Educate a Newbie- Defender.

Priinjp

Member
I'm looking to get into a Defender and a dealer that I'm friends with has had a 50th anniversary model come into his hands. It's quite a clean truck and I'm very very interested in picking it up but- I know next to nothing about these trucks and about pricing so I'm looking for a down and dirty education. Any other resources that you could point me to be very helpful as well.

As for myself until this point I've only owned older Land Cruiser's. My current ride is a 1984 BJ46 which is a medium wheelbase 3.4 L diesel. It is to date the newest vehicle I have ever owned in my 47 years on the planet and I have had a lot of cars. With factory locking differentials, a slight lift, and a well functioning PTO winch, it's very capable but in terms of daily use it's rough and hard to hold a conversation with my kids to and fro all the campgrounds, trails etc.

I'm interested in the defender is because through the years of service and development it has continue to technically advanced while at least in my opinion, having maintained its simple, utilitarian function based design. The interior of the 50th anniversary model that I'm looking at is it "classic" or in fact styled in any kind of way- it's just useful. Simply put I'm ready for more advanced and refined vehicle that isnt totally ugly and the Defender clearly fits the bill.

So on that note I'll be hanging around starting to pick up little technical tidbits from you guys. Mechanically I'm capable. I'd like to find a truck with minimal rust and body problems. And so my technical question for you guys is where should I be looking as I examine these trucks.


Pete
 

4RF RDS

Well-known member
Look for corroison, rear cross member inside behind the panels. Lots of dirt nad soil can accumulate and corrode the rear cross member. Rust on the bulkhead (firewall) upper hinge raea and kick panel areas.

What engine is in the 50th? V8 is it not? Most Defender motors need rebuilding after 100,000 miles (160K kilometres). Head gaskets are common to both V8 and diesel engines. The front axle uses swivel balls with a CV joint inside it, they leak after a while or if they have not been maintained properly. Its usualky the seal and bearings that need replacing.

Clonks in the driveline are common and are readily repaired usually axle flanges or axle splines and ball joints (tie rod ends). 300 Tdi powered models havebthe cluch fork fail prematurely. You can change to na uprated one hwen it happens (not if). If you are good at doing maintenance you can fix anything on these vehicles. Basically if it drives nice, feels nice sounds nice it might actually be nice.

My two cents worth of owning them and driving them for about 30 years. Go for it!
Cheers
 

johan

Member
The 50th anniversary where always V8 and automatic! It was a limited edition, a few hundred were made and the only auto Defender ever available outside the US. They were all blue and are now catching premium money in Europe, maybe Japan too.

If I remember well. Japan was the only country where they had a few 110's in this edition, all the other countries only had this as a 90.

If price is right, buy it.
 

Priinjp

Member
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna have to work hard on this one. My buddies kind of taking a liking to it and so far I want to talk about price he says "I'm gonna keep it" which actually means "it's going to take a lot to get out of my hands."

But I'm not gonna give up. Probably hold onto it for a while drive around a bit, and then get ready to move on to something else. He's that type and that's why he became a dealer.

It's a 90 and it's white. It is an automatic and very similar to NAS defenders in terms of the bill from what I understand.

I've been looking around a couple other places here and in Japan these trucks go for a premium. I might be better off importing on myself.

In terms of the work to be done I was little surprised to hear that an engine has a life of 100,000 miles! Is that an exaggeration? Needless to say I'll probably have to import most support myself or pay a 200% price tag to get them here in Japan.

Next time I'll get some pictures and share them with you guys and let you know how things are progressing.

Thanks,

Pete
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Pete:
Post a few pictures up of you with your soon to be obsolete BJ46.

Are there any import restrictions or laws in Japan that will come into play regarding your potential Land Rover purchase?
Importers use to bring in containers filled up with the front half of cars from Japan supposedly because after so many miles in Japan, the older vehicles had to be taken off the road and replaced with newer ones by law.

I never bought any parts from these importers, but you could find adds years ago of diesel engine and gearbox assemblies all over eBay listed at reasonable prices.
People in USA would buy them and convert their US spec Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan, whatever into a diesel.

I have been building engine conversions for almost 30 years.
My favorite Japanese engine is the Isuzu 4JB1-T from the 90s era Trooper and Rodeo.
The Mercedes OM617 is my overall favorite, but not from Japan.
 
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