LR90 on a budget.... Possible?
Discussion
Basically is it possible?
I'm looking into selling the Beemer, try and raise £1500 then ad £500 to it, and pick-up a LR90 project.
What will this get me? Am I looking at something with MOT and test?
Ideally I'd like a late 80's early 90's hard top. van back end, 3 front seats would be perfect. Engine swapped ones that have been toy'ed with don't offend me.
I am fairly spanner handy, and have a couple of mates in the motor trade who can sort bits, bodywork and parts, and one mate who's a mechanic.
So, barring welding I'm covered in terms of free/cheap labour and a bittov a tidying project doesn't phase me, i.e. paintwork/interior/few new panels/servicing/suspension/brakes. Basically anything non-structural.
Is it possible? or am I dreaming?
I'm looking into selling the Beemer, try and raise £1500 then ad £500 to it, and pick-up a LR90 project.
What will this get me? Am I looking at something with MOT and test?
Ideally I'd like a late 80's early 90's hard top. van back end, 3 front seats would be perfect. Engine swapped ones that have been toy'ed with don't offend me.
I am fairly spanner handy, and have a couple of mates in the motor trade who can sort bits, bodywork and parts, and one mate who's a mechanic.
So, barring welding I'm covered in terms of free/cheap labour and a bittov a tidying project doesn't phase me, i.e. paintwork/interior/few new panels/servicing/suspension/brakes. Basically anything non-structural.
Is it possible? or am I dreaming?
mgmrw2003 said:
Is it possible? or am I dreaming?
No. Yes.In that order.
For that money, you'll get something that'll be good for spannering at weekends, and might turn in to a real gem, but...
It needs to be bought as something you're not relying on, and can afford to put on ice for a couple of months when some horrendous goes wrong with it needing £££ to put right.
Get one, but keep the Beemer.
the beemer would finance the buying of LR90.
I have a 2006 SAAB 9-3 as a daily/luxo barge, so reliability isn't a biggy.
Rot, that's my main worry. followed by engine failure (complete) and knackered gearboxes.
bolting on new doors, seats, wings, arches, cross members..... doesn't phase me. Just a lack of garage for welding and transmission rebuilds
I have a 2006 SAAB 9-3 as a daily/luxo barge, so reliability isn't a biggy.
Rot, that's my main worry. followed by engine failure (complete) and knackered gearboxes.
bolting on new doors, seats, wings, arches, cross members..... doesn't phase me. Just a lack of garage for welding and transmission rebuilds
Ah, ok in that case, get one. Transmission rebuilds are only worth it if you intend to tweak it in some way as part of the process, which on a 2K motor is a bit OTT. Just replace a gearbox if it goes pop. Ditto the engine.
Welding.....take it somewhere.
In terms of rot, just have a really good poke with a heavy screwdriver, and pay attention to the bulkhead as that's quite a biggy if it's had it.
Welding.....take it somewhere.
In terms of rot, just have a really good poke with a heavy screwdriver, and pay attention to the bulkhead as that's quite a biggy if it's had it.
thanks both of you for the advice.
I guess my best bet is to put the beemer through an MOT and sell it on with 12months ticket, and sit on my cash until the right LR comes up.
Ideally I'd like a 3seat 90 hardtop. Would suit for dog/MTB transport, towing capacity of the LR is also a good point
I guess my best bet is to put the beemer through an MOT and sell it on with 12months ticket, and sit on my cash until the right LR comes up.
Ideally I'd like a 3seat 90 hardtop. Would suit for dog/MTB transport, towing capacity of the LR is also a good point
mgmrw2003 said:
the beemer would finance the buying of LR90.
I have a 2006 SAAB 9-3 as a daily/luxo barge, so reliability isn't a biggy.
Rot, that's my main worry. followed by engine failure (complete) and knackered gearboxes.
bolting on new doors, seats, wings, arches, cross members..... doesn't phase me. Just a lack of garage for welding and transmission rebuilds
You can't really bolt on crossmembers though. They are bit more work than that.I have a 2006 SAAB 9-3 as a daily/luxo barge, so reliability isn't a biggy.
Rot, that's my main worry. followed by engine failure (complete) and knackered gearboxes.
bolting on new doors, seats, wings, arches, cross members..... doesn't phase me. Just a lack of garage for welding and transmission rebuilds
Engines - no probs really. Lots on eBay so even swapping an entire engine isn't hugely expensive or time consuming. If you've got the gear you could easily do it in the weekend with the help of a couple of mates.
