Saying good bye to the double cab

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NiallRussell

NiallRussell

Well-Known Member
Posts
619
Location
Dorset, UK
After many adventures I've decided that the 110 doube cab would be better off as a station wagon.

So i'm looking our for a roof, sides and door - i'll get painting (probably black to make it easier) buy some new seals and bolt it all together.

Not sure if anyone here has done a conversion before but I wondering if I'm looking out for utility wagon or station wagon sides - what about 90 sides? will they fit?

If anyone has done this - any advice before diving into the unknown?

11000717_10100560800441082_2476633316889349552_o.jpg
 
Ya DC bits will be worth a fair chunk too.

Ideally i would say get whole 110 rear tub and remove yours. That way you loose the rear bulkhead and add space. Tho you'll have to source the parts to keep the rear seats attached or fit new ones.
 
88 sides are the right size for a 110 station wagon but the prices are going up for the plain ones, more people want the utility station wagon. Unfortunately the roof will have to be a 110 to fit around the top of the windscreen as the series one is a different shape. Unless you particularly want the external ribs there is nothing wrong with a smooth roof, it has internal bracing for strength and if you are fighting a roof rack it makes no difference at all.

I would give some thought to bankz5152 suggestion about the rear tub. With the current tub and bulkhead behind the seats converting to a station wagon, at least to me, does not seem to give you any advantage. The proper station wagon tub will not have this bulkhead so the seats will fold forward/removed to give a huge internal space.

If you don't mind me asking why do you think the station wagon will be better?
 
Be careful with the 88" sides, the way the door seals fit is slightly different (at least they were when i did a similar thing)

Yourll get good money for a dc roof and rear, so you might even find you make a profit from the conversion.
 
vilguy said:
Be careful with the 88" sides, the way the door seals fit is slightly different (at least they were when i did a similar thing)
Click to expand...

Series door seals are sectional and riveted on. as part of this there is a lip on the edge to seat it properly. Whereas you can fit a later door seal over this lip is is not the tidiest way of doing things. If you cut the lip off you are left with the same fixing as on defender and can use your current door seals. The previous owner of my series had done this with the tub and sides to fit defender door seals.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone - really useful.

Reasons for wanting to do the conversion are after over-landing many months I'm getting tired of worrying about everything under the canvas in terms of being pinched. I know thats stupid because no defender would be secure, but it's a visual deterrent at least. Also now we're back in Europe it's not best just using the roof top tent as it limited you to a campsite most times. With a SWagon and some careful planning it would be possible to have a rough and ready, but usable, option to sleep inside and not broadcast that you're staying the night by having a whooping tent on the roof.

1501115_10100513574073102_70592851513992983_o.jpg

I will look at the full tub option. Although i'll be hard pressed to go for it at this stage. We have a fridge and things in the tub that are the level of the bulkhead so I was planning to put things on top anyway. Although being able to have the car with more space when in civilian mode would be good. Maybe fit a bike or two. The canvase, roll bars and bloody tent limit the space some what. Oh decisions! Here's a photo of the layout I built in. The fridge moves in and out, the cupboards I fixed in a frame.

10379766_10100392211649372_767899601966380196_o.jpg 1498111_10100282059634892_2113180083_o.jpg

Maybe a crazy thing to say, but could I cut the bulkhead down?
 
Hmmm you may be able to fit a bulkhead removal bar as fitted in the front of 90s, could work but not sure!

If wanting it to be more secure then maybe consider a Truckman top? They are pretty secure and lockable, plus with the way the 10AS is designed you can add as many plunger sensors as you like. So the alarm would go off if anyone opened the door, I also think the same can be said for the volumetric sensor, if someone smashes a window alarm goes off. Just as secure as a hard top but less cost and a fraction of the work. Plus you have the ability to go back to a DC if you want to.

Like so -

digital-cougar-assets-uk%2fmomoads%2f2013%2f05%2f21%2f22%2f3.jpg
 
bankz5152 said:
Hmmm you may be able to fit a bulkhead removal bar as fitted in the front of 90s, could work but not sure!

If wanting it to be more secure then maybe consider a Truckman top? They are pretty secure and lockable, plus with the way the 10AS is designed you can add as many plunger sensors as you like. So the alarm would go off if anyone opened the door, I also think the same can be said for the volumetric sensor, if someone smashes a window alarm goes off. Just as secure as a hard top but less cost and a fraction of the work. Plus you have the ability to go back to a DC if you want to.
Click to expand...

That does look nice! but mines is 1985 and security is mostly about putting things out of sight. Another reason to go for the station wagon is you can be inside when in bad weather. I was thinking about a solid canopy option, but I really want to be able to go all the way through from back to middle with luggage and storage and maybe bed.

I will have a look at the different bulkhead options. To be honest I didn't realise it varried so much between the versions. As the for seats mine are just on small bars bolted on to the foot well area that side into place. It would be an easy transfer.
 
Had I known my rebuild would take over three years I a) wouldn't have bothered and b) bought a 110 van type as that's what I actually wanted, three sheets of 2' x 5' (ish) board on the wheel boxes = instant bed. Less windows to leak, more secure.
Imho you may as well take the rear tub off and sell that too - along with anything else Double cab specific because it's worth more than standard station wagon.
 
So much to think about... thank you to everyone for the ideas and thoughts.

I'm away from my defender at the moment and will be for a week. I think I need to get in the back and visulize the changes.
- It seems a bulkhead removal bar will fit fine. But it might not be something I want to do as I may not gain stuff.
- Maybe a full rear tub swap. but i want to keep the middle seats, so there doesn't seem much out there.
 
NiallRussell said:
So much to think about... thank you to everyone for the ideas and thoughts.

I'm away from my defender at the moment and will be for a week. I think I need to get in the back and visulize the changes.
- It seems a bulkhead removal bar will fit fine. But it might not be something I want to do as I may not gain stuff.
- Maybe a full rear tub swap. but i want to keep the middle seats, so there doesn't seem much out there.
Click to expand...
With a standard SW rear tub you will keep the middle seats. For example 322514320556 on eBay.
 
Discokids said:
With a standard SW rear tub you will keep the middle seats. For example 322514320556 on eBay.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I did see that one - but it's not in great condition. There doesn't seem to be many around, although I will keep an eye out. there's no rush as i'm not doing anything till summer!
 
TBH I'm surprised myself that there's so few for sale as there's usually more than there is currently on eBay, and better condition. There's another newer one with the side caved in but that would require a new side. If you've got time to get stuff together you will snap one up soon I'm sure.
Funny thing is, when I bought my 110 three and a half years ago, I thought I was robbed @ £900. I considered breaking it and while looking at parts then, I'd have struggled to give the rear tub away.
 
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