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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Should I?
Morning Chaps,

I’ve been offered a 1990 90 truck cab, I don’t know much about it other than it was a farm vehicle and failed its mot in 2017 and has been parked up ever since. Apparently it runs and was driven to where it’s now parked.
There’s a lot of rust and a fair bit of panel damage (farm truck).

I’m not worried about the work involved as I’m looking for a new long term project. But I just don’t know what to offer for it….
The seller isn’t giving anything away about how much she wants but is willing to accept that she probably paid over the top (she bought it from the farmer to ‘do up’) although I don’t know what she paid about 2 years ago.

Any of you got any suggestions?


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 “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060310 12th Feb 2025 9:32am
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I Like Old Skool



Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 828

United Kingdom 1994 Defender 110 300 Tdi ST Coniston Green
What engine? Age and grill decal suggest it is pre-tdi so probably the troublesome td.
Bodywork will likely be ok if you aren't after a showroom truck, but doors will be toast so expect to be replacing them. Bulkhead also possibly more holes than swiss cheese but actually looks ok around the top hinges in your pictures.

Chassis will be scrap or require major repairs. The rear cross member has already had some crude plating repairs.

As for value.... Who knows. I would suggest £1.5-2k max given what these have sold for. Anything that needs replacing WILL cost 2-3 times more than you think it should!
Post #1060320 12th Feb 2025 10:22am
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jim4244



Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 853

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
Walk away.... Walk away.....

Jim
Post #1060321 12th Feb 2025 10:27am
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 883

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
You are essentially just buying a log book… what’s that worth to you. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1060322 12th Feb 2025 10:37am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Does this help to identify the engine?




Click image to enlarge
 “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060327 12th Feb 2025 11:19am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 812

United Kingdom 
Bulkhead and doors could be fine, at least looking at the photos.

Really depends what you are after at the end of the day.

Also depends what it failed on for the MoT.

Chassis looks rusty from here, but might be possible to patch, esp if you can weld yourself. So you might be able to make a runner out of it for little outlay or effort. Which as a vehicle for maybe doing RTV trials or green laning in, might be idea.

Often the chassis looks worse on the vehicle and once you've stripped it down for replacement, you'll see it probably wasn't as bad as first thought.

However, if your end goal is to have a nice tidy vehicle. This is probably a poor starting point, as everything will need work. I bet the interior is tatty too.

Obviously if it is cheap enough.... then maybe still worth a punt. But if you then plan to replace chassis, engine, gearbox, all bodywork, suspension, axles and interior. You'll quickly add up to a lot more than just buying a tidier example to begin with.


So, how much of any work would you be doing yourself? And what is your final goal?

I agree, it does rather look like a 2.5TD 19j than a Tdi. The 19j isn't a bad engine, more refined than a Tdi. But a lot slower. It looks like it has a drum rear axle.

A 2.5TD will also be an LT-77 with the earlier seatbox and transmission tunnel. You can change all of these of course, but if your plan was Td5 or M57, then it is a bigger more costly job to convert.
Post #1060328 12th Feb 2025 11:24am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
jim4244 wrote:
Walk away.... Walk away.....

Jim


Is that a bit defeatist?! Laughing “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060329 12th Feb 2025 11:25am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 812

United Kingdom 
Norfolk-n-chance wrote:
Does this help to identify the engine?




Click image to enlarge

Not really. 1990 was when the Defender and 200Tdi came out (I'm not sure on exact dates). Lifting the bonnet would be the easiest way to tell.
Post #1060330 12th Feb 2025 11:26am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
 “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060334 12th Feb 2025 11:32am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
Norfolk-n-chance wrote:
Does this help to identify the engine?




Click image to enlarge

Not really. 1990 was when the Defender and 200Tdi came out (I'm not sure on exact dates). Lifting the bonnet would be the easiest way to tell.


