Eddybjnr

New Member
If you was buying your first defender again what mods would you do this time around knowing the stuff you do niw ????
 
How much money would I have to spend on this blank canvas and what type of blank canvas are we talking?
 
Next thing on my list is making it warmer inside and a galvanised chassis. Mine is bog standard unlifted just with mud terrains

Nothing worse for me than seeing someone with loads of bling on their tratter and never going anywhere to use it. Never been stuck that bad that I couldn't get out of it with a high lift jack. If I were to buy a winch I'd be unsure whether I'd want it on the front or back
 
If I were to buy a winch I'd be unsure whether I'd want it on the front or back


I've thought the same, if I do ever get the spare cash I'd go with a removable 2" receiver winch so I could swap between front and back. I've got a receiver on the rear, but attachments are few and far between over here, the Yanks have got loads of options!
 
I'd have an ejector seat. Because let's face it, who doesn't want one?!

So you can abandon ship when about to crash into a tree? Or perhaps to evict an annoying passenger? :D

Mine sort of is a blank canvas (not least because it's white). Very few if any mods on mine.
 
Way less mods than previous ones.. probably just 31/10.50x15 MTs on 8x15 eight spokes, CB, decent front recovery points, fluffy dice, job done..
 
Improved heating to include webasto air heater, heated windscreen and seats" As has been previously mentioned receivers front and back for hitches and potentially a light winch. Deadlocks on all the doors with a strengthening of said in a subtle way. Xeng pedal lock goes without saying...very easy to fit and operate. Rear work lights.

That's it...I don't need anything else, they got it right in the other areas
 
I find the standard Defender heater on mine is more than substantial, leave it on for a bit and it's like a furnace. Anyway, I would have a decent set of AT or mud tyres (31" is a good size to have without lift). In no particular order:

Tubular bumper (orignal bumper can get bent easy)

rock sliders

Decent exhaust system

A good service

LED lights are a good shout

If you like music, a good pair of speakers with a subwoofer (one with a built in amp if you don't want anything extreme)

Good mats and some sound proofing.

Spare wheel carrier (back door soon gets warped with heavier tyres / wheels - i learnt the hard way)

If you plan on any substantial off roading, a locking or limited slip diff in the rear will do wonders. Better off spending cash on that than fancy flexing suspension.

CB radio if you plan on doing group stuff

Good battery(s) if you want to get a winch.

If your suspension is original (I.E been with the car since built) it might be worth replacing the springs and shocks as they can sag over time. Bearmach do good springs, though be sure to check the rate. A good all round shock is Bilstein. Good point to change bushes too.

that's some to be getting on with :D
 
I agree my standard heater is excellent for clearing the screen and warming the knees. I give it a good flush when I change the coolant. The extra heater would be good for me as I keep my dogs in it from time to time, could set it on a remote fob or timer to get it warm in the mornings. Driving from beat to beat during a day doesn't give the engine a real good chance to warm up

Yes, you're correct... spare wheel carrier is on the list
 
In my experience I would just fit a set of Mud tyres for off roading etc and see how you go, its all too easy to get caught up spending a fortune when you should just be using it.
Out of the six 4x4s I have had the bog standards with better tyres gave us the most fun and the cheapest fun too
 
In my experience I would just fit a set of Mud tyres for off roading etc and see how you go, its all too easy to get caught up spending a fortune when you should just be using it.
Out of the six 4x4s I have had the bog standards with better tyres gave us the most fun and the cheapest fun too


I couldn't agree more:D
 


I couldn't agree more:D

Nice
A few years ago at a private event a bloke turned up in a £500 4x4.
Another came in a Defender with Unimog Axels etc etc must have spend £10K.
You have guessed the punch line haven't you, yes the £500 vehicle won.
When I had a Radically modified vehicle it spend more time being fixed than driven
 
was at Manby show in 2008. Discovery breakers, brought their Disco Monster truck (the one they have at all the Landy shows) & attempted the mudrun. Failed miserably and had to be winched out by the 90 with a small lift etc that had just made it all the way through. :D Oh how we laughed..... :rolleyes:
 
I was given a bog standard 1988 90 with a 19j engine just over 2 years ago, since then it's had all terrain alloys with spacers, when I damaged the front axle I went for 24 spline axles and sold the spacers, flogged the wheels and bought a set of boosts, stuck mud terrains on them and I've just upgraded the engine to a 300tdi. I've put windows and alpines in it and fitted rock sliders and when anything has broken or worn out I've tried upgrading it if funds have allowed. As I said earlier I'm currently saving up for a galvanised chassis.

No lifts, no winch, and definitely no "one life live it" sticker
 
Basically what I have now with only a few additions ... Larger mud/extreme tyres, My current (home-made) Rocksliders, 2" lift soft springs, +2" shocks up front with +5" rear and decent spring/shock re-locators to suit, HD Steering rods etc, Adrenalin radius/trailing arms, Rear Ashcroft diff lock, possibly front too or limited slip, my (home made) winch bumper and winch and my receiver/recovery hitch at the rear, I'd also need the snorkel and light bar, both of which came off my Disco and needed slight modding, but with the money I'd have LED lights ...

Strangely, that's what I have now, apart from diffs, soft springs and LED's ... but they take money, or swaps with mates .. ;)

I'd also spend a bit of money kitting out the inside instead of having to make do and mend .. I need room for tools, spares, recovery stuff, camping stuff and occasionally an extra body. All the work inside (and mostly out!) I've made myself from bits I have available that are either modified or completely re-worked to suit and I'd have to do all that again, so I doubt I'll ever bother with (or even afford) a newer Landy, just keep fettling this one.

I'd also like a galv chassis and all new body panels/doors etc, but hey-ho .. :)
 
Mmmmmmmmm interesting thread.bog standard at purchase???as long as the base truck is in good nick, no rot etc good engine and gearbox,,,,,,,,,,,,
think first thing is soundproofing, everywhere. then carpet.
mud centre console, decent stereo and speakers, cb.
mud van side panels,
front/ rear headlining
zu alloys with bfg muds, 30mm spacers
2 inch lift
alloy steering guard,front back diff guards
snorkel
rock sliders
a-bar +spots
chequer plate wing tops, rear corners
swing away spare wheel carrier
NAS step tow hitch
 
Is have
Panoramic windows
Matt gun metal grey paint
Safari snorkel
Masai expedtion roof rack and ladder with luggage bags 😂
Sound proofing
And maybe solar panels fitted to the top for a supply when camping.
 

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