cowasaki

Well-Known Member
Every job I do on the Defender starts as a simple job then ends up as a massive project :)

Cold start issues.........

Heater plugs

That seems to have worked...... Nope battery still flattening trying to start it....

battery - (with a side project of fitting the old one as well and a 200amp relay to dual battery it.)

Nope just takes longer before it conks out and goes flat....

2x new ground straps.

Oh that seems to work..... For 2 days then nope....

Leak back pipes

Nope....

Mechanical fuel pump - Arhhh the old one IS knackered.

But....

Fuel pipe back to tank is so solid I cannot get it on so

New fuel pipe
New fuel filter
Bleed the fuel system

THEN

I was treated to it starting on the 2nd turn of the key and it's very cold.............. breath.


Woohoo. Lets hope that that sorts it.


Has anyone gone to change a bulb and ended up having to rebuild it from scratch. I really wouldn't be at all surprised.



EDIT: Just been out and it started before the heater plugs had finished and on the first turn. Seems to be fixed!
 
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Keep the faith!!
They are old and need a bit of love to keep em going.
Just remember to fit quality parts and don't abuse it and it will last years
 
Has anyone gone to change a bulb and ended up having to rebuild it from scratch. I really wouldn't be at all surprised.


yes.... I only meant to check the washer fluid.....

8609939473_bb8a55c122_c.jpg


lol

cheers steve
 
The more you strip 'em the more you find, I know that all to well.

absolutely!! bought mine as a project and was aware of some problems but its only when you start taking it apart that you get to see all the more problems..........not even got to properly drive it yet to find out if the drivetrain is okay.

Nearly got to a point where I think I've started rebuilding, just the bulkhead top to repair... amazing what rot can lurk beneath the windscreen:(
 
i think its safer to buy them as a project... at least then you are already mentally prepared for the terrible state its bound to be in :D
 
absolutely!! bought mine as a project and was aware of some problems but its only when you start taking it apart that you get to see all the more problems..........not even got to properly drive it yet to find out if the drivetrain is okay.

Nearly got to a point where I think I've started rebuilding, just the bulkhead top to repair... amazing what rot can lurk beneath the windscreen:(

Yep my rebuild was much the same, Buying a welder and Learning to weld was the best thing I did.

i think its safer to buy them as a project... at least then you are already mentally prepared for the terrible state its bound to be in :D

Snigger :lol:
 
Mine was bought as a complete car ready to go in July but since then I've gone a little silly...

2 x NEW 2011 doors with new hinges, alloy door handles, electric windows and central locking
full total closure alarm system
2 x new props
all brakes rebuilt and new pads
whole fuel system as described above.
passenger side seat belt anchor point corrosion.
dual battery system
complete sound proofing system
front wiper system disassembled and rebuilt
front wiper arms, blades and switch replaced
diff lock switch replaced
dash lights repaired
immobiliser removed
rear indicators replaced
floor and gearbox cover removed, sealed painted and replaced.
winch bumper,
front and rear wolf style light covers
front roll bar style light bar
rear light bar built to my spec
complete re-spray
tube outriggers
battery box, bottom of bulkhead and small part of front chassis welded
oil in engine, gearbox, transfer box and both axles
heater matrix and coolant change
bespoke fuse box and relay box (for the 15 lights!........)
2 x front top fogs
4 x front top spots
2 x rear reverse spots
2 x side spots & 2 x front winch bumper spots (in the next month)
vent rubbers from series
carpet
all the weather seals
rear wiper and wash
new exhaust (going on over the next week as per final 300tdi spec so I can fit a 2nd fuel tank)
second fuel tank as TD5 (going on over next month)
dual fuel (veg and diesel) system (going on over next month)
new stainless trim on dash
raptor dash (going on over next month)
+1" suspension system (going on over the next month)
heated windscreen and new seal (going on over the next month)
heated mirrors (going on over next month)
heated seats (going on over next month)
Aluminium 5 bar trim on rear safari door and matching covers on panels next to and above the door to cover additional new electrics.
Rock/tree sliders


and the to do list includes a eberspatcher, diff covers, steering cover, 2nd alternator, new galvanised safari door and re-trim


long term would be engine re-build, galvanised chassis and galvanised bulkhead......


Phew.........
 