Similar with gearboxes too.
mgmrw2003 said:
so with that in mind, is solid chassi (well as solid as they come) with f
ked engine be the way forwards
It really comes down to what you plan to do with it, your spannering ability and if you want a project.ked engine be the way forwardsPersonally I'd say replacing or repairing oily bits is usually cheaper, easier and less hassle. And I don't think it's all that common that you'd have too either.
Replacing a chassis is possible and often done. But it's a lot more grunt work and you need somewhere to do it.
I'd say chassis condition and bulkhead/footwells would be my prime concerns. Then how it drives and interior/body condition.
The great thing is, almost every part is replaceable, so you could buy a pick up and easily convert it to a hard top.
I think you're budget will allow you to get one, just bide your time and find the right one.
300bhp/ton said:
It really comes down to what you plan to do with it, your spannering ability and if you want a project.
Personally I'd say replacing or repairing oily bits is usually cheaper, easier and less hassle. And I don't think it's all that common that you'd have too either.
Replacing a chassis is possible and often done. But it's a lot more grunt work and you need somewhere to do it.
I'd say chassis condition and bulkhead/footwells would be my prime concerns. Then how it drives and interior/body condition.
The great thing is, almost every part is replaceable, so you could buy a pick up and easily convert it to a hard top.
I think you're budget will allow you to get one, just bide your time and find the right one.
What?!!! No mention of a Disco 1 with chopped up chassis, coil springs from a Range Rover and tyres off a JCB? Are you ill?Personally I'd say replacing or repairing oily bits is usually cheaper, easier and less hassle. And I don't think it's all that common that you'd have too either.
Replacing a chassis is possible and often done. But it's a lot more grunt work and you need somewhere to do it.
I'd say chassis condition and bulkhead/footwells would be my prime concerns. Then how it drives and interior/body condition.
The great thing is, almost every part is replaceable, so you could buy a pick up and easily convert it to a hard top.
I think you're budget will allow you to get one, just bide your time and find the right one.
mgmrw2003 said:
I plan, to use it as a dog cart. daily work wagon (its 4miles each way). odd paytoplay day. and bittov towing when nature calls.
thats it.
Pick-Up is no good, as at 6ft7 I just cant fit
Body configuration won't affect seating space. There's a center bulkhead behind the seats, this is there no matter if it's a pick-up, hardtop, or county.thats it.
Pick-Up is no good, as at 6ft7 I just cant fit
BTW - was only saying pickup, as the roof is only bolted on. So if you bought a pickup you could buy something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-rover-defender-90-hard-...
Get some new bolts and the rubber sealing strips and a couple of mates and you could swap it over. 1-1.5 hours tops. Maybe less.
Lefty said:
The seat definitely doesn't move as far back in a pickup as it does in a van, sotftop or SW. I'm 6'4" and don't fit in pickups but can drive the others just fine.
Yeah that's what I thought. Also I've seen the hardtops have a "bulkhead chop" whereby a section is cut out, allowing the seats to go all the way back AND STILL tilt. Offering a far better seating position.Then weld in some box section for strength.
Lefty said:
mudsuff.co.uk but i think the site's down just now. They do seat extension legs too for the really tall (at 6'4" I don't need em)
sounds ideal. Im 6ft7, 15stone and with a 38inch leg...... So the more room the better.All else fails, there's a spair pair of Metro GTi recaro's in my loft
mgmrw2003 said:
Yeah that's what I thought. Also I've seen the hardtops have a "bulkhead chop" whereby a section is cut out, allowing the seats to go all the way back AND STILL tilt. Offering a far better seating position.
Then weld in some box section for strength.
You can't weld in a bracket as the body is made from Brimabright, which is an alloy of aluminium and magnesium.Then weld in some box section for strength.
NAS (North American Spec), then some of the SE UK models and I think certain spec Puma Defenders have a different tubular centre bulk head.
Not sure exactly how they attack (bolt in I presume). And they would allow the seat back to recline further. Not sure if they allow the seat base to go any further back though.
As for the pickup thing. It has the same bulkhead as a hardtop, so the only thing that would make it have less space is the top of the seat back hitting the rear window if you have the seat reclined. The base of the seat should still go back just as far though.
Standard 90 bulkhead:
I think this is the alternate bulkhead. It makes it more open, but I'm not sure how much more seating room you'd actually get.
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