Chicken Drumstick

Thanks. The vehicle is quite custom, it is actually an 88 coiler. The mounts are all setup for the intercooler I had and moving the rad sounds easy, but would require different oil cooler pipes, which would likely entail different water hoses and probably a different cooling fan. If I could find a version of the clone in stock I'd buy it, as it looks like it would fit without needing to mod anything: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313619776666?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11051.m43.l1123&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=51c4cb06d34a4eb981198b41cb0ecd4c&bu=43426604250&osub=-1~1&crd=20230417020454&segname=11051 Not sure I can afford getting one from Allisport at present, hadn't really planned on spending out on a new intercooler. I see a few offerings like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195693883976?hash=item2d9043b248:g:riAAAOSwMmlbT-m6 https://www.airtecmotorsport.com/product/airtec-motorsport-intercooler-upgrade-for-land-rover-200tdi-platform/ Which would be easier to fit over something completely custom, but I'd like to know how much performance I'd be giving up.

For many years I've been running an Allisport front mount intercooler on my 200Tdi. Which has been great, but some bugger has stolen it!!! And I'm in need of a replacement. Allisport still sell the same intercooler, but it is £451............... £451 seems an insane amount of money. Sadly I can't find anything similar currently available. There is what looks like a clone on eBay for £229 which i'd go for. But it is out of stock and the seller doesn't seem to know when they will have it again, they've said 70+ days. Which is no help at all. And I just can't see any other full width offerings. I can find a few of these standard size double thickness ones. Does anyone know of any dyno testing or similar between these and the front mount intercoolers? My Tdi is fairly well juiced up and with other mods. So I'm not really wanting to compromise performance just because some scrote has stolen my intercooler. Any other options anyone can think of?

It’s quite common in the USA instead of copper. I bought a stainless brake line set for my Camaro the other year. It’s more bendy and malleable than you’d think, but not as easy to bend as copper still.

It is interesting how so many Land Rover owners seem to own multiple Land Rovers. In fact I know very few owners with just one. For the record there are 3 Land Rover products outside the house right now…. and another a few miles away.

Something worth nothing, which is good news for Junglie. Defenders are simple vehicles and you can buy and replace pretty much every single part of them, no matter the model, spec or year. This means, so long as you have the funds, you can turn a tatty worn out one into a concours winning machine. Few other vehicles are as easy to maintain.

I love 90's/Defenders. But I would say go and drive a few if you can. I personally have no problem with them, but there is no denying the comfort and interior space is very different to a lot of other vehicles. If you would be happy with an Elise or small 1990s hatback (Pug 106) as a daily, then a Defender should be fine. If you think such cars would be too unrefined or uncomfortable, then a Defender probably isn't for you. There are ways to improve a Defender for road use, but do remember you won't be able to solve some of the basic design, such as the shape of the interior or how the body is mounted (lots of separate metal panels, bolted together and bolted metal to metal to the chassis). Land Rover had a very good attempt at solving the common complaints with the Defender, i.e.comfort, refinement, NVH and interior passenger space. The result was the Discovery. Which is a vey good vehicle and basically is a Defender under the body, so has the same abilities. Overall a Range Rover Classic, Discovery 1 or 2 or even a Range Rover p38 all can do the same things a Defender can, but much nicer on the road. However I do see the appeal of the Defender. Although in a similar thought pattern. The Jeep Wrangler (JK and JL) models are also superior to the Defender in almost every regard except towing. The older TJ Wrangler is rather nice too. The Defender is slower and much more agricultural by comparison and much lower spec as a rule. In terms of looking a Defender over. TBH they are pretty easy, very basic vehicles that you can see almost every part of with relative ease. As long as you are competent or take someone with you, I really wouldn't worry too much. In fact there are few vehicles sold in the past 30 years that are easier to inspect. As for which Defender... that is a difficult question with no definitive answer. In many ways the latter models are the better ones. The 2.4 and 2.2 Puma. They have better specs, more features, more power and go faster out of the box. But there are a few issues. While the latter dash looks ok, I much prefer the utility and practical layout of the older dash. I also personally really liked the vents that do not exist on the Puma's. Although I think the biggest issue with the Puma is how they drive. While they have plenty of power and can easily be mapped for more. The setup is very very jerky to drive. It really doesn't matter what you do and isn't one thing in particular. But every gearchange is a jerky affair, even if you concentrate really hard. You also need to wait until you are in 3rd before putting your foot down, because it will not like you fast shifting from 1st to 2nd or to 3rd. I also find the gearing to be unsuited to road use. 1st seems really low when pulling away, but it'll bog and bunny hop if you use 2nd to pull away. I also find the gearing is mismatched for taking junctions and turns. It'll either feel like it is struggling or screaming its head off. On the plus side the anti stall is quite cool, although off road it makes the tickover too fast for some uses IMO. The traction control off road is very good and the Puma's are generally more civilised and refined on the road. As well as being newer. I think however I'd actually opt for a tidy Td5 if I was given the choice. The Td5 will make very similar power levels to the Puma's when tuned and while it doesn't make the same torque out of the box, they still go quite well. They also had optional traction control and are a lot smoother to drive. The Td5 also makes a much better noise too. But you will be looking at older vehicles, not that I think that would be an issue really.