What am I looking for?
Does it literally say Tdi on the engine? “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060337 12th Feb 2025 11:33am
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1144

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
This is a great project if you like a challenge. Everything is fixable. Cost wise probably not viable unless you are ok to keep the farm look going (limiting cost) and not planning to offload, you will need a long ownership to dilute your cost. (I have a P38 so I know that game)

Truck cab IS the cutest shape of the lot by far!!

Obviously not worth a lot as is. If that was for sale to me in France I would go for it and see it at as a great multi stage, never to be perfect, makes no financial sense project - just the way I like them!
Post #1060338 12th Feb 2025 11:33am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
To be honest, that is the way I’m looking at it.

I rebuilt a series 3 many years ago and had a hankering for another ever since. This one just happened to come up in conversation with a customer.

I’m not stuck for space and it could take as long as it takes (the longer the better so I can sneak things past the finance director! Rolling with laughter )

Defo not looking to make it concours, if it ain’t dented it ain’t lived, right? “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060340 12th Feb 2025 11:39am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 812

United Kingdom 
Norfolk-n-chance wrote:


What am I looking for?
Does it literally say Tdi on the engine?

Google is your friend... Thumbs Up

2.5TD has no intercooler and does looks slightly different to a 200Tdi.

The 200Tdi is actually essentially the same block and is only a development from the 2.5TD.


The MoT fail doesn't look too bad really, anything electrical could just be corroded fuses that need a wiggle, new bulbs or a bit of wiring.

Can't believe a fuel leak would be that much bother either.

Then rust, although without seeing it, it is hard to tell how bad it really is.

Chassis replacement is an option. Although you'll find a lot of other things to do if you decide to strip it down.

The thing is, if you plan an engine swap, then you'd want to maybe get a latter chassis.

I'd have thought in its current state its 'true' value is £500-1500. But people seem to pay crazy money for LR's these days.

End goal is the most important though. Esp if you are going to pay someone todo the work. You could easily blow £5k, £10k or even £15k on parts. At which point buying a tidy Td5 or Puma would make way more sense.
Post #1060342 12th Feb 2025 11:53am
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jim4244



Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 853

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
Norfolk-n-chance wrote:
jim4244 wrote:
Walk away.... Walk away.....

Jim


Is that a bit defeatist?! Laughing


I know. Sorry about that...

Its just that without the current owner being clear about their expectations regarding the price I would set a budget and start looking on ebay, auto trader gum tree etc.

Jim
Post #1060344 12th Feb 2025 11:59am
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Norfolk-n-chance



Member Since: 01 Sep 2019
Location: Usually in the garage!
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
Norfolk-n-chance wrote:


What am I looking for?
Does it literally say Tdi on the engine?

Google is your friend... Thumbs Up

2.5TD has no intercooler and does looks slightly different to a 200Tdi.

The 200Tdi is actually essentially the same block and is only a development from the 2.5TD.


The MoT fail doesn't look too bad really, anything electrical could just be corroded fuses that need a wiggle, new bulbs or a bit of wiring.

Can't believe a fuel leak would be that much bother either.

Then rust, although without seeing it, it is hard to tell how bad it really is.

Chassis replacement is an option. Although you'll find a lot of other things to do if you decide to strip it down.

The thing is, if you plan an engine swap, then you'd want to maybe get a latter chassis.

I'd have thought in its current state its 'true' value is £500-1500. But people seem to pay crazy money for LR's these days.

End goal is the most important though. Esp if you are going to pay someone todo the work. You could easily blow £5k, £10k or even £15k on parts. At which point buying a tidy Td5 or Puma would make way more sense.


I will do all the work myself so I’m hoping for a strip, fettle and rebuild. Definitely not ruling out a chassis swap though. If the current engine is a td and not a tdi is it really that bad? It wouldn’t be a daily driver, just for pottering about in. Is it just that they’re low on power? Comparable to a 2.25 series 3? “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
Post #1060349 12th Feb 2025 12:14pm
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