Defender 110 Restoration
Discussion
Thanks again for the nice comments everyone!
I'll answer a couple of peoples questions....
I think the purpose of the chequer plate was originally to add some durability. The common place to find it is on the wing tops as it means/meant you could stand on them if you needed to get something down from the roof. In my case it is purely a visual addition as I think it helps give the vehicle a 'meaner' appearance!
As far as my next project is concerned I am planning to buy and renovate a house!.. As well as my own Grand Design I have my series 3 Land Rover sat in a pile of parts waiting for some attention. If I have the time and energy I plan on turning it into a lowrider convertible in rat rod style complete with air bag suspension.
Now on the subject of money!.. My total costs so far including the cost of the vehicle before any work was carried out is into 5 figures. As far as what it is going to be worth?.. It is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it!.. I wont divulge what I am going to ask back for it at this stage. I dont want to get too far ahead of myself.. Ive got to finish it first!
I'll answer a couple of peoples questions....
I think the purpose of the chequer plate was originally to add some durability. The common place to find it is on the wing tops as it means/meant you could stand on them if you needed to get something down from the roof. In my case it is purely a visual addition as I think it helps give the vehicle a 'meaner' appearance!
As far as my next project is concerned I am planning to buy and renovate a house!.. As well as my own Grand Design I have my series 3 Land Rover sat in a pile of parts waiting for some attention. If I have the time and energy I plan on turning it into a lowrider convertible in rat rod style complete with air bag suspension.
Now on the subject of money!.. My total costs so far including the cost of the vehicle before any work was carried out is into 5 figures. As far as what it is going to be worth?.. It is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it!.. I wont divulge what I am going to ask back for it at this stage. I dont want to get too far ahead of myself.. Ive got to finish it first!
I thought I would show some mid week progress.. More photos than anything else!
Have been at the shed the last couple of nights and managed to get some things done.. Got all of the chequer plating done including the wing tops..
Fitted the front vent flaps and got the bonnet on.. Thats about all Ive got done over the last couple of days!.. Snails pace, I know!
MOT is booked for Monday morning so Its going no matter what!...
Have been at the shed the last couple of nights and managed to get some things done.. Got all of the chequer plating done including the wing tops..
Fitted the front vent flaps and got the bonnet on.. Thats about all Ive got done over the last couple of days!.. Snails pace, I know!
MOT is booked for Monday morning so Its going no matter what!...
Morning everyone..
Well she has gone to the MOT station this morning.. But not for an MOT!.. I have been busy over the last few days desperately trying to get things ready for the MOT but due a couple of unforseen problems theres no point MOT'ing her yet as she will fail!.. Well they wouldnt even test her.
When fitting the drivers seatbelt over the weekend I noticed it is cut.. This is a fail and I wasnt able to get one in time for this morning. The other reason there is no point testing her is that I currently can't get the OSR door open. It is stuck locked. After having to take the door off again over the weekend I thought I had cured the problem.. evidently not! So I now have to mess around again trying to sort it. I have ordered a new lock mech but its going to be a pain getting the door off again...
The garage is going to track her up today and give it a bit of a pre MOT check to make sure there arnt any other bits to take care of before I take her back.
I did go for a bit of a drive around the farm on Saturday and up the road to see if there were any other bits I needed to deal with.. If it works you should be able to see a couple of videos below... You may need to crane your neck as I cant get it the right way up! Apologies for the poor quality!
And a couple of photos in the daylight...
When I get the MOT sorted later in the week I'll take the Land Rover for a decent photo session with a proper camera!
Well she has gone to the MOT station this morning.. But not for an MOT!.. I have been busy over the last few days desperately trying to get things ready for the MOT but due a couple of unforseen problems theres no point MOT'ing her yet as she will fail!.. Well they wouldnt even test her.
When fitting the drivers seatbelt over the weekend I noticed it is cut.. This is a fail and I wasnt able to get one in time for this morning. The other reason there is no point testing her is that I currently can't get the OSR door open. It is stuck locked. After having to take the door off again over the weekend I thought I had cured the problem.. evidently not! So I now have to mess around again trying to sort it. I have ordered a new lock mech but its going to be a pain getting the door off again...
The garage is going to track her up today and give it a bit of a pre MOT check to make sure there arnt any other bits to take care of before I take her back.
I did go for a bit of a drive around the farm on Saturday and up the road to see if there were any other bits I needed to deal with.. If it works you should be able to see a couple of videos below... You may need to crane your neck as I cant get it the right way up! Apologies for the poor quality!
And a couple of photos in the daylight...
