Interesting to hear about the upgrades you've made to keep the old girl on the road. I really like hearing about older vehicles that are still being used by their owners for remote area work. Keep the videos coming.
Be sure to get away before the lockdown. Which way do you travel? I will be towing a large trailer full of equipment so it will be a slow and tedious journey.
@@defendermodsandtravels Hopefully to Bilbao if the Ferry still runs! I’m heading from Ireland and we are already in Lockdown so some safe and sensible thinking to travel without compromising public safety!
@@enduranceadventure8057 The general rule seems to be that if you are on a long trip you can travel through locked down areas provided you don't stop. Which region of Portugal do you go to? I am based in the Alentejo region there.
While watching your other videos I noticed that you used to have a normal awning why did you change . I have just found your site and enjoyed them thanks.
Someone's looking very closely, I'll need to watch out ;-) The old standard awning covered a very limited area. My travel partner particularly appreciates having coverage over the rear of the vehicle which is where the cooking is done. Also the Foxwing awning has side panels. Although I don't use them often they are good when there's driving rain or low, slanting sun.
Thanks for Sharing your experience. We swapped a 200TDi ( Discovery 1 ). into our ex- Mod Series3 108 FFR (1984), nearly 10 years ago. Tested the new set-up immediately afterwards for 3 months during a trip all over Moroc. Indeed, cooling ist an issue. We mounted a Td5 intercooler infront of the Standard combined oil-cooler/Radiator. A 2-stage Kenlowe fan ist fitted instead of the belt-driven fan. Nevertheless, the temp- gauge ( Standard Series one) reaches just the red area, while the VDO oil-temp gauge Shows about 95 to 100°C under normal driving condition. I would feel better with 85°C. I understand, that the Ally radiator hast no oil-cooler integrated? If this Radiator hast the dimensions as the Genuine combined one, I contemplate to do another swap - for Ally and Mocal. What do you think about this Idea?
@@HeinerStorchennest1 I believe the Alisport 200 TDI radiator has the built in oil cooler coil although I don't use it. My problem is that this puts more heat into a radiator which is already working at its limit. I forget if this video shows it but I have two Mocal oil coolers mounted under the front cross member protected by a bash plate. The arrangement works very well and provides much needed additional cooling.
@@defendermodsandtravels Thanks for the quick response. I rember, that you mentioned a 17 row Mocal oil cooler. And a second one for the gearbox. I agree with you, the combination of water- and oil cooler ist an Advantage during the warming-up phase.
@@HeinerStorchennest1 From memory they are 13 row oil coolers (I am currently abroad, in Cambodia, so I can't have a look). Please note that it is virtually impossible to fit an oil cooler to a LT77 gearbox. It needs a casing with take off ports. These are very rare and were fitted, I think, to a particular model of Range Rover. Much better to fit a R380 box. You need the stubby box and bellhousing from Ashcroft Transmissions otherwise the geometry is different. If you are seriously interested in fitting oil coolers I will try to provide more information. There are several details you must get right.
@@defendermodsandtravels Thanks again. Take your time. Meanwhile I checked Ally Sports and it seems as If they offer TDi radiators without integral oil-coolers. By the way, they mention, that the aluminium radiators are primarly made for cooling, not for longevity, as I understand.
bit of a random question. so we are building a 90 to take on a trip to Africa are aim is to get from the UK to Kenya. so like you do we were looking on different forums about paint colour, we wanted to go with NATO green mostly because we have a large amount of it surplus however people had advised against it. this was due to quote "could cause trouble or draw unwanted attention". so i was wondering if on any of your travels this had caused you any problems.
If you look at the Part 1 video all will be revealed! It's quite a heavy vehicle and was very underpowered with the normally aspirated 2.5 diesel engine. When I bought this vehicle one couldn't find 200/300 TDI engines and there was quite an industry fitting Japanese turbo-diesels into early Defenders. The Daihatsu conversion was quite popular because of the legendary reliability of that engine. If I was fitting a new engine today I'd clearly go for a TDI.
I drive old mercedes w461 gwagen from 1993 with OM 660 2.9 turbo diesel engine, and where i live it gets pretty hot in summer time and we have high mountain passes 4000meters so driving there in 30-35 degrees to that high usually couses problem with the cooling system. So im using the stock cooling nothing changed actually and the fan is mechamical not electrycal, some of people here changed to the electrical fan so and had big issues, the fan was not doing ok in the end some can drain the battery. But all of this is not defender probably defenders are different
I fully agree that a simple mechanical fan is best if you can use it. In my case I can't - the engine is a transplant and the fan won't fit. See my other videos about the vehicle conversion.
Hello! I'm curious (and apologies if I've missed it somewhere) but which gearbox is your vehicle fitted with? And the transfer box ratio, given it is ex-MOD? Loving the videos, it's refreshing to hear someone talk about "the interest" (for lack of a better descriptor) in such a measured, considered and critical way. Thanks!
