Aaron's 90 rebuild (Round 2)

aaronmorris · May 11, 2015

kes86 said:
Aaron. Do you think there is any benefit to starting with an early Defender, with the engine set further back to start with? I have looked at a 1986 110 county na diesel. But the bodywork was so ropey it has put me off. Chassis ok, apart from rear x member but b pillars for rear doors rotten.

In what respect mate? You talking Cummins conversion?
Body work is easily sortable, just very time consuming to do good.

aaronmorris · May 11, 2015

Well I haven't done anything this weekend chaps. Well actually that's a lie.
I topped the gearbox and pas fluids up.
Everything else was for other people

Mind you it wasn't all frown I suppose, in some respects and not in others.
A guy I know from other passages in the past got back in touch through ebay about something I was selling. Still, all the same as I'd not spoken to him for a while.
So he came down Saturday and had a good chat for a few hours and truth be told could have stood their all day.
Was nice and makes a change to talk to people I genuinely get on with, it doesn't really happen that often at all.
Now I knew he had health issues, I just didn't know the extent of them, and he's been diagnosed with cancer and given 18months to live :frown:

So after nearly giving up on it he's building his dream vehicle. Ok not in keeping with what I do but a nice build all the same.
He's struggling with things on the build at times, so it was nice to help even if it was only parts for the build.
I told him I didn't want anything for them but he insisted.

I know this is probably just a load of rambling bollocks that doesn't even make sense to you lot, but it made me realize more than ever before that their is always someone worse off out their.
I don't usually get all sentimental but I want to see him achieve what he set out to do, and if I can help him I will.
So it looks like I'll be having a few trips out to over the coming months.
And change the ratio's in a transfer box when he's finished mocking up with it.
Oh and someone else who thinks I should be working for myself instead of being a labourer

But I guess that's another story, and whether I should be posting this is another mater, but hayho.

kes86 · May 11, 2015

aaronmorris said:
In what respect mate? You talking Cummins conversion?

Body work is easily sortable, just very time consuming to do good.

Yes, I meant the engine position to fit a cummins, the 300tdi in mine is quite far forward compared to the 200tdi and earlier defenders. I was curious as to whether the further back positioning of the earlier defenders helps, or is there so much more to it than the donor vehicle engine position it doesn't matter.

Bodywork wise, not really a problem but, strangely, the front bulkhead was the only bit that wasn't rotten, apart from the floor pans.

aaronmorris · May 11, 2015

kes86 said:
Yes, I meant the engine position to fit a cummins, the 300tdi in mine is quite far forward compared to the 200tdi and earlier defenders. I was curious as to whether the further back positioning of the earlier defenders helps, or is there so much more to it than the donor vehicle engine position it doesn't matter.

Bodywork wise, not really a problem but, strangely, the front bulkhead was the only bit that wasn't rotten, apart from the floor pans.

Ah, gotcha' Yes the earlier N/A, T/D or 200tdi mounts make it easier to make the mounts to suit the Cummins.
Their was a guy fitting one in his who had a 300tdi chassis. He ended up chopping them off and welding a set of early ones to his chassis. Which I guess says it all.
Give me a shout if you want to know anything else bud.

Alibro · May 11, 2015

aaronmorris said:
Well I haven't done anything this weekend chaps. Well actually that's a lie.
I topped the gearbox and pas fluids up.
Everything else was for other people

Mind you it wasn't all frown I suppose, in some respects and not in others.
A guy I know from other passages in the past got back in touch through ebay about something I was selling. Still, all the same as I'd not spoken to him for a while.
So he came down Saturday and had a good chat for a few hours and truth be told could have stood their all day.
Was nice and makes a change to talk to people I genuinely get on with, it doesn't really happen that often at all.
Now I knew he had health issues, I just didn't know the extent of them, and he's been diagnosed with cancer and given 18months to live :frown:

So after nearly giving up on it he's building his dream vehicle. Ok not in keeping with what I do but a nice build all the same.
He's struggling with things on the build at times, so it was nice to help even if it was only parts for the build.
I told him I didn't want anything for them but he insisted.

