Not the thread of the century, but wondering ...

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Mackers

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... has anyone done anything creative with the ashtray hole on the dashboard? Are the side window demister kits any cop, and how else can I make the dashboard more inspiring?
 
... has anyone done anything creative with the ashtray hole on the dashboard? Are the side window demister kits any cop, and how else can I make the dashboard more inspiring?

Your enthusiasm is great. This Defender is going to be well loved I think. What is your plan, more or less stock Defender or stuff on it?

Word of advice would be to first get your vehicle "sorted". Get everything mechanical, electrical, structural perfected then move onto the modifications and upgrades and changes - drive it for a while too as you may discover mods that become more apparent and useful to you. Also note that the more stuff they appear to have the more likely they are to be stolen - so don't advertise all the extras through the window too much.

The demister kits are fine but they are nothing more than some bits of black conduit pipe and grilles that can be had from eBay and special vehicle builder businesses for a few quid each so if your sitting there with some cash to burn then great - yes buy it and fit it. If you don't have spare cash for lots of stuff, or like me refuse to pay for things I can make and often do better myself just make these things. I like everything to look stock, so a lot of mods like this need to be done really cleanly and "original" looking or else they just offend me.

I have seen the ashtray hole turned into a little gauge pod for a digital gauge that shows multiple parameters on one screen. Looked good. I have seen it turned into a snappy Satnav mount. A front looking POD for a dash-cam and a MP3 player dock. Mine is an ashtray! Which I use to store small nuts and bolts and fuses in.
 
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and how else can I make the dashboard more inspiring
Fill it with live .22 rounds and used shotgun cartridges then allow the dog to chew the passenger end of it. It is only when it has reached this point that you know the land rover is properly broken in and doing the job it was meant for :D
 
On a more serious note the dash is a very personal thing, I have a raptor center unit fitted but you can get similar units which mount to the ashtray hole.
I personally wouldn't bother fitting the side demister kits,the standard blower is not the most powerful to begin with without asking it to do more work. I would just keep a cloth in the dash to wipe them down or better yet fit the military style door tops with proper twin sliding windows rather than fancy modern up and down ones. Then you can open the front one a crack and it clears itself in no time.
 
'Kin'ell! you're not kidding mate. I'm with @discomania & likes to keep her as original as possible (300tdi 90 CSW).
I keep fuses in the ashtray too, though I keep my work gloves on the dash so can't see it anyway

I also have mine slotted in back to front. Not sure why, it was like that when I bought it and I never changed it back although I have had it out plenty of times to poke wires through or to sort the washer jet. It is also always open, I don't even know if it will close, probably rusted open.
 
Isn't that the universal place to keep them? Its what is in mine, along with a spare tyre valve

Any pennies? I am sure I have 2-3p in there too. Oh and an original unused rivet from the original assembly of my Land Rover - it was caught between the tub floor and a top-hat strengthener so I know it had been there for about 25 years before I redid the tub and found it!
 
Your enthusiasm is great. This Defender is going to be well loved I think. What is your plan, more or less stock Defender or stuff on it?

Word of advice would be to first get your vehicle "sorted". Get everything mechanical, electrical, structural perfected then move onto the modifications and upgrades and changes - drive it for a while too as you may discover mods that become more apparent and useful to you. Also note that the more stuff they appear to have the more likely they are to be stolen - so don't advertise all the extras through the window too much.

The demister kits are fine but they are nothing more than some bits of black conduit pipe and grilles that can be had from eBay and special vehicle builder businesses for a few quid each so if your sitting there with some cash to burn then great - yes buy it and fit it. If you don't have spare cash for lots of stuff, or like me refuse to pay for things I can make and often do better myself just make these things. I like everything to look stock, so a lot of mods like this need to be done really cleanly and "original" looking or else they just offend me.

I have seen the ashtray hole turned into a little gauge pod for a digital gauge that shows multiple parameters on one screen. Looked good. I have seen it turned into a snappy Satnav mount. A front looking POD for a dash-cam and a MP3 player dock. Mine is an ashtray! Which I use to store small nuts and bolts and fuses in.
Tank is full up but fuel gauge says 3/4 full. I ust thought it'd be easier getting it all changed. However, I'm back at default which is keeping it all original.
 
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