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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142
United Kingdom 
V8 90 Soft top thread! at last!
V8 90 Soft Top thread!

Its been a long time coming this thread, and in all honesty its one of those things id wanted to do but just couldn’t be arsed to keep up with. However! ive got a bit more time on my hands recently and I thought I would chronicle the mods ive been making to this landie.

I bought the Landie about 5 years ago. Never had one before (had bikes previously) and thought it would be fun. Ive never spannered anything - important as ive done 99% of this build myself with a friend of mine helping out when possible to lift the heavy bits.

Start point is this. A 1994 Defender 90 200tdi van. Paid 5k for it, pretty much bought the first one I saw. Made every rookie mistake lol. The one thing I did right is buy the seller, no the vehicle. Bought it from a small local landie garage and they looked after it prior to me starting the big project!


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Which then rapidly got modded to this. 265s on 16" steel rims, koni dampers, springs, etc etc. winch and bumper, rr recovery etc. Also put some internal storage in the rear.


Click image to enlarge

About maybe 3 years ago, i decided id quite like a soft top, and bought the usual combo from allwheeltrim of the heavy duty stick set and mohair hood. Made a big difference for the better, and was actually quieter and warmed than with the van top, mostly due to condensation in the van.


Click image to enlarge

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Im particular happy with the door tops and rear tailgate from rocky mountain. Would highly recommend their stuff.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/HfcqSsF.jpg?1[/img]

Now the rebuild project started, maybe 3 years ago now and Its still a work in progress. My fault really and I could have had it on the road sooner, but just not had the time nor commitment lol. Id been meaning to create a thread since then, but never got around to it. Nows the time, and ill spend some time posting a catchup to where it is now…. This may take a while in itself lol.

Hopefully it proves interesting to someone, and id be happy to answer any questions. If you see anything wrong lol point it out! theres time yet to rectify Very Happy

Last edited by mikeh501 on 20th Dec 2017 7:40pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #670939 14th Dec 2017 7:49pm
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mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Looking great already Thumbs Up Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #670950 14th Dec 2017 8:36pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142
United Kingdom 
thanks Smile tbh it was in a great place before I took it apart lol. The crossmember was a bit tired and the bulkhead footwell on the pass side had a touch of rot, but otherwise good.
Post #670951 14th Dec 2017 8:38pm
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mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Keep the pics coming Thumbs Up Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #670952 14th Dec 2017 8:40pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142
United Kingdom 
The spec…

So on starting this, and having done quite a bit of off roading in the preceding few years I had an idea what I was after.

* Auto box
* Locking diffs
* Bigger tyres - actually taller, not necessarily wider. Running 265s at the time.
* Galv everything I could
* Stainless fasteners everwhere feasible.
* Suspension upgrade, lift kit etc
* Keep it fairly ratty on the body, not a garage queen. So didnt really consider a big paint job.

My initial idea was to build a rolling chassis, then do a lift and shift of the current body intact and just drop it on the new chassis and rewire. Didnt turn out like that buy hey, neither did the above spec.
Post #670953 14th Dec 2017 8:41pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142
United Kingdom 
The big project starts, accidentally…

So picture this, on holiday; in a premier inn near the london eye. Browsing the net, I see this auction of stock from a liquidation of a landie garage in birmingham. Apparently they were building landies for the US market and due to some of these not being paid for they went bust. Anyhow, spotted a v8 engine, and a NAS gale chassis. The details on the auction were next to useless, and I couldn’t go and view them….. I bidded…. and low and behold they were mine lol. Couldn’t believe it. Paid the princely sum of £1400 for the pair Very Happy Didnt realise how good a deal this was until much later.





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Oh Censored ! what have I done!

Click image to enlarge

Well as you can imagine this kinda spawned a rebuild project! more to follow.

Last edited by mikeh501 on 20th Dec 2017 7:40pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #670954 14th Dec 2017 8:42pm
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Enid_Puceflange



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1179
Scotland 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Baltic Blue
MORE MORE MORE!!! Thumbs Up

G My confidence has been writing cheques that my abilities can't cash for years.
Post #670958 14th Dec 2017 9:02pm
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3787
Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
Unreal story Mike, particularly the purchase of the V8 & chassis.
Can't wait for more pics & progress, Pickles.
Post #670965 14th Dec 2017 9:29pm
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SWR



Member Since: 03 Sep 2016
Location: Warwick
Posts: 33
England 
Following with interest. Thumbs Up

It's like a good book. Laughing Laughing
Post #670967 14th Dec 2017 9:42pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10383
United Kingdom 
Popcorn purchased.
Post #670980 14th Dec 2017 10:53pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4795
United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
BARGAIN! Cool 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #670982 14th Dec 2017 11:02pm
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Procta



Member Since: 03 Dec 2016
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 5235
United Kingdom 
BARGAIN! Thumbs Up Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back

Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it!
Post #670988 15th Dec 2017 1:06am
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ian series 1



Member Since: 17 Nov 2014
Location: south
Posts: 3127
United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Bonatti Grey
Nice one, what a result! Mr. Green 80" 80" 86" 88" 90"

Wanted, Forward Control Anything considered.
Post #670996 15th Dec 2017 6:17am
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Ellisboy



Member Since: 13 Oct 2013
Location: Deep South
Posts: 539
1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green
Thumbs Up

Stephen.
Post #670999 15th Dec 2017 6:59am
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Mash



Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: Guernsey
Posts: 1674
Guernsey 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
Going to be a great project Thumbs Up keep the updates coming Very Happy 90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html
90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html
110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html
52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html
D3 Hse - Fiona
Capri 2l S - Anna

Think I might have a problem............
Post #671024 15th Dec 2017 10:05am
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