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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
50th anniversary GB165 restoration.
Hi all

I just thought there may well be interest in the project I have got going on..
I have been the owner / keeper ( I was once told you never actually own a landie, they just come and live with you for a bit ) of a 50th anniversary defender no GB 165 for the last 6 years.

when I got her she was in very very good condition for her age having been looked after well, apart from multi point LPG she was cosmetically standard and had covered only 63k miles. The reason I bought her over the others I saw was the fact that apart from a solid rot free chassis and bulkhead she had been treated to several un noticeable mods that dramatically improved the drive such as improved brakes, overfinch quick rack conversion, overfinch suspension fettle and a few small engine mods to help pep up the power.

There were a few age related marks on the body and at some point she had her roof sprayed thanks to a workshop who left her under a ramp / lift underneath a car that was dripping brake fluid! but that didn't bother me as my intention was to have her restored at some point..

I first decided to treat her to a proper engine fettle and thanks to the guys at RPI she now has stage 2 heads, tubular manifolds & decat, a mark adams chip, new piper cam & valve train kit inc oversized valves.. and BOY does that all make a difference! I have never owned a defender that will do 3 figures with a 20ft fibreglass speedboat behind it until now!

Well fast forward 5 years, two redundancies, a divorce and the usual family rubbish I am now thankfully in a position to have her restored and recently handed GB165 over to Simon Durant the renowned "50th"Guru.
Below are pics of the work to date and a couple from before the work was started.. as you can see she was no "trailer Queen" and did actually work for her living! I will update the post as soon as I get more!

Unfortunately / fortunately ( depending on how you view it ) I am now expecting the arrival of my first child so my pride and joy will have to make way for a more family focused vehicle ( thinking D4 ) BUT I wanted to make sure she got preserved as it took me so long to find a good one I think it would be doing her a huge disservice to not preserve her as best I can!
it will break my heart parting with her, I pine for all the ladies I've sold over the years BUT hopefully I will get to keep her for a short while after the work is done!


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NOT my wheels! just some loaners while mine are being re furbed!

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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #519987 1st Apr 2016 2:13pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
incase you havent seen Simons work here are a few before and after pics of his work!..

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic25530.html ( another one simon has done! )


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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green


Last edited by jimblowscash on 1st Apr 2016 2:59pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #520006 1st Apr 2016 2:50pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
The engine before re fitting...


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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #520008 1st Apr 2016 2:51pm
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steve E



Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Tenby
Posts: 2073

Wales 
Love it
Please keep posting the rebuild pics Thumbs Up

Hope you get to keep it when finished Very Happy
Post #520020 1st Apr 2016 3:18pm
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SimonDavies



Member Since: 15 Mar 2012
Location: Swansea
Posts: 244

Wales 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Zambezi Silver
What an awesome job you're doing.
What did you use on the rear cross member? Or is it new?
Post #520078 1st Apr 2016 6:27pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
steve E wrote:
Love it
Please keep posting the rebuild pics Thumbs Up

Hope you get to keep it when finished Very Happy


Believe it or not it's the original! The landie had been wax oiled every other year from new and the chassis and outriggers are as good as new!

I did say she was a good one!
Post #520098 1st Apr 2016 7:04pm
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3782

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
IMHO the 50th is the best Defender ever built.
You'll have buyers lining up to own this one.
You'd better be sure you want to let her go, because the way these will appreciate in years to come, you may never be able to buy another one.
What sort of HP are you thinking with the engine?..Will you put it on the rollers?
Fantastic project, Pickles.
Post #520121 1st Apr 2016 8:17pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
I haven't put her on the rollers as its a pretty much known quantity ( I used to be the sales manager at piper cams )
There is bags more torque over a standard 4.0 and it's improved the top end dramatically, they produce 180 BHP as standard however they are seriously restricted my crappy cast manifolds and poor head flow. By going stage 2 heads with oversized valves and 3 angle seats with tubular manifolds I've upped the flow rate by nearly 40%, coupled with a slightly more aggressive cam she now picks up at 3800 revs and throws you back in the seat like a sports car!
Post #520140 1st Apr 2016 9:20pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10733

England 
Awesome landy when you have got it all finished, i really do hope that you CAN keep it Thumbs Up 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.
Post #520691 3rd Apr 2016 9:19pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
Thank you, I honestly wish I could but the need for a sensibile family car is greater than a toy .... Well so the other half keeps telling me!!
Post #520877 4th Apr 2016 3:20pm
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pjb



Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Sunny Oxford
Posts: 1244

looks so good

Good to see the body work done properly Bow down not just a quick tart up sadly done on so many

when for sale put on here & you'll have a queue Thumbs Up 2020 P300 HSE
Post #520880 4th Apr 2016 3:26pm
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JJ



Member Since: 18 May 2009
Location: Winchester
Posts: 932

United Kingdom 1987 Defender 110 V8 Petrol CSW Corris Grey
You need to remind the other half that there are very few family cars that will be worth more when the little ones have grown up. A sorted 50th is almost a pension , it is retirement planning or University fund. You are the very model of a sensible parent. Bow down HR064 Hampshire and Berkshire 4x4 Response
Post #520883 4th Apr 2016 3:29pm
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
pjb wrote:
looks so good

Good to see the body work done properly Bow down not just a quick tart up sadly done on so many

when for sale put on here & you'll have a queue Thumbs Up


I have to admit the thought of giving it a quick tart up and cashing in on silly prices did cross my mind, but having seen one of simons restorations in the flesh.. well it is to a landy fan simply breathtaking.. I couldn't sell my pride and joy short by cheating and to be honest there is a little bit of me that is plotting a way to keep her but no matter what happens at least I can say ive had one and it was awesome!

Once it is done it will be properly photographed and posted for sale here and on the 50th forum and I dont mind admitting that if she does go I will cry... alot!
Post #521109 5th Apr 2016 11:22am
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jimblowscash



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: kent
Posts: 50

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Atlantis Blue
JJ wrote:
You need to remind the other half that there are very few family cars that will be worth more when the little ones have grown up. A sorted 50th is almost a pension , it is retirement planning or University fund. You are the very model of a sensible parent. Bow down


Unfortunately mine is a feisty once who has already threatened to remove various privileges as well as body parts if a sensible family car isn't on the drive, and as much as my defender means to me I happen to have a pretty good trade off Wink

I did toy with the idea of putting her into deep storage however I have had SO much fun actually using her for her intended purpose ( the Defender not the Mrs ) it would be criminal to shut her away and deny someone else that enjoyment that only a brutish auto V8 can give.

At least I can say "ive had one and it is one of the best" and that in itself has been worth it!

p.s SE140 you may have seen her in action on the IOW Cool
Post #521113 5th Apr 2016 11:31am
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3782

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
Whatever.
Disposing of the best Defender ever made will be a traumatic time for you, especially when you see her when she's "finished", in which regard progressive pics of rebuild, engine instal, "finished" etc are mandatory,...please.
Thanks, Pickles.
Post #521373 5th Apr 2016 10:21pm
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