Freelander 1 New commercial van project

Oh and I nearly forgot about this.......







Plan to find brackets, paint it black and maybe some fog lights or a light bar.





Did rear brakes yesterday also, boy they where beyond done. All nice and new and even a handbrake cable swap done.

Just 2 cv clips and mot ready now.

Well still working on this. Been a busy bunny last month or so, and havnt gotten round to fitting the freelander brush bar.

Well I've been holding off for two reasons, one was fitting kit (now sourced) and second was decided what to do with the chrome as I really want it black.

Well raptorliner won it out for me, and as there's literally no where in Northern Ireland that stocks it I had to order it in. Then I find a store on ebay days later that ships to NI.

Will be a few days before I get round to doing it as I've to actually fit the brackets and everything before painting. Looking forward to end result!

(For none local people, here in NI they are really fussy about sending paint, chemicals and such in the post to resident / none commercial as they often set off the bomb detectors, yes this stuff still happens in our peaceful county but that's another story).

Had a start on the sanding of the chrome this evening to make it take to the surface a bit better. Will update after weekend hoping to do it Sunday weather permitting.

Finally getting somewhere again, been so busy last few weeks and now finally getting this sorted.





Bit of welding needed now for brackets as want stronger than the bolts alone.



Then unbolt the lot, refit bumper, drill holes, refit brush bar and slap the paint on her.

Can't wait. It's inspired me to do some DIY rock sliders and a rear protection bar also now.

ColinNI said:

Finally getting somewhere again, been so busy last few weeks and now finally getting this sorted.





Bit of welding needed now for brackets as want stronger than the bolts alone.



Then unbolt the lot, refit bumper, drill holes, refit brush bar and slap the paint on her.

Can't wait. It's inspired me to do some DIY rock sliders and a rear protection bar also now.

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Looking good Colin,are you brushing the raptor on or spraying?

Danyou said:

Looking good Colin,are you brushing the raptor on or spraying?

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Will be brush on treatment, curious to see how it turns out. If it goes wrong I don't mind on it a bulk bar.

I came across these a few weeks back(looks like there doing a Freelander build on their channel)but they paint the raptor on in that video,I assumed you had to spray it on.

Brush bar fitted at last.



James Thomas Brackenbury supplied the brackets and bolts. He's got a shop on ebay currently so thank you very much for them.

Unfortunately with me having a v6 bumper, a none v6 slam panel and a slight twist in the brush bar I ended up making a few changes to the kit.

But it's fitted, and next stage of paint soon. Wee video below of anyone wants to watch it and also has my strobe led side lights in it.



You can find the led strobe side lights here.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/163121184097

Looks great Colin.
Maybe even paint the lower half of the doors and rear quarter panel with Raptor if the rest looks good.
Good luck with doing it today tho, it's pishing down here.

ColinNI said:

Well thank god its done. What a journey its been to get it to this point since it failed MOT before Christmas.

Ironically on only two things, but I guess sometimes you just gotta commit to the end result with a plan in mind.





One coat on.



3rd coat on and wet still









And that's the 3rd coat dry. Over the moon. Raptor liner is great stuff, can't wait to use more of it but god dam it can fume up. Glad I was wearing mask and outside. Indoors and no mask would definitely mess you up.

Small video as I went for those that care.

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Looks really good Colin,what was the texture like?

Danyou said:

Looks really good Colin,what was the texture like?

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Turned out nice. Like Wall paper after you paint over it. Few rougher areas where I had to dab the brush on but overall good.

ColinNI said:

Turned out nice. Like Wall paper after you paint over it. Few rougher areas where I had to dab the brush on but overall good.

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Looks good might get some for my sills I went with the Halfords one because I thought you had to spray raptor. I done all my black body plastics in the Halfords truck bed liner and it’s held up great still got it’s shine and no chipping on the front and it’s held the ally rot on the spare wheel carrier and roof bars and I would imagine that stuff is tuffer again.

At last. Road legal again. Full years commercial certificate from the Dva testing agency in Northern Ireland. Nothing sucks more than being unable to drive your land rover.

Looking good Colin. Just need a drop of snow to have some fun with those big tyres.

ColinNI said:

Very nice fitted. So far only one side. More to come tomorrow.

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Hi mate, is this quite easy to do. Looking at doing something similar in mine. And do you know which seats will fit. Need recliners, as mines a 3 door.
Thanks

Great work. Looks so much better in commercial guise too!

Not a Freelander man but really like this van.

JC600 said:

Hi mate, is this quite easy to do. Looking at doing something similar in mine. And do you know which seats will fit. Need recliners, as mines a 3 door.
Thanks

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Mg zr ones will be the same, any of the the rover 200 based car front seats will swap, doesn't matter 3 door only mind you else they don't have a handle to release frame.

Two hours work max.

Interceptorxj said:

Not a Freelander man but really like this van.

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Thanks mate. Ive gotta a lot of complements about it in last few days now it's back in the road.

Few two guys with defenders where parked up and where keen on knowing all about it. Explained the tax and insurance savings over the car version as they where curious about one of their sons who can't afford his first insurance.

Doesn't take much to make them look tougher and be a bit more capable but at the end of the day there are a soft roader for 99% of individuals.

Oo are they cheaper on tax and insurance?

Wonder what the legalities are of fitting rear seats?