Hi James, originally it was an LT77 gearbox but I found that was working very hard in hot climates and it really needed an oil cooler. It is practically impossible to find the housing with oil take-offs for an LT77 - as I recall it these were only ever fitted to a short production run of early Range Rovers. Accordingly I switched to a "stubby" R380 from Ashcrofts and I have a 13 row Mocal gearbox oil cooler. The transmission now runs cooler in the tropics and less heat comes into the cab. I found the vehicle undergeared with the standard gearing so I went to a high ratio (1.22:1) version, as used in the Discovery. Again this came from Ashcrofts. The engine now revs less on the open road and is rather quieter.
@@defendermodsandtravels that's great, thank you. I've got an 1989 ninety with an lt77 on a 1.4 'box and I'm thinking of switching to an r380 too when the time comes!
@@JamesNewhouse The LT77 isn't a bad gearbox and they got progressively better with each iteration. Mine was a suffix G which I think was second to last in the line. However for heavy work in hot climates you need the oil cooler. Happy travels.
That's my day car. I think the Disco is absolutely excellent. It's obviously quicker and more comfortable than the Defender and has equal off road capabilities if you fit the correct tyres. However it's easier to find accessories for a Defender than for a Disco. My Defender does the hard grunt work so the Disco has a really easy life, maybe 1000 - 2000 miles per year. Several mechanics have told me it's the best preserved example they have seen.
Virtually no corrosion anywhere. There's a small patch on the rear cross member which is due to my trusting the work to a high priced rustproofing company which didn't inject the closed members as they were contracted to do. I now do my own corrosion protection like before. The rubber seals to the doors and windows are piss poor ;-(
@@johnventers5128 in the UK we have salt on the roads during winter most electrical circuits are earthed through the alloy and steel, Land rovers are nut and bolt construction, earthing problems are not uncommon so all boxes are ticked.
The company with the disposal contract for the MOD is Witham Specialist Vehicles. I have just looked at their website and they don't have much in at present. A smaller dealer is PA Blanchard who have a few Defenders and Wolfs on offer. Quite expensive though.
Interesting to hear about the upgrades you've made to keep the old girl on the road. I really like hearing about older vehicles that are still being used by their owners for remote area work. Keep the videos coming.
I think the oil coolers should be infront of the radiator where the fan can pull some air through it when travelling slow offroad
Also redline water wetter, the version you can use with your coolant
Top work! Great information, currently building my 90 for a trip to Morocco.
And you will undoubtedly have a great time (I have been there a couple of times). I hope they reopen the borders soon though.
Great Vid Bill and funnily enough I’m off to Portugal too!
Be sure to get away before the lockdown. Which way do you travel?
I will be towing a large trailer full of equipment so it will be a slow and tedious journey.
@@defendermodsandtravels Hopefully to Bilbao if the Ferry still runs! I’m heading from Ireland and we are already in Lockdown so some safe and sensible thinking to travel without compromising public safety!
@@enduranceadventure8057 The general rule seems to be that if you are on a long trip you can travel through locked down areas provided you don't stop.
Which region of Portugal do you go to? I am based in the Alentejo region there.
While watching your other videos I noticed that you used to have a normal awning why did you change . I have just found your site and enjoyed them thanks.
Someone's looking very closely, I'll need to watch out ;-)
The old standard awning covered a very limited area. My travel partner particularly appreciates having coverage over the rear of the vehicle which is where the cooking is done. Also the Foxwing awning has side panels. Although I don't use them often they are good when there's driving rain or low, slanting sun.
Thanks for Sharing your experience. We swapped a 200TDi ( Discovery 1 ). into our ex- Mod Series3 108 FFR (1984), nearly 10 years ago. Tested the new set-up immediately afterwards for 3 months during a trip all over Moroc. Indeed, cooling ist an issue. We mounted a Td5 intercooler infront of the Standard combined oil-cooler/Radiator. A 2-stage Kenlowe fan ist fitted instead of the belt-driven fan. Nevertheless, the temp- gauge ( Standard Series one) reaches just the red area, while the VDO oil-temp gauge Shows about 95 to 100°C under normal driving condition. I would feel better with 85°C. I understand, that the Ally radiator hast no oil-cooler integrated? If this Radiator hast the dimensions as the Genuine combined one, I contemplate to do another swap - for Ally and Mocal. What do you think about this Idea?
@@HeinerStorchennest1 I believe the Alisport 200 TDI radiator has the built in oil cooler coil although I don't use it. My problem is that this puts more heat into a radiator which is already working at its limit.
I forget if this video shows it but I have two Mocal oil coolers mounted under the front cross member protected by a bash plate. The arrangement works very well and provides much needed additional cooling.
@@defendermodsandtravels Thanks for the quick response. I rember, that you mentioned a 17 row Mocal oil cooler. And a second one for the gearbox. I agree with you, the combination of water- and oil cooler ist an Advantage during the warming-up phase.
@@HeinerStorchennest1 From memory they are 13 row oil coolers (I am currently abroad, in Cambodia, so I can't have a look).
Please note that it is virtually impossible to fit an oil cooler to a LT77 gearbox. It needs a casing with take off ports. These are very rare and were fitted, I think, to a particular model of Range Rover. Much better to fit a R380 box. You need the stubby box and bellhousing from Ashcroft Transmissions otherwise the geometry is different.
