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Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Keswick Green

20 year wait over

May as well post a little intro before I go about asking questions.

As a little kid, my great grandad had a much abused Series 2a on the family farm. Went everywhere and did everything, including towing heavy trailers of cattle up hills with its wheezy 2.25. It was the first car I ever drove, on his knee when I couldn’t touch the pedals, and finally by myself when I could.

When he passed and the farm was dissolved a family relative sold it for £200, I was gutted but as a teenager in no position to do anything.

Fast forward 20 years I’m finally in a position to get my own, I did try to buy said Series 2a, as I know where it is, but the guy won’t sell. It’s in bits in his garage, where it’s been for the last decade, but it’ll be done “one day”.

After a couple of years of trying I’ve given up and finally gone out and bought my own Landy. This came up not far away:

Click image to enlarge

Immediately drove it back to the old family farm. That’s the field I first remember bouncing along as a kid.

It’s an F reg station wagon originally, converted to a 300tdi back in 2012. The previous owner bought it in 2015, and then rebuilt it onto a new galvanised chassis and as a pickup in 2017 through 2019 and has done a superb job. The underneath is sorted with every bush replaced, and it drives surprisingly wel with no rattles. It was protected in 2019 but I’m going to lanoguard it this week before I head out and enjoy it some more.

I’ve only had it a week but it’s kept me busy - refitted the rear quarter windows as they were loose and noisy, indicators stopped working today which I traced to the hazard fuse, and it needs a service so I’m waiting for some oil to arrive from paddocks for that.

In terms of plans I want to convert it back to station wagon, partly for some semblance of originality but also for practicality, and I fancy matching the bonnet with the rest. That’s it for now other than to take it out into the hills and enjoy it!

4th Jun 2022 8:41pm

Co1

Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3677

Welcome to the forum, and nice truck!

Have a read of Zagato’s thread on corrosion protection in the maintenance section before you go to work with the lanoguard, there is a wealth of info there.

5th Jun 2022 7:21am

Caterham

Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6300

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

great combo of colours, wheels, tyres etc.
hope you have many a happy hour

5th Jun 2022 10:42am

Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

Thanks both! I’ve already had a skim through if that’s the thread I’m thinking of but I’ll definitely go through it again properly before starting. Cleaned it thoroughly underneath yesterday with a small stiff bristle brush - that was arduous- so going to leave it a few days to dry now.

I’ve always been a strong believer in leaving Landys with their war wounds and old paint however I am getting fond of the shinyness of this one and I do love the wheels! I might end up waxing it soon if I’m not careful!

Disappointingly Mo has just confirmed that it won’t fit into my garage with a hardtop (80.25 inches tall with a hardtop vs 79 inches high garage door). I reckon it’d drop the 1/4 inch with the extra weight...so I’m now wondering how much a heavy wheel and carrier on the back, plus maybe drawers would drop the back, and then Alive comfort springs if needed. Not quite sold on the whole lowering a defender thing yet though.

Dig trenches in my garage floor maybe? The lengths we go to...

5th Jun 2022 10:50am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

How about a soft top? They're a bit lower and also very cool

Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

5th Jun 2022 11:31am

Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

That’s interesting, I’ve been told they’re actually taller so I discounted that quite quickly. I’ll see if I can find some numbers

5th Jun 2022 11:32am

Co1

Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3677

It’s expensive, but air suspension would allow you to lower it when you head into the garage.

5th Jun 2022 12:09pm

Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

Great idea but definitely beyond my means unfortunately

5th Jun 2022 12:11pm

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3418

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black

Dave12345 wrote:

Disappointingly Mo has just confirmed that it won’t fit into my garage with a hardtop (80.25 inches tall with a hardtop vs 79 inches high garage door). I reckon it’d drop the 1/4 inch with the extra weight...so I’m now wondering how much a heavy wheel and carrier on the back, plus maybe drawers would drop the back, and then Alive comfort springs if needed. Not quite sold on the whole lowering a defender thing yet though.

If you have standard springs, they are rated at 225lb/in. So you would need 450lb right above the axle for it to lower by 1". But since the weight of spare wheel etc is further aft, there would be some leverage, so less weight produces more compression on the rear springs.

There was a thread with a few pics about Defenders that were lowered 1".

BTW, nice Defender

Looks like it had a proper 300tdi conversion with the air intake pickup on the right wing. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

5th Jun 2022 2:49pm

Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

Looks like I need 5 bags of compost in the back then

Yeah the previous owner’s attention to detail was superb. He may be on here, so hi if you are!

I’ve got photos of the resto showing it before and being built back up from the chassis so I can see how it’s been done properly. Very happy with it and plan to keep it for as long as the government will let us.

5th Jun 2022 4:03pm

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3418

You will be amazed how comfortable a 90 becomes when it is loaded at the back

1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

5th Jun 2022 4:42pm

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Looks great, welcome to the fold

Is your garage door "up and over"? I had one, and removed the door, now just using a door hinged from the sides, works great!

I've also lowered my Defender (6 years ago!!!) ever so slightly - but I was just looking for a better ride (less jolty) - that was a few years ago and I am still happy. Thread here https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic49065...oilsprings Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

6th Jun 2022 7:31am

Dave12345

Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

That’s useful to read thank you - good to see options other than alive too

7th Jun 2022 11:29am

boxoftricks

Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Home Counties
Posts: 747

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver

Welcome to the forum.

Lower the garage floor would be my recommendation. You can do it in a weekend.

7th Jun 2022 12:19pm

Oakseywick

Member Since: 20 Dec 2014
Location: Cirencester
Posts: 1000

Welcome to the mad house 😀 nice colour combo. Andy
Defender 90
Defender 110 XS
Cupra 290

7th Jun 2022 10:27pm

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