Defender 90 Rear Bulkhead?

Defender 90 Rear Bulkhead?

Author
Discussion

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
quotequote all
Did any 90 SWs come with the bulkhead behind the front sests, or was that unique to the Utility?

Is it a retro fit item, or would I need to buy a Utility and retrofit the side windows and SW seats and belts?

anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
quotequote all
The bulkhead is the most obvious distinction between a "real" SW and a converted van/utility.
And is what a retro-fit item? The lowered SAW bulkhead? Like anything on a Land Rover you probably could swap it, but it'd be a lot of work.
There are kits out there to allow the bulkhead to be cut down and strengthened in situ.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
quotequote all
I'm wanting an SW with the bulkhead.

anonymous-user

54 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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Strictly speaking there's no such thing.
You'll have to search out a converted utility.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

190 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Doofus said:
Did any 90 SWs come with the bulkhead behind the front sests, or was that unique to the Utility?

Is it a retro fit item, or would I need to buy a Utility and retrofit the side windows and SW seats and belts?
Most 90's have the bulkhead. NAS spec where the first to use the tubular. Then I think it was optional or available on TD5 models onwards. Older Tdi's will have it.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Most 90's have the bulkhead. NAS spec where the first to use the tubular. Then I think it was optional or available on TD5 models onwards. Older Tdi's will have it.
I'm looking for a later TDCi, and I've not seen a single SW with a bulkhead...

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

108 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Doofus said:
Did any 90 SWs come with the bulkhead behind the front sests, or was that unique to the Utility?

Is it a retro fit item, or would I need to buy a Utility and retrofit the side windows and SW seats and belts?
Buy one of the magazine such as LRO and look at the adverts for parts

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Doofus said:
300bhp/ton said:
Most 90's have the bulkhead. NAS spec where the first to use the tubular. Then I think it was optional or available on TD5 models onwards. Older Tdi's will have it.
I'm looking for a later TDCi, and I've not seen a single SW with a bulkhead...
You won't.
Pumas are much more difficult/impossible to convert from utility to SW as the rear tub is significantly different to accommodate forward-facing rear seats.
Bench seats aren't legal in a Puma either.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
You won't.
Pumas are much more difficult/impossible to convert from utility to SW as the rear tub is significantly different to accommodate forward-facing rear seats.
Bench seats aren't legal in a Puma either.
Interesting, thanks. I guess I'll look at welding a steel mesh or some sort of panel onto the bar in a SW. I don't want the rear seats anyway, so they can live in the garage...

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Sounds like you're after a utility body but with windows in which case it'd be far more economical and straight forward to buy a van (with bulkhead) and fit windows to it.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
Sounds like you're after a utility body but with windows in which case it'd be far more economical and straight forward to buy a van (with bulkhead) and fit windows to it.
Yes. This is what I said before. But would that make the side-facing seats illegal if they aren't legal in a SW? I don't need them, but it would seem silly to render them unusable.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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I thought you said you didn't really want rear seats?
And yes, bench seats won't be "legal" in a Puma-era truck. The internet is ablaze with arguments for or against at that and whether anyone would actually ever notice, but the bottom line is the vehicle won't comply with various legislation for its age.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
I don't really want them, but why buy a Defender and render the pre-existing seats useless for the next owner? I've seen HTs with rear seats (inward facing), and if I get one of those and put in side windows, then it sounds like I'd be making those rear seats illegal.

I'd be better off buying a SW and welding in a mesh or sheet to create a bulkhead. At least that would be reversible.

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

108 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Doofus said:
Did any 90 SWs come with the bulkhead behind the front sests, or was that unique to the Utility?

Is it a retro fit item, or would I need to buy a Utility and retrofit the side windows and SW seats and belts?
Do you know the history of your vehicle?

Has it always been a civilian spec, or was it ever a military vehicle?

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
SantaBarbara said:
Do you know the history of your vehicle?

Has it always been a civilian spec, or was it ever a military vehicle?
I haven't got one.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Doofus said:
I don't really want them, but why buy a Defender and render the pre-existing seats useless for the next owner? I've seen HTs with rear seats (inward facing), and if I get one of those and put in side windows, then it sounds like I'd be making those rear seats illegal.

I'd be better off buying a SW and welding in a mesh or sheet to create a bulkhead. At least that would be reversible.
I think you may need to understand a bit better the seating issue.
Retro-fitted seats have to be compliant for the age of vehcile, and inward-facing seats in a Puma-era wagon aren't.
If you've seen a hardtop with bench seats it's either an older truck or it's non-compliant.
It isn't the windows that cause the issue, it's the type of seats. Rear seats in a Puma MUST face forwards and have three-point belts.

Doofus

Original Poster:

25,805 posts

173 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
I think you may need to understand a bit better the seating issue.
Retro-fitted seats have to be compliant for the age of vehcile, and inward-facing seats in a Puma-era wagon aren't.
If you've seen a hardtop with bench seats it's either an older truck or it's non-compliant.
It isn't the windows that cause the issue, it's the type of seats. Rear seats in a Puma MUST face forwards and have three-point belts.
Understood. Thank you. smile