What does it look like? There were some odd looking box metal brackets screwed to the back of my tailgate and a couple of holes in the plastic door card. If these are the missing mountings you are welcome to them. The were fitted to the door with self tappers. Will try and take a photo later.

Ended up with Admiral - 230 quid fully comp, which is not bad because they would not let me use my full no claims because I still have my Subaru insured separately.

Yup, Nodge is spot on. Standard 16 inch wheels with standard size Yokohama Geolanders on (215/65 16). The van is pretty much back to standard spec now - daft thing is Adrian Flux insurance said they could have done me a better deal if it was still modified!

Well that is her back on the road. VCU seems a bit stiff from the wheel up test, but doesn't seem to be excessive drag reversing on full lock and was a Bell Engineering recon job that Colin only fitted 15k miles ago so it should be OK? Possible it is just stiff from lack of use for the last...

Few left over bits now!

Progressing nicely now, front end all back together and it runs. Original bumper back on. Now to deal with the rear lift kit. No way the rear brake hoses were going to separate without breaking something so decided just to cut open the holes they go through in the plate on each rear shock...

M6 bolts certainly. 25mm length sounds about right to me.

I think it was certainly a lot easier fitting the gearbox and IRD to the engine with the engine out and them lifting the whole lot into place, although an engine hoist is probably essential for that. Nice work as usual.

If you release the offside engine mount you can move the engine up and down enough to get to the thermostat bolts through the opening for the track rod. However, it is not easy and you are largely working by feel. You have to remove the thermostat to replace the O-ring. The pipe does not move...

I had a problem with that O-ring. Pain to get to with the engine in the car, but can be done through the opening for the track rod end as described above. I had only just refitted the engine for a clutch and gearbox change so wasn't a big job to drop it out again to get to the thermostat and...

Got my hoist back from my mate so engine dropped again to fix the thermostat coolant leak - lot of work to replace one O-ring!

Crankshaft broke on my old Rover 75 with the M47 engine while driving. Had 53k miles on it at the time. Snapped at one end, just behind the flange that the torque converter/flywheel bolts onto.

Taking a Muddy Mods 40mm lift kit off my Freelander at the moment so will have it up for sale soon if you want it. I won't be doing any serious off roading so would rather have it standard. Also have wheel spacers that I will be removing as well. The lift kit did need a bit of space making at...

Coolant leak from thermostat still not fixed so going to drop the engine again to fix it properly with a new O-ring rather than faff around trying to do it by feel with the engine in place - now just have to get my hoist back from the mate I lent it to!

Looks more like a Lada Niva to me! Big money too - can't see many farmers replacing their old defenders with one! The commercial version of the three door looks a bit better in my opinion.

Nice use of bungee cords! Makes me glad I have an engine hoist.

Bit more progress today and one set back. Got the engine in, connected up the wiring and coolant pipes, refitted front struts. Decided to refill the cooling system to find coolant leaking from the new thermostat where the metal coolant pipes goes in. Looked at the old thermostat to find an o-...

The advantages of living in rural Northern Ireland.

Dual mass flywheel fitted, new clutch and slave cylinder, replacement gearbox and IRD fitted and ready to go back into car.

Fitted the second hand but good condition dual mass flywheel and a new clutch. Just waiting now on a new clutch slave cylinder before I can refit the gearbox and IRD and stuff the whole lot back into the car. I have already replaced the water pump and thermostat and aircon compressor belt...