Thread: Land Rover First start up Issue

Did you get it sorted? If so, what was the issue?

Steve

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

Did you get it sorted? If so, what was the issue?

Steve

G'day Steve,

It's definitely head gasket but I haven't dived into it yet,

I paid a bloke with a rated trailer $100 to tow it to my place (about 20kms) and I've been gutting and cleaning up the interior and outside of the vehicle in my limited spare time.

I'm on a permanent arvo shift and as much as I would like to work on it when I get home, the neighbours probably have a different opinion

I'm still deciding whether to do the bare minimum to get it running and roadworthy, or do it right and strip it down to chassis and build it up how I want it.

Has anyone here done a full resto on a Defender 200/300tdi? I'd like to know how it went

Hopefully the head itself is OK, and its pretty much just a gasket change.
If the bores look good when you pull the head off it might be worth pulling the pistons out and doing a ring decarb and replacing the big end bearings while you're at it - unless someone has already done it and they are in really good nick. Typically the upper shell that wears most. I usually pull a main bearing cap off while I'm there to get an indication of condition.

I haven't completed a full resto, but have a 1988 120" ute on the go at the moment, and have been playing with these giant mechano sets for about 10yrs now.
My view is definitely do the minimum and get it on the road.
My reasoning is that until you drive and use it you won't know what needs attention and what works for you in terms of mods. They are much more fun to use than to stare at filling up your shed space and taking all your spare time!
Its easy to drop lots of $$$ into things that really don't need fixing if you are just looking at them visually and not familiar with what "normal" is.
If you haven't driven a 200/300tdi then one of 2 things will happen when you do. Either you will decide they are the peak of mechanical simplicity and you love them, or you'll think they are the most agricultural gutless piece of poo that you have ever driven.
That may change the direction of any rebuild.

Most of the vehicle can be got at in stages without a complete strip down. If you pull it to pieces you are 100% committed to a shedload of time and $$$. Just get it on the road and use it for a start.

Steve

Definitely man lego, these cars.
I'm 8 years into owning my defender. Had most of it apart already (upgrades, mods).
They are simple.
I also second that just take small steps with it. I know way too many project cars that go on jackstands for a full rebuild, and never come back off them.