If you are seriously interested in fitting oil coolers I will try to provide more information. There are several details you must get right.
@@defendermodsandtravels Thanks again. Take your time. Meanwhile I checked Ally Sports and it seems as If they offer TDi radiators without integral oil-coolers. By the way, they mention, that the aluminium radiators are primarly made for cooling, not for longevity, as I understand.
SLIGHTLY AMUSING.
bit of a random question. so we are building a 90 to take on a trip to Africa are aim is to get from the UK to Kenya. so like you do we were looking on different forums about paint colour, we wanted to go with NATO green mostly because we have a large amount of it surplus however people had advised against it. this was due to quote "could cause trouble or draw unwanted attention". so i was wondering if on any of your travels this had caused you any problems.
I have had no problems anywhere howver it might be an issue in conflct zones.
If Lucas made guns wars wouldn't start.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Another great video, why did you swap out the original engine for the Dihatsu one?
If you look at the Part 1 video all will be revealed!
It's quite a heavy vehicle and was very underpowered with the normally aspirated 2.5 diesel engine. When I bought this vehicle one couldn't find 200/300 TDI engines and there was quite an industry fitting Japanese turbo-diesels into early Defenders. The Daihatsu conversion was quite popular because of the legendary reliability of that engine. If I was fitting a new engine today I'd clearly go for a TDI.
I drive old mercedes w461 gwagen from 1993 with OM 660 2.9 turbo diesel engine, and where i live it gets pretty hot in summer time and we have high mountain passes 4000meters so driving there in 30-35 degrees to that high usually couses problem with the cooling system. So im using the stock cooling nothing changed actually and the fan is mechamical not electrycal, some of people here changed to the electrical fan so and had big issues, the fan was not doing ok in the end some can drain the battery. But all of this is not defender probably defenders are different
I fully agree that a simple mechanical fan is best if you can use it. In my case I can't - the engine is a transplant and the fan won't fit. See my other videos about the vehicle conversion.
Yes my late lamented 2000 290GD also seemed to run hot at motorway speeds in Hong Kong at low 30s ambient, but didn't suffer any meltdowns.
Hello! I'm curious (and apologies if I've missed it somewhere) but which gearbox is your vehicle fitted with? And the transfer box ratio, given it is ex-MOD? Loving the videos, it's refreshing to hear someone talk about "the interest" (for lack of a better descriptor) in such a measured, considered and critical way. Thanks!
Hi James, originally it was an LT77 gearbox but I found that was working very hard in hot climates and it really needed an oil cooler. It is practically impossible to find the housing with oil take-offs for an LT77 - as I recall it these were only ever fitted to a short production run of early Range Rovers. Accordingly I switched to a "stubby" R380 from Ashcrofts and I have a 13 row Mocal gearbox oil cooler. The transmission now runs cooler in the tropics and less heat comes into the cab.
I found the vehicle undergeared with the standard gearing so I went to a high ratio (1.22:1) version, as used in the Discovery. Again this came from Ashcrofts. The engine now revs less on the open road and is rather quieter.
@@defendermodsandtravels that's great, thank you. I've got an 1989 ninety with an lt77 on a 1.4 'box and I'm thinking of switching to an r380 too when the time comes!
@@JamesNewhouse The LT77 isn't a bad gearbox and they got progressively better with each iteration. Mine was a suffix G which I think was second to last in the line. However for heavy work in hot climates you need the oil cooler. Happy travels.
In one of your videos you tow a Disco on a trailer, is it another one of yours and if so how do you rate it against the Defender?
That's my day car. I think the Disco is absolutely excellent. It's obviously quicker and more comfortable than the Defender and has equal off road capabilities if you fit the correct tyres. However it's easier to find accessories for a Defender than for a Disco.
My Defender does the hard grunt work so the Disco has a really easy life, maybe 1000 - 2000 miles per year. Several mechanics have told me it's the best preserved example they have seen.
@@defendermodsandtravels any plans for a Disco video?
Do you have much corrosion on the vehicle and how are the door/window seals holding up?
Virtually no corrosion anywhere. There's a small patch on the rear cross member which is due to my trusting the work to a high priced rustproofing company which didn't inject the closed members as they were contracted to do. I now do my own corrosion protection like before.
The rubber seals to the doors and windows are piss poor ;-(
@@defendermodsandtravels consider putting a sacrificial zinc anode on it like a boat to stop galvanic corrosion between the alloy and steel.
@@royblackburn1163 Interesting thought Roy. My main areas of concern are the bulkhead and rear cross member although everything is sound for now.
@@royblackburn1163 this will not work. The reason that works for boats is because the sea effectively complets the circuit.
@@johnventers5128 in the UK we have salt on the roads during winter most electrical circuits are earthed through the alloy and steel, Land rovers are nut and bolt construction, earthing problems are not uncommon so all boxes are ticked.
Any body know roughly how much the 90 defender costs from the MOD?
The company with the disposal contract for the MOD is Witham Specialist Vehicles. I have just looked at their website and they don't have much in at present. A smaller dealer is PA Blanchard who have a few Defenders and Wolfs on offer. Quite expensive though.
Hey bud get yourself an engine watchdog tm2