88 S3 (UPGRADE not Restoration)

So Its been suggested I start a thread here by some very kind members. So here goes...

As an initial background I obtained this ex MoD S3 88 when I was 14 as a joint gift for my three brothers and I, she was £800 and a road legal runner. We used her at AWDC events in Hampshire with my dad's 300tdi 90 and my mums 300TDI disco (later replaced with a TD5) my brothers weren't that interested so when I joined the army at 18 the S3 was retired to the barn in 2006.
I took a significant interest in the Army WOLF variants and used to bring them home for local events.
Now I have been medically retired I'm back to the poor old S3. But after all the childhood fun I don't want to "restore" her, I want to make her a useable modern version (and maybe even outdo some more modern defenders in useability.

I apologise in advance to any die hard restorists, the only thing I'd never change are her engine, gearbox and chassis because they make her the "go anywhere" vehicle that got landrover it's reputation. Everything else, especially the electrical components were always pants so here is pic 1.01

Should be "historic" now as in tax exempt and MOT exempt too.

A nice sympathetic restoration with getting rid of the junky bits.

Hardly any electrics on it to start with so you will have an easy time sorting it all out

That’s a great back story! Keep us updated with your progress. Everyone loves a series!

lol, so if you aren't changing the engine/gearbox, which are the main differences (bar suspension) from a Defender. What are you actually planning?

I have modernised my bitsa series. I probably wouldn’t have if it was all original but we do what’s right for us.
The hard thing is not to make it look like a series with bits bolted on. Hard to do with off the shelf upgrades.

Good luck with it and I hope the project gives you as much enjoyment as mine did and still does.

So today I took the seat base and floor panels out to clean off and repaint whilst I wait for some other parts to come. Took off the ignition coil and replaced, changed the leads and tried wiring the solenoid ...that last bit didn't go well as I struggled to get it off and then didn't label the cables so it's going to take a little while tomorrow to figure out which goes where

The old S3 109’s are nice old trucks, and GS’s are going to be quite rare in good nick

So....memo to self, do not cable tie the cables to the solenoid poles together and walk away without labeling them first intending to rely on the circuit diagram when fitting the new one (it doesn't end well) luckily I intended to rip out the loom and make a new one myself anyway, looks like I may be doing the starting and charging circuit earlier than planned though.

Ordered new cables, new battery is in as is new starter, gone back to drawing board on alternator after some decent advice on here.

Drawn out most the new circuits, but adding rear fog and reverse and removing tow electrics. She has a ball hitch (after removal of the NATO coupling years ago) but shell only tow on the farm or dare I say when she gets stuck and needs help