My rebuild thread starts today!

Hi guys, just been messing about with the new doors got them stripped down to the frames to get blasted and repaired. They are not too bad to be honest

Got the new skins already so once they are done doors will be done. One thing I did stupidly was going too hard at pulling skins off and bent the steel frames a little but straighten them all out. Ow just some future advice!

Going to be ordering a chassis and bulkhead pretty soon [emoji41]

Started stripping down the 90 this afternoon


Roof and sides came off no problem, surprisingly as did the doors (with a impact screwdriver to start it off) water poring out the holes as screws came out haha!

Got the boot floor out, and the runners under neath. Nothing's been that stubborn coming off yet touch wood. Apart from the seat belt mounts down the side of the battery box. That's the only thing stopping me getting the tub off I think.

Got the rear tub off, and battery box. Now just the bulkhead and wings left!

Just finished for today

Just got to sort the bulkhead out then we are good to go. I'm thinking of doing a v8 but I can't decide on what way to go either stick with 300tdi or rv8 or a yank block.

The possibilities are endless! It's amazing how small a pile you can fit a defender in haha!

Also thinking of doing a rag top any opinions?

I'd stick with the 300TDi as you will end up with a far more usable vehicle. If you want a bit more poke go 2.8 and sort the fueling.

cowasaki said:

I'd stick with the 300TDi as you will end up with a far more usable vehicle. If you want a bit more poke go 2.8 and sort the fueling.

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I've had a thought about doing the 2.8 I've got one major concern about doing it though. The previous owner didn't inform the DVLA about the engine change and I'm thinking if I do that it may make it not meet the LEZ London emission zone

bencorkill said:

I've had a thought about doing the 2.8 I've got one major concern about doing it though. The previous owner didn't inform the DVLA about the engine change and I'm thinking if I do that it may make it not meet the LEZ London emission zone

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Speak to the company that sell the 2.8 conversion about that. I'm sure that they can advise.

I'll have a look into it but a v8 soft top is very tempting

Need your guys opinion am I a fool for wanting to change my chassis ?

Should i just clean it and paint it up? Or go galv

It looks in pretty good nick, but difficult for us to say because we can't hit it with a hammer! You would want to strip it down completely to clean it or get it shot blasted before painting, so if money isn't an issue you might want to go galv if you are going to all that trouble anyway! Stick a jack under the gear box to support it and take the gearbox cross member off. The side of the chassis rail behind the cross member flange can go as it's an easy place for mud and moisture to collect. My chassis didn't look too bad, until I took that cross member off

IF you're going to keep it it's a no brainer, saves work in the future and the worry of rot when the MOT comes around every year some time down the line.
If you're going to keep the old chassis I'd be tempted to get it shot blasted so you can see it's true condition. Even if they do rot from the inside out and you don't know how much ****'e has collected in the chassis rails.
I thought my last chassis was good until I bashed it with a hammer

I had the same issue, the chassis was in good condition
but by the time I had done the small repairs, got it dipped and galvanized it made more sense to replace it
I also intend to keep it