New here - Realizing my dream of building a NAS spec 90

Hi all,

Just yesterday I realized a long term ambition and bought my first Landy. I've wanted one ever since I say a group test of a a Jeep Wrangler vs a white Nas Defender in a 1993 edition of Car & Driver that I bought whilst I was on holiday in Canada when I was a kid.

I've usually gone for high performance stuff like Civic Type R's, M5's, etc but the perfect base to my project came up and I just had to buy it. I'm on here to show you all my project and hopefully get some advice and tips whilst also feedback back anything I learn on this properly exciting journey.

Its based on a 1989 Defender 2.5 petrol pick-up but has had extensive work done over recent months & years. It was converted to a hard top some time ago and the guy I bought it off did the rest of the work over his ownership.

Its has a 300 TDI Auto conversion from a 1997 Discovery who's chassis had seen better days and its done just 120k. It and runs brilliantly and sat easily at 70 all the way back up the M6 after I collected it yesterday. It really does feel like to can just jump in and drive to Italy with now hesitation and the axles were also fitted so its got excellent front & rear disc brakes too.

I'll upload some pictures later and give detail as to what i'm planning

Happy to be here guys!

o

First pics she's off-roading already!









Will post up my plans shortly!

o

Looks nice mate. More photos please!

That looks super clean! Nice truck!

lol... muppet if you will excuse the French.... why on earth block the numberplate numbers in the first pics then the letters in the last.....
**** ***

that was hard lol

however nice motor

cheers steve

ebbadger said:

lol... muppet if you will excuse the French.... why on earth block the numberplate numbers in the first pics then the letters in the last.....
**** ***

that was hard lol

however nice motor

cheers steve

Click to expand...

That's what I thought!

Oops my bad,

Here's a list of whats been done so far - I've probably forgotten a few things which i'll add later.

1. Full 300TDI engine conversion inc auto gearbox & intercooler
2. Chassis overhaul
3. Full repaint in Frozen White including wheels
4. New bumpers
5. New lights all round
6. New grilles
7. Full snorkel kit
8. Full service & all belts changes
9. Generally Grabber tyres
10. New front wing vents
11. New side steps
12. New ply lining for load bay
13. New centre console and audio system
14. New stalks
15. Fully poly bushed
16. New mud guards

Work i'm planning to do (a could use some advice on) to follow!

o

Ok, here's the plan so far. I'm planning to fix some minor faults whilst I modify & improve.

First up is the dashboard - Its got some age-related cracks that i'd like to get sorted; Is it hard to replace?



The interior is looking its age so i'm on a mission to get it looking sharper and in-line with the NAS brief. I'm looking at changing the wheel first-off though not sure how many splines it has - Are the later Defender units a straight swap?


This switch pack will get replaced and I need to get the dials illuminating properly



Headliner old and dirty so will look to upgrade when I can find a good one



The temp gauge doesn't read correctly as its from the old petrol-engined days - Any suggestions as to how this is remedied would be really great



The front seats have the usual wear & splits so these will need to be replaced, though i'm still thinking of potential upgrades.

Im hitting the Landy mags looking for bits, the first thing being some nice Freestyle wheels to get it on its way to looking fully NAS. Any feedback, suggestions or comments would be really appreciated,

Thanks all,

o

New seat bases are only £36+vat from Paddocks, I just bought one for mine

Your steering wheel should be 36 spline, brookwells do a kit with a new smaller sports wheel and boss for around £60 I think.
http://www.brookwell.co.uk/?s=Steering+wheel&submit=GO

Looks a tidy motor, are you going to remove the bulkhead behind the seats and fit a NAS style cage.
When I worked at TMS in Melton the owner had a 50th anniversary 90 and also a 2.5 petrol like yours that we put a 4.5ltr tvr v8 in. The 50th was very nice to drive, removing the bulkhead makes a big difference.

Hey all, cheers for the responses.

Steering wheel - Cheers for the advice red the leather wheel, I may well go this route but I want to see if I can a way to convert to more splines so I can get the correct Nas wheel to fit on.

Bulkhead - Cheers for the comments, yea I guess i'l be taking out the bulkhead to reach Nas spec - Is it hard to do?

Today was a big day as I made two more purchases. First up were some genuine rear side windows which will be arriving in a couple of days, and second....



Excuse the mess (I'm redecorating the dining room!) but its the only place I have to put my genuine set of 5 Freestyle 16" wheels with great tyres. I went to pick them up in Whales tonight and they came with the correct centre caps and all the correct chrome wheel nuts (albeit in a strange pink container?!)- They are in excellent nick with no corrosion or kerbing - The one you see on the top is in need of a good T cut and polish but the others are great and I can't wait to get them on the car!

Finally here is a close up shot of the side showing the TDI badge, mud spats and side steps - This car has been really well put together and I can't wait to really get cracking on building my dream machine this weekend..



Cheers for the comments and advice guys!

o

dash is easy... sand the cracks buy some vinyl in a colour of your choice n recover...



plastikote paint is perfect for all the plastic bits...





seats are up to you.. standard are easy but why not go for comfort...



cheers steve

Great tips Steve!

I'm sorta going for the standard look inside so was hoping to fit a good used or even new dash.

Those seats look great, what are they from? Again, I'm looking to stay standard inside but dont as yet know what the standard fit was for Nas.

o

Good luck with the project. Looks like you have got a good truck there!

For ultimate NAS 90 realism you need to arrange an oil pipe to leak onto the manifold so it bursts into flames on the highway!

Hahaha! Think i'll avoid that mod

seats in mine are classic range rover...

cheers steve

This is a pic I took at work today, this is the brace Land Rover put in when the bulkhead is removed.

It looks a nice clean motor mate, I like them in white

Them wheels will look good in black on a white motor but probably wont give the look your after