Several people have asked about my truck. While it is rare and kinda cool, the reality is it's a gigantic money pit that keeps me from buying guns and may just end my marriage someday. Here is the scoop:
Back in 2001-2002, I fell in love with Land Rover Defenders while working in Kosovo. Had to have one so I tried to have one custom built and shipped home but as no Defenders were 25 years old at that point, it couldn't be done legally. I opted to buy an 1997 NAS defender for buttloads of cash when I got home and loved it. My pop got sick though and I was doing a ton of commuting so I sold it off....for more than I paid for it.
Still suffering from the sickness, I spotted a Ex-Military Defender 110 in Victoria BC. Wasn't running. Bit of rust. But I had to have it! Wife said no, I said yes, I bought it and have paid for it ever since.
Frame was good, no visible rot. Bulkhead needed work but I was under the impression that would be easy. I was wrong.
I had to wait until the end of the year to "import" the truck to the US so in January of 2012, I got the paperwork done. Then off to a mechanic in BC for some minor repairs that would get it running. Actually drove it home to our new house in Everson (took forever...60mph tops but the small diesel doesn't like it)
Once at home, I stripped the rotten hard top off.
Then started stripping the front end to get the bulkhead out.
The bulkhead basically fell out once the fenders were removed. The attachments to the frame had rusted through. So off to the welder for repairs.
Then back for a test fit....
Replaced the shitty chinese fake military rubber with some used BFG KM2's I got cheap but way better than what was there. Also had the rims blasted and painted.
New bumper
Seatbox is off....Bought a few scepter NATO fuel cans....screw the EPA.
Working on getting the tub off....Military models have tons of extra bolts not shown in the civvy schematic....
and finally...tub is off.....
So now I'm on to cleaning up the frame and coating it. Just using the putty knife and a wire wheel has dumped half of Alberta onto my garage floor.
Then it's on to getting the bodywork prepped and painted, sourcing tons of small parts including hinges, door tops, brackets, etc. I have a new civilian wiring loom ready to go in (No idea how that's gonna work) and tons of other crap to get this thing back together.
If any of you have time with Rover's or just like working on ****, come on up! I got nothing to give you but some beer and pizza but I'd appreciate the help! Maybe we can do some shooting too?
Back in 2001-2002, I fell in love with Land Rover Defenders while working in Kosovo. Had to have one so I tried to have one custom built and shipped home but as no Defenders were 25 years old at that point, it couldn't be done legally. I opted to buy an 1997 NAS defender for buttloads of cash when I got home and loved it. My pop got sick though and I was doing a ton of commuting so I sold it off....for more than I paid for it.
Still suffering from the sickness, I spotted a Ex-Military Defender 110 in Victoria BC. Wasn't running. Bit of rust. But I had to have it! Wife said no, I said yes, I bought it and have paid for it ever since.
Frame was good, no visible rot. Bulkhead needed work but I was under the impression that would be easy. I was wrong.
I had to wait until the end of the year to "import" the truck to the US so in January of 2012, I got the paperwork done. Then off to a mechanic in BC for some minor repairs that would get it running. Actually drove it home to our new house in Everson (took forever...60mph tops but the small diesel doesn't like it)
Once at home, I stripped the rotten hard top off.
Then started stripping the front end to get the bulkhead out.
The bulkhead basically fell out once the fenders were removed. The attachments to the frame had rusted through. So off to the welder for repairs.
Then back for a test fit....
Replaced the shitty chinese fake military rubber with some used BFG KM2's I got cheap but way better than what was there. Also had the rims blasted and painted.
New bumper
Seatbox is off....Bought a few scepter NATO fuel cans....screw the EPA.
Working on getting the tub off....Military models have tons of extra bolts not shown in the civvy schematic....
and finally...tub is off.....
So now I'm on to cleaning up the frame and coating it. Just using the putty knife and a wire wheel has dumped half of Alberta onto my garage floor.
Then it's on to getting the bodywork prepped and painted, sourcing tons of small parts including hinges, door tops, brackets, etc. I have a new civilian wiring loom ready to go in (No idea how that's gonna work) and tons of other crap to get this thing back together.
If any of you have time with Rover's or just like working on ****, come on up! I got nothing to give you but some beer and pizza but I'd appreciate the help! Maybe we can do some shooting too?
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