Member Since: 16 Jan 2005
Location: On the sofa
Posts: 2185
Sounds like making a sow's ear out of a silk purse. All opinions expressed in this posting are my own and are not necessarily those of someone who knows what they are talking about.
Land Rover Defender V8, 50th Anniversary Edition
Mercedes ML350CDI
HM Moto CRE300X
Honda CRF250X
1974 Honda CB750K4
1975 Honda CB750K5
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4th Oct 2008 9:46 pm
Shrinky
Member Since: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 2515
I had someone where I lived when I was younger trying to put a Range Rover body onto a Defender chassis Global Warming.... I'm luvvin it
4th Oct 2008 10:07 pm
bellautos
Member Since: 02 Feb 2006
Location: NorthYorkshire
Posts: 2532
Yes you are right m8 , its a airsprung model which has a disadvantage as ill have to work out the springs but its got the advantage of a manual box fitted as standard.
Ive a lot of electronics to workout and remove before i can start on the mechanicals so this car is ideal in that respect as its got all the gadgets as standard to base my tests on.
I will post some pics of the progress as i get on with it between normal work unfortunatly
Regards Pete
4th Oct 2008 10:07 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
There already is an Icelandic D3 that LR were selling as a special edition. Not sure I'd want to take a perfectly good car and turn it into something cramped & leaky but I've probably missed the pointDS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
4th Oct 2008 10:08 pm
bellautos
Member Since: 02 Feb 2006
Location: NorthYorkshire
Posts: 2532
I agree with the prefectly good car bit i must admit im still having thaughts as to strip it or not, it does seem like sacrilege.
The problem i have is i need an originaly running car for some electronic and mechanical tests/measurements before i can start a build, but time and cost dependant i may end up buying another rolling chassis for the actual build and using this car as a test bed electronicly so to speek.
Regards Pete
4th Oct 2008 10:17 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
Strength to your arm, Pete. Sounds like an interesting project, and the compooters in the D3 will make it more so. ISTR seeing Defenders converted with the GM V8 diesel. It fits with a bit of bodywork bulkhead adjustment. Have you done one of those?
sounds like a great idea and to those who ask why? I'd reply......because I want to!!!
4th Oct 2008 10:53 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
You will need to stiffen the D3s chassis considerably as the D3 is a monocoque chassis attached to the ladder chassis. The defender has the body just sitting on the ladder chassis.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
5th Oct 2008 2:40 am
Wex
Member Since: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Knackeragua
Posts: 5173
Good-luck with it , give it ago .
5th Oct 2008 5:58 am
bellautos
Member Since: 02 Feb 2006
Location: NorthYorkshire
Posts: 2532
caverD3 wrote:
You will need to stiffen the D3s chassis considerably as the D3 is a monocoque chassis attached to the ladder chassis. The defender has the body just sitting on the ladder chassis.
Thanks, i must admit i never even thaught of that , now you have mentioned it i best take a look before i delve to deep.
Pete
5th Oct 2008 1:42 pm
Marmoset
Member Since: 28 May 2007
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 281
Landrover made a lot of noise about the 'integrated body frame' so I think it will be pretty wobbly with a defender body on top.
Would it not be easier just to strip the engine & gearbox out and install in a defender - I'd imagine that the suspension won't be an easy transfer.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do
Rich
5th Oct 2008 3:23 pm
j,moore
Member Since: 26 Nov 2007
Location: out on the piste,
Posts: 139
sounds like you've got a few headaches and late nights in the workshop ahead, but its all good fun so go for it. i was going to do a simlar thing, fit a tdv6 engine into a defender for a customer but in the end i fitted a mercedes 3.2cdi straight six as fitted in the g wagen. like you say the propshaft and front axle travel is the main problem plus the width of chassis. i had a lot of headaches but managed it so i say good luck and keep us posted, a d3- defender cross sounds ace to me
7th Oct 2008 8:43 pm
davesimmons
Member Since: 11 Feb 2006
Location: Alberta
Posts: 733
Yeah good luck.... if you need anyone to give it a good coat of looking at, and knows not much..... I'm only round the corner Welcome to the Global Warming Corner.
7th Oct 2008 8:59 pm
Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
i there
would you mind sharing news about them with us ?
cheersl=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
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Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
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29th Nov 2008 12:11 am
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10438
10forcash wrote:
Why try and make something that was never designed to be
Like a Defender with a Puma engine. In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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, now you have mentioned it i best take a look before i delve to deep.