When I get the MOT sorted later in the week I'll take the Land Rover for a decent photo session with a proper camera!
Thanks again everyone for the nice comments.. They do help to spur me on when things are getting tedious! The end is so close yet at times seems so far away!
I got the Defender back on Monday afternoon with a list of things that needed addressing for an MOT.. There wasnt anything serious which was handy.. Silly things like the fact I hadnt actually filled up the washer fluid reservoir!.. There were other bits but most of them have been scratched off the list.
I got a parcel this afternoon which should help with the MOT..
Driver's seat belt assembly..
Off side rear door mech..
After managing to get the door open and off again last night I am still unsure as to whether the Mech is the culprit or an associated part however I will be able to investigate further this evening.
If all goes well I plan to get the test done on Friday. I will then tax it and use it over the weekend. The only glitch with that plan is the fact that another job on the to-do list is to get the heater to work as it is currently out of action.. This may mean having to wrap up warm if driving anywhere!
I got the Defender back on Monday afternoon with a list of things that needed addressing for an MOT.. There wasnt anything serious which was handy.. Silly things like the fact I hadnt actually filled up the washer fluid reservoir!.. There were other bits but most of them have been scratched off the list.
I got a parcel this afternoon which should help with the MOT..
Driver's seat belt assembly..
Off side rear door mech..
After managing to get the door open and off again last night I am still unsure as to whether the Mech is the culprit or an associated part however I will be able to investigate further this evening.
If all goes well I plan to get the test done on Friday. I will then tax it and use it over the weekend. The only glitch with that plan is the fact that another job on the to-do list is to get the heater to work as it is currently out of action.. This may mean having to wrap up warm if driving anywhere!
Well an update for those interested..
I got everything on the to-do list for the MOT done on Thursday evening.. With my new hinge the rear door was working great so it was dropped off on Friday morning for an MOT..
Well she passed with no advisories so a tax disc was got from the post office and she has gone straight into daily service! I used the defender all weekend which was useful to shake down a couple of small issues. The main one being the lack of a heater!.. I was certainly cold Saturday morning after a scattering of snow around these parts.. Anyone after lots of cursing and blood.. (see below photo) the heater worked once again!
Yesterdays job was to get some music in my life!.. The Defender didnt have a radio so I purchased a cradle and after a bit of faffing managed to wire in an old head unit I had in the shed..
With sound and heat the end is very close.. Truth be told I have been suffering with a bit of post natal depression for car builders. Im not thrilled with the finished item.. There are a few bits Im not happy with. Everyone who has seen her has been very flattering but for me it juse doesnt look right!.. The main thing which I am not happy with is the ride height. I ordered heavy duty standard ride height springs when I began the project and since it has been back together I think its just sat 2" too high. I have spoken to the supplier of the springs and they have assured me they are the standard ride height versions so I am hoping they will settle some more over time.
To try and help her look less like she is on stilts I have spent another £300 today on some side steps and a full set of mud flaps which I am hoping will give the illusion of the LR sitting slightly lower..
Anyway some pics of her outside in the car park..
I am hoping that by the end of next weekend I will be able to class her as 'finished'. In inverted commas as I dont think there ever is such a thing!
I got everything on the to-do list for the MOT done on Thursday evening.. With my new hinge the rear door was working great so it was dropped off on Friday morning for an MOT..
Well she passed with no advisories so a tax disc was got from the post office and she has gone straight into daily service! I used the defender all weekend which was useful to shake down a couple of small issues. The main one being the lack of a heater!.. I was certainly cold Saturday morning after a scattering of snow around these parts.. Anyone after lots of cursing and blood.. (see below photo) the heater worked once again!
Yesterdays job was to get some music in my life!.. The Defender didnt have a radio so I purchased a cradle and after a bit of faffing managed to wire in an old head unit I had in the shed..
With sound and heat the end is very close.. Truth be told I have been suffering with a bit of post natal depression for car builders. Im not thrilled with the finished item.. There are a few bits Im not happy with. Everyone who has seen her has been very flattering but for me it juse doesnt look right!.. The main thing which I am not happy with is the ride height. I ordered heavy duty standard ride height springs when I began the project and since it has been back together I think its just sat 2" too high. I have spoken to the supplier of the springs and they have assured me they are the standard ride height versions so I am hoping they will settle some more over time.
To try and help her look less like she is on stilts I have spent another £300 today on some side steps and a full set of mud flaps which I am hoping will give the illusion of the LR sitting slightly lower..
Anyway some pics of her outside in the car park..
I am hoping that by the end of next weekend I will be able to class her as 'finished'. In inverted commas as I dont think there ever is such a thing!
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