I know this is probably just a load of rambling bollocks that doesn't even make sense to you lot, but it made me realize more than ever before that their is always someone worse off out their.
I don't usually get all sentimental but I want to see him achieve what he set out to do, and if I can help him I will.
So it looks like I'll be having a few trips out to over the coming months.
And change the ratio's in a transfer box when he's finished mocking up with it.
Oh and someone else who thinks I should be working for myself instead of being a labourer But I guess that's another story, and whether I should be posting this is another mater, but hayho.

Hi Aaron
I normally loiter around the Freelander area as that's what I have but I love reading build threads and yours is one of the best so I subbed it. I know a lot of guys have said about you going self employed and I know it is a massive step as I am thinking of it myself (but thats another story) however for you it needn't be as hard as you think.
Basically you buy something, add value and sell it for more, then do it again and keep on doing it until you can't afford to go to work any more cause your too busy making money at home. And it could be anything. Just as an example you could buy some old battered wings, fix them up and spray them in undercoat then sell them. Or a bonnet, or doors. If the punter wants them a colour then do it and charge more. Pretty soon the punters will be coming to you with their stuff to have it fixed and before you realise you have a business.
That's what I would do if I had your skills but I don't so am still trying to figure out what I want to do but Good luck with it.
PS Ebay is great cause the buyer never needs to talk to you so if your shy it's no problem.

Station House · May 17, 2015

It's good to give a bit of time to others - it's what makes you a decent guy

Honestly believe what goes around comes around

Good on you, and yes, I join those who think you should go for it!

aaronmorris · May 17, 2015

Alibro said:
Hi Aaron
I normally loiter around the Freelander area as that's what I have but I love reading build threads and yours is one of the best so I subbed it. I know a lot of guys have said about you going self employed and I know it is a massive step as I am thinking of it myself (but thats another story) however for you it needn't be as hard as you think.
Basically you buy something, add value and sell it for more, then do it again and keep on doing it until you can't afford to go to work any more cause your too busy making money at home. And it could be anything. Just as an example you could buy some old battered wings, fix them up and spray them in undercoat then sell them. Or a bonnet, or doors. If the punter wants them a colour then do it and charge more. Pretty soon the punters will be coming to you with their stuff to have it fixed and before you realise you have a business.
That's what I would do if I had your skills but I don't so am still trying to figure out what I want to do but Good luck with it.
PS Ebay is great cause the buyer never needs to talk to you so if your shy it's no problem.

Thanks mate

I haven't decided what I want to do yet either

I'm a bit lost really.
I'd agree with the ebay thing and I use it quite a lot, but people seem to want stuff for nothing and don't read listings properly.
But that's just little annoying things and it's pretty much the first port of call if I've got something to sell.
And not to even mention the fee's

But then where else do you get an audience that size.

Station House said:
It's good to give a bit of time to others - it's what makes you a decent guy

Honestly believe what goes around comes around

Good on you, and yes, I join those who think you should go for it!

I would like to think so too. I'll help anyone if it's needed, it just never is usually needed.
It's good to help people

and I'd like to think they'd do the same for you, although some people just take advantage.

aaronmorris · May 17, 2015

Well another weekend of doing pretty much naff all, or busy just not on this.
I don't know, I think I just need something else to concentrate on for a while.
I did have a good few hours today though sanding and polishing the rocker covers.
Not come up too bad, but was just using what I had and will try and get some proper aluminium polish and see if they come up any better.

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Mind you it is getting closer to the end of the drive seen as brothers 90 went today.
I guess I should be happy that I'm doing these type of jobs as it means theirs nothing major left to do, but I've lost interest a little if I'm honest.
Hopefully when I get around to test driving it properly that'll cheer me up a little about the project

cowasaki · May 17, 2015

Aaron, it's looking really good, I'm jealous

There are a few VERY minor bits I'd sort though. The black paint on those fuel pipes hasn't taken well and some of the red engine paint has been chipped plus I think I'd have the red paint off the bolt heads on the cylinder valve covers etc Just a few minutes work would sort it as the rest of the bay looks brilliant. How far are you off getting it finished?

robbh · May 17, 2015

Been a while since I've dropped in on this but....... Damn you work fast!

