Refurbishing my 1997 defender 300 TDI

Looking good Mate, Where abouts in County Durham are you ? I'm in Stanley

Fully stripped down now, new chassis has its first coat well start to re assemble when the items sent for blasting & galvanising are returned

Does anyone have a Rev counter in either the clock or fuel or Temp gauge location ? is it easy to keep an eye on the revs in this position ? I'm refurbishing the binnacle and thinking of moving the rev counter from my mud pod (top centre of dash)

marksman said:

Does anyone have a Rev counter in either the clock or fuel or Temp gauge location ? is it easy to keep an eye on the revs in this position ? I'm refurbishing the binnacle and thinking of moving the rev counter from my mud pod (top centre of dash)

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Some TD5s had them in the binnacle. It’s where I would mount mine.

Thanks, Ill move my clock into the mud pod

Now fitted

I did exactly what your doing a couple of year back everything new or recon from engine and gearbox with the disco trany (makes a hell of a difference on motorway) 130 heavy duty clutch slick shift etc standard brand new take off suspension bushes roll bars, full 110 discs and calipers lines etc and got to say it drives like a new one. Anyway my rear wings were in good nick but bubbling so because I opted for a TD5 galv chassis I found a nearly new puma full rear tub and dropped in a TD5 tank so mine is pretty much a ROW spec now and I like the look. Bonus is no more rusty fuel tank slushing about under your arse. Just a bit of food for thought, I'd also save a couple of grand for a decent paint job after your hard work its worth it, I went for santorini black.

Cheers Hudson, I'm respraying in full Epsom green

Nice one I'll look forward to seeing it, another suggestion when you've finished is agreed valuation insurance, I did mine through admiral so keep all your receipts and notes of all the work carried out as your own labor is chargeable too, they send out a pack for you to fill in with loads of good photos to back the work up and job done, this year I paid £210 for the year with an agreed valuation of £25,000 so well worth it in my opinion.

Upper sides, axles, brakes and wheels on


Progressing well

It’s all good progress
Give yourself a pat on the back, it looks good keep it up.

J

I'll hold off on the patting until its done thanks anyway

Getting there,
Brakes all done, propshafts overhauled and refitted, rear door completed, Wiring to finish off next week and should be ok for MOT following week

As I draw to the close of my complete refurbishment I find myself asking,
should I keep it ?
Should I sell it ?
Thinking ahead I'll probably have to convert to Petrol or Electric within 5 years ?

I wouldn’t sell it unless for something really special or your not attached to the defender. These motors are odd as they really are crap on a lot of fronts yet we end up loving them and smiling whilst driving them. If it don’t make you smile when it’s done and your driving it then no point in it.
If you keep, It’s not depreciating whilst you own it. By the time you have to go to petrol there will be all sorts of nice adapter kits coming on the market so that you can drop a petrol lump in it. We will all be in same boat. Think about that when the time comes.

@resto_d1 yes that's true I think some suitable adapters will become available, I've had the defender for 12 years now and am really attached to it
Seems like I'm answering my own question here !!!

Think you have lol. Grass isn’t always greener but if your a car man you will get itchy feet often lol

I'm trying to track down a carling switch (or similar) for my central locking, I have a suitable Mom off Mom switch body but can't seem to find a rocker that is relevant to central locking, anyone aware of a supplier ?

I believe its usually a locked and unlocked lock graphic

in final stages now and found an oil leak on rear crank oil seal so g/box off and new seal next week

Rear crank oil seal done, fully undersealed and cavity waxed. extra mud flaps and spats to fit then shakedown