90 to 110

[Michael Slade]

If you are going to haul around a whole tribe and tow a trailer in a 109 or a 110, I would STRONGLY consider an engine other than one built by Land Rover.

There are a lot of options, and you are only limited by your imagination and tenaciousness. You have proved you are somewhat worthy to undertake a LR conversion by the ability to deflect even the best well-intentioned attempts to sway you otherwise.

IMO, you ought to be finding the cleanest non-NAS 110 you can find, HERE IN THE STATES, and/or a super sweet/straight 109. IMMEDIATELY gut the drivetrain and sell it. Do NOT put yourself in the position of being tempted to use it EVER. Just get rid of it and put that cash towards whatever else you intent to do with the truck.

If you do a 109, consider getting the springs replaced with some parabolics. I've done some long-distance trekking in a 2.25l powered 109 SW with the stock springs, and let me tell you it SUCKS. The family hated it, the ride was terrible and we got to our destination very slowly. There is no reason to suffer driving a 109, and I can tell you I have driven/ridden in some that have had the springs replaced and the ride was AMAZING.

You can do a few things to help out the heating/cooling beyond that offered by the factory.

Now the decision of a lifetime...what to power this beast with. Good luck on that one. The choices are endless. Pay close attention to what MercedesRover is doing with his 109. It may serve as the model for the uber-clean somewhat-inexpensive diesel conversion of the future. If I still had that free MBZ sitting in my driveway, I'd consider it...(again). Those engines are relatively inepensive and sometimes free...although times they may be a changin'.

I've done two Chevy swaps in to my LR's, and I would think that it's a good option to do again. I am quite enamored with diesels, and I would go that route if I were to do another. The Isuzu has me very curious, and with a few of their engines having a GM bolt pattern, the trans/t-case options are also very good.

One thing is for certain, do a LOT of research and call a LOT of people asking for advice. Do NOT become married to any one single way of doing this. You will find that in nearly every instance there is certainly at least one way of doing it that is equally as good...if not better...than the way you were intent on doing.

Oh yeah, be sure to take your wife out *regularly* and spend a LOT of time with your family. Don't let them slide, you will regret it.

I would also suggest finishing the truck before worrying about the trailer. One thing at a time...

 

[The Swiss]

The 1993 Defender 110 is on the eligibility list as a vehicle that can be legally imported to the US. Search for a 110 either in the UK, or in France, Germany, Switzerland or Austria (would already be LHD). What I am not sure is if it has to have the Gas engine to match, or if you could take in a diesel, which for that year would be the 200Tdi.

 

[stevenmd]

Yes, I already have plans on replacing the power plant. I, too, an enamored with the thought of a diesel and seeing as I live in California, I would have to go the pre-smog 109 route (pre-1975) if I were to go with a diesel. However, the thought of putting in a chevy vortec v8 into a 1983 110 is very tempting as well. I can get a complete vortec, including tranny and all necessary ecu's, etc, for under $2000.

Lucky for me, Timm Cooper is not far away, as well as quite a few other gents who know so much more than I do.

I think the game plan for right now is to buy the best shape 109 or 110 that I can get, then take a hard look at which powertrain to go with.

 

[Michael Slade]

Lucky for me, Timm Cooper is not far away, as well as quite a few other gents who know so much more than I do.

Let me start by saying that I really like Timm, and am grateful for everything he's helped me to do.

That being said...

Be careful with Timm. His ideas are good and proven, but contrary to what he will tell you, his ideas aren't the only ones that are good and proven.

Also, don't let projects with him string out too long. Yes, building a custom *anything* will take a long time, some definite benchmarks/deadlines need to be perfectly clear on before things progress. Also don't forget that it would be a business agreement, and to proceed as if you were going to enter a business agreement with anyone.

Again, I like Timm. Feel free to call or e-mail me about my extended experiences with him anytime. I won't rag on him or throw him under the bus, but I will tell it like it is. I'm sure that you will meet a lot of other people who would love to share their positive experiences as well.

EDIT: To get a Euro 110 from 1993 into the states it has to meet EVERY requirement that the original NAS 110's had to. That means, engine, emissions, safety cage (hard to find and expensive), glass, headlights...EVERYTHING. It will be easier to find one that's already here. If you want to start with a newer body with potentially less rust, you could find one over there and have the drivetrain gutted before you shipped it over. If you do that you don't need to worry at all about what year it is registered as. Of course there is the pesky issues of getting it registered over here.

