The Defender thread

SafeSurfer

I am having great difficulty getting an insurance quote for a 1998 110 sw. When I brought it in from the north the VRT inspector put it on the log book as a 10 seater. I have now removed the front middle seat, so it is in effect a 9 seater. However my current insurers FBD won't quote me for it and a broker turned up blank as well. I am starting to get a little worried now as I have spent a lot of time and money making it the vehicle I want. I have seen an ad for a company called Majestic who offer specialist Land Rover insurance so I intend to try them in the morning. Does anyone have any other ideas who to try?

101sean

Try AXA but don't do it over the phone, go into an office. My CSW has 12 seats on the log book (I assume they can access the build from the chassis number) but only 5 fitted. AXA had no problem with it (or my dodgy UK driving record ) They weren't bothered by a long line of modifications either.

I'm now with Campion as once I had insurance here it was easier to shop around and they were a bit cheaper.

tom1ie

I have a 130 2008 model. Does anyone know is there some sort of after market accessorie that you can buy to fit the foot air vents to distribute warm air better? ie to stop the air from being blown at your shins? Maybe some sort of adapter that fits onto the vent with a tube that funnels the air around to your feet? Just wondering cause this would be very usefell! Thanks!

101sean

I've not seen anything like that for a Puma dash. May be worth keeping an eye on the Mudstuff website, they may come up with something if there's demand. http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/

tom1ie

101sean wrote: »

I've not seen anything like that for a Puma dash. May be worth keeping an eye on the Mudstuff website, they may come up with something if there's demand. http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/

Thanks man sent them an enquiry

kuro2k

prosmart wrote: »

Sorry if this has been done to death but im in the process of converting a 97 Discovery 5 door to commercial and was just wondering if i can tint the windows instead of blanking them out??? I seem to remember there was(still is??) a rule that there were no windows allowed behind the driver in a commercial. I just want to keep as much visibility as possible for reversing etc.

sparkman wrote: »

Hmmm...u probably already got an answer on this but I'd bet you need to replace them with panels. I think with the 110 defenders and some other LWBs you get away with a rear seat and windows as long as the last section is blanked out. Not much good to you in the Discovery though. TBH, I wouldn't worry too much about the side visibility. I never drove a 4WD in my life, let alone a LWB commercial one until about 3 months ago and within a day or 2 I was driving and reversing around market/pedestrian areas (obviously not for fun, it's the business I'm now in )

You just get used to it. Mind you, without the rear window I'd be goosed I think. Dunno how some van drivers do it...

This is incorrect.... if the discovery is Irish registered and VRT has also been paid you do not have to remove the rear windows when converting... If you are registering it in Ireland for the first time you will have to remove the windows before registering it as a commercial

afaik the discovery load base is not long enough to allow a crew cab conversion so you must remove the rear seats, I've heard of people getting away with converting range rovers into crew cab in the last 2 years (afaik the drop tailgate is taken into consideration in the measurements/calculations


.

prosmart

Caddyvanman wrote: »

Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors........

That what the two things on the doors are for !

Most vans/trucks have no interior mirror.

How do you think ever other van, truck and bus driver dose it ???

OK rant over.

Safety !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Any advantage and extra bit of visibility is a good thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And i AM a van driver as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

adrianshanahan

Hi,

Over the years I've had a few 110's and have since moved on. We are gone rather boring and have a Mondeo and a Navara but fancy picking up a 110 CSW. I assume to get anything clean and un modified I would have to try source one in the UK. As this would not be for everyday use do don;t want to beak the bank how much might I expect to pay for an 83/84 110 csw?

Ideally it would be totally stock with none / minimal modifications. I've had 2.5 petrol's 2.5 na diesel and a v8, to be honest I'm aware how poor they all are so also considering an engine transplant with either an more recent LR engine or a Japanese diesel 3l patrol etc. Am I in for heart ache or are these engine conversions straight forward enough?

Any thoughts ideas and advice welcome.


