I am *hopefully* picking up my new vehicle this weekend. I am a novice when it comes to mechanics, and car-related topics in general. The engine was refurbished by the MOD. Timing belt, gear box, and clutch are new. Chassis and bulkhead are in very good condition. Tires are good. Little to no rust on the body. If you had just bought this car, what upgrades would you make?

My ideas for some minor changes/upgrades.
1. Soundproofing (I've found some good tutorials)
2. Add audio. (I really need help with this!)
3. Decide on paint. (I am leaving it authentic for now.)
4. I would like to make some changes to the dash, as there is damage from things being removed, but I have no idea where to begin on this.

We leave the UK in less than a year, so I would love to get as much done before it comes time to export to the USA. What items are "MUST REPLACE" items before I leave the country? Should I ship some parts with me, just in case? What can a newbie (I am handy!) get away with doing themselves?

Thank you in advance. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Tis considered polite to post in the 'introduce yourself' section 1st but :welcome2: anyway.

You can do pretty much everything if yer fairly handy. Use the search button above to see if your questions have been discussed before and get yer hands on a robust sense of humour

lizglowark said:

I am *hopefully* picking up my new vehicle this weekend. I am a novice when it comes to mechanics, and car-related topics in general. The engine was refurbished by the MOD. Timing belt, gear box, and clutch are new. Chassis and bulkhead are in very good condition. Tires are good. Little to no rust on the body. If you had just bought this car, what upgrades would you make?

My ideas for some minor changes/upgrades.
1. Soundproofing (I've found some good tutorials)
2. Add audio. (I really need help with this!)
3. Decide on paint. (I am leaving it authentic for now.)
4. I would like to make some changes to the dash, as there is damage from things being removed, but I have no idea where to begin on this.

We leave the UK in less than a year, so I would love to get as much done before it comes time to export to the USA. What items are "MUST REPLACE" items before I leave the country? Should I ship some parts with me, just in case? What can a newbie (I am handy!) get away with doing themselves?

Thank you in advance. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Hello & welcome to the nut house

Good choice going for an ex-mod Land Rover, they do tend to be the best examples, certainly for their age. For the price you pay you get a heavy duty chassis, a well maintained and serviced vehicle and it should serve you well for years. The only downside with a majority of ex-mod motors is that they have the 2.5 N/A (naturally aspirated) diesel engine. They are good old solid engines with regular servicing and they will just go on and on (I had one for a few years and it got me all over the place no problem) but you must appreciate that they are essentially a 1950's design. The only thing that lets them down is power and economy. It won't pull up hills all too well and you'll be lucky to get 28mpg out of it. Depending on what you can and can not import back into the States, it might be really worth your money trying to source a 200tdi engine or the likes whilst you're here. If you decide to do it at a later date when you're back across the pond, sourcing an engine will be difficult and expensive. You're talking £300 here, or £1500 back at home. If you're happy with the engine that's in it, then you need not worry.

To answer your questions:

1) Most people use 'Dynomat' or something along those lines. eBay is usually a good source of the stuff and it just comes in sheets that you can cut up and stick to the foot wells, gearbox tunnel and doors etc. You might then want to cover it with some rubber matting to make it a little harder wearing.

2) Adding audio will be simple but I wouldn't bother because you'll never hear it over the engine and the gearbox. All you need is a cheap headset and a set of speakers. Wiring it up is dead simple, especially when it comes to hiding your wiring out of the way. Some people cut holes into the underside of the dash on either end and then fit the speakers there, some cut holes in the roof lining and fit them up there.

3) I'd be tempted to keep it in military paint but it's completely up to you. I painted mine last Summer with a brush and a roller and it looks great. Have a look on eBay UK for NATO green paint or something along those lines - there are plenty of suppliers. Go for oil based, 5 litres will be twice as much as you need and then just brush / roll it on after giving the existing paint a quick sand over. One coat will be all you'll need and you should have plenty left for bits in the future.

4) Again, have a look on eBay UK for a dashboard, people are taking them out and swapping them all the time. The other option is that you fabricate something yourself and then make it work. Some people like to use a lot of chequer plate (which looks cheap and tacky) to make box sections which just mount to the bulkhead.

As for parts, get as much as you can and fill the back. I think a few years worth of servicing kit would be a good idea. 5 oil filter canisters, 5 air filter elements, 5 fuel filters, glow plugs, bulbs etc. Have a look on Land Rover Parts | Range Rover Spares & Accessories - Discovery, Defender, Freelander and L. R. Series - specialists in land rover, land rover series and range rover - gearbox, axle, transmission parts, spares and major units for bits. There are plenty of parts suppliers over here, they are just two of a few

Are you a lass by any chance?

-Tom

props, UJs, swivel ball kits, wheel bearings, one shot grease

actually, just buy a second one and take it as spares lol

lizglowark said:

I am *hopefully* picking up my new vehicle this weekend. I am a novice when it comes to mechanics, and car-related topics in general. The engine was refurbished by the MOD. Timing belt, gear box, and clutch are new. Chassis and bulkhead are in very good condition. Tires are good. Little to no rust on the body. If you had just bought this car, what upgrades would you make?

