Graham Jackson's TDI 110 Defender

[Andrew Walcker]

Bonnet stay looks great, had no idea LR did away with that on the newer models as I thought is was one of their better ideas! Gotta love George at RDS; seems like he carries a better inventory than Solihull! Glad I'm not the only one that feels like these projects are never done. Interested to hear about the dash panel and rear load rack?

 

[kellymoe]

Graham,

Your truck sits up nice and proper. What coils springs did you end up using? My 130 seems to nose down a bit even with the HD OME coils.

 

[Dmarchand]

ah Graham. Wish you had posted about the bonnet stay.

How about no bonnet stay? Sure makes life easy...

Looking good though! What kind of dash panel? I put in the Mud UK one. I dig it and highly recommend it.

 

[gjackson]

Interested to hear about the dash panel and rear load rack?

Andrew. The dash panel is the one from Mud UK. I got it from EE. Very nice unit. Took a little modifying due to my late model dash, but it has a lot of space and makes a nice mounting point for the Icom 706MKIIG. The load rack is mainly a basket behind the front seats for holding all those loose items you use often that end up no where in particular and in hard to get to places.

Your truck sits up nice and proper. What coils springs did you end up using?

Kelly. I am running custom Safari Gard progressive springs in the front and OME 754s in the rear. The OMEs are 1100lbs over stock and give a lift of around 3". Mine have been well abused, so I don't think they are stiff as they were, and now they ride very nicely.

How about no bonnet stay? Sure makes life easy...

I briefly considered struts, but with a spare on the bonnet? Just wasn't sure. And the stay was $15, so quite the deal. :wings:

Thanks all. I'll try and update more this weekend and post pics of the dash panel at least.

cheers

 

[flyingwil]

nice work on sourcing the bonnet stay. I am glad the story you told me made it your site... man you have some stories on that 110.
I had the chance to drive it... it really is a B*tchin' LR Defender 110!

PS.. Thanks for everything while I was in your neck of the woods.

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Andrew. The dash panel is the one from Mud UK. I got it from EE. Very nice unit. Took a little modifying due to my late model dash, but it has a lot of space and makes a nice mounting point for the Icom 706MKIIG. The load rack is mainly a basket behind the front seats for holding all those loose items you use often that end up no where in particular and in hard to get to places.

Sounds like some worthy projects. I looked long and hard at that dash panel from Mud UK and also the one from Iron Goat

http://www.ig4x4.com/catalog.htm

In the end I took the lazy way out and have done nothing. Post some pics when convenient. BTW, nice choice with the 706MKIIG, great unit.

 

[gjackson]

... man you have some stories on that 110.

That's all we do -- collect stories!

:coffeedrink:

And no worries Wil. I know you were coming through town fast, but it was good to hook up.

cheers

 

[gjackson]

BTW, nice choice with the 706MKIIG, great unit.

That was a long and hard decision to come to. I looked at 5 radios, and was leaning towards a dual band. But with a trip upcoming to Oz, I thought it would be good to have HF. Although it was spendy, I haven't regretted it yet!!

cheers

 

[gjackson]

I concur with Dmarchand. The Mud-UK dash console is very good. Comes blank and you can add whatever you want. Pic of my new dash below.

cheers

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Graham, the Mudd UK dash looks great, what was involved with installing it? I've heard there is some cutting involved, how much and can you un-install it easily? Also, how are you running wires into the middle of the dash? I swear the Defender is the hardest vehcile to hide and route wires in that I've ever seen! Keep the pics coming!

 

[flyingwil]

Graham, the Mudd UK dash looks great, what was involved with installing it?

X2! Looks great.

 

[gjackson]

Okay, I've updated the site:

http://www.africaoverland.org/vehicle_iteration3.htm

Andrew, I've been pretty diligent trying to keep my wiring neat and tidy. All internal stuff is routed through the main dash hole and along the cavity at the back of the dash. It isn't easy unless you take the whole thing apart. Then its really easy. But either way, this is just a temporary solution. I've got plans for something a lot better. (VDE, hint hint!)

cheers

 

[ShearPin]

BFG MT's

More great updates... I've been looking at the MudUK versus the Goat myself for some gauges - great picks of the instal.

I noticed you're running BFG's now - what size did you go with?

Henry
www.4x4freedom.com

 

[overlander]

I have the Goat installed in my 110. the advantage of the MudUK is cost and ability to accomodate double din stereo's, handy if you want to go with a touchscreen type format.

 

[gjackson]

I noticed you're running BFG's now - what size did you go with?

265/75R16

cheers