Bit of a bugger about the engine bud. But keep at it it will be worth it in the end.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't wait until this amazing creation of yours is finished.

aaronmorris · May 17, 2015

cowasaki said:
Aaron, it's looking really good, I'm jealous

There are a few VERY minor bits I'd sort though. The black paint on those fuel pipes hasn't taken well and some of the red engine paint has been chipped plus I think I'd have the red paint off the bolt heads on the cylinder valve covers etc Just a few minutes work would sort it as the rest of the bay looks brilliant. How far are you off getting it finished?

Cheers bud

I agree ref the fuel pipes, they've been covered in diesel a few times from both engines and on and off twice so want re-doing. I've just run out of paint at the mo.
Water pipes are as they came with the new engine and again no paint left to do them.
Bolts holding the valve covers on, again, yep I agree. They look garbage. But run out of time for today.
How far off getting it finished. Well I could go off up the road tomorrow and start testing. But have I got the inclination? At the mo not really :frown:
I'm just doing little jobs like you mention at the mo and general tidying up, as and when I get the time.
The trans tunnel, matting etc. isn't going in fully this time around, will do a little bit of testing and then fit it all when proven good.

cowasaki · May 17, 2015

aaronmorris said:
Cheers bud
I agree ref the fuel pipes, they've been covered in diesel a few times from both engines and on and off twice so want re-doing. I've just run out of paint at the mo.
Water pipes are as they came with the new engine and again no paint left to do them.
Bolts holding the valve covers on, again, yep I agree. They look garbage. But run out of time for today.
How far off getting it finished. Well I could go off up the road tomorrow and start testing. But have I got the inclination? At the mo not really :frown:
I'm just doing little jobs like you mention at the mo and general tidying up, as and when I get the time.
The trans tunnel, matting etc. isn't going in fully this time around, will do a little bit of testing and then fit it all when proven good.

Excellent....

I've done a lot to mine over the last couple of years but the issue for me is that it's my daily run about so I've not been able to go deep deep into it as much as I'd like. I'm hoping to pick up another 300TDi 1996 Defender in the next week or two and if I do I'm going to rebuild it onto a galv chassis with galv bulkhead and change it to a cab.... Electrics are my bag so a lot of the stuff I've done is down that route with central locking, electric windows, heated mirrors, dual batteries, TD5 dash remote total closure alarm system, auxillary fuse and relay box controlling 13 additional lights etc

James_mac · May 17, 2015

Did you paint this in 2k acrylic mate? What colour is it and did you lacquer it aswel?
My bulkhead is going to be here this week so I'm wanting to order the paint I need for a full respray. Iv been thinking about getting somthing like this http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=390717357320 but i can't decide on a colour as I have no idea how what the colour would look like on a Landy, it's very hard to picture it when looking at a Ral/BS colour chart.

wirral_series2a · May 18, 2015

cowasaki said:
There are a few VERY minor bits I'd sort though. The black paint on those fuel pipes hasn't taken well and some of the red engine paint has been chipped plus I think I'd have the red paint off the bolt heads on the cylinder valve covers etc Just a few minutes work would sort it as the rest of the bay looks brilliant. How far are you off getting it finished?

..... tell us you are kidding !

aaronmorris · May 18, 2015

cowasaki said:
Excellent....

I've done a lot to mine over the last couple of years but the issue for me is that it's my daily run about so I've not been able to go deep deep into it as much as I'd like. I'm hoping to pick up another 300TDi 1996 Defender in the next week or two and if I do I'm going to rebuild it onto a galv chassis with galv bulkhead and change it to a cab.... Electrics are my bag so a lot of the stuff I've done is down that route with central locking, electric windows, heated mirrors, dual batteries, TD5 dash remote total closure alarm system, auxillary fuse and relay box controlling 13 additional lights etc

I wish I knew more about electrics as they usually go straight over my head. Other than simple stuff.
Good luck with your rebuild bud

James_mac said:
Did you paint this in 2k acrylic mate? What colour is it and did you lacquer it aswel?
My bulkhead is going to be here this week so I'm wanting to order the paint I need for a full respray. Iv been thinking about getting somthing like this http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=390717357320 but i can't decide on a colour as I have no idea how what the colour would look like on a Landy, it's very hard to picture it when looking at a Ral/BS colour chart.

