Blood, sweat & beers ! 1984 Defender 90 restoration

UpandOver · Feb 12, 2025

Engine and box is out, degreaed and cleaned ready to split. Will clean and paint the block and head, change the timing belt, water pump, lift pump and check the tapet clearances an oil change and she’s good to go back in along with a new clutch and Ashrcroft box.
Next job it to remove the axles and steam clean the chassis and prep for paint

UpandOver · Feb 15, 2025

Well there’s been some progress, took a
day off on Friday to catch up

front axle off, disassembled and casing cleaned but it does require a new diff pan as its very dented.

UpandOver · Feb 15, 2025

With the rear axle still attached I wheeled the chassis to the garden and gave it a good hot water jet wash, then degreasing with trailer wash. Fishied off giving it a once over with 80grit flap disc as I think its the original chassis thats been blasted and galvanized and had quite a rough finish in places which would show through when I paint it black.

UpandOver · Feb 15, 2025

Tomorrows jobs is to finish cleaning the chassis, remove back axle and remove diff pans.

Forrest Gump · Feb 15, 2025

UpandOver said:
With the rear axle still attached I wheeled the chassis to the garden and gave it a good hot water jet wash, then degreasing with trailer wash. Fishied off giving it a once over with 80grit flap disc as I think its the original chassis thats been blasted and galvanized and had quite a rough finish in places which would show through when I paint it black.

Not bad. Chassis looks spotless bro.

UpandOver · Feb 17, 2025

Chassis all cleaned up and ready for painting with epoxy 2pk Jotamastic 85 primer and Hardtop XP topcoat

UpandOver · Feb 19, 2025

Axles off and being prepared for some new bracketry courtesy of YRM, thanks guys and gals you certainly manufacture some gucci stainless Landy parts, at very competitive prices and to top it all off their next day delivery service it’s actually next day despite living in the arse end of Anglesey

UpandOver · Feb 19, 2025

It’s started again .. my neighbor’s must think that the misses is having an affair with Simon the DPD delivery driver

as hes starting to spend more time in the house than I do

UpandOver · Feb 19, 2025

Change of plan on the paint front, opted for Jotun jotamastic 90 epoxy 2pk which is directed to metal, galve or ali single coat application mixed black semi gloss. Again it’s a marine grade, abrasion resistant paint which should last at least 20+ years on the galv chassis and axles. It’s not cheap but then again you do get what you pay for.

Forrest Gump · Feb 19, 2025

UpandOver said:
It’s started again .. my neighbor’s must think that the misses is having an affair with Simon the DPD delivery driver as hes starting to spend more time in the house than I do

Thats funny, delivery guy that brought my rebuild stuff was there so often he knew more about land rovers than me...dude was even coming in for his coffee on a saturday.

RustyDefender · Feb 22, 2025

I think at this point you might as well hire people and make a business from it

can't wait to see this one rebuilt... keeping same engine?

UpandOver · Feb 22, 2025

RustyDefender said:
I think at this point you might as well hire people and make a business from it can't wait to see this one rebuilt... keeping same engine?

Haha Ive had an offer but commuting to Straford Upon Avon from Anglesey every day would soon wear off

. Yes keeping the same engine, had thought of a 300tdi but again the purists prevails and as the engine has already been fully reconditioned by Turner Engineering a few year ago it would be sacrilegious not to put the the hear back in.
I will however give it a freshen up, new water pump, timing kit, lift pump, etc

UpandOver · Feb 22, 2025

Progress report just in …. Last nights man cave rituals saw the rear axle being adorned with new YRM stop plates and trailing arm hangers then cleaned up and prepared for rust proofing in the morning. Celebratory drink was called for which was kindly donated by my old man a bottle of Hoof & Paw which is specially brewed by Snowdon Craft Beer for Tyddyn Isaf caravan park. Tropical and Zesty it sure is a nice beverage and goes well with grinding dust and welding platter !

RustyDefender · Feb 22, 2025

I’m taking a 300tdi out of mine in a week or so if you want it otherwise it will collect water outside

doing a m57 swap

UpandOver · Feb 22, 2025

RustyDefender said:
I’m taking a 300tdi out of mine in a week or so if you want it otherwise it will collect water outside doing a m57 swap

How much would you be looking for it ? No hang on …. I’m sticking with the 2.5 n/a …… on second thoughts the last 300tdi was great ….. no Mark stick to original….. just think how much more economical it would be and more environmentally friendly….. oh bugger Rusty Def youve really messed with my head this morning

and Im only on my first coffee

UpandOver · Feb 22, 2025

This early bird has caught no worms yet but has so far rust converted the rear axle, acid etched the chassis with T wash, de greased and hot washed and hung it out to dry… no literally hung it out to dry … look at the photo below ! dont want any moisture in the chassis before I spray it now do I !

UpandOver · Feb 22, 2025

Well what a productive day, I feel better now that I’ve started to get stuff painted, its either that of the fumes off the thinners.
Cleaned the rear calipers and painted them red, cleaned rust converted and painted the rear hubs and drive flange, and painted the rear axle. Very impressed with the Jotun paint it prayed brilliantly didnt thin it down too much and heated up the parts first with an electric fan heater for a good half hour. Three good coats and no runs ! Now thats a first. Well it’d be rude not to celebrate

UpandOver · Sunday at 17:06

Where better to be on a wet and very windy day …. No dont be stupid not in the house watching the telly or baking a cake, in the man cave disassembling and degreasing the front swivels and hubs of course.
With afternoon “panad” over (thats Welsh for brew) it was time to apply some paint, gloss black sir, whooo suits you sir, all over the chassis sir ! Whooof suits you indeed sir.

All gunwashed out its time to celebrate and clear the throat of thinners me thinks. Tonight’s tipple is courtesy of Aldi, think it was brewed and named especially for the occasion.

UpandOver · Monday at 19:05

Chassis now complete after 3 coats of paint ! I will guarantee it for another 40 yrs.
Front axle new diff pan welded on, rust converted and painted. Its a shame that the paint dulls off when dry as I do like the gloss finish but then again it would soon wear off with use.

UpandOver · Thursday at 20:29

slight delay with progress this week due to a stinking cold … but Im back on track . Chassis is now finished and parked up outside out of the way. Hub assemblies all cleaned up rust converted and trailing arms etc free of very stubborn bushes, note to self pleanty of red grease when re assembling the new poly bushes. Should have them all painted tomorrow evening then its body work time starting with the seat box !

Blood, sweat & beers ! 1984 Defender 90 restoration

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