Pimp my Defender for a year in Morocco - help!

I live in Morocco and my Defender has been stuck in a garage in the UK for the last 18 months. I have decided to do it up and bring it down. First off it is a 1990 110 Long Wheel Base Station Wagon. Nothing has yet been added to the original spec other than a roof rack and back ladder.
Main uses will be:
Excursions up to a week into the Atlas Mountains with Camera Equipment and Mountain bike.
Desert trips.
Daily commute into Marrakech - 30 km daily.

I would like to add storage units, some sleeping facility possibly on the roof, new tyres and suspension, a snorkel, a fridge/freezer, charging ability for cameras, lights for bike and phones. GPS/Sat Nav for remote locations. New seats (originals are so uncomfortable). Body panelling to protect the body from me climbing all over it.

You probably get the idea. I basically want it to be able to go anywhere, do anything and be able to accommodate me. I hate to say it but I also like the idea of it looking pimped for an exhibition.

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice would be greatly appreciated. I have emailed Boab through an introduction from Ross at Bourton landrovers (where I bought it many years ago).

A dream one day would be drive it from the tip of North Africa all the way to tip of South Africa.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

Waffle boards and a Hi-Lift! These two teamed up will get you out of the sand in no time, dont go into the desert without them. As for tyres i think the Genral AT2 and the BFGoodrich AT are both very capable in the desert, Booger on here had the first in Morocco and they worked great. My BF Goodrich MTs were preaty good too. As for size, 265/75 R16 will give you no issues from a mechanical point of view and are slightly wider than 235/85 R16s which are also popular, the extra width helping in the sand with the additional weight of a 110. You can also get 285/75 R16s if you want to go abit bigger, then there are other sizes that are silly big like my newly added 35 x 12.50 R15s. I had 265/75 R16s in Morocco and they worked great. Steel rims are more practical than alloys.

As for suspension, new springs and shocks will do nicly, it all depends on you budget. You can get a decent heavy duty +2" kit for as little as £200, or you can go mad and spend thousands! Theres loads of info on here about the pros and cons of just about evey suspension rig.

Snorkels come in two varietys, safari and drain pipe. This is budget dependant but both work.

Checker plate on the wing tops is great for jumping up and down onto the roof and for working on the car (to put your tools on ect.). I have it in other places too but thats to cover up holes in the bodywork!

I supose you could put a "Powered by Fairy Dust" sticker on the back too if you still feel like pimping it.

A fiew ideas to start you off, Rich.

AJPCH said:

I live in Morocco and my Defender has been stuck in a garage in the UK for the last 18 months. I have decided to do it up and bring it down. First off it is a 1990 110 Long Wheel Base Station Wagon. Nothing has yet been added to the original spec other than a roof rack and back ladder.
Main uses will be:
Excursions up to a week into the Atlas Mountains with Camera Equipment and Mountain bike.
Desert trips.
Daily commute into Marrakech - 30 km daily.

I would like to add storage units, some sleeping facility possibly on the roof, new tyres and suspension, a snorkel, a fridge/freezer, charging ability for cameras, lights for bike and phones. GPS/Sat Nav for remote locations. New seats (originals are so uncomfortable). Body panelling to protect the body from me climbing all over it.

You probably get the idea. I basically want it to be able to go anywhere, do anything and be able to accommodate me. I hate to say it but I also like the idea of it looking pimped for an exhibition.

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice would be greatly appreciated. I have emailed Boab through an introduction from Ross at Bourton landrovers (where I bought it many years ago).

A dream one day would be drive it from the tip of North Africa all the way to tip of South Africa.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Adrian

Click to expand...

Hi Adrian, I am going to Marrakech next week and need my auto gearbox taken out and some gasket changed. Staying for 9 days so thought it would be ideal to have some work done. Have previously had some work done on my 1995 Disco 300 TDI ES Auto in Zagora by Ali Racing (first rate job), but this time only going as far as Marrakech.
Do not really want to go to the Land Rover dealer there but rather a cheaper option like Ali Racing (will probabaly need 20+ hours work)...
Any suggestions highly welcome
#9
Today, 17:41
Kmadsen68
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 23


Re: Lt77 jamming up when hot
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Fes
Ah well. I've no idea what the suffix is on the existing box, and I can always swap it for another one at the scrappers.

My best Land Rover mecanic in Marrakech says they strip parts off Disco boxes (I think he meant R380's, but he might have been talking about LT77 short stick) to keep the long stick LT77's running - and he looks after a few hundred of the things.

Hi, will be in Marrakech next week and is looking for a good mechanic for my 1995 Disco 300 TDI ES Auto - need gearbox out etc. You talk about "My best Land Rover mecanic in Marrakech" - would be most grateful if I could get his details.
Thx in advance

Thx, Kenneth