Adrian

iverjohnston

Getting the 110 with a good chassis and bulkhead will probably be more hassle than the actual conversion! Years ago sent our 1986 90 pick up off to get a Daihatsu Fourtrak engine installed, as a crowd in the UK were making an adaptor plate for the purpose, but when stripped down the garage found so much work needed on the chassis etc, scrapped her instead, sold the Daihatsu engine I had bought, and went and bought a Fourtrak.

101sean

There have been a couple of CSWs for sale here but they are recent-ish ones and a fair bit of money. Contemplating selling mine but would want €8-9000 for it. There's little demand because of the private motor tax cost.

Uk is best bet but early good ones are starting to go for a fair bit, especially if they are in good nick with original split doors etc. they would mostly be V8s or 2.5 petrol. that they can be exported to the US now is pushing prices up.

You need to look at the state of the doors as well as the side frames, additional rust traps over the usual Defender ones.

Jap engine conversions used to be popular before before 200/300tdis became readily avaliable. Kits are still around but costly http://engine-conversion.com/ Tdi conversions are easier http://www.glencoyne.co.uk/200tdi.htm

Anything can be fitted if you fancy a bit of engineering, mike.ie has a thread over on 4xforum where he's fitting a 3.9l Isuzu 4BD1 in his 110 before shipping it back to Ireland from Oz.

Cummins BT4 have been fitted as well, there's one around that's a work of art. Both these would eat an LT77 gearbox though!

adrianshanahan

Cheers for the replies.

I am no stranger to older 110's so know what to look out for.

On of the main factors I am looking for an old one is to avoid the large motor tax. We will always have a family can and jeep for regular use but as the CSW would be a very occasional use motor I can't justify 1000's per year in road tax.

I work for an engineering company and am an engineer by profession so that side of things is not a bother, wanted reasonable straight forward proven route.

Where are the main uk places that people advertise older 110's


Adrian

adrianshanahan

101sean wrote: »

Both these would eat an LT77 gearbox though!

Having changed and fully rebuilt an LT77 box many years ago, this is something I would be keen to avoid again.

101sean

Ebay and Autotrader come to mind plus the usual Land Rover comics although there's very little in this months LRO and LRM.

Sounds like any work wouldn't faze you and there's loads of websites on dropping 300tdis in.

banjolin

Hoping someone may have had experience of this issue.

Had an oil leak from top of the (Def TD5) engine and replaced the rocker cover gasket. Seemed to stop the oil but now I have a fuel leak from the fuel pressure regulator. I have two questions and would welcome any advice.

1. Can I drive it while waiting for a replacement part, or are there any issues for the fuel pump.
2. If I replace just the regulator (ebay kit) and not the whole and expensive fuel connector block (which is the only way to do it with Land Rover or Blue box parts) will I be back at it again. The regulator is about E50 delivered but the whole block will be about E200. Its a balls of a job if you have hands like mine and I have no other choice but to pay someone to fit it.

I have to say I had about 6 trouble free years on an 05 MY but its beginning to piss me off a bit. Rear door latch, wiper motor, wiper spindle (both dash off jobs) and now these leaks in the space of 12 months mean ownership is becoming a chore. I hope its just a blip.

101sean

You're getting all the stuff that goes wrong at that sort of mileage in one hit!

I have heard of the ebay kit and I think someone much further back in this thread used it successfully. It's a simple enough job on a Defender, Disco 2 is more awkward to get at.

If you do buy a complete block, make sure you get the right one, yours will be the later 2 pipe one.

You can drive it all the time the performance doesn't drop off, the starter won't like being soaked in diesel if you leave it too long.

banjolin

Cheers Sean,
I'll have a look back through the thread. The clutch doesn't fancy it much either. A locked up gearbox at a junction on a hill with a heavy trailer and traffic coming straight at you was a symptom that I couldn't ignore.

Good job I learned to drive on an old series. I never thought learning double de-clutch would be useful again.

pd

Watch Ryder

Just had my defender looked at by a mechanic. There's a clutch 'rattle' whenever I have the engine warmed up and clutch-in when rolling to a halt.
It creates this 'osillation' effect that shudders the vehicle a bit.

It's not a big issue but I asked about the price of a new clutch - 350 Euros plus VAT!!

