109 Expedition rig build

[Mercedesrover]

Some progress from the past few days.

Roof sides painted, assembled and on the truck.
Installed the headliner tonight. Tomorrow I'll install the alpine windows and the sunroof. Thursday I'll set the roof on the truck and start fine-tuning the doors. That sounded funny as I typed it....Fine-tune the doors on a Land Rover. As long as you can't throw a cat through the gaps you're good.

 

[Lynn]

You know, I upset some folks a long time ago on this board when I said, "Personally, I wouldn't drive a Defender if you gave it to me," but I would like to now append "unless it was one of the ones custom crafted by Mercedesrover."

I've only known one other person who rebuilt classics with the care and attention to detail you have displayed.

True artisans, with an obvious passion that most of us lack.

Thanks for sharing the journey.

 

[Mercedesrover]

Got the roof on a day ahead of schedule and started fitting things. Should have all the posts, doors, etc. where they need to be by the end of tonight. Then I just need to paint and assemble the 5 doors. I'm hoping to be driving this truck next weekend? We'll see!

 

[01001010]

I'll be honest and say I havent read through the whole thread but have you fired the engine up already? May I request a youtube...I'd love to hear someone else's diesel 109 fire up, since I had to sell mine.

 

[DCH109]

Jim it is looking great. have to say it is one of my favorite builds happening right now.

I have a question on the engine and the Parabolics.
You have the RN parabolics correct?
The 5 Cyl diesel is about 740+ lbs with everything attached. How is it holding up on the 2 leaf front springs?
I am now (3rd engine change) dropping a 6.2 L diesel into mine. It is about 750 lbs with everything attached.

I know your has not moved much other then around the shop and outside. but have you noted any sag yet? How about on the 88, did it have the 2 leaf Parabolics as well? how is it for sag.

Before i dump mine, i wanted someone with a nice heavy engine and real world experience, to see how they are holding up.
Let me know
Dave

 

[Mercedesrover]

I'll be honest and say I havent read through the whole thread but have you fired the engine up already? May I request a youtube...I'd love to hear someone else's diesel 109 fire up, since I had to sell mine.

Yup, it runs and drives though I haven't hit the open road with it yet. Might just throw a dealer plate on it tonight and run up to the package store.

I'll try and get some audio for you in the next couple days. It's very, very quiet (especially compared to my 88 with the 616 engine) and I'm regretting putting a muffler on the truck at all. It would have probably been fine with just a straight-pipe.

 

[Mercedesrover]

I have a question on the engine and the Parabolics.

Yes, I have two-leaf RN springs in the front of this truck as well as the 88". The 88 also has a winch on the front.

No, I haven't noticed any sagging in the little truck and they seem to be just fine. I did bend one of the original RM front springs about 5 years ago and replaced them with RN fronts. The rears in the little truck are still 3-leaf RM springs and haven't sagged enough for me to notice.

As well with the new truck, though it's only had the weight on it for a few months, nothing seems to have moved. I still haven't tightened the shackles up until the truck is at full weight.

I have 4-leaf rears in the new truck and am hoping it's not sprung too heavy. Time will tell. At worst I'll have to peel one leaf off of it.

Some people really hate parabolics for some reason. I wouldn't think of putting anything else under these trucks.

New picture...Couldn't resist.

 

[DCH109]

Hey nice to see it out of the Shop. I think the galvanized sliders and bumper look great.....How do you like those Mirrors on the wings?


Thanks Jim on the Parabolic info. I think i will give it a shot then and see how it goes. I really do not want the ride the 1 ton spring will give.
The GM 6.2L and the Mercedes 5 cyl are about the same weight with all accessories. Hard to believe but that would explain the stoutness of the MB engine. That block is heavy.
As your runninga 5cyl and that 4cyl with a winch and you have not seen any sag...i figure i should be ok.

I think with the 5 door and loaded the 4 leaf will be fine, you might find it hard when empty, but loaded......My 3 door should be ok with the 3 leaf, but if they suck then i will switch......

 

[01001010]

Jim...

You're the man! I can't wait to see the truck moving through its natural habitat. I really do hope to droul over this truck in person some day. I'll bring my own rag.

Also, I can't help asking...

Is that an LED brake-light in the PTO opening at the rear cross member?

 

[Mercedesrover]

Is that an LED brake-light in the PTO opening at the rear cross member?

Back-up light! I went with an LED so I can leave it on as a camp light when the truck is parked at the campsite.

 

[01001010]

Niiice! Brilliant!

 

[greenmeanie]

Jim...

I really do hope to droul over this truck in person some day. I'll bring my own rag.

Oh don't worry about the rag. Everything that could possibly be galvanised/painted/plated or otherwise corrosion proofed is.

No jealousy here. I think the wing mirror probably just fell off my project while it sits mouldering in my garage.

 

[Mercedesrover]

With the headway I made last night I'm further along this week than I hoped to be.

A funny thing happened when I was putting this truck together. As I was bolting the body pieces on one by one the truck had a funny look that its "back was broken". That's a term we use when dealing with frame damage on a collision in a full-frame truck. It's when the center of the frame has a sag in it, either on one side or both. Well, as this truck was coming together it had the same look. It appeared the center was low or the ends were high. Setting the roof on last night confirmed this. Both the center pillar and the front of the roof sides appeared low when you were looking down the truck. I ended up unbolting the back of the seat box and the front of the tub and jacking the center of the body up. When I did this everything seemed to drop in place. With this, however, the bolt holes from which I just removed all the body mounting bolts were off a bout 3/4". I ended up re-drilling the holes in the body and bolting the truck to the frame thru the new holes. I don't know if the frame was built wrong or if a Stage One frame is a little different than the standard Series truck in terms of body mounting but this did the trick. The doors and roof fit well now and I can move on.

With the quick hour it took to reposition the body on the frame I had time to get the 5th door hung and the hinge holes drilled. Fits pretty well. Next step is to remove all 5 doors, change around the door-check mounts and prep and paint them. The goal is to have all five doors hung with latches and glass by the end of next week. We'll see.

 

[traveltoad]

Back-up light! I went with an LED so I can leave it on as a camp light when the truck is parked at the campsite.

Is it a sealed unit?

 

[ntsqd]

Even the non LED versions of those 4" torsion mount (rubber grommet) lights are sealed.

Why no paint on the galv'd parts? The look (which I like), or is there an adhesion issue with galv?