Hi all, been lurking a while, but D-Day has arrived:
Well, I seemed to have "inherited" a 1985 3.5 V8 defender 90 from my stepfather, who currently works in the Emirates. The Mrs and I had been after a series 2 actually, and almost bought a friends, when said stepdad found out and told me he had the defender in storage in Kent with friends - we are in Hants. Not one to turn down a free motor of any sort let alone a Land Rover, I merrily agreed with the proviso that if it needed too much work then I wouldn't keep it. After much hassle and no end of let downs from an acquaintance who promised to go check it out to save me the trip, a few emails from the friends of my SD said that although it had been kept outside (for 8 years), it was in good nick and wouldn't need much work... I was thinking exactly what you are now :doh: - but arranged to have it picked up and it arrived today.
Jesus.
I spent all day like a kid the night before xmas, and couldnt wait to get home from work.
This is what I discovered - a BIG project if we decide to go ahead:
Completely covered in lichen and algae. The haulier said although the keepers had pulled it out of the corner of their yard, he still had to remove a significant amount of vegetation off the roof/wheels etc to get in and get it on the trailer.
Shedloads of rust: Now perhaps its down to iffy memory, but I dont remember it being as bad as this last time I saw it.
Radiator is fubared.
This can't be good:
And the V8 beasty looks like this:
So here I am, looks like I'll be after lots of advice!
Part of me thinks I should just forget it - there's lots of work here that i can't do myself - but the other part of me thinks I cant let her die.
First step I presume is to get the engine checked, and make sure she will run. If she does then I may be willing to restore her if the all knowing on here think its worth it.
She wont have to be pretty straight away, and so far she has only cost me the price of the haulier - £160, so if I can get her going and safe for under £2000 I'll have spent what we were going to spend on a series 2.
What think you guys?
Well, I seemed to have "inherited" a 1985 3.5 V8 defender 90 from my stepfather, who currently works in the Emirates. The Mrs and I had been after a series 2 actually, and almost bought a friends, when said stepdad found out and told me he had the defender in storage in Kent with friends - we are in Hants. Not one to turn down a free motor of any sort let alone a Land Rover, I merrily agreed with the proviso that if it needed too much work then I wouldn't keep it. After much hassle and no end of let downs from an acquaintance who promised to go check it out to save me the trip, a few emails from the friends of my SD said that although it had been kept outside (for 8 years), it was in good nick and wouldn't need much work... I was thinking exactly what you are now :doh: - but arranged to have it picked up and it arrived today.
Jesus.
I spent all day like a kid the night before xmas, and couldnt wait to get home from work.
This is what I discovered - a BIG project if we decide to go ahead:
Completely covered in lichen and algae. The haulier said although the keepers had pulled it out of the corner of their yard, he still had to remove a significant amount of vegetation off the roof/wheels etc to get in and get it on the trailer.
Shedloads of rust: Now perhaps its down to iffy memory, but I dont remember it being as bad as this last time I saw it.
Radiator is fubared.
This can't be good:
And the V8 beasty looks like this:
So here I am, looks like I'll be after lots of advice!
Part of me thinks I should just forget it - there's lots of work here that i can't do myself - but the other part of me thinks I cant let her die.
First step I presume is to get the engine checked, and make sure she will run. If she does then I may be willing to restore her if the all knowing on here think its worth it.
She wont have to be pretty straight away, and so far she has only cost me the price of the haulier - £160, so if I can get her going and safe for under £2000 I'll have spent what we were going to spend on a series 2.
What think you guys?