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[MAP][/MAP]
Mine was bought as a complete car ready to go in July but since then I've gone a little silly...

2 x NEW 2011 doors with new hinges, alloy door handles, electric windows and central locking
full total closure alarm system
2 x new props
all brakes rebuilt and new pads
whole fuel system as described above.
dual battery system
complete sound proofing system
front wiper system disassembled and rebuilt
front wiper arms, blades and switch replaced
diff lock switch replaced
dash lights repaired
immobiliser removed
rear indicators replaced
floor and gearbox cover removed, sealed painted and replaced.
winch bumper,
front and rear wolf style light covers
front roll bar style light bar
rear light bar built to my spec
complete re-spray
tube outriggers
battery box, bottom of bulkhead and small part of front chassis welded
oil in engine, gearbox, transfer box and both axles
heater matrix and coolant change
bespoke fuse box and relay box (for the 15 lights!........)
2 x front top fogs
4 x front top spots
2 x rear reverse spots
2 x side spots & 2 x front winch bumper spots (in the next month)
vent rubbers from series
carpet
all the weather seals
rear wiper and wash
new exhaust (going on over the next week as per final 300tdi spec so I can fit a 2nd fuel tank)
second fuel tank as TD5 (going on over next month)
dual fuel (veg and diesel) system (going on over next month)
new stainless trim on dash
raptor dash (going on over next month)
+1" suspension system (going on over the next month)
heated windscreen and new seal (going on over the next month)
heated mirrors (going on over next month)
heated seats (going on over next month)
Aluminium 5 bar trim on rear safari door and matching covers on panels next to and above the door to cover additional new electrics.
Rock/tree sliders


and the to do list includes a eberspatcher, diff covers, steering cover, 2nd alternator, new galvanised safari door and re-trim


long term would be engine re-build, galvanised chassis and galvanised bulkhead......


Phew.........

Show off :p :D
:nopics:
 
It mad crazy sticky paint (think hamerite on steroids).

You look a lot mor feminine in the first picture than I'd have guessed too lol
 
Well to go along with the original thread. I went out to suss out why my blower (can't really call it a heater :lol: ) wasn't working. The wiring looked okay but the lever was stiff as hell so I scooshed some WD40 into the slot for the lever and worked it up and down a bit. Low and behold it blows!!!! So I function it a few times and it stops, and various dash board lights come on in a festive light display :(

So dashboard out and look for the bad earth. I find an accessory switched wire (green) and an earth not connected to anything and I can't see anything missing the wires either. So after some more investigation I decide to earth the wire and everything works again!! Bloody lucas connectors and land rover wiring lol
 
I bought my first defender in July knowing it would need a bit of TLC. First job, was to re hang the doors. Couldnt get the o/s front door hinge off.
IMG_20130411_183712.jpg


SO it ended up like this:
IMG_20130927_162144.jpg



And it's slowly on its way back
IMG_20131205_122018.jpg


Galv bulkhead, refurb'd or replaced every body panel. New front suspension. 4x new doors (GRP ones, Could be interesting). Just pratting about with wiper boxes and a new instrument panel bintel mount and fascia at the moment. Then it's on to the hydraulics with the refurb'd pedal boxes back in. Might be up and running by end of Jan :)
 
Bit off topic but the wife asked me to fix a loose wall tile in the kitchen. A couple of hours later I had all the tiles off the wall. The cupboards and base units out. Cooker and sink out. Floor up. I don't know what happened. I took the tile off the wall and kinda kept going.
I get the feeling I may end up doing that with the landy one day.
 
I bought my first defender in July knowing it would need a bit of TLC. First job, was to re hang the doors. Couldnt get the o/s front door hinge off.
IMG_20130411_183712.jpg


SO it ended up like this:
IMG_20130927_162144.jpg



And it's slowly on its way back
IMG_20131205_122018.jpg


Galv bulkhead, refurb'd or replaced every body panel. New front suspension. 4x new doors (GRP ones, Could be interesting). Just pratting about with wiper boxes and a new instrument panel bintel mount and fascia at the moment. Then it's on to the hydraulics with the refurb'd pedal boxes back in. Might be up and running by end of Jan :)

What I would give to have a garage that large. :)
Long term I'm looking at replacing both the chassis and bulkhead with galvanised ones.
 

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