Recent content by gerken

My post was a genuine question, definitely not a "..you really should have..." post. I'm mainly curious because as I start developing strategies for purchasing new panels for my own Defender you start going down the deep, slippery review rabbit hole and it seems due to the manufacturing process...

Did you test fit the bulkhead (and those new aluminum floor panels for that matter) before all the prep and subsequent prime and paint? Reading through this, I'm sure you did... but was wondering what that looked like, how the SP bulkhead mated up to chassis, other panels and sheet metal, etc...

Personally I'm switching my engine rebuild to an electric vac pump for this reason. I even considered a belt/pulley-operated Moroso billet version but want a cleaner engine bay look and function for working on it. The LR location for the cam-actuated unit is simply too difficult to reach...

Yeah, totally, fair as you put it. And that's happened to me as well. The D90 looks cooler, in my opinion than the D110, but unpopular opinion - the 110's are at least just as capable off-road.

On the trail, the 90's are really only superior for - again - tighter turns, and extremely acute breakover on rocks. If it's sharp breakover on dirt, clay, grass, the 110 is fine. Few people are actually rock crawling in old Defenders of any model. Off-road, the 110's have a lot of advantages...

Washed it.

I just ordered the 30L unit for $170, which is still an amazing price. Thanks for the heads up.

Are those the steel versions or their aluminum versions? I'm considering their steel wings, because there are quite a few benefits to steel (easier to prime using a powder coat zinc rich primer), but also obvious cons (weight being just one). I was curious if their steel options would fare...

I have a bad habit of not working on the truck as much as I enjoy using it. It really is amazing what a completely stock Defender will take you through. I did manage to get it stuck during this outing. The boghole was a great reminder I should probably invest in a locker or two.

I've been looking for hood hinges and those look great.. and if they're functioning well, even better. Are those still available? I can't find them after a quick search.

Wheeled it on New Year's Eve.

Wheeled it.

A couple paragraphs in and I read "...Black-finished 16″ wheels are mounted with..." I do a double-take, thinking "huh, I must be looking at the wrong photos." Nope, just yet another strange BAT-rabbit-hole. What a strange build. Seems questionable to use a 90 NAS as the base when clearly...

Just as a "the more you know" - I recently imported a 1998 110 SW 300tdi, and it weighed in at 4,630 lbs at the port. Full tank of gas, full spare tire. I don't know that many people that are throwing another ~3000 lbs into a 110 or 90, and if they are, that doesn't seem like an engine problem.

In the same way the hordes of original Defender owners feel the need to tell me how much the despise the vehicle's name or designation or whatever, I can't help but think the Grenadier looks like a try-hard original Defender but needed to conform to the various crash-test standards and crumple...