101sean

If that includes the labour it's not too bad. A quality clutch kit should be less than €100, yours is a 300tdi? If you had a Td5 you'd be paying over €400 just for the parts inc the DMF!

Watch Ryder

101sean wrote: »

If that includes the labour it's not too bad. A quality clutch kit should be less than €100, yours is a 300tdi? If you had a Td5 you'd be paying over €400 just for the parts inc the DMF!

That doesn't include labour. Although my mechanic contact is a really good lad for mates rates.

happybob

So, is an ex-mil 90 softtop with bench seats a commercial or private vehicle, and, is it legal or not to use the bench seats?

101sean

It's not illegal to use the bench seats (ex mil 90s will be mostly 87-91, they've been illegal to fit in new vehicle since 2007ish). Some UK insurance companies are refusing to insure them now though.

I'd take the bench seats out before taking it for inspection or you risk it being classed as private, should be commercial.

happybob

Gents - any tips on insurance, e.g.:
Specialist LR insurers in the ROI
Insurers in NI that insure in the ROI
NCD splitting
Anecdoteally cheapest ROI insurer

Watch Ryder

101sean wrote: »

It's not illegal to use the bench seats (ex mil 90s will be mostly 87-91, they've been illegal to fit in new vehicle since 2007ish). Some UK insurance companies are refusing to insure them now though.

I'd take the bench seats out before taking it for inspection or you risk it being classed as private, should be commercial.

Aren't there major restrictions on commercial use though? Like only being able to use it during the day etc?

101sean

Your not supposed to use a commercially taxed vehicle for any private journeys but it's very rarely enforced.

AFAIK there are no specialist LR insurers in ROI. Best bet is to go to a broker or insurance company office, forget doing it online or over the phone, the computer will say no! AXA were helpful with me as were Campion.

No Irish insurer will apply NCD to a second policy as I found to my cost last year. Cost me €1300 to insure a 01 Polo for myself and my father, he'd had a camper van policy with no claims for 18 years which didn't count, neither did NCD on either of my LR policies. Irish car insurance is joke :mad:

Mr.Boots

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4447770

Anyone seen/know this??
Looks dog rough but might be worth a look.

Slidey

101sean wrote: »

Your not supposed to use a commercially taxed vehicle for any private journeys but it's very rarely enforced.

AFAIK there are no specialist LR insurers in ROI. Best bet is to go to a broker or insurance company office, forget doing it online or over the phone, the computer will say no! AXA were helpful with me as were Campion.

No Irish insurer will apply NCD to a second policy as I found to my cost last year. Cost me €1300 to insure a 01 Polo for myself and my father, he'd had a camper van policy with no claims for 18 years which didn't count, neither did NCD on either of my LR policies. Irish car insurance is joke :mad:

Allianz mirrored my no claims for me from the car to a 4.6t sprinter van.

The reason they did this I think was because I was the only one insured on both so only one would be on the road at any one time ;-)

Icyseanfitz

Finally got the landie 100% road legal put some bigger wheels and tyres onto it and it's looking the dogs box, quick question lads, is it a big job to get an aftermarket fuel gauge/whatever other parts are needed in the tank, and to get it fitted? The only problem with my landie at the moment is a dodgy/not working fuel gauge, which can be an exciting game of guessing

Top Dog

101sean wrote: »

No Irish insurer will apply NCD to a second policy as I found to my cost last year.

Not entirely true I'm afraid. Like Slidey, I had my NCB mirrored by Aviva from my car policy when I first got my commercial policy. Both policies in my name, with my wife named on both.

101sean

I think my problem was trying to get my father insured, no-one would recognize 18 years of claim free driving on his previous camper van policy, made no difference whether I did it in his name or mine :rolleyes:

Icyseanfitz, is it the gauge or the sender that's acting up? Both are available separately unless it's TD5/Puma where the sender is part of the pump. If you want aftermarket, have a look at Merlinmotorsports, Car Builder Solutions or Simtek web sites.

Icyseanfitz

he said he put a new tank, pump and sender into it so i presume its just a case of getting a new fuel gauge wired up yeah? is it a big job?