DEFENDER 110 Overland Build

[evilfij]

The approach I would take is first purchase the Land Rover Defender parts Catalogue part #stc9021cc. Then make a list of anything rubber like seals and bushings, anything electrical than can easily corrode and moving parts that can wear out. Break the list down into systems like brake, fuel, axles, steering etc. Then find the part numbers in the book and contact Rovers North http://landroverparts.roversnorth.com/Products.aspx?code=WebHomePage&key=cat to order everything on the list. Only order genuine parts for the things on this list.

That is a staggering amount of work to do all of that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

They are really very simple and easy to work on vehicles. Find someone local who knows them and just get it current on maintaince and needed repairs and go enjoy it.

 

[jh.]

I would love a RHD 110 like that...nice score. Keep it as stock as possible. 235/85 tires on the rims you have (love black steelies), update all fluids with a flush, winch bumper, and an OME suspension. Roof rack if you don't plan on taking off the hard top. Done!

Easy for me to say, as that's really all that was on my Disco to-do list, and I've veered off on a few creative detours...but if you start with just that, you'll come up with new projects.

 

[EIGHTLUG]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm really looking into the 2/300 TDi swap. From everything I've read, it's a no-brainer. I'm also debating installing an auto trans behind that.

It's definitely going to get a huge mechanical once over. Is there a full wiring harness available for the 110, similar to what Painless makes for musclecars? If not, I'm sure I could buy their basic Jeep style harness and adapt it. With a 30 year old vehicle, I'd really like to eliminate as many points of failure as possible.

 

[redneck44]

You want reliability and then you want a slush box????

Keep the stock ride height, save your uj's and keeps the steering geometry.
Change the fluids and your good to go.

If I wanted to go rock crawling, mud bogging or challenge events then any and all modifications would be used.

But for long distance tours stock is the way to go, anything that might fail can be had from any land rover dealer as a direct replacement. specialist equipment lifted springs etc may not be so easy to find in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Howski]

anything that might fail can be had from any land rover dealer as a direct replacement.

It's fair to say your local LR dealer isn't going to have many RoW parts on hand and probably few Defender parts.

Toss an OME kit on it and some 33's. I'd suggest keeping with a manual transmission even if you decide to go with a TDI.

You mentioned your 110 was just a shell and you were trying to make the interior more comfortable. Carpets, headliner and some acoustic mats will help but these trucks are crude; loud, hot and will never be near as comfortable as a modern vehicle. I'd just caution against setting the bar too high in this portion of your build.

 

[DividingCreek]

Given your elevation the 2.5 natural is going to be a boat anchor. Diesels loose a huge percentage of their rated power and torque above 10,000 feet. You need a turbo. Your transfer case is likely a 1.6 and wont work with a tdi engine unless you run very tall tires. Transfer case changes are the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to change gearing. Were it mine, I'd hunt up a 200 tdi which won't require; transmission, cross member, rear driveshaft, and floor swaps like a 300 would. I'd also get a 1.4 tcase . That combination should make you very happy for minimal investiture. If you are keeping it rhd you can source a cheaper/more common disco engine. Truck looks good.

 

[overlander]

Given your elevation the 2.5 natural is going to be a boat anchor. Diesels loose a huge percentage of their rated power and torque above 10,000 feet. You need a turbo. Your transfer case is likely a 1.6 and wont work with a tdi engine unless you run very tall tires. Transfer case changes are the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to change gearing. Were it mine, I'd hunt up a 200 tdi which won't require; transmission, cross member, rear driveshaft, and floor swaps like a 300 would. I'd also get a 1.4 tcase . That combination should make you very happy for minimal investiture. If you are keeping it rhd you can source a cheaper/more common disco engine. Truck looks good.

This exactly. Also come on over to www.defendersource.com. Many of the Defender members in this Rover sub-forum are members over there. It is THE N. American forum for Defenders. Everything I learned about my 110 was from that forum, the RAVE manual and hands on. I get all my advice about the mechanical maintenance and mofication of my 110 from Defendersource, and all my advice on overlanding modification and planning from here in expo. With both of those, I have all knowledge bases covered. I have spent my last few years configuring my 110 for long range overlanding for my family of 4, so we have similar objectives.

 

[overlander]

PS, Dividingcreek, evilfiji and Chris Snell are Dsource members and know what the hell they are talking about!

 

[EIGHTLUG]

The 2.5L in our '84 Defender is turbocharged. From what I read in this thread, it's assumed that it's a N/A Diesel. Am I reading this wrong? Is the Turbo an aftermarket add on? I can shoot some pics for you guys if you need it for reference.

 

[EIGHTLUG]

Thanks overlander. I've been lurking over there for a while. I'll go ahead and get registered today. Where are you located?

This exactly. Also come on over to www.defendersource.com. Many of the Defender members in this Rover sub-forum are members over there. It is THE N. American forum for Defenders. Everything I learned about my 110 was from that forum, the RAVE manual and hands on. I get all my advice about the mechanical maintenance and mofication of my 110 from Defendersource, and all my advice on overlanding modification and planning from here in expo. With both of those, I have all knowledge bases covered. I have spent my last few years configuring my 110 for long range overlanding for my family of 4, so we have similar objectives.

 

[overlander]

I'm in Charlotte, NC

 

[EIGHTLUG]

Nice, great area. I'm out there often for business. I'm involved with the Disney Data Center at Kings Mountain.

I'm in Charlotte, NC

 

[overlander]

Good to know. I'm a data analyst by trade. I spend alot of my time wishing I lived in Denver though! I would not pass the chance to move back west, and Denver seems to be the best all around choice for me.

 

[Howski]

The 2.5L in our '84 Defender is turbocharged. From what I read in this thread, it's assumed that it's a N/A Diesel.

N/A refers to naturally aspirated meaning no forced induction, a turbocharger in this case. It sounds like the engine you have is the 2.5T which was the predecessor to the TDI

 

[chris snell]

This thread frustrates me and I suspect that it frustrates others here, too.

You want to do an "overland build" on your truck. Let's consider what we know:

- The truck is apparently new to you.
- You aren't totally sure what motor you have, yet you are ready to replace it with something, maybe even a GM powertrain
- You want to lift the truck
- You're considering using spacers
- You want to run 33" tires
- You're picking out paint colors

Yet...as far as we can tell, you've never even done a trip in this truck. Do you know what it's capable of? What are its strengths and abilities in its factory form? You don't know.

Do you have any hidden mechanical issues? You don't know.

You're going about this all wrong. You're trying to do some Land Rover Overlander Expedition Lifestyle build but you're focusing on everything that's not important right now and none of the things that are. We are trying to save you from our rookie mistakes but you want none of it.

Look, first things first, quit picking out paint colors and spacers and get this truck out in the mountains before the snow hits. Take it out to the western slope and get a week in the desert and some rough off-road miles on it to get a feel for what you need and what, if anything, needs fixing. Bring your camping kit and think about how you're going to pack it with five people on board. Drive over Monarch Pass with the 2.5 NA. Drive with some friends who have "built" Defenders and notice all of the problems that their big lifts cause on long overland trips: the broken shocks, the exploded DC driveshafts, the death wobbles, etc. Once you have done all of this, come back home and build your truck. Only then will you know what you want and what you need.

For the record, I drove a bone stock ex-MOD 110 from Galveston to Seattle and covered over 1500 rough, off-road miles. You don't need an "overland build" to get out there and do this stuff. I'll put my stock 1987 Defender up against most any other Defender on this board in terms of off-pavement reliability.