Defenders are getting under the skin
Discussion
Just picked up my second Defender 90.
I bought my old one off ebay on a bit of a whim as it was a bit of a bargain. It was a 1989 2.5TD with very bad paint work, But was a solid 90 with very little rust and a galvanised chassis. I owned it for a year and half and spent a bit of time and effort trying to add a couple of creature comforts. It was so loud at motorway speeds you couldn't hold a conversation with the passenger. So a bit of carpet on the floors and roof worked wonders. But it was still a bit ruff around the edges and not really up to long road trips. So put it up for sale on here and the 90 found itself a new home. Was a pity to see it leave but I had already got it's replacement lined up.
A picture of the old landy.
I was casually looking at defenders on ebay again and this popped up and court my eye. It was quite striking!
It was local and I had just had a good amount of interested in my old landy. So I arranged a viewing to see it in the day. When I arrived I was amazed when I saw it, as it was like a new car inside and had that new car smell. It's a 2002 TD5 and has had a lot of money chucked at it and not even driven after having the money lavished on it. I was sold as soon as I saw it. I just had to hope my old land would sell… Which it did that night. It all worked out very well and I said I'd have the new defender. The vinyl stickers are a bit of acquired tasted but you would miss place the thing. It's such a nicer place to be on the road with plenty of more power on tap. When I picked it up I was a bit disheartened when driving back along the motorway. The car was suffering massive steering judder which was a little disappointing as it was the last thing I expected to have to deal with. Being that it has brand new tyres all round and freshly refurbished alloys. But that is where the problem transpired to be. The power coaters hadn't masked off the back of the wheel very well. So it had powder coat on some of the alloy that contacts to the hub, which throw the wheel out. So out came the dremel and off came the offending powder coat. I'm going to be going some more work to the 90 to get it to where I want it and I'll keep the thread updated. I think first things to go might be the seats as I don't really like those and I've seen some exmoor trim ones which are much more to my liking.
I bought my old one off ebay on a bit of a whim as it was a bit of a bargain. It was a 1989 2.5TD with very bad paint work, But was a solid 90 with very little rust and a galvanised chassis. I owned it for a year and half and spent a bit of time and effort trying to add a couple of creature comforts. It was so loud at motorway speeds you couldn't hold a conversation with the passenger. So a bit of carpet on the floors and roof worked wonders. But it was still a bit ruff around the edges and not really up to long road trips. So put it up for sale on here and the 90 found itself a new home. Was a pity to see it leave but I had already got it's replacement lined up.
A picture of the old landy.
I was casually looking at defenders on ebay again and this popped up and court my eye. It was quite striking!
It was local and I had just had a good amount of interested in my old landy. So I arranged a viewing to see it in the day. When I arrived I was amazed when I saw it, as it was like a new car inside and had that new car smell. It's a 2002 TD5 and has had a lot of money chucked at it and not even driven after having the money lavished on it. I was sold as soon as I saw it. I just had to hope my old land would sell… Which it did that night. It all worked out very well and I said I'd have the new defender. The vinyl stickers are a bit of acquired tasted but you would miss place the thing. It's such a nicer place to be on the road with plenty of more power on tap. When I picked it up I was a bit disheartened when driving back along the motorway. The car was suffering massive steering judder which was a little disappointing as it was the last thing I expected to have to deal with. Being that it has brand new tyres all round and freshly refurbished alloys. But that is where the problem transpired to be. The power coaters hadn't masked off the back of the wheel very well. So it had powder coat on some of the alloy that contacts to the hub, which throw the wheel out. So out came the dremel and off came the offending powder coat. I'm going to be going some more work to the 90 to get it to where I want it and I'll keep the thread updated. I think first things to go might be the seats as I don't really like those and I've seen some exmoor trim ones which are much more to my liking.
Edited by TVR Tommy on Monday 18th November 09:06
I didn't do a very good job of updating this thread.
