I have already found the axle breathers are perished and fell off in my hand and also it struggled to start, and i found the earthing shot (replaced with 70mm copper ready for winch too) now has no issue starting.
Also i can see the aux belt is in poor shape so that needs replacing along with the cracking tyres.

Clutch also rattles when idling and goes quite when foot applied

I have done extensive reading on everything and it has just baffled me and left me in a pickle with what to start with


Any help would be appreciated

Regards

ian

Hi Ian,

Tbh your description isn't much to go on. It sounds like a bit of a patchwork quilt of landy parts. The axle breathers being perished would generally make me think that the underside must have some serious corrosion also, but you say the chassis is ok. So either you've not hit it much with a hammer or the axles are not the original from that landy (like the engine).

As to what to do first, who knows. What do you want to do with it long term?

It would help if you put a rough location in your profile, just incase someone on here feels charitable and decides to stop by and give it the once over for you. (don't give your address, just nearest town or county will do).

I can see your relatively new so welcome to lz btw.

Timing belt, oils change (engine, gearbox, transfer box & diffs), air filter and fuel filter is always a good starting point

Many thanks


Sorry for the basic description.


The axel breather hoses were what fell apart. The rest is fine and chassis has had a couple of little repairs in the past

I will be doing a bit of green laning and using it too tow and launch a jet ski

I'm based in Basildon Essex

Many thanks


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?ehfydw

Clutch plates in there can rattle - not usually a sign of concern.

Hoses are simple enough.

OIL OIL OIL - farmers are terrible for oil and will pour the first thing they find (Tractor universal) gearboxes, axles etc... (OK for the engine right enough). Which is why tractor brakes use Rolls Royce/Citroen mineral brake fluid so if they did put engine oil in it wouldn't knacker the seals.