Philip Tonkin Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Thinking about the possibility of taking a written off Disco 2 and building a Defender from it. The plan would be to take a TD5 auto disco and use the engine, gearbox axles and suspension and put them onto a new Galv chassis and bulkhead. It would likely be built as a truck cab with challenge wings and a trayback so apart from a few bits and peices the car would be be mainly new or disco, hopefully meaning the car would take the donor reg after SVA. Is the suspension suitable to mount straight to a Defender Chassis? (with standard defender springs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ1 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I can think of a few problems doing this, The disco 2 radius arms mount to the chassis different to how they would on a defender The disco 2 doesnt run a A frame they have a watts linkage A disco 2 Has rear airbags ( altho i belive you can run coils ) so would props be able to weld spring seats on the axle You could sort most the problems with mods to the chassis but then you would need to regalv it Abit off topic but did you used to race XC for cycle Force? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 not all D2 have rear air springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ1 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Western, Didnt know that, learn somthing everyday! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 some of the lower spec D2 run coils all round & on some higher spec air spring are/were an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_warne Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Who were you thinking of getting the chassis from? If you asked them nicely they might sell you a D90/100/110 with D2 axle location brackets. I'm pretty sure Richards certainly will..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciderman Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 some of the lower spec D2 run coils all round & on some higher spec air spring are/were an option. The commercials certainly did , I would get the chassis made to suit the D2 running gear , even the steering box . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJIbex Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 If it is a 7 seat D2 it will have air springs regardless of the spec level. If it is a 5 seat then only the top spec ES (maybe the XS also) would have had rear air as standard. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 To divert slightly from the topic - if I were to set about building a 130 from a rusty 90 or 110 (using the 90/110 front end bodywork, engine and trans, front (and rear if 110) axle and a new galvanised chassis with new second hand 130 rear body), would I need an SVA/IVA? If I later wanted to change the engine for a Td5, would there be any potential legal/DVLA problems? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landrover598 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Why not modify the D2 chassis to suit the defender body, only 4 outriggers and a rear cross, then get it galved? This is exactly the sort of project i want to build, but can't afford too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 GBMud, i THINK it would need an IVA, becuase to use a new chassis i think it needs to be "to the original specification". So replacing a 90 chassis with a 130 chassis wouldnt really work i dont think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Tonkin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 Who were you thinking of getting the chassis from? If you asked them nicely they might sell you a D90/100/110 with D2 axle location brackets. I'm pretty sure Richards certainly will..... Thinking about either a Richards or a P&P tubular Chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Tonkin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 I can think of a few problems doing this,The disco 2 radius arms mount to the chassis different to how they would on a defender The disco 2 doesnt run a A frame they have a watts linkage A disco 2 Has rear airbags ( altho i belive you can run coils ) so would props be able to weld spring seats on the axle You could sort most the problems with mods to the chassis but then you would need to regalv it Abit off topic but did you used to race XC for cycle Force? Russ Hello Simon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Who were you thinking of getting the chassis from? If you asked them nicely they might sell you a D90/100/110 with D2 axle location brackets. I'm pretty sure Richards certainly will..... Speak to Alistair at Richards, he will sort out a chassis to suit i would of thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ob1 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 There is a independant Land Rover specialist in Pretoria, South Africa. Called British 4x4. They have a Defender 90 built on a Disco Td5 chassis. Auto gearbox with manual transfer case. I dont know how they went about doing it, but it is possible +2712 802 0870 will give you their land line phone number. For some silly reason cant find their email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ1 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Hello Simon! Guess thats a yes, Hows it going mate? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Tonkin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 Guess thats a yes, Hows it going mate? Russ Very well, Thanks for the replies all, I have a bit ore of a clue now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stravaigin Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 RDS done something similar, looks like they kept the D2 chassis, axles and scuttle and grafted on Defender bits, more pics here I think Defender type axles are easier to work on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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