M57 Defender 110

Hello all
First time landrover owner here, well bought a discovery 1 a month ago... but yeah always wanted a 110 and here she is!

So I'll get straight into this...

The car is a 1986 ( I think) defender 110 with a 19j 2.5 TD engine in it... I picked it up from south wales about 3 weeks ago with the plan on putting a m57 engine in from the e46 330d/e39 530d.

I've always been a bimmer fan and know the engines pretty well. Don't get me wrong the standard 300tdi you can put in these are great, pretty bombproof but just lack torque... especially when towing - and since ive towed with a mapped 330d and loved the torque.. it made total sense.

So picking her up from the lad down in Newport



Back at the unit



So the next day got the 110 back into the unit, and what a struggle that was! the 110 did run but theres a problem with the gearbox so couldn't get any drive... had to make up a tow/push bar to mount to the discovery to get her in... much faff later we have a 110 in the air.



Was very nervous about getting her up in the air, one because they're a heavy ol beast and 2 because I was dreading what I was going to find...

about 6 hours later of using an angle grinder more than a socket set.... we got to this stage





So really there isn't much holding the chassis onto the body, its really very agriculturally simple its brilliant! Apart from the seized bolts...

End of day 1...

Start of the next day mean getting the chassis out the way and outside to give a look over...



A big thank you to a good friend of mine who came all the way back from Portugal to help me... I mean that's what I thought he came back for anyway.



Anyway the chassis















So as you can see pretty good! it needs a new rear crossmember, few chassis outriggers and a good
clean up, waxoyl and paint!

'how bout that shell'

Pretty fubar'd

Oh yeah make a dolly for the shell first, that bit shoulda gone up there somewhere....



Anyway... The Strip down of the shell

First off the roof



The wings



Doors other wing





Bulkhead



annnnd seat box



So Bulkhead... hmm rusty bulkhead.








As you can see from the above photos... pretty bad. I've never done something like this before, but I think I can save her, YRM do some brilliant repair panels so I reckon i'll go down that route...

This was a massive catchup, removing the seatbox was the last job I did and its in that current state at the moment... The next job is to order the panels and tackle the bulkhead... I really need to buy a portable media blaster for the project I think...

Anyway as always thanks for reading!

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@mathewashmore
@selectmotorsport

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this, and judging by how much you've made so far it probably won' t take you very long! Good effort!

phil540uk said:

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this, and judging by how much you've made so far it probably won' t take you very long! Good effort!

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yep shouldn't take to long, but I've got a 205 race car to build first, which I want to do first... so unfortunately this is gonna get drips and drabs and not the full attention

Mash. said:

Hello all
First time landrover owner here, well bought a discovery 1 a month ago... but yeah always wanted a 110 and here she is!

So I'll get straight into this...

The car is a 1986 ( I think) defender 110 with a 19j 2.5 TD engine in it... I picked it up from south wales about 3 weeks ago with the plan on putting a m57 engine in from the e46 330d/e39 530d.

I've always been a bimmer fan and know the engines pretty well. Don't get me wrong the standard 300tdi you can put in these are great, pretty bombproof but just lack torque... especially when towing - and since ive towed with a mapped 330d and loved the torque.. it made total sense.

Click to expand...

Nice first post, having done a full rebuild or 2 myself I know the effort and time that goes into these things, and what you have done so far is no easy task.

I am looking at fitting a Ford Barra engine to my 90 so I will be interested to see your engine conversion - I am at the gearbox planning stage at the moment then I can think about getting the engine and gearbox in and mocked up.

discomania said:

Nice first post, having done a full rebuild or 2 myself I know the effort and time that goes into these things, and what you have done so far is no easy task.

I am looking at fitting a Ford Barra engine to my 90 so I will be interested to see your engine conversion - I am at the gearbox planning stage at the moment then I can think about getting the engine and gearbox in and mocked up.

Click to expand...

cheers bud, nice!
Not been to bad but yeah quite a bit of effort needed! its all good fun haha

sounds cool! never heard of that engine before so will google

Great work.

Did you consider the option of fitting a complete new bulkhead?
As that one is in a pretty bad way!

lightning said:

Great work.

Did you consider the option of fitting a complete new bulkhead?
As that one is in a pretty bad way!

Click to expand...

I did, but its a lot of money for something I think I can sort....

R-tech welders are lovely.

Got this on watch, I think the M57 is a fine engine and would love to see a 5hp autobox in there behind it too, the LT230 will take an enormous amout of torque through it so I wouldn't worry about that.

Will be watching for future updates.

dieseldog69 said:

Got this on watch, I think the M57 is a fine engine and would love to see a 5hp autobox in there behind it too, the LT230 will take an enormous amout of torque through it so I wouldn't worry about that.

