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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
Wiring harness woes/Td5 chassis swap
Hi, I'm in the middle of a full strip down and probably going to swap the chassis for a new galvanised one in due course. Wanted to get the seat box off to clean and paint but realised to do this have to remove the wiring harness. To do this assume have to pull all the bulkhead wiring harness parts through and out of the bulkhead (which I need to do to get at the totally stripped down bulkhead to get that all cleaned, treated and painted before swap over.

How on earth do I get the bulkhead wiring harness out? Can't see how this will allow me to get the wiring parts out of the seat box as the holes will be too small. Am I missing something obvious?

Help please before I either break something or go mad!


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Post #717930 15th Jul 2018 8:55pm
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6092

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Tried pulling it from the other way? (ie, ECU end back through the bulkhead)....

That way it'll just be the two large ECU plugs and a few relay sockets/other engine plugs
Post #717931 15th Jul 2018 9:01pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
Indeed, as above; there should only be one length of cabling in convoluted tubing connecting the bulkhead to seatbox. You will just have to pull the big grommet out of the ecu compartment then the ecu plugs and relays will fit out. All of the cables to the underseat fuse box easily unplug from below it. You will also have to seperate the OBD plug from the centre seatbox lid and the handbrake warning switch.

Battery cables are self explanatory

Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #717935 15th Jul 2018 9:09pm
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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
I thought that but took everything out that I could and not sure the the box of tricks and big plugs will go through. Will have to look again as seems nuts to have to pull the whole thing out just to clear the seatbox out.

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Post #717939 15th Jul 2018 9:16pm
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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
So should be able to remove seat box wiring easier than I thought. To strip the whole vehicle electrical harness out of the vehicle do I start by pulling the rear harness back through the chassis, pull the seat box wiring out (battery compartment done), then remove the seat box. To get the bulkhead cleared have to pull the wires out the other way then.

Must say that this step is proper freaking me out!

If I'm doing a chassis swap do I need to disconnect everything from the engine/gear box also so can lift then and attach to new chassis?

Advice from those that have done it before very welcome.

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Post #717944 15th Jul 2018 9:27pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
As i said before. All the cables unplug from the fusebox so you can get them out. Turn the ecu plugs sideways and they come out Thumbs Up 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #717946 15th Jul 2018 9:33pm
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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
thanks Steve. Will have another look tomorrow.
Post #717953 15th Jul 2018 10:13pm
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
The seatbox is no problem as said and I know as I did this: (not my picture but I did the same)




In front off the bulkhead are severall connectors that make smaller pieces off the harness. That makes life easier with dismanteling too. Just remember or use Rave to find the placement off the connectors when you are building again.

I had some defenders in parts a few times:



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After each one I promise myself: Never again. Rolling with laughter Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #717980 16th Jul 2018 8:00am
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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
thanks for advice, worked a treat and got the whole harness out this evening. God help me when I try and put it all back together again! Will be a miracle if everything works!

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Post #718135 16th Jul 2018 10:27pm
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Lancerdoc999



Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 205

United Kingdom 
Is this chassis worth saving?
My original plan was to strip down to the chassis and then clean it up and repair what needed then paint etc. Now starting to wonder if worth the effort. Probably needs a near rear crossmember, repairs to front dumb irons, repair/replace passenger outrigger and theres a hole in the plate where the fuel filter sits. (see pics) A new chassis costs £1890 + vat from Richards. The hours I will spend cleaning and repairing the chassis vs getting a new one seems a bit pointless. Theres lots of pitting/surface rust. No idea what its like inside.

What do people think.



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Post #718137 16th Jul 2018 10:33pm
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V8GPC



Member Since: 18 Jul 2016
Location: Manchester
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 
if you get a galvanised chassis - do it once to it right! plus while its a rolling chassis you can easily dinitrol the inside of the new chassis and even paint the outside... then it should last forever. You've already done the hard work already - just the suspension to do - and a nice refresh of that will make the vehicile feel like new.

Thumbs Up
Post #718147 17th Jul 2018 5:56am
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2749

United Kingdom 
Definitely replace the chassis if you have got that far. A galvanised chassis will also increase the value of your Landy by at least the cost of the chassis, and probably a fair bit more.
Post #718169 17th Jul 2018 7:33am
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2639

Scotland 
If you can afford it then a new chassis is a worthwhile investment if you're going to keep the vehicle.

I would go with Marsland over Richards if you can get hold of one.
Post #718174 17th Jul 2018 8:08am
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familymad



Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3481

 2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
Chassis swap vote 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI
Post #718178 17th Jul 2018 8:27am
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1841

 
Re: Is this chassis worth saving?
Lancerdoc999 wrote:
The hours I will spend cleaning and repairing the chassis vs getting a new one seems a bit pointless. Theres lots of pitting/surface rust. No idea what its like inside.


Chassis vote here - especially when, judging by the pics, you have the space to do it.

Whenever something gets to that stage, it's not just the hours of work involved, it's the idea at the back of your mind that you're just waiting for the next problem to appear. Sods law says it's in an awkward place; you won't notice until it's got a good hold; and then there's more work to fix it again.... and again.

Speaking entirely from personal experience: I had the first galved chassis fitted 14/15 years ago. Any day now I'm hoping to get the car back from having that replaced because it was a "Friday afternoon" job. I haven't been down to see that chassis since it was taken off the car, but I'm told it's a lot worse than should be expected from a galved chassis that 'new'. That one, the poor one, was a Richards chassis. It's a Marsland that's gone on now. On that basis I'd second Retro's suggestion of Marsland over Richards, though I know both have their supporters. As I say, personal experience only.

Finally - on the pic of the wiring loom. I felt exactly the same when I did my bulkhead - a pile of wires on the garage floor which I doubted I'd ever get to work again. Fitted it up, sat in the car, heart in mouth, turned the key - started first time! Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...
Post #718182 17th Jul 2018 8:41am
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