 | Home > My Defender > My new (to me) Defender 90 Puma |
 
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025  
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Decided it was time I had some extra security on the Defender, as it is so easy to break into them. The ultimate issue is the car being nicked I guess so after looking at devices to prevent this, I have bought a pedal lock.
I previously had a Clutch claw, which was fine, but very rattley in the car. This time I have bought the 'Ardcase, and the box they also sell to hold it when not in use, as I don't want to leave it at home when I am out in the Defender and the clutch claw stowage was always an issue. In a crash it could be a lethal missile. It's not cheap overall at just over £200 inc VAT and shipping, but it's peace of mind at the end of the day.  Click image to enlarge 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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8th Dec 2015 8:06am |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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The extra long fir trees arrived and they are in light grey so to use them with my new headlining I needed to spray them.
I still had the can of matt black Plasticote so gave them a couple of light coats and one coat of matt lacquer too. Click image to enlarge Just tested the one in the centre rib of the rear section and it looks perfect, blends in nicely and the extra long shaft ensure it is well seated, it will prevent the rear section sagging as they can do. For anyone whose rear section is bowed in the centre, there is a pre-drilled hole in your headlining, and you can feel it with your finger. In a 90 it is about 8 inches back from the light fixing. See pic below. Click image to enlarge There is also a pre drilled hole in the centre rib of the roof in line with this hole, so you could do this easy mod also with a standard fir tree clip (I only had to get the extra long ones coz of the material I stuck to the roof and the extra thickness of the alcantara headlining) If for some reason yours does not have the pre-drilled holes you can STILL fix it, just use a 7mm HSS drill and do it yourself. It's such an easy fix to a saggy looking rear section. 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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10th Dec 2015 11:09am |
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| Barney12 Member Since: 09 Jun 2015 Location: South West Posts: 744 
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Hi RRUK
When I stripped the roof lining from my MY15 90 there was clear evidence of swarf at the various points where the firtree holes were. This leads me to believe that they may actually drill the headlining and panel 'in-situe'. This would make sense as it would prevent any alignment issues with these 'hand built' [cough] butties! Thus if anyone out there doesn't have the firtrees it may be that they don't have the hole either! As you say thouhg its just a quick drill out with a HSS bit. Not too much pressure though guys otherwsie you may have the begginings of a sun roof  |
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10th Dec 2015 11:16am |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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Yes that's what everyone finds, the swarf falls out as you lower the headlining so it pays to wear goggles in case.
They just drill and fit as they go coz let's face it, things would never line up. Yes, as a word of warning, be careful when drilling so you only go through one layer! 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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10th Dec 2015 11:31am |
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| YOLO110 Member Since: 14 Feb 2015 Location: Perth Oz and Stansted UK Posts: 1641 
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Ahhh...
A long drill bit drilling too deeply That explains why so many Series Defenders have a 'tropical roof' fitted (to cover up all those holes!)  YOLO... You Only Live Once... |
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10th Dec 2015 11:39am |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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In fairness, you have to be a real clutz with a drill to go through your roof panel as well, as once the drill goes through the first layer of the rib, you feel the pressure release and you would then need to start drilling a new hole to go to the outside world. 2016 D4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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10th Dec 2015 12:23pm |
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| g-mack Member Since: 07 Jan 2014 Location: northumberland Posts: 1967
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coming along nicely
 thanks for detailed info on fur trees and head lining install, Im busy refitting mine after a diy suede re trim! My 109 thread
my youtube channel |
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10th Dec 2015 5:52pm |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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If the weather holds out I should get lots of things done over the weekend. I'm shooting Saturday and the Defender isn't ready so it gets a day off, will take the RR instead.
My seat riser for the passenger side has arrived. Jobs list now: Drill holes and put long fir trees in headlining centre join Replace missing long fir trees on side panels Fit Ardcase stowage box to passenger side seat box with rivnuts Fit front seats on riser rails Fit cubby box Refit dog guard Wash it and take pictures while it looks brand new! 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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10th Dec 2015 11:30pm |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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Put the rear interior light back up into the headlining before breakfast and work.
This can be a bit fiddly, as the odd shape of the earthing back plate needs to be wiggled through the odd shape cut out in the headlining. Once you have wiggled it through the tricky part is keeping it in place while you put the two 8mm nuts on the threads that hold it together. I found that using a piece of stiff wire with a 90 degree bend at the end, feeding it through the light where the bulb sits and through the hole in the back plate means I can pull down on the wire, pulling the base against the headlining backing, then place the lamp unit over the top to expose the threads enough to wind the nuts on with the electric driver. Somehow I blew the 10A fuse on the circuit but this was easily traced and fixed. Looks like my Defender has NEVER blown a fuse as they were all still taped up from the factory. Good to know for peace of mind. Lights now working! 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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11th Dec 2015 9:56am |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7904 
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I like the ardcase and just wonder if you thought the holding case would fit on the back on the cubby box? I believe it is intend, like you say to sit on the driver or passenger seat box, but I feel these are pretty cramped already and wonder if it would fit on back of cubby? Just a thought? Thanks
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11th Dec 2015 10:11am |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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I had not thought about that but will see when it has arrived. Landy Bits n Bobs charge £20 for postage - you'd think it would at least arrive next day for that. 2016 D4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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11th Dec 2015 10:47am |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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The Ardcase and Ardsafe have arrived thankfully.
It is a VERY solid piece of work, pretty heavy too, which is good. There's no way I would mount this on the back of the cubby, for a start the cubby isn't wide enough for the existing mounting holes, but secondly due to the weight I want it mounted onto something more structural. I could see it making a mess of the lovely LRI cubby Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 2016 D4 HSE 1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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11th Dec 2015 12:55pm |
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| Venomator Member Since: 25 Aug 2014 Location: Peterborough Posts: 2087
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The Ardcase certainly looks a solid duty piece of kit...
But what retains the Ardcase in the Ardsafe? ...  Rog...
The GREEN One... MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color] |
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11th Dec 2015 1:27pm |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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It's a very snug fit, especially with the padding to reduce rattling. The weight of the unit alone will help secure it. 2016 D4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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11th Dec 2015 2:57pm |
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