few questions!

[Dmljohnson]

With little tweaking you can get 70 mpg....I got my 2.5na to that speed several times.....but it's a great year defender..those motor are very strong, when you're changing the oil drop the sump pan and change out that gasket.....mine was leaking there when I first bought mine...I don't think you can stop those things from leaking though....here is a pic of mines,Ive done a lot of mods to mine....

Here is the before pic..with my friend cheesing next to it...lol

And the after...

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

very nice! where did you get that roll cage? the front hoop that is one of the first things i want! and believe it or not the engine doesnt leak! but the Transfer case leaks a bit.

 

[Dmljohnson]

I made mines....but I buy most of my stuff from lucky8llc.....see Justin...I fabricated allot of stuff on my rig...My 90 was also in pretty good shape, just the little oil leaks...Your 90 looks like it's in pretty good shape, the body looks great....how's the chasis? I had to change mines out....

 

[Snagger]

70mph out of a 12J engine with all of those accessories and those tyres is damned good, Dml. My 109 had a 12J, and with the roof clean managed a touch over 80 mph on dead level motorway, but the SIII's lower gearing made all the difference. With the roof rack and other accessories, it struggled to top 65 mph on the flat, but the slightest incline or headwind would knock it down instantly. Even so, that was unusually good for that type of engine, and I think it was a result of having completely rebuilt it with new valves, seats, pistons and crank shaft. Most 12Js struggle to top 50mph. I reckon you'd get another 10mph or so and about 10-15% better mpg if you fit a set of 7.50 or 235/85 tyres with a regular MT pattern and more for AT.

As for using 1-shot grease in the front axle swivels, it's good stuff and ideal for swivels that slowly leak oil, but it does have one problem - you can't drain it out easily if water gets in. That's why EP90 is still the better option in swivels that don't leak - you can drain and replenish it after wading.

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

I made mines....but I buy most of my stuff from lucky8llc.....see Justin...I fabricated allot of stuff on my rig...My 90 was also in pretty good shape, just the little oil leaks...Your 90 looks like it's in pretty good shape, the body looks great....how's the chasis? I had to change mines out....

the chassis is great i will be wire wheeling and POR-15 it this weekend. and how hard was it to fab that cage? i want to make something instead of paying 1600$

 

[Dmljohnson]

well to be honest with you...Snagger...i did that when i had the other wheels on it....with those 37's on it...it bearlys makes 60mph on hwy run......they are heavy as humm you know what...and yes..any little incline will knock it down to nothing, thank goodness florida is flat.i never thought about using greese in the diff...although it sounds like a great idea to help stop leaks....my Rig is always in the shop, due to roughing it up out here in the florida everglades, im always looking for away to improve handling or something of the sort...

Killahass....you need a pipe bender in order to fabricate a descent exo cage aka Hoop, otherwise it will come out square....nothing is wrong with square..but its what you want.....im pretty sure there is allot of great fabricators in your area, have them bend the pipe for you and weld it yourself......check around especially those muffler shops....it beats paying 1600.00 bucks your so right........parts for defenders here in the u.s is wayy too expensive...so i fabricate allot of stuff on my truck, otherwise give Justin a call, he's on your side of the woods...great guy.......

 

[Snagger]

well to be honest with you...Snagger...i did that when i had the other wheels on it....with those 37's on it...it bearlys makes 60mph on hwy run......they are heavy as humm you know what...and yes..any little incline will knock it down to nothing, thank goodness florida is flat.i never thought about using greese in the diff...although it sounds like a great idea to help stop leaks....my Rig is always in the shop, due to roughing it up out here in the florida everglades, im always looking for away to improve handling or something of the sort...
.

Well, that sounds closer to what I'd expect from a 12J, but you stills seem to be doing well. Of course, the big tyres will be causing your speedo to under-read a little (unless you had it recalibrated).

Sorry, I wasn't clear about the swivel grease - I was responding to Rovertrader's comment on the first page of this thread, not suggesting that you put oil in your diffs. Don't do that; diffs need EP90 (the 4-pin diffs in later Defenders from about 2002 and onwards use 75W oil instead, but I think older units are supposed to stay with 90). It's the steering swivels at each end of the front axle that can be filled with the 1-shot grease, but I'd only recommend it if they don't hold oil. Remember that if oil was leaking out, water can just as easily get in, so while 1-shot may stay in worn swivels more easily, wading is definitely not recommended until you replace the seals or swivels, especially as the contaminated 1-shot can't easily be drained.

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

alright thanks i have access to a pipe bender so thats no problem really i figured if you had any tips for when you made it if you wanted to share.

 

[Dmljohnson]

Bend your long pcs first....1 side at time.....don't worry about it being too long..you can always cut the ends off, hold it up to the truck till your satisfied with the bends....make sure your angles is right...you want it run along side your windshield......make sure the space between your exo cage and windshield top and button is the same measurement......when your happy with it..do the other side...build it using the same measurement as the first.....once that is done cut your end where you want it..top and button...I made the mounting brackets and just tack it, just for lining up only...do both side, once you have both sides where you want it...do your cross bars, upper and lower..just tac it..nothing permanent...when your satisfied weld everything in place...off the truck....

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

Bend your long pcs first....1 side at time.....don't worry about it being too long..you can always cut the ends off, hold it up to the truck till your satisfied with the bends....make sure your angles is right...you want it run along side your windshield......make sure the space between your exo cage and windshield top and button is the same measurement......when your happy with it..do the other side...build it using the same measurement as the first.....once that is done cut your end where you want it..top and button...I made the mounting brackets and just tack it, just for lining up only...do both side, once you have both sides where you want it...do your cross bars, upper and lower..just tac it..nothing permanent...when your satisfied weld everything in place...off the truck....

THANKS! what tubing you use?

 

[Dmljohnson]

I used 1.75, the 1.5 I thought was a little too thin......now I know guys build them using 1.75 for their outer and 1.5 for their cross bars....I used 1.75 right through...it all depends what your looking for....oh when you put in your cross bars open up your front vents and make sure it clears it.......Make sure you weld on your light bar for your fogs..or add your holes to the cross bar...here is Zeus going through the Everglades....allot of Mosquitos out there around this time of year...

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

ok cool i figured it was 1.75 thanks!

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

heres some more pictures!

 

[Dmljohnson]

sweet...i you have to luv it....one of my favorite colours too.....

 

[killahaas@gmail.com]

thanks man!