Will be watching for future updates.

Click to expand...

Yep I do quite like the easy-ness of the auto in my disco... but it's an extra complex that I don't really want hmmm

Can anyone tell me what gearbox I have with a 19j engine?

Great pics and timeline. Its a shame you cant fit a N57 and 8AT in it, now that would shift

I have a 3 stage tuning box on mine and its pushing out 315 on the RR. (My BMW, not the LR, lol.)

Mash. said:

Yep I do quite like the easy-ness of the auto in my disco... but it's an extra complex that I don't really want hmmm

Can anyone tell me what gearbox I have with a 19j engine?

Click to expand...

LT77.

Not ideal, you really want Ashcrofts to build you an R380 special with the bigger bearings in it, a guy I know has one in a 110 and he first coupled that to a Santana LT85 and it didn't last long at all and that was deemed to be the heaviest duty gearbox as standard from Land Rover.

flat said:

R-tech welders are lovely.

Click to expand...

Yep really pleased with mine, putting off buying a tig for the moment but its really gonna happen soon, its inevitable
lol

dieseldog69 said:

LT77.

Not ideal, you really want Ashcrofts to build you an R380 special with the bigger bearings in it, a guy I know has one in a 110 and he first coupled that to a Santana LT85 and it didn't last long at all and that was deemed to be the heaviest duty gearbox as standard from Land Rover.

Click to expand...

Thanks pal,
yep will be doing the box myself with the HD bearings, just wasn't sure if I had the box ready to go... but that's fine will find one on the bay.

oh right ok - yeah hopefully it'll be ok, the transfer box I have on the 19j is the lt230? so that'll go on the r380 - I know I cant get the box into gear but transfer box feels good so will reuse that.

Cheers all!

Yeah the LT230 will handle everything you throw at it and is a direct fit on the R380.

No one does the big bearing R380 off the shelf but it's worth having them build you a box up and ask them to take your LT77 in as the core so you're not left with that laying around outside rusting away.

I would be tempted to get an ATB centre in the LT230 to handle the extra torque better but that's just me.

You scratch building the harness or getting the Rally Raid off the shelf item?

dieseldog69 said:

Yeah the LT230 will handle everything you throw at it and is a direct fit on the R380.

No one does the big bearing R380 off the shelf but it's worth having them build you a box up and ask them to take your LT77 in as the core so you're not left with that laying around outside rusting away.

I would be tempted to get an ATB centre in the LT230 to handle the extra torque better but that's just me.

You scratch building the harness or getting the Rally Raid off the shelf item?

Click to expand...

Oh sorry, didn't know that, looks like it may be Ashcroft then - that's annoying, I'll have to see what bearings they use as a bearing is a bearing end of the day, unless they make them - hmm we'll sort it

that's good to know about using the core. and the trick stuff will be saved for the 205 race car I'm building I see what your saying and if the 230 doesn't cope I may upgrade but for the moment it'll get the standard.

yep I will scratch build the harness and make a few to sell!

Great Start Mate, I'm doing a similar one to yours 1987 110 County, exact same Chassis as yours, so will be watching you for some guidance and advice.
Only problem with me is I'm doing mine in an Allotment Shed with a few tools and my Generator, so might take a while longer then you.

Mash. said:

Oh sorry, didn't know that, looks like it may be Ashcroft then - that's annoying, I'll have to see what bearings they use as a bearing is a bearing end of the day, unless they make them - hmm we'll sort it

that's good to know about using the core. and the trick stuff will be saved for the 205 race car I'm building I see what your saying and if the 230 doesn't cope I may upgrade but for the moment it'll get the standard.

yep I will scratch build the harness and make a few to sell!

Click to expand...

I can't wait for the updates, love a good techy build thread.

Mash. said:

Yep really pleased with mine, putting off buying a tig for the moment but its really gonna happen soon, its inevitable
lol

Click to expand...

i have an r-tech arc and am looking to change to an r-tech mig, prob the 165

a friend has the TIG and its lovely

border said:

Great Start Mate, I'm doing a similar one to yours 1987 110 County, exact same Chassis as yours, so will be watching you for some guidance and advice.
Only problem with me is I'm doing mine in an Allotment Shed with a few tools and my Generator, so might take a while longer then you.

Click to expand...

Least you got a shed! got to look on the positives, good luck boss.

dieseldog69 said:

I can't wait for the updates, love a good techy build thread.

Click to expand...

And me, ill try do my best!

flat said:

i have an r-tech arc and am looking to change to an r-tech mig, prob the 165

a friend has the TIG and its lovely

Click to expand...

Yep, its my first welder so cant really compare but does the job very well.

Looking good mate! Love a build thread with lots of pics!!