oneandtwo Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I thought this deserved a photo! Never seen a Defender quite this bad at a relatively young age, this is a late 1998 T reg 300tdi, it's like this all the way along the rails. The rear axle has detached itself from both trailing arms and there's hardly anything left of the gearbox crossmember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 The f**k happened to that!? I've seen lots of Td5s and later with knackered crossmembers and the other usual rot spots but that's pretty spectacular Been used for launching boats perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quagmire Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 Wow! Its crazy how you see newish Defenders with rusty cross members, but this is something else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 wow! thats something else!! any more photos? that must have been caused by sea water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 bet it's been used for reversing boats & their trailers into the sea, my old scrapped '89 chassis wasn't that poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneandtwo Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 It's a 110 hardtop that has been driven on a beach most of its life, but I didn't realise it was this bad - I knew it had to have a new sump a year or two ago as it had rusted through and dumped its oil one night! I bought it as a donor as it does have a couple of redeeming features - 300tdi/r380, disc braked salisbury, plastic fuel tank and has only done 50k from new, The only other photo I took is of almost the same view but it shows where it has almost split in two in front of the radius arm bracket on the left of the photo. I took the gearbox out today but daren't put it on my 2 post lift for obvious reasons. I didn't have to undo the gearbox crossmember, it fell out as the side plates are no longer present! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 cripes. that's scarey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Idris Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I guess no amount of washing swilled out the inside of the rails! But rotting the sides rather than the bottom is just odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Aye, I was going to say as I saw the first photo, that looks like sea water damage to me, nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Struth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Bit of black underseal, it will be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean f Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Not quite as bad as the origional picture but this was the state of a chassis on a B reg 90 I rebuilt a couple of years ago. Rear Spring seat, wouldn't want to go over a speed bump or even jump in the back!. Bulkhead outrigger, not much holding the bulkhead up. Possible not the worst rust ever but what was scary is this was only one month out of MOT, it had been tested and past 13 month previously!!. I knew the previous owner and it only got used for local driving and towing a small trailor, no boats or water to cause that much rust in that time. I can only assume the MOT testers guide dog liked the smell of it!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dailysleaze Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Papiermache or expanding foam seem to work well, finished with a coat of waxoyl, then put it on ebay as "never off roaded" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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