I used 2k mate yes.
No need for lacquer on a colour like that as i'ts direct gloss. So I never did.
Them ebay kits are pretty good but they never did the colour I chose so ordered everything separate.
Just get some etch primer as well, or some epoxy primer.
And I agree it is very hard to choose a colour off a chart, took me ages to choose mine and it was still brighter than I had wanted. Although once it was all together I was happy with it.
But when I put it on the first panel I thought

Think mine was sapphire blue.

James_mac · May 18, 2015

aaronmorris said:
I used 2k mate yes.
No need for lacquer on a colour like that as i'ts direct gloss. So I never did.
Them ebay kits are pretty good but they never did the colour I chose so ordered everything separate.
Just get some etch primer as well, or some epoxy primer.
And I agree it is very hard to choose a colour off a chart, took me ages to choose mine and it was still brighter than I had wanted. Although once it was all together I was happy with it.
But when I put it on the first panel I thought
Think mine was sapphire blue.

I want to paint it in ford imperial blue but I can only find this colour in cellulose atm and I don't fancy that, 2K seems far easier, especially as I haven't done this before. Iv messages a paint company to see if they can make me somthing up.

So do you recommend spraying with etch primer first then the 2k primer then top coat?

aaronmorris · May 18, 2015

James_mac said:
I want to paint it in ford imperial blue but I can only find this colour in cellulose atm and I don't fancy that, 2K seems far easier, especially as I haven't done this before. Iv messages a paint company to see if they can make me somthing up.

So do you recommend spraying with etch primer first then the 2k primer then top coat?

Ford imperial blue is good, I did one that colour a few years back

I did that in cellulose and that was also my first paint job, came out pretty good considering, but went to 2k for the next one and for me it's seems far superior.
The only ford imperial blue I've seen other than cellulose is as a base coat and lacquer.
Something I've never done as I've always gone direct gloss.

Oh and yep, etch primer (Don't go mad, just on the bare metal bits)
2k high build primmer and top coat.

James_mac · May 18, 2015

aaronmorris said:
Ford imperial blue is good, I did one that colour a few years back
I did that in cellulose and that was also my first paint job, came out pretty good considering, but went to 2k for the next one and for me it's seems far superior.
The only ford imperial blue I've seen other than cellulose is as a base coat and lacquer.
Something I've never done as I've always gone direct gloss.

Oh and yep, etch primer (Don't go mad, just on the bare metal bits)
2k high build primmer and top coat.

iv seen the ford imperial blue in a base coat and lacquer too, also seen the ford spirit blue which i quite like but 2k acrylic seems easier to do and quicker as it doesn't need as many layers. I haven't sprayed before i don't want to throw myself too far into the deep end, but i need to decide quickly as my bulkhead needs painting soon

aaronmorris · May 26, 2015

robbh said:
Been a while since I've dropped in on this but....... Damn you work fast!

Bit of a bugger about the engine bud. But keep at it it will be worth it in the end.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't wait until this amazing creation of yours is finished.

Oops, must have missed this first time around

Cheers though bud

Was seriously ****ed off about the engine, but I guess I just had to crack on and get it done, as much as it pained me to pull it all apart.

James_mac said:
iv seen the ford imperial blue in a base coat and lacquer too, also seen the ford spirit blue which i quite like but 2k acrylic seems easier to do and quicker as it doesn't need as many layers. I haven't sprayed before i don't want to throw myself too far into the deep end, but i need to decide quickly as my bulkhead needs painting soon

My first re-spray was the ford rs blue one, which was done in celly.
It came out good really, better than I thought it would.
If you want to give the celly a go, give me a shout as I've got a couple of litres of the ford rs blue you could have, just to try and see how you get on or if it's the route you want to go down.

James_mac · May 26, 2015

aaronmorris said:
My first re-spray was the ford rs blue one, which was done in celly.
It came out good really, better than I thought it would.
If you want to give the celly a go, give me a shout as I've got a couple of litres of the ford rs blue you could have, just to try and see how you get on or if it's the route you want to go down.

Iv bought myself some 2k acrylic now so going to give that a go, Iv got a disco bonnet kicking about so going to use that as a test piece. I bought aircraft blue, no idea what it's going to turn out like but if I don't like it I think I'll just buy a tin of gloss black.

Aaron's 90 rebuild (Round 2)

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