Well, we completed today! Looks like the project is moving house after all! I've got a few last things to do to prep the landy for trailering, and I'm hoping one of you knowledgeable folk will know the answer to the latest head scratcher. I need to fit the new rear tub onto the chassis for...

Thanks James, that sounds like I can probably find the right bolt in my collection, and use a bit of thread lock in place of the serrated surface. Thanks Adam

I think I didnt explain that very well James. Not the prop bolts in the drive flange... the 4 bolts which have a slightly irregular layout which hold the transmission brake plate to the transfer box... nothing to do with the drum-side. I make it AFU1400 - That's part number the catalogue gives...

Thread revival time! I built up the new handbrake kit this week, and also noticed that ashcrofts fitted a new drive flange as part of the tbox refurb! Do'h. Anyway, I notice I've misplaced the 4 bolts which hold the handbrake backplate onto the tbox... are these a standard size @jamesmartin ...

We exchanged in Wednesday, and completion is agreed for Tuesday 12th! Exchange was 14 weeks, to the hour, since offer!

Yes I realise for the more hard-core engineers on here, I have been "cheating" a bit by getting the engine, gbox, diffs, exhaust and cooling systems done by professionals. I just think it's a matter of realising my own experience levels and not wanting to take on so much that it degrades the...

@crocs - yes it all worked thanks, the gear change and general sound of the box is much improved now it has MTF94 as apposed to the original ATF in it. The horrific noise which I originally thought was the box was actually the alternator being all mannor of worn. I replaced the alternator on the...

well having worked with both ATF and MTF94 on the same day now, I can say 2 things: The disco R380 box was filled with ATF. After flushing with a fresh load of ATF and doing some miles, I then filled it with MTF94.... my my, they're actually very different aren't they! MTF94 is much much...

yeah the defender proj will be getting a gbox oil cooler.... I thought the v8 disco's had one as well - but just the crappy pipe and short section of ally tubing.... I haven't looked yet.

wouldn't you then need 2 lots of MTF to flush out the ATF? what's the difference between MTF and ATF?

I've got some miller oils MTF94 in the garage ready to go into the ashcroft box on the defender.... yep, that'll be going in the disco now! I'd best do the tbox whilst I'm there (yes, different oil, I know). I just had an email back from Dave Ashcroft stating that they can't offer...

well it looks like this is my inexperience coming in to play again. In my defense, it's a very similar noise to when gearbox bearings went on my saab 9k, and on a rover 216 many years ago... What I had neglected to factor in is that when you push the clutch pedal in, you also naturally drop the...

Sadly I'm a bit soft... the seller was a nice bloke, and I've no real doubt about how genuine he was... he bought it back from a mate after selling it to that mate a couple of years ago. it's spent most of it's life sitting still, and the last few years it's done very few miles indeed. I imagine...

Well, I think I may have just made a rather expensive error. impending house move & life on the new smallholding seemed to warrant a decent tow vehicle pretty quickly. Clearly the defender isn't going to be finished in the drop of a hat, so I bought a lovely unmolested 3.9v8 manual disco 1...

I was advised that the OEM viscous fan will provide better and more reliable cooling - and that electric fans just make you paranoid ;) Oh, and allisport are off my xmas card list.... they just can't deliver, and are crap at comms. A classic case of a company getting too busy, and not knowing...

yes noted on both points - tbh the size of the fuel filter plus attachments is now making me thing that a "standard" off-the-shelf aftermarket solution might be the better way to go. but yes, mounted through some rubber bush washers - I have some left from the fuel-tank fitting, so thought I...

Jam 1 -Yes that's one option, but that does involve changing the routing of the hose - I'm a bit concerned about it following the brake line, as this runs very close to the a-frame upper mount. I've not committed to anything yet, but I'm probably going to give it to JEK fabrications to get...

They are indeed - I remember the 1st time I saw that youtube clip of the blue pickup with one in.... what a noise!!! great machine... but not for the average person. I've become quite obsessed with the idea of the BMW/LR TD6 engine from L322 range rovers - I think they'd be great in defenders...

I think perhaps the hope of hooking you up with Aaron was to show you that it will be a crazy expensive thing to do, and it'll weight an absolute tonne, and you'll probably hate it at the end. The cost and weight issues will be the same across the range. good luck though :D

Fuel line is "R9" spec rubber fuel hose. Suitable (internally) for modern petrol and high pressure. It is not, sadly, submersible in fuel, as the outer coating degrades. Sawing off banjo bolts etc doesn't fit into the standard ethos. If It can't be done with the standard disco filter then I'll...