My ideas for some minor changes/upgrades.
1. Soundproofing (I've found some good tutorials)
2. Add audio. (I really need help with this!)
3. Decide on paint. (I am leaving it authentic for now.)
4. I would like to make some changes to the dash, as there is damage from things being removed, but I have no idea where to begin on this.

We leave the UK in less than a year, so I would love to get as much done before it comes time to export to the USA. What items are "MUST REPLACE" items before I leave the country? Should I ship some parts with me, just in case? What can a newbie (I am handy!) get away with doing themselves?

Thank you in advance. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Please check the rules for importing a defender into the USA as there are strick rules. I do think that they need to be 25 or 30 years old to bring into the country.

There was a link on that on here or do a goggle search , just make sure on what you are doing.

I would second the check on US importation. I tried last year to import another Ex MOD 90 to our place in FL. I was unable to get a certificate of conformity for it and it was not old enough to get in as a classic.

My curent ex MOD 90, apart not having an engine it the moment has a steering guard, diff guards, winch and bumper. I also have an ex MOD fume curtain which vastly improves the cabin heating and reduces the condensation. Heated windscreen. Dixon Bate tow hitch and recovery points all round.

An American bloke uses my local specialists to steam clean, strip down, box and then ship Defenders that are newer than 15 years old into America, but he really does have to break them down into each individual component before they can get through customs. I think they're considered to be "spare parts". An entire Defender can not be shipped unless it is an older vehicle as mentioned. Another option is to ship it via Canada. They will allow an entire Land Rover of any age to be shipped in providing it is spotless. No flakey paint, not a trace of oil, soil or mould etc. You might then be able to drive it or have it shipped from Canada to America a little easier, I'm not too sure. I know they like to make it difficult.

-Tom

First off, I'm Liz! I posted in the introduction thread. Sorry! I'm new to the forum system.

Second, any vehicle over 25 years of age is eligible for import into the USA. The '86 will just make it!

Some more honesty - I really know nothing about cars. I learned to drive a manual... yesterday. I am working on expanding my knowledge and learning what I can from you guys!

1) My husband seconds "dynomat" for sound proofing.

2) I need some kind of music in my vehicle, even if I cannot hear it all that well. How do you connect the head unit to a power source? Any links/tutorials would be excellent!

3) Paint - leaving it original for now, but it will need a scrub down and repaint soon. It's peeling very badly. I think I will stick with the green.

4) My dad welds. Is there any way to make a metal dash? I just wanted to make it a little different. The dash that is in there now has some damage I don't think I can live with.

200tdi engine is a very interesting thought. The engine on this lady Landy (haha) was reconditioned in 2003 by the MOD. I need to do some more research! I wish I could ship back a whole extra vehicle, but shipping a vehicle is a pain for us really. Our port in the USA is 4 hours from own home. Not ideal for getting 2 Land Rovers and a car home.


Thanks for all of the ideas. I think some spares and maintenance parts are definitely going to be going with me. I'll be shipping this as our POV with the US military, so unfortunately I can't fill it with parts. I will have to ship any parts with my household goods.

Hi Liz, soundproofing material will probably be much cheaper stateside, the tdi engine swap will be a good idea to consider, I would suggest that you look at getting hold of 300tdi engine with auto gearbox ship as part of household. This will make a nice conversion for your use in USA , it will be an easier maintenance item stateside as well as fitting in with your driving experience. It might be worth considering getting hold of parts here so you can swap to LHD if vehicle is not already. Bearings, unijoints etc should not be a problem sourcing in USA if you need them. Items that are peculiar to defenders are what you need to look at obtaining here, most fast moving (consumable) parts dont create much of a problem obtaining . There are plenty of firms that will ship/supply you stuff to states .

go far a full oil check/ top up, grease the props up etc, welcome to a world of continual maintainance and repairs, enjoy it

It's official!

Cooooool! Don't we get a picture of the fit bird driving it?

Haha! I am not the fittest bird in the aviary, and I haven't done a lot of driving in it yet. If I can confess to be a total American, I just learned to drive stick yesterday. It's not nearly as bad as I thought, but I am still working on getting a feel for the shifter in the Defender. Any tips specific to Land Rovers or tips for "new drivers" in general?

don't rush the shift it is agricultural

lizglowark said:

Haha! I am not the fittest bird in the aviary, and I haven't done a lot of driving in it yet. If I can confess to be a total American, I just learned to drive stick yesterday. It's not nearly as bad as I thought, but I am still working on getting a feel for the shifter in the Defender. Any tips specific to Land Rovers or tips for "new drivers" in general?

Click to expand...

you do know it won't move unless you talk to it correctly, its a manual and you change gear using a gear lever, if your not familiar with these terms google them, but most of all be ready to drive a proper motor and let us know when you stop smiling.

i was going to answer but not the fittest bird made me think

If you can't find first put it in second and then forward into frst

Hey now! I'll get there in time. Don't you know that the best theft protection for a car in the USA is to drive a stick shift? They say that for a reason! I'll figure it out in time.

looks nice. I just picked up a ex mod 110 also. Painted my one though as it was a bit too "authentic" (tatty) for me
Photos of repaint on page 2 of my thread here
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/goodbye-90-hello-110-project-164878.html