Re chassis a Defender 90
Discussion
Hi all
I'm fairly handy with the spanners, i've been tinkering with cars for years. Done servicing, brakes, suspension and even a clutch once. I have a fairly well equipped double garage and am fortunate enough to have treated myself to a cheap 2 post lift. I've had 3 land rovers as i used to off road them, a disco 1, an early 90 and i daily a Disco 4.
I've been offered a rust bucket 300TDi 90 with a chassis that's somehow only 1 month out of it's covid extended MoT, but has more holes in it than rab-c nesbitt's vest. It needs a replacement chassis. It's cheap enough for me to be interested and it's currently at my firends garage who is a LR nutcase and he describes the rest of the car as fairly typical for age/ mileage (140k miles, 1997). The engine smokes a tad on startup and leaks a bit of oil (don't they all). It;s got a couple of choice mods on it. My mate would take it on, but he builds custom off roaders as a business and he doesn't have the space or time.
A galv chassis is a couple of grand, it'd needs new suspension as why not whilst it's in bits. Typical stuff like brakes and servicing would be required of course. And it would make sense to poly bush it etc.
I've never done a major project before, but one day i dream to be able to assemble a catherham/ similar from a kit of parts. I have an early 996 in the garage at present which would have to make way for any project i undertook, wifey categorically will NOT have a toy car on the drive.
So the question is, what do i do? Do i cling onto the 996 and watch it appreciate until it's kit-car money, sell it and buy the kit, or do i risk it all on a basket case old land rover and hope i can manage to reassemble it all and not get lost half way through and give up?
Answers on a postcard pease folks.
I'm fairly handy with the spanners, i've been tinkering with cars for years. Done servicing, brakes, suspension and even a clutch once. I have a fairly well equipped double garage and am fortunate enough to have treated myself to a cheap 2 post lift. I've had 3 land rovers as i used to off road them, a disco 1, an early 90 and i daily a Disco 4.
I've been offered a rust bucket 300TDi 90 with a chassis that's somehow only 1 month out of it's covid extended MoT, but has more holes in it than rab-c nesbitt's vest. It needs a replacement chassis. It's cheap enough for me to be interested and it's currently at my firends garage who is a LR nutcase and he describes the rest of the car as fairly typical for age/ mileage (140k miles, 1997). The engine smokes a tad on startup and leaks a bit of oil (don't they all). It;s got a couple of choice mods on it. My mate would take it on, but he builds custom off roaders as a business and he doesn't have the space or time.
A galv chassis is a couple of grand, it'd needs new suspension as why not whilst it's in bits. Typical stuff like brakes and servicing would be required of course. And it would make sense to poly bush it etc.
I've never done a major project before, but one day i dream to be able to assemble a catherham/ similar from a kit of parts. I have an early 996 in the garage at present which would have to make way for any project i undertook, wifey categorically will NOT have a toy car on the drive.
So the question is, what do i do? Do i cling onto the 996 and watch it appreciate until it's kit-car money, sell it and buy the kit, or do i risk it all on a basket case old land rover and hope i can manage to reassemble it all and not get lost half way through and give up?
Answers on a postcard pease folks.
I'm slightly biased, but I say go for the Landie. They are an appreciating asset (so I told my wife) and with replacing the chassis, you will have a car that will last for a good few years if looked after. You also get to choose whatever upgrades and replacement parts you fit as you go. There are loads of videos on You Tube with just about everything you can do to a Land Rover on them and there are always Facebook groups or forums if you get stuck. Although I guess your Land Rover owning mate could be called in to assist too.
I'm biased and would normally say go for the landie.
However having done a couple of series 2 rechassis it's a lot of work.
You'll be surprised at how much space you'll need and all the little bits you'll need once you've stripped it down.
Long term the 996 will be worth more.
If the price is right on the landie i might be interested.
Just my thoughts
Mike
However having done a couple of series 2 rechassis it's a lot of work.
You'll be surprised at how much space you'll need and all the little bits you'll need once you've stripped it down.
Long term the 996 will be worth more.
If the price is right on the landie i might be interested.
Just my thoughts
Mike
mike various said:
I'm biased and would normally say go for the landie.
However having done a couple of series 2 rechassis it's a lot of work.
You'll be surprised at how much space you'll need and all the little bits you'll need once you've stripped it down.
Long term the 996 will be worth more.
If the price is right on the landie i might be interested.
Just my thoughts
Mike
This, we did a 110 series 2a rechassis - need 3/4 times space of the car itself to put everything i.e. interior, doors, panels etc etcHowever having done a couple of series 2 rechassis it's a lot of work.
You'll be surprised at how much space you'll need and all the little bits you'll need once you've stripped it down.
Long term the 996 will be worth more.
If the price is right on the landie i might be interested.
Just my thoughts
Mike
It's def good fun to do and learned a lot, You'll need a decent engine hoist if you've not got one.
Looked into storing the 996 somewhere for a while? Then when Landy is done you can put 996 back in your double garage with it?
Personally, I'd say a nicely built Defender will be a better investment than a 996 (assuming it's not a GT or ultra low mileage anyway), certainly within the next couple of years.
The 996 is a lovely car but there are plenty of them about, they have widely known big money potential issues and aesthetically they're arguably one of the less desirable 911 models.
As said though, it's a big job and it's important not to underestimate the work and spend required to do the proper job on a Defender that will be needed to get top money for it.
