From what I have picked up on the forum chatter their quality control has improved. But still not sure I will be ordering form them when the time comes. I need a chassis and bulkhead for the station wagon, but that will probably come from Richards, same as the chassis on my 110.

Just come across your thread and makes for interesting reading as at some point I plan on rebuilding the 200tdi that had the engine fire. Also as a shameless plug given your current crank issues I have a 200tdi crank for sale that has been fully reground if it is of any interest to you for...

Mud do a replacement, but it is probably available from other places as well: LINK Depends on the exact wiring for your model but at '86 I would expect it to be permanent live. On later models it was changed to be ignition only.

There should be a little Domed plastic cover that hides them all and aches to the back of the centre pane using the same screws. Even with everything listed above there is likly To still be some spare connections. There as in mine.

You can replace them, but they are part of the instrument so you have to carefully uncrimp the front bezel, remove the bezel being careful the glass doesn't fall and break, then remove the instrument itself so you are just left with the metal casing. you can then remove the broken bulb holder...

I have a couple of similar repairs to undertake on my replacement station wagon tub. My plan was to use tigerseal (or sikaflex, i am not brand loyal!) to glue the repair plate in place along with some rivets. I am not trying to achieve a perfect finish so am not trying to make invisible repairs...

Everything that does not get hot, or move. But make sure you do the inside of the chassis box sections as well, that is even more important than the outside.

I know you have painted the outside of the chassis but I would still cover the external with a chassis wax as well. I like dinitrol personally as it actually "dries" rather than remaining wet like waxoil.

Keep the rectangular fog lights, looks better on an older defender in my opinion. I got my RDX ones from bolt on bits on ebay. They definitely do the clear lenses (I am also not a fan of them, keep it original looking) so there may well be smoked versions.

Other than indicators all the others are just direct replacement plug and play. I fitted RDX LED side, rear and fog lights to mine during the rebuild. I left the indicators as standard due to the endless threads of people fitting LEDS and them not working.

I looked into this when I was trying to persuade the wife she wanted one but she was adamant they were too big. A 90 has the same footprint (length and width) as a golf. And no one thinks a golf is a large car! In a 90 you can carry passengers, luggage, the dog etc. but you can only choose one...

Replace the stock windscreen washer with these: LINK Best mod I have done on mine hands down!

Another vote for the cheapest ATF you can get your hands on. Its nothing special.

Same here. Replacements are cheap And easy to come by. And you can always modify it with a large hammer again!

I was referring to compression, you can get some very powerful electric air compressors these days with developments in motor technology.

I would expect these days for something as small as a land rover you could use an air tank and an electric compressor. You can get some very good electric hydraulic setups now, don't see why this wouldn't be the same. the real question still remains why!

Why are you fitting airbags? If it is to replace the leaf springs with and airbag suspension then I bow out have have nothing to add. If it is to act as "helper" suspensions to increase the carrying capacity then that is not how suspension works and you probably need a new set of springs rather...

They are indeed JCB brake pads so are nice and easy to get replacements for. I was probably going to go with a diy trial and error approach by just cutting around with brake pad out of some some stainless i have and adding additional ones until I get to a thickness that works.

Fresh coat of paint is all it needs rather than replacing. You can see my wing here during the rebuild. It is less noticeable in person than it is in this photograph. But is a long way from straight! I would say similar with the back. Just straighten as best as you can and give a coat of paint...

Could not agree more. I have had the conversation with friends that I don't know what came first the land rover or the things I do in my free time, but they compliment each other, and if I had a normal plastic car with carpets, within 6 months the thing would be absolutely destroyed, falling...