The Car

After much searching, we finally found ourselves a 1997 (P-reg) Land Rover Defender 110.

We bought it appreciating it had problems, however it then proceeded to deteriorate significantly immediately after the long drive home from Devon. We suddenly found ourselves faced with a badly leaking rear diff, exhaust in two pieces and fan belt which had nearly shredded itself on the way home.. Not really the best start then!

The vehicle was a Land Rover Defender 110 hardtop (white) specials vehicle. It is a 1997 model and the engine was completely rebuilt in South Africa by one of the country’s finest motor engineers Trevor Ramasammi (previously commissioned by Land Rover to fix gearbox problems). Arriving in South Africa, the engine was consuming too much oil so the decision was made to strip it as a preventative measure so that we would safely complete the West coast back to the UK. As the service history shows, this was a complete rebuild, effectively giving a brand new engine and we made it home with no issues.

Throughout the trip the car was serviced every 6000miles and oil, brake, power steering, clutch and water levels were checked daily.

We covered 31,000 miles in the car and it was amazingly reliable. Only twice in one year did it leave us sitting beside the road and each time it was due to dirt in the fuel line.

To give a flavour of the amount of work we put into the car, the final spec is below and we’ve also posted up our service history since owning the car and throughout Africa. A bit geeky we know, but hopefully it will be of use to others who are planning trips.

Spec:

Eezi-Awn T-top series 1.6m rooftent, including side panels (see here for more info http://www.touring-gear.com/products/Eezi-Awn-T%252dTop-Series.html)

Bespoke roofrack with brackets for sand ladders, land anchor, hi-lift jack, spot lights and tent.

Antares electrical system including two 180ah leisure style gel batteries, battery monitor, automatic battery protect system, emergency start system and Clayton 500W invertor.

4 240v UK style plugs (2 in the cab, 2 in the rear), with RCD safety device. Four 12V charging ports.

Waeco CF 40litre fridge, with 12v or 240v options

BF Goodrich All-Terrain tyres on steel modular rims (two brand new!).

New rear crossmember

Entire braking system replaced (vacuum pump, servo, lines, callipers, discs, master cyclinder and pads)

Allisport intercooler & new radiator.

Complete turbo overhaul.

Safari Equip awning.

Brand new Yuasa battery and rear half shafts.

1 pair of yellow tracmats (used once)

1 pair orange Maxtrax sand ladders (unused)

Mobile storage systems drawer (such as this http://www.mobilestoragesystems.fsnet.co.uk/store-drawer.htm)

Goodwinch 12,000 winch, winch bumper and plasma rope.

3 strops, 2 tow ropes, 7 shackles, gloves, 2 x finger savers.

30 litre Aquaflow Water container with valve.

Koni Heavy Duty Raid shock absorbers

Foleys jerry can side lockers fitted to each side of vehicle

Hi-lift jack & defender adaptor.

Bosch high output alternator and starter motor.

Mammouth Chequerplate kit for wings and bonnet.

Bonnet strengthened and LR wheel mount fitted.

Additional Kryptonite locks fitted to all doors.

Polybush complete replacement.

5 jerry cans, 3 x diesel, 2 x water

Bearmach heavy duty rear springs

Sentry safe with electronic & key activated lock.

Hella Rallye 3000 spotlights

3 x Labcraft LED lights, one small in front, two large in rear

Tinted windows & UV film on cab windows

Battery cut-out switch

Coleman dual fuel cooker, with fuel filter and  spare valve.

Pots, pans, plates, bowls, knives & forks.

Rear worklight.

Cab lined with sound reduction material

Devon 4×4 D44 steering gaurd.

Rear swingaway wheel carrier.

Bearmach mushroom top snorkel

High level breather kit and wading plug

Camping table – mounted to the roof in the rear.

2 spades and pick axe.

Complete rear plywood storage system

Shelving units on rear door.

Land Rover ‘Africa’ front grill

Twin front windscreen washers

Two fire extinguishers, one front and one rear.

Plastor cupboards.

Additional rear speakers.

Grills fitted to rear door window and side windows.

Passenger grab handle

Vango solar shower

Rechargeable Draper LED worklight

Kelly Kettle

Camp floor mat

 

Service history:

124, 200 miles (work completed Aug 09-March 2010), London

Full service with oil, coolant, brake fluid, clutch fluid, gearbox oil, transfer box oil, front & rear diff oil changed. Fuel, air, oil filters. Props greased.

New Bosch starter motor

New Bosch high output alternator

New Allisport intercooler

New radiator

New Bosch glow plugs and glow plug harness

Full bush change (front radius arms, rear trailing arms, Panhard rod, shock absorbers and A-frame)

Cambelt change & valves adjusted

Complete turbo overhaul

New rear cross member

New Koni Heavy track raid shock absorbers fitted.

New Britpart heavy duty front springs and Bearmach heavy rear springs.

New front shock ‘turrets’ fitted

New original water pump

New Fan belt tensioner & fan belt

New Yuasa battery

New LR original brake master cylinder, servo & callipers.

