Need Advice

[RBBailey]

My 15 year long plan to get a Defender and build it into a truck I could just jump into and go overlanding with my son is basically flopping. At what point do you just change identities and start over?

Yeah, I'm ranting. But I'm also at the end of my rope and really don't know what to do next. I want to actually have a truck that I can use, but my plan isn't working. What would you do?

 

[The_Vermonster]

I have the same mentality. But recently I have had to accept that this is an almost 35 year old vehicle. For the money that I see it needs, I could/should invest in a 2017 4Runner TRD Off-road. It would tick every box a Defender can, plus many more. But it doesn't check that "bad-ass" box. Nor will it give me a chance to teach my daughter some solid life skills.

Maybe at the end of this I'll look back with regret. But for me it's about the journey, not the destination.

 

[xplorutah]

I have the same mentality. But recently I have had to accept that this is an almost 35 year old vehicle. For the money that I see it needs, I could/should invest in a 2017 4Runner TRD Off-road. It would tick every box a Defender can, plus many more. But it doesn't check that "bad-ass" box. Nor will it give me a chance to teach my daughter some solid life skills.

Maybe at the end of this I'll look back with regret. But for me it's about the journey, not the destination.

I have a Trail Edition 4Runner. Easy, capable, comfortable, etc etc. Not much fun and zero personality. I also have a 1997 NAS. That is the fun one. I am trying to build the confidence into it, with good maintenance. Good luck, I feel your pain.

 

[RBBailey]

But for me it's about the journey, not the destination.

If I could get the journey part under way, I might feel different about it.

 

[chris snell]

Ben, what are the general issues with the truck? Did you buy one that needed more work/parts than you thought it would? Are you not enjoying the work or struggling with it?

My best advice to you is to not give up. It takes a lot of time to get these trucks right. My first truck was a 94 NAS that was very low-mileage and nice but also under-used and had many problem typical of the early NAS trucks. I didn't have a lot of money when I first got started so it took me years to get the truck to a place where I could do long trips in it.

To give you an idea, I bought the truck in 2005 and didn't have it ready for a real trip until 2010. Between those years, I was battling head gaskets, crappy soft tops, leaky exhaust, bad fuel pumps, and all sorts of other small issues that took years to sort out. My early trips were marked by overheating and other break-downs:



There were many late nights of work on the truck, going through it component by component and learning how to wrench from the workshop manual and patient friends:



I sold the truck in 2012 and bought the 110. I guess I lucked out with that and it was in decent enough shape to do a trip from day one. Not to say that it didn't have issues (many of them) but it ran. I guess that's one of the benefits of an ex-MOD. The MOD trucks were generally better-maintained than the civilian ones and if you can put up with a very rough, spartan configuration, they make great trucks for long trips.

 

[MountainD]

how many years are you into your plan? Even if you have 1 year to go, you still have time! I am at 15 years right about now on the current D90. It hasn't been without it's struggles. The good days are SOOO worth it. The bad days I want to hurt puppies. I don't of course, because I am not some sick asshat. So I usually work until I am too tired and my knuckles are bleeding. I took out my 1988 RRC's slushbox yesterday and that had me cursing up a storm. But when I put it back in and get it driving? the feeling will be awesome. Stick the course--don't get discouraged. Reach out to your local rover folks and ask for some help--if I was closer I'd be happy to come over.

 

[rovingryan]

If you need another opinion on what you have I am happy to come and drive it! You can even drive mine and compare yours that way.
Ryan

 

[Tbaumer]

RBBailey, You are one of my inspirations. I have made some of the decisions with my 110 based on your experiences.
Not only are you in Oregon (On the other side of course), but I really appreciate your descriptions and great pictures.
Looking forward to meeting you at the All British Field Meet this year!
Step back, brush yourself off, deep breath, sit under a rainbow - Whatever you have to do!
If it takes more time than you like, you still have the Green Goat, right?

 

[RBBailey]

I'm just pissed off and I know that when I let others give advice I start to think about other options instead of being pissed off.

As far as this truck is concerned, I feel like I've made it worse. Like the last two years made it ugly, with none of the panels lined up now, and the feeling that it's going to fall apart at any moment.

Anyway, I need to come up with a totally new plan. I've gone through nine Rovers, and have not been beat up like this before. It's all about getting out on the trails with people as Rovers, and it has been way too long.