Any discussion of importing parts to build a 110 eventually turns into the discussion of what is legal and what is not. The topic has literally been beat to death. No one...I repeat NO ONE has a definitive answer...not even the DOT and/or EPA. Try www.d-90.com for an exhaustive treatise on the subject.

Starting with a 109 solves a myriad of problems. It is probably worth it.

 

[marc olivares]

i hate to be a nae-sayers Steve, but MAN!
110's really dont have the room i think your thinking they do.
2 adults and 5 kids with gear in a 110, oH MY....!

i can barely get 2 adults and 2 kids w/ gear in my disco, and the 110's really arent that much bigger.
you sure you've thought this through? 5 kids with gear in a 1ton van is chore

it sounds like you got defender fever and youre using your big family to justify getting a 110.

please prove me wrong, and do it, but make sure it's for the right reason.
these things aren't 10k Fords, it's an awefully big investment to make on a whim.

mike does bring up a good point to be aware of,
the time you spend on your rig is less time with the family and even less time to play. i've fallen into this trap in the past, and it can be a tough one to recover from.
just throwing it out there.
best of luck

 

[revor]

You can do it.. The gear will be on the roof, the kids will be cozy :sport_box
It will be fun getting in and out of the back. If you put a forward facing seat from a 90 in the back you can still have room for a cooler behind that seat.

That said don't add any more critters to the mix!!

Then again you could do it so easily in a full size Van Or a Burb.

But where's the fun in that?

 

[marc olivares]

so keith, youre saying you'd be comfy in your 110 with 5 little guys? LOL
how many kids do you have?
2 is plenty of work for me, I couldn't imagine camping with 5.....

 

[revor]

so keith, youre saying you'd be comfy in your 110 with 5 little guys? LOL
how many kids do you have?
2 is plenty of work for me, I couldn't imagine camping with 5.....

:jump:

Yikes that's too many for me!!! Steve you know what causes that don't you

I only have two as well. But you could do five. Three across the second row and two in the way back on that D90 rear seat. It wouldn't be that crowded for a mid range trip or one with a fair amount of stops (I stopped being the travel Nazi Dad a few years back) switching seats and so on. Elbow room will be at a premium but if everyone can play nice it wouldn't be that bad.

Then again I'm always in the drivers seat.. I've always got the room I need! Ahh! Did I mention that Deefer seat backs are quite thin? That kicking the back of the seat in front of you thing that kids do? Not an option!

We did it with the Disco's for a lot of years, we always ended up taking two if we wanted to take the dogs (just furry kids right?) Then it was the LWB alone, that worked again no gear in the truck to speak of..

Nope the 110 was the answer all along.. No Karen can fill it with loads of crap! Hence the air suspension!

 

[stevenmd]

LOL...

1 - I like Timm a lot and respect him a lot but I would mainly bounce ideas off of him. I am fully aware of his "time" issue...:ylsmoke: he does quality work and anything I could not do myself I would farm out to him or Frank Cerrone.

2 - I'm not looking for a 1993 110 to import.

3 - I don't have 110 fever... just landie fever... :lurk:

4 - As for time with the family... my kids are 13, 8, 6, 24 months, and one due in January... the three oldest are boys who love to tinker on stuff with me. My wife doesn't get home from work until 9pm and I get off at 2pm. Plenty of time for me to tinker in the garage with the boys. Suzi works Wed-Sat, I work Mon-Fri, still plenty of time to tinker.

5 - As for camping... before I met my wife, it was my three sons and I for 5 years. I took them everywhere and did everything with them. Being married now is like having an extra pair of hands. Life is much easier! Camping is actually pretty easy. With one on the way, camping will slow down for a while, giving me plenty of time to do stuff. Getting the kids out in the garage gives mommy time to rest.

6 - As for packing all the kids and gear into a 109 or 110, you should see us right now! I have a 1994 RRC LWB... put a rear seat in the back and the gear goes next to it and on the roof rack... luckily I drive the speed limit!

7 - We just returned from dinner. I parked next to a 2004 DII SE7. Suzi said she wouldn't mind trading in her Benz for one of those...

