A small downer for the day

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet) 03/26/2015 at 12:50 • Filed to: Boring

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After all the fun and excitement of my new old Skoda purchase today, I had a spare hour in which I decided to fix up the Defender's rear crossmember.

I thought it was fine, just in need of a lick of paint, but 20 years has taken its toll and it has to be replaced, so I've cleaned it up a bit and sealed it for now. It looks shit in black instead of green, and what's more when removing the bumperettes I clonked the indicator housing with the impact driver :(

So now I've grumpified myself. Can't have it all I guess.

Leon711 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 12:54

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actual wolf?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 12:57

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I think that particular amber you have is easier to match than your red one, so at least you've got that going for you. Crossmembers can be a monstrous pain, but they can be done without pulling the body all the way apart. You'll have to take loose and lift the back slightly to get at the top weld, though. I think the rest probably comes apart easiest with a reciprocating saw, given I ended up using one last time.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Leon711 03/26/2015 at 12:59

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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 13:01

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Looks like you've got a dab of rear door rot coming through the skin, too. Pain, but not impossible if you get a new skin and some repair channel. Or a fresh door.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Leon711 03/26/2015 at 13:02

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Yessir, as far as I can tell. Got it direct from the MOD, and it's got the reinforced chassis, heavy-duty rear suspension, wolf wheels, 300tdi, exmoor trim, bonnet mounts etc, it's just missing the jerry can lockers on the sides (never installed) and radio mounts, but it's RAF instead of Army so that's all I could think of?

Leon711 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 03/26/2015 at 13:03

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not quite lol, Wolf was the designation for the military defenders.

Leon711 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 13:04

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I'd love a tan Wolf one day.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 13:09

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Man, what I'd give to have a Wolf over here in the states. Need to keep my eye on the MOD sales more closely.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/26/2015 at 13:16

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Yeh the door is screwed too, hence the rear wheel not being on. Again, I'm just going to replace it when the time comes. I had the trim off as I was going to weld it, but I never bothered.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 13:20

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All that looks perfectly standard issue re: rot pattern. We've actually got several Series ones that aren't any worse. When it came time for mine, I redesigned for a rear half door like a Santana: I built a new frame complete (other than the latch plate) designed for better weight and leaving off the tire mount. Then, on with a trimmed to fit at the top new skin, and done. I should be able to do even better with my brother's 109 five-door... which we're also half-dooring the rear set on.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/26/2015 at 13:28

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Pics when done please

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 13:39

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My sentiment - what's good enough for an 88 is good enough for a 109, a little extra body flex be hanged. We're going to have to rebuild the T-posts anyway, so modifying for a little extra strength to support the half-door without going to the roof is small potatoes:

That's a new one, and they're bloody expensive. Simple enough to do what we want with the old ones, how we want it. The doors themselves are farcically easy - their upper halves are built exactly like the front ones save for welded stud sockets, a split in the skin, and two sleeves in a single piece of folded steel. Since I've already shortened a spare set of half-door caps to the correct length, it's almost impossible to exaggerate how easy that part of it is.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Leon711 03/26/2015 at 13:41

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hahaha, I knew it wasn't a real wolf was just messing with you

And that wolf had a funny look on his face, so it was perfect.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/26/2015 at 13:57

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They're pretty tough! The 110 sits quite high at the back when empty due to +300kg over standard rear springs and shocks, but it's still a riot. The Wolf 90 is waaay more popular though, if more common. My 110 is not so desirable, being the RAF (I think) tow horse version. Everyone wants the Army's canvas back rollover machine.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 14:36

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Well, dem lockers...

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/26/2015 at 14:54

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I know, I've tried to buy some but they're about £100 a piece :(

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 03/26/2015 at 14:56

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That actually sounds quite reasonable considering my dad spent £2500 on a pair of ARB's for his truck. Then again, it would help if I had $400 to spend on lockers right now. :/ Oh well, the life of a new home owner.