 

[javelinadave]

Ben,
Most of us have been in your position during a rebuild. Here is what I would recommend.
1) Make a list of EVERYTHING you need and want done and prioritize it from most to least important.
2) Highlight what you can and are willing to do yourself
3) Assess the costs of each being done if you paid somebody to do it
4) Make a plan as to how to get it done based on your list

Where you may take days to realign doors and body panels an indy body shop can do it in a few hours. They do this all day, every day.
I can tell you that I have 9 small items left on my list and hopefully I won't have to add anything else. I pick and choose what I feel like doing next. Yesterday was welding project day as it was cool out and I was left home alone. Fortunately mine are small items as the big projects are now in the rear view mirror.
Keep your eye on the prize and soldier on. There is nothing more rewarding than a completed project that you built yourself.

"The biggest crime happening in America is that they've pulled the shop classes out of our schools. Kids today, their dream isn't to build something, it's to buy something.
~ Chip Foose

 

[RBBailey]

So, thanks for the advice. I think I need to just let it go for now. I've got other things to spend my time on. I'll post up my plan on the build thread.

After my drive yesterday it was apparent that at least two big issues mean that the truck is not drivable after all. So I was very let down for not the first time. Just needed to vent and have others tell me to buck it up! LOL!

 

[xplorutah]

"You can do it"!

Keep the chin up, cause the LR wants to knock it down! I get it, believe me. Take a day and hit it tomorrow.

 

[javelinadave]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZ2HcRl4wSk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[DefendersNW]

After my drive yesterday it was apparent that at least two big issues mean that the truck is not drivable after all. So I was very let down for not the first time. Just needed to vent and have others tell me to buck it up! LOL!

What are the big two issues, and what is your target timeline for using the truck? (School out for the summer I assume)

Shoot me an email if I can help point you in the right direction.

 

[RBBailey]

The little issues are all the work getting the thing 100% put back together. But my plan took that into account, and had the truck driving even while not 100%.

The big issues are the noise from transmission. The leak in the head. The turbo that seems ready to blow. (It does have a bit of longitudinal movement.)

So now I'm replanning my plan. Thanks, Brian, wish I was closer to your shop!

 

[javelinadave]

Ben,
That is an easy list.
Transmission: Get an Ashcroft unit or send yours out for a rebuild. Consider it a fresh start.
Leaking head: Pull it, get it skimmed and start fresh with a new gasket and bolts. Again a fresh start.
Turbo: Get it rebuilt or order a new one from https://www.lrdirect.com/ERR4802-Turbocharger-300Tdi/. $477.57 for a Garrett unit (that is what you have now) Another fresh start

In the aircraft world that is called zero timing and it should reduce your physical and mental workload. That is what I would do and I'm sure most here would go that way too.

 

[RBBailey]

In a perfect world where taxes are not due and you aren't already past the end of the project funds.

Could you go listen to the video I posted on the build thread? The transmission noise is coming from the bell housing area.

I've come to terms with the turbo rebuild/new purchase.

The head has a leak right out the side, not a gasket leak. It is a crack in the wall near the 2nd injector.

 

[javelinadave]

I listened to it. Not to muddy the water but it sounds like an injector issue to me so here is what I would do.
The head needs to come off for repair or replacement, that is your call. I would get the injectors tested when you pull them and go from there. Your transmission may not be the issue.

 

[RBBailey]

Injectors are new. And I agree that it sounds like it could be something else, but in real life it is certainly coming from the transmission tunnel. There does seem to be a knock that could be an IP issue, but that is a different sound, and even masked by the ticking from the transmission -- unless you know from experience that the IP can be heard in that way, from that direction! Maybe I'm being fooled by where it is coming from!

 

[chris snell]

There's a shade-tree mechanic trick that you can use for noise diagnoses. Cut a garden hose and use it as a stethoscope to try to ID where the noise is coming from.

But, I agree with Dave 100% on his suggestions:

If you're having turbo problems, a rebuild is an easy win. I'm sure there's a rebuilder local in PDX. I used one in Tacoma. They took a turbo that looked like it had been sitting on the bottom of the English Channel for years and made it look and work like new.

The head won't be hard to pull and any engine shop will be able to inspect it and make recommendations. It's not a super-expensive job to get a head planed or otherwise rebuilt.