Hel Performance braided brake hoses.

4 new EBC discs & pads.

New clutch kit fitted inc heavy duty clutch fork.

New clutch slave cylinder, hose and master cylinder.

All half shafts and drive members replaced.

All prop-shaft universal joints changed.

6 new steel modular wheels and 6 (standard size) 2010 BF Goodrich All Terrain tyres.

New fuel tank, sender unit (rust) & fuel lift pump

All wheel bearings changed

All steering ball joints replaced and new steering damper

A frame ball joint

New water and turbo silicone hoses

Front and rear diff pinion seals

Handbrake springs and linkage replaced.

New exhaust rear section.

Front swivels stripped and grease, oil, seals, bearings changed.

New rear diff cover (rust)

New timing belt cover including main viscous fan bearing

Two speed, thermostatically controlled Kenlowe fan fitted.

Exmoor trim outlast  seats

New headlight buckets with xenon max bulbs.

New door hinges all round. New passenger & driver door catch & locks.

New fog & reverse light units.

Rear door seal.

3 x airhorns fitted.

X-Eng anodised radiator and thermostat caps to replace plastic ones.

Rear step fitted.

Chassis JATE rings.

Flexible aerial

New reverse light switch.

Chrome gear knobs

New wing mirrors.

Heater blower switch.

 

126, 075 miles, April 2010, Cairo

Full service inc:

Oil change & filter. Air filter and fuel filter change.

All bushes, shocks, UJ’s, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, roof-rack mountings torque checked.

Props greased & wheel bearings checked.

Gearbox, T-box & diff levels checked.

Diff lock lever, linkage and switch replaced.

 

132, 400, July 2010, Nairobi

Full service inc:

Oil change & filter. Air filter and fuel filter change.

All bushes, shocks, UJ’s, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, roof-rack mountings torque checked.

Props greased & wheel bearings checked.

Gearbox, T-box & diff levels checked.

Strengthening plates fitted to chassis as previous welding has cracked.

 

138, 877, October 2010, Cape Town:

Engine rebuilt (now done XXXmiles)

New Kolbermchmidt Land Rover original pistons (20thou oversize).

Block bored to 20thou.

New Land Rover original cylinder head.

All big end bearings changed.

All main bearings changed.

Crank cut and re-balanced 10 thou.

New oil pump & oil pressure sensor.

Full gasket and seal set top and bottom. F & R crank seals, seal, timing cover seals. Every seal and gasket on the engine changed.

New vacuum pump.

New crank front pulley.

New Fuel lift pump.

Number 1 injector nozzle changed.

New cylinder head bolts & all block welsh/core plugs changed.

New spigot bush.

Power steering fluid change & bleed.

All transfer box seals

Front & rear diff, t box and main gearbox oil change.

Full coolant change and engine oil change.

New rear shock absorber bushes.

Both rear inner hub, (half shaft) seals changed.

New brake pads all around.

Headlight switch and indicator switch.

Valves re-adjusted after 100miles bedding in period (on mineral oil).

 

144, 990, December 2010, Luanda

Full service inc:

Oil change & filter. Air filter and fuel filter change.

All bushes, shocks, UJ’s, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, roof-rack mountings torque checked.

Props greased & wheel bearings checked. Right front wheel bearing replaced.

Gearbox, T-box & diff levels checked.

New windscreen wipers & rear drive flanges.

 

147, 523, January 2011, Yaoundé

Fuel filter. All bushes, shocks, UJ’s, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, roof-rack mountings torque checked.

Props greased & wheel bearings checked. 2 prop shaft UJ’s replaced. Right rear wheel bearing changed.

Gearbox, T-box & diff levels checked.

Steering drop arm ball joint replaced

 

151, 023, February 2011, Ouagadougou

Full service inc:

Oil change & filter. Air filter and fuel filter change.

All bushes, shocks, UJ’s, engine mounts, gearbox mounts, roof-rack mountings torque checked.

Rear brake pads changed

Props greased & wheel bearings checked.

Gearbox, T-box & diff levels checked.

New rear diff flange and pinion seal fitted.

 

156, 000miles London, June 2011

All steering track rods, tracking reset.

Fuel tank emptied and cleaned, new fuel sender unit fitted & fuel filter fitted.

New rear half shafts and drive members.

New main battery, new indicator switch, hazards switch.

 

Land Rover spares:

Accelerator cable.

Starter motor

Alternator

Steering arms

Fuel lift pump (x2)

Water pump

Fan belt tensioner

Calliper seals

Clutch plate, rubber hose & release bearing

New clutch master cylinder & 2 rebuild kits

3 x fan belts (different widths)

2 x wheel bearings & dust seals

F & R brake pads

Swivel grease, seals and bearings

All transfer box seals

Pinion seals

Full gasket set

Fuel sender unit

Ignition switch

2 sets shock absorber bushes.

2 x diesel filter, 2 x oil filter, 1 air filter.

2 x inner tubes