defenderdog · Feb 6, 2015

Hi all. Not sure if I'm in the right place for this but here goes anyway. I own a 1999 td5 90 which has been lifted 2" alive tuned and intercoolers blah blah and basically has worked his a**e of all his life. He is brilliant in every way but after years of work, pleasure and abuse he has sadly built up a number of faults which I dont know weather to fix/repair or out him all together and go newer. Such things that need doing are......chassis repairs(do I go galvanised)doors need repair, clutch slipping, handbrake cable snapped, bulkhead could do with a few patches but no near the windscreen though, brake calipers/discs want replacing and he could do with a splodge of paint here and there from those pesky hedges and trees around Thetford Forrest in the dark😂. Now if I sell I will probably be lucky to get Jack sh*t for him this needing to put money into a newer one but then having to start again remapping, suspension etc, or do I go down the road of nut and bolt rebuild knowing I have a good engine and dearly love my 90. Have any of you guys out there had to make this sort of decision and if so which way did you go and why. The MOT runs out the end of March so his days are numbered and I'm sh**ting a brick as to what I should do. Thanks for reading.

Discokids · Feb 6, 2015

Doors are cheap to repair, clutches aren't expensive neither are brakes or brake cables. Rebuild it on a new chassis and even if you decide when you're done you want rid of it you shouldn't really lose. That's if you can do the work yourself of course.

bluedog333 · Feb 6, 2015

You'll never sell a male Landy ( or car ), always females!

micknkatenki · Feb 6, 2015

Not bad to repair, if you can do the work yourself would be cheaper and then you have a good vehicle again, if you sell and buy again you be buying something as bad or worse.

Marmaduke · Feb 6, 2015

I have a couple of times, if I sold it what's it worth and what would I buy as a replacement? Buy a welder and learn to weld, handbrake cable is an easy fix. Paint and doors can wait they're cosmetic not mot fail

defenderdog · Feb 6, 2015

Thanx for your replies. I've welded for about 20 years so not scared in doing that. Rear xmember front out riggers etc. Or do I put it on a new chassis as someone suggested and hopefully shouldn't loose anything if I decide to sell. Must admit I'm swaying more towards keeping it now than I was earlier in the week.

Discokids · Feb 6, 2015

Well i think it's more likely you will regret selling it than you will regret keeping it. My disco 300tdi was a total shed but I wish I'd kept it. No going back now though.

defenderdog · Feb 6, 2015

I'm pretty sure I will do all the work now and keep it now, I think the only thing worrying me now is all the other things I will find as I strip it down I will find more and more things need doing and the bill going up and up. Buy shares in britpart lads. 😂

HYBRIDNI · Feb 6, 2015

defenderdog said:
Thanx for your replies. I've welded for about 20 years so not scared in doing that. Rear xmember front out riggers etc. Or do I put it on a new chassis as someone suggested and hopefully shouldn't loose anything if I decide to sell. Must admit I'm swaying more towards keeping it now than I was earlier in the week.

My friend had a chassis that he was assured was in need of replacement. He's very good welder and refuses to be beaten with anything. He disregarded the need for new chassis. Bought new x members, outriggers, other bits and some sheet steel.

Welded it all up...patched any chassis bits properly ie - all butt welded rather than band aid patches. Think it needed a big repair but he did it well and it was invisible.

Painted outside, treated and waxoiled inside.

I can say that 5 years on that chassis hasn't needed anything at all and it works off road and in water 3 days a week.

Cost him just shy 430 in parts he needed.

aaronmorris · Feb 6, 2015

Sounds exactly like the one I've just done. Or will be done by the end of this weekend hopefully.
That was a 99 td5 too.

It only happened as we where offered a galvanized chassis for reasonable money locally.
So decided to go through the whole thing, or within reason as it was done on a budget, even if it has gone over

Should drive a lot better now, as all the wear in parts adds up. Not that everything was f*cked, but a lot had wear. Had a hard life as yours had.

So I say do it. Will you get your money back if you sell.
Maybe, maybe not. Depends how much you put into the build. Or how good it is, if it's a perfect example it may do top money.
Like the one I've just done. It's tidy and solid, but far from perfect.

Go on you know yer want too

:boink:
This was it back in December.

[/URL][/IMG]

defenderdog · Feb 6, 2015

HYBRIDNI said:
My friend had a chassis that he was assured was in need of replacement. He's very good welder and refuses to be beaten with anything. He disregarded the need for new chassis. Bought new x members, outriggers, other bits and some sheet steel.

Welded it all up...patched any chassis bits properly ie - all butt welded rather than band aid patches. Think it needed a big repair but he did it well and it was invisible.

Painted outside, treated and waxoiled inside.

I can say that 5 years on that chassis hasn't needed anything at all and it works off road and in water 3 days a week.

Cost him just shy 430 in parts he needed.

Sounds like a good idea. Whoever had mine before me had it Before and After treatment which I don't believe has helped in the slightest in fact I looks like the water has just got trapped behind it where it's been scratched or chipped. Don't know how I'll get that off or even if shot blasting would remove it.