 

[stevenmd]

:jump:

Yikes that's too many for me!!! Steve you know what causes that don't you

I can't help it... it's an addiction too...:steak:

 

[revor]

I can't help it... it's an addiction too...:steak:

:box: Congratulations!!
Kids are a gas! My friend (and heat treat guy) has eleven!!!:yikes:

Ahhh that 13 YO if he's as big as my 12 YO he'll be trading seats with Mom once in a while...

 

[stevenmd]

Ahhh that 13 YO if he's as big as my 12 YO he'll be trading seats with Mom once in a while...

My 13 yo wants either an 88 SIIa or a '69 charger when he turns 16... talk about two vehicles that are as contrasting as possible!

Suzi loves the "Jon & Kate Plus 8" show... I keep telling her we should go for a even dozen... "Steven & Suzi Plus a Dozen"...:yikes:

 

[Michael Slade]

LOL...

1 - I like Timm a lot and respect him a lot but I would mainly bounce ideas off of him. I am fully aware of his "time" issue...:ylsmoke: he does quality work and anything I could not do myself I would farm out to him or Frank Cerrone.

Now be careful how much you say that. People doing 'consulting' telephone calls with Timm are exactly what leads to his 'time issue'. Please be curteous to those who are paying for his time and need him to stay focused. You may not have been one of the ones that I got into some, um...'heated discussions' with him about, but I am sure that he has new paying customers who are just as anxious as I was.

If you are going to bounce ideas of of him, take it in 3-4 hour chunks and pay him for it. Calling him up for 15 minutes at a time is what kills many people...because those 15 minute phone calls end up turning into more than an hour. Don't believe me? I've seen it in person and I've hired him on a continuous basis for over 6+ years.

Again, not throwing around accusations. Just a warning about doing 'consulting' with Timm.

 

[junkyddog11]

Just a couple of thoughts.

If Timm answers his phone....well, he answers his phone. If he want's to get something done he will get one with caller ID.

After years of building and rebuilding things I'd have to come to agreement with the Defender crew on many levels, and the Series nuts also. Very clever original design. Not the most comfortable, but built to last beyond anything out there and there is some charm in that. People will be rebuilding them years after the LC's, Nissans, and even the Disco and RRC and whatever else have all gone to dust.

As for the pissing and moaning about the $$ value of things. ECR is right on target with what they do. They offer a service that plenty of people are willing to pay for...so who should care.

Building a standard vehicle will cost some $$ and it doesn't matter what you build.

Building a custom vehicle will cost more.

Building something that will last and can be easily rebuilt anywhere on the planet is smart.

Building it yourself is priceless (did I just write that). If you are doing this from the ground up there is really only one choice.

It doesn't have to be expensive, which is relative to what?. People shell out 30-40k on new (built to be crushed) junk every day that for the most part will not last as long as a good re-built Defender, and surely not as long as a Series heap that got dragged out of a barn.

What you get for the money has to be a consideration. I (have) built trucks that cost well into the six figure range. They were exactly what the owners wanted.

 

[stevenmd]

Now be careful how much you say that. People doing 'consulting' telephone calls with Timm are exactly what leads to his 'time issue'. Please be curteous to those who are paying for his time and need him to stay focused. You may not have been one of the ones that I got into some, um...'heated discussions' with him about, but I am sure that he has new paying customers who are just as anxious as I was.

If you are going to bounce ideas of of him, take it in 3-4 hour chunks and pay him for it. Calling him up for 15 minutes at a time is what kills many people...because those 15 minute phone calls end up turning into more than an hour. Don't believe me? I've seen it in person and I've hired him on a continuous basis for over 6+ years.

Again, not throwing around accusations. Just a warning about doing 'consulting' with Timm.

Don't worry, I won't be wasting Timm's time. If I speak with him regarding this project, it will only be to figure out what I need him to do and when it will fit into his schedule. I have never called him. He speaks to mutual friends about projects when he stops by and I just happen to be there or am privy to some conversations. I have seen his work firsthand and it is topnotch.

*edit* I just read my response and it sounds a bit harsh. Just wanted to add that I did not take offense to what Michael said and I agree with him 100%. Just wanted to be clear that I was not one of those that wasted Timm's time.