Cars often sit about and many a company has had to do remedial work on vehicles waiting delivery or sales. Recently Toyota GR86's sat in shipping yard for 6-8 months due to some sort of type approval issue in the UK. Years ago a I stumbled across this compound:

Have to say, it looks superb. Even better when you compare to the SUV parked next to it. Hope it all gets sorted and delivered to you soon. Although as a Jimny owner, I had to wait over a year for delivery.

Interesting, looks to be about 23kg installed weight. Bit heavier than the 4500lb winches, but a lot lighter than many other bigger ones. Do you know where to buy in the UK? Google didn't seem to show any UK venders. Thanks.

Thanks, but I think that is just too heavy to have way out in front of the front wheels for such a light vehicle. If I was fitting to my 90...

Not 100% LR related. But I'd like to fit a winch to my Gen 4 Jimny. I already have a winch suitable front bumper, although the design is quite different to most Land Rover bumpers. The winch will end up being mostly enclosed by the bumper with the winch tray inside. Access is through the cutouts in the top. Which might rule out some designs I think. The Jimny also only weighs around 1100kg. So I'm thinking a 4500lb winch might do the job. Lots of people with 3rd Gen Jimny's run this size of winch with success. I like the idea that most of them are in the 13-16kg installed weight range. While a bigger/regular winch is more like 28-32kg installed weight. I think this would be much better for a vehicle the size/weight of the Jimny, On this note, I'd also only be looking at synthetic ropes. Where I'm stuck is the plethora of makes and choices. I don't really know a good make from a bad one. I like the look of the Warn Axom 55-S, although stock/availability seems to fluctuate and they are pricey. Seeming to be £823-1054 depending on where you look. Ultimately I only want the winch as a bit of insurance should I fancy trying out a lane on my own. I don't intend any sort of hard core use for it. And as much as I think the Warn would be ideal. I then see winches like these: £318 - https://www.kartt.shop/product/4500-lbs-20kn-12v-electric-winch-synthetic-rope/ £276 - https://www.winches-uk.co.uk/shop/warrior-ninja-4500lb-12v-electric-winch/ £317 - https://www.winches-uk.co.uk/shop/novawinch-nw4500-4500i-12v-electric-winch/ Anyone able to tell me why the cheaper ones won't be suitable? Or recommend what I might want to look at? Thanks.

Won't you need an R380 Stumpy gearbox? As I understand it, the stumpy was purposely designed to fit as a directly replacement for the LT-77. We have one in a Discovery 1 200Tdi (warranty replacement by main dealer back in the day). I don't understand why the stumpy would exist if you could easily swap in a regular R380 without any bother. I'd 2nd giving Ashcroft a call. It does look like you can convert a regular R380, but quite a few bits needed: https://ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/product/short-bellhousing-r380/

Thanks for the offer. I’ve actually gone down a different route in the end. But really appreciate your kindness.

