LR 90 1985. Advice required

[simond001]

Just bought myself a little landie. It is rusty at the top front and bottom of the bulkhead. Apart from this the bodywork is ruct and damage free (if somewhat faded).

Any idea how much it would cost to replace the bulkhead, or is more cost effective to weld plates?

Never had to do this before, so any advice very welcome.

It also is remarkably slow, It does get to 70 on the motorway, but take the M1 to get there. Anything service wise to look out for?

[BLUETHUNDER]

A new bulkhead will cost any thing from £300-£600,depending on where you buy it from.Its the labour involved thats going cost the most.

[GreenLandy]

Post some piccies of the rust on the bulkhead, repair panels can be brought but not worth doing if the rust is in certain areas.

[danielgray]

70 mph top speed is about right unless its a V8 if its still standard.

[BLUETHUNDER]

simond001 said:

Just bought myself a little landie. It is rusty at the top front and bottom of the bulkhead. Apart from this the bodywork is ruct and damage free (if somewhat faded).

Any idea how much it would cost to replace the bulkhead, or is more cost effective to weld plates?

Never had to do this before, so any advice very welcome.

It also is remarkably slow, It does get to 70 on the motorway, but take the M1 to get there. Anything service wise to look out for?

You dont say what year it is.If its an early one then you are looking at a 3.5ltr 124bhp one.It should do more than 70mph though.May be the carbs are a bit tired.Get a overhaul kit.About £16.I did this on the 101.Made a world of difference.Now i can touch nearly 80mph if i really push it.And im a lot lower geared than you.

[greenlandy]

Simon emailed me these pictures last night:

[simond001]

BLUETHUNDER said:

simond001 said:

Just bought myself a little landie. It is rusty at the top front and bottom of the bulkhead. Apart from this the bodywork is ruct and damage free (if somewhat faded).

Any idea how much it would cost to replace the bulkhead, or is more cost effective to weld plates?

Never had to do this before, so any advice very welcome.

It also is remarkably slow, It does get to 70 on the motorway, but take the M1 to get there. Anything service wise to look out for?

You dont say what year it is.If its an early one then you are looking at a 3.5ltr 124bhp one.It should do more than 70mph though.May be the carbs are a bit tired.Get a overhaul kit.About £16.I did this on the 101.Made a world of difference.Now i can touch nearly 80mph if i really push it.And im a lot lower geared than you.

It's a 2.25 Petrol. As you can see fromt he pictures below it's very original, so I want to keep it looking old, but tidy up the rusty bits.

Also fancy power steering but i believe this is best sorted by installing a Vauxhall Electric PS column. Any thoughts on this.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Seeing as its a 2 1/4 then 70mph is near enough top end.Im afraid that bulkhead has had it though.

[simond001]

any idea how long it will take to change the bulkhead?

[Church]

I agree the bulkhead isn't great (seen worse!) but if thats the only bad areas then they can be repaired by welding in new repair sections so don't need to change it, especially as cost of fitting a new bulkhead is going to be significant portion of its value and as we know when doing the bulkhead you may as well sort out everything else it unearths. So to keep it running on a sensible budget I'd weld in new sections unless you do want to spend well over £1000 to have a new one supplied and fitted.

[danielgray]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Seeing as its a 2 1/4 then 70mph is near enough top end.Im afraid that bulkhead has had it though.

for the 2 1/4 70 is the top (according to the owners manual from my dads 84 90) I never got that up to 70 when I was driving it before its engine swap.

[simond001]

Church said:

I agree the bulkhead isn't great (seen worse!) but if thats the only bad areas then they can be repaired by welding in new repair sections so don't need to change it, especially as cost of fitting a new bulkhead is going to be significant portion of its value and as we know when doing the bulkhead you may as well sort out everything else it unearths. So to keep it running on a sensible budget I'd weld in new sections unless you do want to spend well over £1000 to have a new one supplied and fitted.

Can i buy repair sections, and if so where is best.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Ive never seen bulkhead repair sections.But maybe some one can correct me.But to be honest that looks to far gone to repair.Whats the rest of the bulkhead like?And is there rot in the footwells near the bulkhead?

[ramthorne]

I would have a good prod at the chassis before spending too much time or money on it.

Defender bodies are pretty much aligned (I use the word in its losest sense) from the bulkhead so a degree of skill is required. I would have thought with half resonable facilities and help it could be changed in a weekend.

[simond001]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Ive never seen bulkhead repair sections.But maybe some one can correct me.But to be honest that looks to far gone to repair.Whats the rest of the bulkhead like?And is there rot in the footwells near the bulkhead?

Footwells and rest of the bulkhead look fine. The chassis also looks ok. It's booked for an early MOT next week to get a better view of things.

[GKP]

Paddocks (and there are many other quality spares suppliers around...) sell these repair panels at a modest 10 quid.



There are larger, more comprehensive sections available, too.

[greenlandy]

ramthorne said:

I would have a good prod at the chassis before spending too much time or money on it.

Defender bodies are pretty much aligned (I use the word in its losest sense) from the bulkhead so a degree of skill is required. I would have thought with half resonable facilities and help it could be changed in a weekend.

A weekend would do it to be honest I think, unless you're a skilled welder, that a new bulkhead is the way to go. Those repair panels are ok but I've never seen one that replaces or can be cut into the fresh air vents.
Worse bit about doing the swap is dragging the loom through and rebuilding the dash oh and getting the heater off.

[BLUETHUNDER]

simond001 said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Ive never seen bulkhead repair sections.But maybe some one can correct me.But to be honest that looks to far gone to repair.Whats the rest of the bulkhead like?And is there rot in the footwells near the bulkhead?

Footwells and rest of the bulkhead look fine. The chassis also looks ok. It's booked for an early MOT next week to get a better view of things.

I think its best that you wait until the m.o.t next week.See what that digs up,then make a decision on har far you want to go.

[darthdicky]

simond001 said:

Also fancy power steering but i believe this is best sorted by installing a Vauxhall Electric PS column. Any thoughts on this.

Just fit a power steering box, pump and pipes from another 90. Disco and Classic Range Rover boxes are the same but you'll need the right pump and bracket for your engine.

[Barreti]

Hey, a C reg Ninety isn't old and doesn't need to look it.

You don't need to go mad and get it all blingy, but I've got a D reg 2.5TD which is still in very nice condition, which I'm at work in today.

I'll get you a photo later.



As for the top speed, it's a Land Rover not a Rover, so take it easy and go around 55-60 on Motorways and actually enjoy driving for a change.

You will also find you can modify your routes because you know its not really any slower driving through a town than go the long way around it.

Start pushing the engine to its flat out ability and you're asking for trouble though.



One really good thing is how people shift out of the way for you too. No more of this jumping into little spaces to get out of the local idiots way when you're passing a line of parked cars, shift over to the middle of the road a bit and make him wait. He will, when he spots that galvanised girder you've got there at the front



Enjoy it, Landys are ace