90 Retro restoration project

90 Retro restoration project

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CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Last year I bought a 1986 Land Rover 90 from a mechanic friend of mine. The main appeal was the fact that it was a V8, had formerly been owned by an airport fuel depot (therefore mechanically well looked after) and a canvas top. Downside was the various layers of paint - original blue, then yellow, then orange, culminating in a horrible brush applied pea-green slap, done by a former owner clearly in a hurry who’d managed to overpaint all the rubbers, light fixtures, interior etc in the process.

We struck a deal which included my friend replacing the usual rusty bulkhead corners (the only real corrosion) and, much to the delight of my kids, I took possession of the car just in time for summer use last year. Using what I had lying around in the garage, I did my best to tidy it up by popping on a set of Range Rover alloys, a replacement bumper and grill, and over the winter a new set of shocks all round.

These pictures really fail to show the horrible paintwork but, as you can see, the early V8s (LT95 gearbox) were essentially a Series 3 on the inside with three rudimentary seats across the front and very basic dash.


From fall into winter - Day 330 by CY2010, on Flickr


Dog-eared by CY2010, on Flickr

When the run out models were announced for the Defender last year, I thought the Heritage one was best, and hatched a plan to give the 90 a new lease of life, combining some elements of the new Heritage and also the older NAS models. There’s a Dutch outfit called Riverhouse who do up 1980s Land rovers to export to the US, and their projects have provided some inspiration http://miniobsession.com/category/defender-2/.

So over the last few months I have been amassing a stash of bits in preparation for the project, amongst the new parts including (externally) puma bonnet, series-style two piece door conversion and classic style led lights all round. I’ve arranged to get all the layers of old paint stripped back and a new paint job… probably Keswick.

Imagine a canvas top version a bit like this and you sort of get the idea….



Old style interior, updated like this from that Dutch site…



So, do you guys have any advice? Perhaps alternative colours, or must have bits and pieces to add, or recommended work to sort out during such a restoration? Cries of derision or support?

This may become a build blog, so look forward to hearing any suggestions!

Rob_H

108 posts

242 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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I'm actually wanting to do exactly the same as you ! just need to find the right vehicle and a place to do it. My preference in colour is the grassmere green with black roof, alloys and black plastics. Look forward to seeing your progress !

Rob

Lordsmut

303 posts

201 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Shall look forward to this, please do keep us posted with progress

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Easter weekend brought some sun, and some "before" pictures to record the 90 in all its loveliness prior to work getting underway.

Interesting bonnet accent that I've been waiting to be rid of...


Layers of thick brushed paint over the top of old decals and signwriting....



Virtually everything in this picture will be replaced with new smile


As it used to work for a living, it had sheet metal reinforcement panels riveted on top of the rear wheelarches. I took these off (and the spare wheel mounting) to reveal what is left of the original colour. Black paint all over the inside too!


And one quick question. I started dismantling the front end as its going to have a new radiator prior to painting. A quick line up of the aircon style front panel reveals that, whilst it fits nice and snug at the sides, the fixing holes on the top of it are a good cm forward from the screw fixing holes in existing 1980s slam panel. I'm assuming this is normal and some kind of work around is required?


Cheers all.

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Rob_H said:
My preference in colour is the grassmere green with black roof, alloys and black plastics. Look forward to seeing your progress !

Rob
i did wonder about that colour too, but I think its a little too pale. There's a 110 softtop on ebay that's in that colour and I reckon it clashes with the canvas they've used - would probably suit black better.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-TD5-20...


mikeh501

709 posts

180 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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I converted my 90 hard top to a soft top last year. Won't look back, the soft top is so much better. Would love to read your build log! I'll offer any advice I can.

I think in your position given the age of vehicle etc I'd go for a retro version of the retro version if you get what I mean. Your vehicle is already retro, so why dress it in puma bits and then make it look retro, why not just go for the look without the updated bonnet and grille etc? Always think they look wrong on an early vehicle, and the flat grill non-ac grille just looks better full stop. Just my 0.02 smile

The beauty of them is you can do as you want!

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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cool This is inspiring me to do something stupid, like trawl my friendly neigbourhood farmer's yard for decaying old landrovers, which he has several of. Must resist.

hehe at the ebay ad LR; rusty chassis available as standard.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Tuesday 7th April 19:46

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
mikeh501 said:
The beauty of them is you can do as you want!
Amen to that! I'm hoping it will that it will be more classic in appearance than not once all is done. Just put an order in for old style metal light surrounds.

hidetheelephants said:
hehe at the ebay ad LR; rusty chassis available as standard
I saw that too! makes you wonder why they didn't treat even the visible bits of the chassis after all that effort on the paintwork?

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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Bit of progress at the weekend, mainly the fitting of a new radiator with twin kenlowe fans smile

Was also pleased to discover that behind the standard plastic headlamp surrounds there isn't a big square hole between the sidelight and indicator. This means that I should be able to get away with painted series light surrounds only, and not those expensive nakatanenga inserts I was mulling over smile

3 successive paint colours on the front.


Can anyone recommend good alloy / stainless door and bonnet hinges? I'm yet to decide on these. Cheers



Edited by CY88 on Monday 20th April 11:08

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Wednesday 13th May 2015
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Look what came in the post today. Stainless steel ... too shiny?


hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Wednesday 13th May 2015
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Not too shiny but deffo bloody trop cher! Nice though.

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Wednesday 13th May 2015
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
Not too shiny but deffo bloody trop cher! Nice though.
Luckily I managed to get them a bit cheaper than the advertised price - less than a lot of the aluminium ones advertised. They certainly feel excellent quality.

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Monday 8th June 2015
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Going in this week for prepping and painting bounce




SHutchinson

2,040 posts

183 months

Monday 8th June 2015
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CY88 said:
Going in this week for prepping and painting bounce

Leave it like that. It's done!

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th June 2015
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SHutchinson said:
CY88 said:
Going in this week for prepping and painting bounce

Leave it like that. It's done!
+1
All hail, the Defender Super Leggera.

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Monday 8th June 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
SHutchinson said:
CY88 said:
Going in this week for prepping and painting bounce

Leave it like that. It's done!
+1
All hail, the Defender Super Leggera.
Its certainly dropped a load of weight - I was amazed how heavy each of the one piece doors are!

CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Saturday 26th September 2015
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So this project is taking a lot longer than I though it would! cry As is removing all the layers of paint!

A couple of update pics from this morning....






CY88

Original Poster:

2,808 posts

229 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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On target for a V8 90-shaped Christmas present! bounce


smn159

12,448 posts

216 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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Good choice of colour!

100SRV

2,126 posts

241 months

Friday 27th November 2015
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Nice Land Rover!

What do you think of the shift quality of the LT85 gearbox?

Is it the solid or split-case version?