Well the black defender in the end didn't last very long. I did do a few bits to it in the short time I had it. I removed the boards over the rear windows as you could see the wood grain through the windows in direct sunlight. Plus it seemed a little silly to have them covered. The rear door leaked as it was a new door and just been painted with not being sealed first. It started to rust badly as the winter progressed, I had numerous attempts of sealing it and by the time I sold it I think I'd stopped it leaking. The biggest change was removing the camo stickers, which didn't go very well as some of the paint started coming off with the stickers. After paying out to having some of the panels resprayed I'd had enough of it. So I sold it on and covered my costs.
I decided a car would probably be a good idea for my daily commute. So I bought this
Which I drove for three months but didn't really gel with that so sold it.
To then find myself looking at defenders again. Good defenders are difficult to find at a good price, after a month of looking this popped up.
Very pleased with my new purchase. It's pretty much standard except the galvanised chassis, winch and overdrive. This one I won't be selling as it bloody great. The overdrive makes the Defender much more liveable day to day. I've changed a few things already like fitting a Moto-lita steering wheel. changed the clutch spring to the later type which has made the clutch a lot lighter. The headlights where awful so fitted a red bison light loom, the lights have gone from pitiful to very good with the very simple mod.
So defenders do absolutely get under your skin and I can't do without one.
Well the black defender in the end didn't last very long. I did do a few bits to it in the short time I had it. I removed the boards over the rear windows as you could see the wood grain through the windows in direct sunlight. Plus it seemed a little silly to have them covered. The rear door leaked as it was a new door and just been painted with not being sealed first. It started to rust badly as the winter progressed, I had numerous attempts of sealing it and by the time I sold it I think I'd stopped it leaking. The biggest change was removing the camo stickers, which didn't go very well as some of the paint started coming off with the stickers. After paying out to having some of the panels resprayed I'd had enough of it. So I sold it on and covered my costs.
I decided a car would probably be a good idea for my daily commute. So I bought this
Which I drove for three months but didn't really gel with that so sold it.
To then find myself looking at defenders again. Good defenders are difficult to find at a good price, after a month of looking this popped up.
Very pleased with my new purchase. It's pretty much standard except the galvanised chassis, winch and overdrive. This one I won't be selling as it bloody great. The overdrive makes the Defender much more liveable day to day. I've changed a few things already like fitting a Moto-lita steering wheel. changed the clutch spring to the later type which has made the clutch a lot lighter. The headlights where awful so fitted a red bison light loom, the lights have gone from pitiful to very good with the very simple mod.
So defenders do absolutely get under your skin and I can't do without one.
Edited by TVR Tommy on Tuesday 16th December 09:43
Nice car!
I fancy one of these as a usable classic that shouldn't lose too much money. Classic sports cars etc are out as my garage is used for storing other things so it would have to live outside, and with 3 kids I wouldnt use it much.
I assume a Defender should be good for chucking stuff in the back, tip runs etc. But I live on a suburban street on the outskirts of Cardiff.
How do I justify such a purchase please?
I fancy one of these as a usable classic that shouldn't lose too much money. Classic sports cars etc are out as my garage is used for storing other things so it would have to live outside, and with 3 kids I wouldnt use it much.
I assume a Defender should be good for chucking stuff in the back, tip runs etc. But I live on a suburban street on the outskirts of Cardiff.
How do I justify such a purchase please?
I've changed a few bits on the Defender. So just updating the pictures
It got slightly muddy since the pre christmas wash
I had 5 minutes so it's back how a defender shouldn't be. I couldn't help myself.
The urge of changing and adding bits on the defender is pretty strong. But thats it for the exterior excluding some tidying, In the summer the interior is going to get some attention, starting with dynomating and a full exmoor carpet set.
It got slightly muddy since the pre christmas wash
I had 5 minutes so it's back how a defender shouldn't be. I couldn't help myself.
The urge of changing and adding bits on the defender is pretty strong. But thats it for the exterior excluding some tidying, In the summer the interior is going to get some attention, starting with dynomating and a full exmoor carpet set.
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