Build Thread: The Ultimate Overland Land Rover Defender

[moggy 1968]

Originally Posted by Griffdowg

I would not be running standard springs/shocks with overlanding payloads. They don't work well with your max allowable payload. As long as you are within the GVM of the vehicle you wont have any problems. Airbags will crack your chassis but correctly rated springs and a vehicle under GVM will not (unless its rusty).

Another vote for Old Man Emu also.

Not bashing choices here so I hope you can take this constructively.

We have had great results with terrafirma springs and rate them quite highly. However I cannot say the same for their shocks I would highly recommend Old Man Emu and would consider Koni (even if we blew 4 shocks in 40,000km).

Also, not sure that going Poly is an upgrade in the bush department. Before we left the UK I did a lot of research on this and lots of people said they had no problems with Superpro (probably the better of the polys)even after over 100,000 miles, so I went with those. Well, again, after 40,000km of overlanding the radius arms and A frame bushes have gone. The few that recommended genuine were probably right and I think these would have lasted the course. I have since replaced the failed ones with genuine.

Your electrics look rock solid too and Im glad you are ditching those drainpipes! See them everywhere here in Australia. Fuel and water as low as possible

G

I (along with many others) would certainly argue against running consistently at GVM off road. Even manufacturers tend to recommend lower payloads off road. If your carrying that much weight for just 2 people, your probably carrying too much! But thats probably another debate for another day

funnily enough, I was just reading about polybushes on the Hilux forum where a guy has a thread on rebuilding his 80 landcruiser (still following!)

Apparently, they used to have mercury in them, according to a guy on there that makes them, but that's now banned which is why they aren't as good now, not as robust. he recommended going O/E rubber for the best durability. Not cheap but the best.

Also, while polybushes are easier to change in the field, when they fail, they fail totally and suddenly. rubber bushes fail over time so you get some warning, handy on an overlander. I used to have polybushes, but carried a spare set in case of failure but on the rebuild decided to go back to rubber.

[Gipper]

OME aren't the be all and end all, they certainly have had some QC issues over the years, the PO fitted them on our Disco 2 and for me they have been fine with light off roading and lots of washboard/corrugated tracks we have in the Rocky mountains. But in 2003/04 we travelled with Malcolm and Rona in a well prepared D110, (not overloaded, not driving too fast) in West Africa and both their rear OME HD shocks blew out, watching them pogoing along the pistes was not good after they spent a fair chunk of cash on the "best" shocks. I was running OE HD springs and shocks on the 90, we drove a lot further on rougher pistes with no issues whatsoever.

I do agree with Moggy re reducing the amount of weight on the vehicle, fitting very HD springs does put extra shock loading into the chassis - especially on corrugated pistes, heavy loading means the engine/cooling/drivetrain/brakes are working much harder and the vehicles off road performance is reduced.

If and when I get round to overhauling the 90, I will either stick with OE or fit Bilstein shocks if Im feeling spendy

Enjoying this build thread, as you guys are replacing the brakes, if you haven't already, consider fitting stainless steel brake pistons and using Silicone brake fluid - non hygroscopic, so no more corroded or seized pistons - great if you have to store the vehicle for any length of time, especially in a maritime climate.

[TheOverlanders]

Episode 3 of our build series is up on YouTube.

find it at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNMj8...MEhAQGp65lj2Yx

[JohnnyDowny]

Nice photos. i also checked the video links. Cool!