Discokids · Feb 6, 2015

Nice one Aaron, I've not been reading your threads because mine looks about the same as it did in December, and yours is almost done! And I'm a teeny weeny bit jealous!

aaronmorris · Feb 6, 2015

defenderdog said:
I'm pretty sure I will do all the work now and keep it now, I think the only thing worrying me now is all the other things I will find as I strip it down I will find more and more things need doing and the bill going up and up. Buy shares in britpart lads. ��

I would put money on finding something you don't expect. Always the same, or has been for me, luckily I've never had anything major. Although most start out as projects anyway.
The plus point is that parts aren't expensive and can usually be fitted in the budget (if you have one)

Discokids said:
Nice one Aaron, I've not been reading your threads because mine looks about the same as it did in December, and yours is almost done! And I'm a teeny weeny bit jealous!

Aye, nothing to be disheartened about mate. Bare in mind I had plenty of time on my hands.
My threads are about hopefully helping others and showing people it can be done at home. And my offer of help would be their if you where closer, as it is with others.

Crap picture, but it's not far off now.

[/URL][/IMG]

lynall · Feb 7, 2015

defenderdog said:
Sounds like a good idea. Whoever had mine before me had it Before and After treatment which I don't believe has helped in the slightest in fact I looks like the water has just got trapped behind it where it's been scratched or chipped. Don't know how I'll get that off or even if shot blasting would remove it.

Thats interesting as is Chris the guy who owns b4+after, I can remember a great thread from a few years ago where he lost it big time

To the op dont forget a defender is worth a decent amount of money if broken

top drive · Feb 7, 2015

Had similar choice on my 87 last year .

Sell it and spend 10g on something newer or better

I had a go at shopping .....i was seeing the same issues or worse on newer td5 models as i had on my 25 year old model.

So i stripped it , cut off the rear xmember and outriggers and gave it plenty paint before rebuilding it.

Hopefully get it finished next trip home .....or maybe the one after that

Marmaduke · Feb 7, 2015

defenderdog said:
Sounds like a good idea. Whoever had mine before me had it Before and After treatment which I don't believe has helped in the slightest in fact I looks like the water has just got trapped behind it where it's been scratched or chipped. Don't know how I'll get that off or even if shot blasting would remove it.

Got mine off with one of those stanley blade scraper thingies cost the treatment hadn't stuck to the paint very well.
What time scale have you got, mines my daily drive so I only have days off or holiday for doing work on mine, if you've got the time then galvanised would be the way to go as once it's done it's done.

Don't forget most importantly, get your camera out and let's see the rot you're on about

bluedog333 · Feb 7, 2015

defenderdog said:
Buy shares in britpart lads. [emoji23]

Do they come with a warranty? They'd only end up breaking!

defenderdog · Feb 7, 2015

top drive said:
Had similar choice on my 87 last year .

Sell it and spend 10g on something newer or better

I had a go at shopping .....i was seeing the same issues or worse on newer td5 models as i had on my 25 year old model.

So i stripped it , cut off the rear xmember and outriggers and gave it plenty paint before rebuilding it.

Hopefully get it finished next trip home .....or maybe the one after that

Agreed mate. I've looked at 06 ish td5's and TBH it wouldn't be long before it to would be needing attention. I had a brand new 110 utility on a 61 plate which I had two years of hell with, ended up selling it back to Marshalls as I lost it in the end,😡💨 with them. It spent a total of 4 months in there workshop over the two years I had it. So no advantage really buying newer IMO. At least I can rebuild mine and rebuild it as I want it done.

defenderdog · Feb 7, 2015

Marmaduke said:
Got mine off with one of those stanley blade scraper thingies cost the treatment hadn't stuck to the paint very well.
What time scale have you got, mines my daily drive so I only have days off or holiday for doing work on mine, if you've got the time then galvanised would be the way to go as once it's done it's done.

Don't forget most importantly, get your camera out and let's see the rot you're on about

Mine is used every other day at the moment as we go out gritting at night with it. But at the end of March when the Mot runs out I will take it off the road if I decide to go with the rebuild and strip it right back. I will send some pics once I'm home as im up playing in Cumbria at the moment.

defenderdog · Feb 7, 2015

Marmaduke said:
Got mine off with one of those stanley blade scraper thingies cost the treatment hadn't stuck to the paint very well.
What time scale have you got, mines my daily drive so I only have days off or holiday for doing work on mine, if you've got the time then galvanised would be the way to go as once it's done it's done.

Don't forget most importantly, get your camera out and let's see the rot you're on about

Mine is used every other day at the moment as we go out gritting at night with it. But at the end of March when the Mot runs out I will take it off the road if I decide to go with the rebuild and strip it right back. I will send some pics once I'm home as im up playing in Cumbria at the moment. Sat here reading LRM mags whilst taking a break probably ain't helping 😖

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Head's a shed

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Head's a shed

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Similar threads