Some assumptions - am i being reasonable?

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captainmish

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Near Plymouth
Hi all

SWMBO and I have decided to get a landy, which I'll be using for commuting when I'm not on the bike (devon lanes). I'm looking for a nice 110 with a 200 engine and pref a galvanised chassis. I'm guessing that worst case scenario (ie i can prob get cheaper) for extra money to keep aside is about:

head gasket (DIY)
new engine buy and get someone to fit ~£2500
bulkhead repair/replacement ~ £2000
galvanised chassis replacement ~ £3000

I dont care about gaffer taped seats etc. So I've been looking for 110s with reasonable bodies (and pref galvanised chassis), with the idea that the engine can be worked on easily enough, and the other bits are do-able with a bit of work. I've read a few threads/sites about inspecting the chassis, electrolytic rot on the doors etc, is there anything else "big" that I'm missing? Am I being sane expecting to get a fairly reasonable 110 with a galvanised frame and no major rot for under 5k? Should I be looking at other parts as well? Anyone do a "come and kick a landy's tyres with me in exchange for cake" service? Any tips welcome!

Thanks!
 
110 possible harder to come by as more likely to had a commercial start in life then ran into the ground, 90s with galv chassis are all over the place
Disco 200 engine is a lot cheaper than the defender version.
Other thing is gearbox output shaft wear.
 
I would have thought a defender with a galv chassis would be around £6500, or they are around here anyway. I would also look for a 300 rather than 200, as I think the R380 gearbox is more reliable.

My 300 90 was £4000 inc VAT and needed a new chassis. I have probably spent nearly the same again on the chassis swap, but that is because I am replacing a lot of stuff while it is in pieces.

Head gasket is easy on a tdi, cost me about £90 I think.

Things to look for are mostly just rot on the chassis and bulkhead, rotten doors (the inside frame), make sure that it goes into low and high range, and that the diff lock light comes on when the lever is to the left then comes out again.

Proof of them being serviced regularly is also good as they don't like missed services...
 
Thanks for all the answers!

I recently saw one with galvanised chassis (but pretty rotten bulkhead) for 3500. Doors were looking a bit sad at the bottom, but new plates in the floor, and some recent work on the engine. Also had a disco transfer box, which I liked the sound of (better high ratio for road work, same low ratio apparently). If I expect to repair/replace the bulkhead at about £1500 worst case, and maybe the doors at £500, do you guys think thats a reasonable deal?

Thanks again!
 
captainmish said:
Thanks for all the answers!

I recently saw one with galvanised chassis (but pretty rotten bulkhead) for 3500. Doors were looking a bit sad at the bottom, but new plates in the floor, and some recent work on the engine. Also had a disco transfer box, which I liked the sound of (better high ratio for road work, same low ratio apparently). If I expect to repair/replace the bulkhead at about £1500 worst case, and maybe the doors at £500, do you guys think thats a reasonable deal?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

My 300tdi 90 had a galv chassis, full nut n bolt rebuild & panel spray, nice motor, cost £7k, in the last yr I've spent another £1.5K on it

My mate's 200tdi conv 90 had a galv chassis, rebuilt by bodget & scarper, cost £4.5k, in the last yr he's spent another £4k, and many hours on it.

You pays your money & you takes your choice ;)

My mates 90 has a disco box on, even the slightest hill slows him down, I wouldn't have one on mine.
 
Seems a bit expensive to me. But for some reason I see a rotten bulkhead as being worse than the chassis!

I probably wouldn't pay over £3k for it.

I guess it all depends on what the state of the rest of it is.

My 90 will hopefully have a disco transfer box soon, but I have heard mixed things about whether it makes a difference or not.
 
Thanks Guys

Would you say galvanised chassis and bulkhead is more important than low miles? It looks like an engine recon is cheaper than replacing either of these! I figured I'll want these anyway, so might as well get one with them done already

Cheers,
 
200 engines are so easy to work on and parts are cheap too, no need to remove timing belt to replace head gasket, timing belts are easy and cheap to replace, these engines will run forever if even slightly maintained.
My 110 is ex raf, done 142k on original engine/box and turbo and it's as strong as ever, changed every gasket on the engine when I bought it as had leaks everywhere and now not a single drop of oil, also have galv chassis and new bulkhead which was a mammoth task and cost me around 6k to complete, worth it though
 
captainmish said:
Thanks Guys

Would you say galvanised chassis and bulkhead is more important than low miles? It looks like an engine recon is cheaper than replacing either of these! I figured I'll want these anyway, so might as well get one with them done already

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Definitely, if maintained these engines go on forever. Plus you can replace virtually everything on a defender.

Also, it is probably easier and a lot cheaper to get a tdi discovery that has failed its mot on rust and swap the engine, IIRC they go for about £350.
 
captainmish said:
Thanks Guys

Would you say galvanised chassis and bulkhead is more important than low miles? It looks like an engine recon is cheaper than replacing either of these! I figured I'll want these anyway, so might as well get one with them done already

Cheers,
Click to expand...

It's not the cost of buying the chassis and bulkhead it's the amount of work involved swapping them over and also extra costs.
Got mine down to the chassis and looking over it I realised everything was scrap, changed suspension, brakes, brake lines, fuel lines, fuel tank, every bush, every nut bolt and washer.
Also beware of old chassis's that have been galved, if not done properly inside and out they rot from the inside out and you will have to replace it anyway, unless the chassis was galved from new I'd leave it as it's like under sealing rust, you'd need proof it was done right.
Low miles mean nothing, 2 year old defenders rust, it's just how they are.
 
james6546 said:
Seems a bit expensive to me. But for some reason I see a rotten bulkhead as being worse than the chassis!

I probably wouldn't pay over £3k for it.

I guess it all depends on what the state of the rest of it is.

My 90 will hopefully have a disco transfer box soon, but I have heard mixed things about whether it makes a difference or not.
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware it makes a hell of a difference so may mate told me yesterday he has just fitted his they are an entierly different ratio so in theory there is no debate I would say.:)
 
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