See quite a lot of new Defenders round here. I have seen a couple towing and only one hard top, although it looked clean and shiny. I’d say 90-95% seem to be the lifestyle choice. On average I probably see a new Defender most times I go out. Maybe not quite 1 a day. But probably not far off.

That's very kind. Let me see what my schedule is like for collecting. 👍

I think that is straying a little OT. However, for me personally I most certainly not go for an auto with a Tdi. As it would be an old school dumb auto, so no lockup at cruising speeds and no engine braking off road. As well as a slow and dim witted kickdown. All would equal poor performance, poor mpg and lot less fun and control.

Ta. Yeah it’s an LT77.

Thanks. To be fair the engine is tweaked quite a bit. Hence the issues with slipping clutches I think. Although I don’t know the cause of the release bearing failure other than bad luck. Really hoping to not have to do this again anytime soon. First clutch came from Ashcroft, can’t recall the brand but known quality parts. Worked ok for a bit but bad clutch slip in 4th & 5th if you floored it and sometimes even 3rd. The replacement was off eBay but again should have been good bits. Clutch didn’t slip as often but was still possible. Then something failed and lost half the pedal travel, which I’m assuming is due to the completely failed release bearing. So I don’t mind going for a more suitable replacement. I’m not one for Facebook. So no idea what may have happened on there.

Anyone running a HD clutch in a 200Tdi? Been having some clutch slipping issues, changed the entire clutch a few years back, but the release bearing has failed (just pulled the engine this morning). So looking for suggestions. Have seen this: https://lofclutches.com/shop/clutches/clutch-kits/powerspec-tdi-200-300tdi-bundle-deal/?v=79cba1185463 Bit spendy, is there anything else worth considering? Thanks.

Someone in the U.K. was offering a 3.7 V6 conversion. Bit pricey but that engine bolts up to the Puma gearbox. Ford Modular V8 would be another option. Obviously you’d need to still fab mounts and plumb it all in. If you don’t mind replacing the gearbox then there are several other V8 Options too such as a Chevy LS1.

Wonder who this will be aimed at. If it has the supercharged V8 it must be a £100k kind of vehicle. Not exactly the type of price range most would use for off roading.

And a shorter wheelbase. You also get the revised version of ACE, think it is called dynamic stability or something. Standard on the quick ones and optional on the others. But unavailable on the D3 as far as I know. Plus you get more engine options with the RRS including the supercharged V8 and 3.6 TDV8 and generally a lot easier to find a naturally aspirated V8 too, which is rare in the D3 in the UK.

I wonder why that is though. The 1 tonne payload is quite clear and there are not very many enclosed non van vehicles that have this. I'd assume the commercial hard top Defender, commercial Land Cruiser and commercial Jimny must all be in the same camp as the Grenadier?

Do all alloy wheels have steel inserts? I've never really looked, nor noticed. I don't recall them being very obvious on the alloys I do have. As for spacers. No idea on the terrafirma ones. I have that I bought in 2002/3 that have been used loads including on large 33"Simex tyres. They use a slightly smaller steel wheel type nut. Never had a single nut come loose over many thousands of miles, off roading and trials events. I have some cheaper (eBay) spacers too which I run only on the front. Must have done a fair few thousand miles on them too now. And they take some abuse off road with wider offset rims and chunky mud terrains. Pretty sure they use something akin to a regular LR steel wheel nut. All of the spacers are alloy and again never had a single nut come loose on these (and change wheels fairly often for different events, terrain and use). And no sign of any deformation of the spacers. Apart from being dirty...

I think everyone would wholeheartedly agree. Just a real shame the TDV8 wasn't offered in the D3/4 and some of the other vehicles.