I've just paid quite a lot of money to have my Defender 90 300tdi re-chassied and repainted, the company had it way longer than they said it would take. Anyway, got it back and it's leaking where it was before, roof gutters, down onto the tops of the doors, down the window and onto the floor.
My question, if respraying the roof would it be normal practice to remove the old factory sealant before painting, then reseal? Looks like they've just painted over the old sealant.
Also, it looks like there's no sealant all round where the roof meets the windscreen.

I would seal over the original if there is no sign of it coming off. The windscreen to roof has a foam/rubber seal but I would also seal the outside with a pu sealer of some sort.
I would also fit a new windscreen seal, bulkhead to screen panel seal and door seals. Also the panel gaps need sealing tape where they join
Also the door window seals leak and the water runs out of the door onto the floor
Actually everything has potential to leak. Use genuine where it's possible.
If you didn't tell them it leaked and you wanted it sealed up then I doubt they would do it.

Ok, thanks, I'll look at it all myself.

Griz69 said:

My question, if respraying the roof would it be normal practice to remove the old factory sealant before painting, then reseal? Looks like they've just painted over the old sealant.

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I would not expect resealing to be part of a respray, and also not part of a re-chassis. it is a separate job that would have needed to be specified. I filled my gutters with white tiger seal to reduce the leaks. It is up to you if you dig out the old sealant first or overseal, that depends on the condition of what is there, i removed the old on mine.

Griz69 said:

Also, it looks like there's no sealant all round where the roof meets the windscreen.

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As above the seal between the windscreen and the roof is on the top of the windscreen frame and is not viable form the outside. I would only seal the outside seam if it is actively leaking form this area, otherwise it will be very difficult to remove in the future.


Also what did you actually pay for and arrange with the garage. you have titled the thread a restoration but then only mntion a re-chassis and respray. At risk of upsetting every dealer trying to sell an old defender, a paint job does not a restoration make! There are lots of garages that will do a re0-chassis basically by unbolting the old and bolting to a new chassis with new parts very limited to only the real essentials like brake lines and some bushes. That is very different, and far quicker and cheaper than a restoration.