Defender completion during lockdown
Discussion
I was working in Hong Kong in 2017 when I bought this blind and had it delivered to home. I've had three previous Defenders but my favourite was a 2001 Td5; the sound of the 5 cylinder engine is just peachy and it pulls strongly enough to provide 70 mph motorway performance yet is also slow enough to feel like a real Defender.
I treated it to some new wheels and introduced it to its older cousin lurking in our shed (which has since been fully tarted up). We humped logs together.
I introduced it to snow and it ate everything up with glee. During the Beast from the East it outperformed our Disco 3 due it being significantly less porky than the 2.7 tonne SUV.
By the time this photo was taken I'd replaced the exhaust after it fell off outside Lochgilphead one Sunday afternoon. We'd also had the minor job of replacing the chassis - or more accurately getting a local company to do it. They were interesting to deal with and I wouldn't go back, and I had to go to a different (better) local company to finish the job properly. There were various other bits to do and it wasn't cheap. The ambition was to convert it from a Double Cab Pick Up (DCPU) to something that looks like a Utility Station Wagon (USW). So I bought lots of cheap bits on eBay and had them painted in Crieff Spray Shop (thanks Duncan). My two sons helped me to unbolt various bits:
...and I bolted various pieces together:
Before long I had sorted out the roof, the rear door, the interior (and electrics) and various other bits, plus some brush painting:
It looked a bit sad from the side:
So my job during lockdown is to finish the bodywork with a 30 minute break for lunch every day. Brush painting and low standards, so wish me luck! So far I have been really busy working from home - and it's rained every day.
I treated it to some new wheels and introduced it to its older cousin lurking in our shed (which has since been fully tarted up). We humped logs together.
I introduced it to snow and it ate everything up with glee. During the Beast from the East it outperformed our Disco 3 due it being significantly less porky than the 2.7 tonne SUV.
By the time this photo was taken I'd replaced the exhaust after it fell off outside Lochgilphead one Sunday afternoon. We'd also had the minor job of replacing the chassis - or more accurately getting a local company to do it. They were interesting to deal with and I wouldn't go back, and I had to go to a different (better) local company to finish the job properly. There were various other bits to do and it wasn't cheap. The ambition was to convert it from a Double Cab Pick Up (DCPU) to something that looks like a Utility Station Wagon (USW). So I bought lots of cheap bits on eBay and had them painted in Crieff Spray Shop (thanks Duncan). My two sons helped me to unbolt various bits:
...and I bolted various pieces together:
Before long I had sorted out the roof, the rear door, the interior (and electrics) and various other bits, plus some brush painting:
It looked a bit sad from the side:
So my job during lockdown is to finish the bodywork with a 30 minute break for lunch every day. Brush painting and low standards, so wish me luck! So far I have been really busy working from home - and it's rained every day.
Absolutely love this.
Having painted a Defender with a roller in the past, the best advice I can give is to make sure the wet paint doesn't get too cold when drying. So I'd recommend sticking the Defender in a barn, cover it over so dust etc can't land on the paint and then let it dry for 48 hours with a space heater running.
Best of luck fella
Having painted a Defender with a roller in the past, the best advice I can give is to make sure the wet paint doesn't get too cold when drying. So I'd recommend sticking the Defender in a barn, cover it over so dust etc can't land on the paint and then let it dry for 48 hours with a space heater running.
Best of luck fella
andburg said:
following, love a good project thread and particularly one with scenery!
Spent many a day/night around Crieff / Perth / Dalwhinnie when working on the Beauly-Denny power project.
a 4X4 and decent tyres is almost an essential up there
Good to hear. Amusingly I was once your PH secret Santa but I won’t spoil the game by telling you which year! The pubs here mourned the passing of the power project crews although the police were generally relieved once the brawling had passed...Spent many a day/night around Crieff / Perth / Dalwhinnie when working on the Beauly-Denny power project.
a 4X4 and decent tyres is almost an essential up there
w1bbles said:
So my job during lockdown is to finish the bodywork with a 30 minute break for lunch every day. Brush painting and low standards, so wish me luck! So far I have been really busy working from home - and it's rained every day.
Good luck! I have probably 2 days work l left to finish my 3.9i auto 90 and I was hopeful that lockdown would at least give me my commute time back so that I could crack on (before the MOT stations close! 
). So far I've been putting in 12-14 hour days wfh. Fun or leisure it isn't. Hoping that will calm down soon.
|https://thumbsnap.com/bOJN4r4X[/url]
w1bbles said:
CAPP0 said:
Just under 2 years since I started. That's what a full time job, several other vehicles, a wife, 2 dogs, and a garage which the 90 won't fit into (stopping winter work) do to projects!
It drives now, I need to weld a couple of bits on the chassis and re-fit the exhaust and we're good to go (for MOT). I'll try and remember to update my thread when there's news.
Thanks for the good luck
You too!w1bbles said:
andburg said:
following, love a good project thread and particularly one with scenery!
Spent many a day/night around Crieff / Perth / Dalwhinnie when working on the Beauly-Denny power project.
a 4X4 and decent tyres is almost an essential up there
Good to hear. Amusingly I was once your PH secret Santa but I won’t spoil the game by telling you which year! The pubs here mourned the passing of the power project crews although the police were generally relieved once the brawling had passed...Spent many a day/night around Crieff / Perth / Dalwhinnie when working on the Beauly-Denny power project.
a 4X4 and decent tyres is almost an essential up there
Always said to the fiancee that we'll head up on the bike or hire a camper one day.
andburg said:
I imagine so, I'm IT so wasn't up for extended stays and brawling. Normally stayed at the Glen in Newtonmore as it was pretty central, the food was fantastic, that's what matters!
Always said to the fiancee that we'll head up on the bike or hire a camper one day.
I seem to remember from PHSS stalking that you have a very cute dog. Mrs w1bbles says you're welcome to drop in on the way past if you bring him!Always said to the fiancee that we'll head up on the bike or hire a camper one day.
Another day of back-to-back conference calls. I escaped at 4.30 and armed myself with a paint brush. Another panel has succumbed to my cack-handed painting but it's not looking too bad.
Apologies for all these posts. I have a spectacularly short attention span and can't sit still. As normal activities have been curtailed I need to find another outlet!
I really do need to replace all the doors but given the current outlook I'm going to make do and mend and just fix the locks and paint them.
Apologies for all these posts. I have a spectacularly short attention span and can't sit still. As normal activities have been curtailed I need to find another outlet!
I really do need to replace all the doors but given the current outlook I'm going to make do and mend and just fix the locks and paint them.
CAPP0 said:
I sort of started one when I was asking about the job before I started, had a few updates but nothing like a proper picture-filled build thread I'm afraid! It's here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Just under 2 years since I started. That's what a full time job, several other vehicles, a wife, 2 dogs, and a garage which the 90 won't fit into (stopping winter work) do to projects!
It drives now, I need to weld a couple of bits on the chassis and re-fit the exhaust and we're good to go (for MOT). I'll try and remember to update my thread when there's news.
Thanks for the good luck You too!
Go on - stick up a photo or two.Just under 2 years since I started. That's what a full time job, several other vehicles, a wife, 2 dogs, and a garage which the 90 won't fit into (stopping winter work) do to projects!
It drives now, I need to weld a couple of bits on the chassis and re-fit the exhaust and we're good to go (for MOT). I'll try and remember to update my thread when there's news.
Thanks for the good luck
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