Over the past eighteen months I have rebuilt first one end and then the other end of my 110 Hard Top Defender 300Tdi. I'm kind of wishing I'd have bitten the bullet at the beginning and invested in a galvanised chassis - but my hind sight, as most peoples is excellent...

I was planning to buy a new chassis (110 Defender 300 Tdi) from Richard's Chassis, but don't think that I would get much change out of £1500.

I have recently seen some brand new galvanised TD5 chassis (110 Defender) for around the £750 mark.

My query is this: How much modification would need to be carried out to the TD5 chassis to suit my purpose? I'm not scared of a bit of welding, but don't plan on getting the thing re-galvanised afterwards - and so don't want to have to change things too much...

Any ideas or suggestions welcome..?

i believe its mainly just the engine mounts but thats just what ive read on here.

the td5 galvos are reworked factory rejects.also made from tuna cans.i would go marshland me self....

If you've done one end and then the other of your existing chassis..... why would you now want to bin it?
Is the bit inbetween really so big?

Beast o Bodmin said:

the td5 galvos are reworked factory rejects.also made from tuna cans.i would go marshland me self....

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Ideal, thank you for your advice. Like so many things Land Rover I guess it comes down to the old addage - You get what you pay for...

I'll have a look at Marsland and compare to Richards. There's not alot in the price and if Marsland was good enough for Fred Dibnah then it's....

arc said:

If you've done one end and then the other of your existing chassis..... why would you now want to bin it?
Is the bit inbetween really so big?

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Unfortunately it's resembling a patchwork quilt somewhat. It's only a 1994 but spent some years before I got it in service on the salt flats in Liverpool, and has therefore suffered prematurely with rust - The work I've done got it through the MOT with only an advisory for cracks in the tyres which I now sorted; but at some point in the not too distant future there's going to be some engine and gearbox work required - so I might aswell do it then.

I have used a second hand new td5 90 chassis for my 200tdi rebuild, I'm very pleased with it, it's very strong and has loads of internal strengthening plates. I have cut off the td5 engine mounts and welded on my 200tdi ones, there is some sort of bracketry on the rear of the chassis which I think is for the tow bar, I have cut this off also to give me more ground clearence when offroading. If you do go this route then buy yourself some zinc paint to paint over the welded areas, I have sprayed some inside of my chassis as well. My new chassis did'nt come with a bolt in centre crossmember so I am making my own out of 50x100 box and lifting it as close to the g/box as I can for more ground clearance.