If the chassis is rusty chances are things like the bulkhead, door bottoms and perhaps even some of the bracing under the rear tub will be crusty, and there's no point blowing the whole thing apart and leaving rot anywhere.
If its a total heap I'd expect to spend at least 10 grand on it, probably including the chassis, to get it nice. If you're buying the Landy cheap then that would take a lot of the financial risk out of it.
I'd also say a 300Tdi would be best done as close to OEM as possible, maybe in a popular colour with a nice set of wheels, for someone to either buy it for what it is or as a blank canvas. I wouldn't start modding stuff like polybushes for example. The OEM rubber stuff costs buttons, you wont add value and it probably wont actually drive any better anyway.
The 996 is a lovely car but there are plenty of them about, they have widely known big money potential issues and aesthetically they're arguably one of the less desirable 911 models.
As said though, it's a big job and it's important not to underestimate the work and spend required to do the proper job on a Defender that will be needed to get top money for it.
If the chassis is rusty chances are things like the bulkhead, door bottoms and perhaps even some of the bracing under the rear tub will be crusty, and there's no point blowing the whole thing apart and leaving rot anywhere.
If its a total heap I'd expect to spend at least 10 grand on it, probably including the chassis, to get it nice. If you're buying the Landy cheap then that would take a lot of the financial risk out of it.
I'd also say a 300Tdi would be best done as close to OEM as possible, maybe in a popular colour with a nice set of wheels, for someone to either buy it for what it is or as a blank canvas. I wouldn't start modding stuff like polybushes for example. The OEM rubber stuff costs buttons, you wont add value and it probably wont actually drive any better anyway.
Left field thought....how difficult would it be to rebuild and convert to LHD? Reason is there is a strong market for them in the US. Check out Defender sales on the US auction site Bring A Trailer. RHD is a much much tougher sell. Bling it up a bit. Potential challenges with importing relating to LHD conversion though. Has to be 25 yrs old for easy import from date of original manufacture.
geeman237 said:
Left field thought....how difficult would it be to rebuild and convert to LHD? Reason is there is a strong market for them in the US. Check out Defender sales on the US auction site Bring A Trailer. RHD is a much much tougher sell. Bling it up a bit. Potential challenges with importing relating to LHD conversion though. Has to be 25 yrs old for easy import from date of original manufacture.
Yeh i've seena few American Youtubers talk about them (Doug DeMuro in particular). I thought the ones that were popular over there were true NAS spec ones? I'm not sure how hard a LHD conversion would be, but presumably that involves a new bulkhead, dash, clocks etc, which considering the chassis swap is a single body lift to make it easier, might be troubling. Good food for thought mindgeeman237 said:
Left field thought....how difficult would it be to rebuild and convert to LHD? Reason is there is a strong market for them in the US. Check out Defender sales on the US auction site Bring A Trailer. RHD is a much much tougher sell. Bling it up a bit. Potential challenges with importing relating to LHD conversion though. Has to be 25 yrs old for easy import from date of original manufacture.
Diesel Brothers (US tv show on Discovery) did the conversion a while back. Usual tv gloss over but might be worth a look if you can find it.Heater, Steering Box, Bulkhead + gubbins (Brakes, clutch, throttle), Dashboard, Wiring. Doable, but not convinced it'd be worth the aggro unless you're really committed.
geeman237 said:
Left field thought....how difficult would it be to rebuild and convert to LHD? Reason is there is a strong market for them in the US. Check out Defender sales on the US auction site Bring A Trailer. RHD is a much much tougher sell. Bling it up a bit. Potential challenges with importing relating to LHD conversion though. Has to be 25 yrs old for easy import from date of original manufacture.
More than luck, you'll need a large assortment of swear words and a beer fridge with beer in for when bits need a "looking at" to work out how to do them.
And an angle grinder with a collection of cutting disks, along with some big hammers. I'm not actually joking. This is roughly how to dismantle the old chassis.
And an angle grinder with a collection of cutting disks, along with some big hammers. I'm not actually joking. This is roughly how to dismantle the old chassis.
Some of this guys YouTube channel may be helpful although he is restoring a series 3 Land Rover. I think he does really good videos.
https://youtube.com/c/GeoffreyCroker
As for my US LHD conversion idea, unfortunately because some folks have bent the rules on importing them it does mean they can come under greater scrutiny by US Customs. But it does depend to which port they come in at as to how much inspection will take place. I imported a 1992 TVR Griffith as soon as they were legal here in the US and had no problems whatsoever. It could have had a UK rebuilt with a new chassis but who would’ve known....
https://youtube.com/c/GeoffreyCroker
As for my US LHD conversion idea, unfortunately because some folks have bent the rules on importing them it does mean they can come under greater scrutiny by US Customs. But it does depend to which port they come in at as to how much inspection will take place. I imported a 1992 TVR Griffith as soon as they were legal here in the US and had no problems whatsoever. It could have had a UK rebuilt with a new chassis but who would’ve known....
Arnie Cunningham said:
More than luck, you'll need a large assortment of swear words and a beer fridge with beer in for when bits need a "looking at" to work out how to do them.
And an angle grinder with a collection of cutting disks, along with some big hammers. I'm not actually joking. This is roughly how to dismantle the old chassis.
Nice list. Got all those. And an angle grinder with a collection of cutting disks, along with some big hammers. I'm not actually joking. This is roughly how to dismantle the old chassis.
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