 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > From simple Puma 110 HardTop to PopTop Overland Camper |
 
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98   
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Few things made myself to get rid of the Disco:
1. Automatic gearbox - I absolutely love it - in general I find it much better on and off road, BUT - when you realize, that if something happens and you are not able to start the engine, you are simply f*^#d, as you can not be easily towed away, it's rather scary. Expecialy if you are in the middle of nowhere. 2. Weight of the car - last years trip to Georgia and Armenia showed us, that we can't take anymore load. Well - we had practically everything and there was no need for anything else, but the cars' weight was 3,5T   You could feel it on the steep slopes, uneven roads - especially full of stones, etc.. The gearbox was also working hard and although everything survived, I just realized it's not the way it should be.
3. Height of the car. 32" is the max tire size you can have. You can't have bigger lift than 2" on that car. Again - lucky I'm having full underbody protection - got some serious hits from the stones on the road like this.  Click image to enlarge This part looks flat, but believe me - it was unbelievably hard some times. And I know - there are diffs on a certain height - but all the rest of the body is much higher than on my Disco. 4. Space inside. Although Defender looks bigger than it really is, you got more room inside - especially if you have HT as I have now. If everything will end up as planed, having a lifted top will be great improvement for our travels. 5. Cost of the parts - Disco IS expensive when it comes to repairs. You can't easily exchange the wheel bearing - you need a wheel hub. Fuel filter for Defender is twice cheaper than for Disco. And so on...  |
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25th Mar 2016 12:01am |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258  
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All valid points
Did you consider the 110 with a 300Tdi engine? Looking at those places you go (so much envy) it should be the perfect engine |
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25th Mar 2016 1:35am |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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I did. In fact more TD5 than 300Tdi. But I didn't want the car older than 10 years. I didn't want to start with the all major repairs old Defenders require. And there is no way one can find fairly "fresh" TD5, not even mentioning 300TDI.
In fact I would rather go for petrol option if anything goes wrong with this one. BMW 3,5L with LPG option. Most of the cars far east run on LPG or CNG. It's harder to cheat with petrol (you can have less octanes but don't find water in that messes with the fuel pumps, lines, filters and make your car impossible to start in the winter. Will see - but this is the route I will probably follow in the future  |
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25th Mar 2016 11:02am |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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Bought roll cage today
 Second hand Raptor4x4 - italian brand. Seems to be very good quality. Of course needs sanding and painting, but it is just to refresh it after necessary mods.
Need to modify it to fit my project as this one was from the 90 and the external parts that goes on the side of the roof needs to go inside, but glad I could get it before I started with the roof as everything is clear now how should all fit 
Click image to enlarge Last edited by Simon.pl on 27th Mar 2016 9:19pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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26th Mar 2016 9:36pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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Nice move with the rollcage.
I honestly believe a roll cage is what distinguishes a serious Defender build from show off bolt on stuff. Hope mine arrives in 2 weeks, can't wait |
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27th Mar 2016 5:16pm |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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Trying to find information, what is the Puma's appetite for current? I read, the alternator is rated 150A. How much the car takes and how many amps are there for the battery charging?
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19th Apr 2016 4:01pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971  
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I've been wondering exactly the same thing and haven't found an answer.
I'm thinking I might do a bit of investigating, shouldn't be too hard. The interesting bits of information to me are current when locket, when unlocked, what makes it rise and for how long (opening doors etc), current when ignition on accessories, ignition on, engine running. Some of those will need a meter on the battery terminals and some on the alternator cable. I've got one DC clamp ammeter and have another at work so it's not beyond me to work it out, just need the time and round tuits. How's the rest of the build going? |
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26th May 2016 9:13am |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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Been quiet for a while, but doesn't mean I didn't do anything for the build
Made to orders in England - one from LRParts and the other from Devon4x4. Had to wait a little for the Devon order because of the radius arms manufacturing delay. But the rest was smooth. From Devon I bought: OME 2767 OME 2755 D44 Rear Relocation Cones D44 Heavy Duty Front Turrets D44 Heavy Duty Turret Rings D44 Front Spring Retaining Bars D44 Rear Spring Retainer Bars D44 Racing Radius Arms Polybush Bush Kit for Defender 2002 onwards Polybush Defender 90 / 110 (2002) A Frame Bushes D44 Fuel Filter Relocation Bracket D44 HeavyDuty Steering Arms Locally I bought Koni 90-5374SP1 and 90-5401 Shocks as they were cheaper than from other suppliers. From LRParts I took: 8x16 Mach 5 Alloys in Satin Black Locking Wheel Nuts 3mm Bonnet protector Tuner Momo 14" Steering Wheel Steering Wheel Boss 48 spline Quick release system Unfortunately this purchase wasn't so smooth. There was a problem while placing the order (the page crashed when I was making the order, couldn't see anything in my basket, so asked them to send me the PayPal request as when I called them the order was visible in their system). Than my payment didn't show up in the system so had to push them with the emails and finally got the delivery around 5 weeks after my payment was done. AND - unfortunately - they put those locking wheels loose in the box with one of the rims and the rim was damaged and had to send it back. Still waiting for the replacement 
Here are some fruits from LRParts 
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Koni: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge and from Devon4x4: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge I also bought some cheap elements localy to fit electric windows, central locking system and electrically controlled mirrors, but will do everything when get the dash board down for Dynamat treatment
Finally - as I'm preparing for the build, started to measure the car in order to be able to visualize it in 3D. Been playing with Catia for a few days and here are the results
Started from the roof
Click image to enlarge Than went down Click image to enlarge It's really not easy for someone who never had to use this software, but getting better and better!
This is the stage I'm on now Click image to enlarge The plan is to visualize the interior and the frame for the pop-up roof. It should be much easier when I draw every major element I want to have in the car and simply place it virtually inside. It should tell me what should be where and help me to avoid stupid mistakes during the build. While measuring the car I had a chance to have a deep look at the craftsmanship Really been thinking of tearing it apart and doing proper body repair. There are tiny holes EVERYWHERE. it's just unbelievable how everything is made  Don't you guys afraid to go into the water with your Defenders? It's just no way to drive through a stream 40cm deep to not have wet socks after all!
Sooo- in the nearest future - chassis job and installing the 2" lift. Staring wheel is already installed and I love it! The driving position is brilliant and I'm taking the wheel home for the night
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge The only dark side is that I can't use the turning signals keeping my hand on the steering wheel because of the quick release system, but I can live with it |
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30th May 2016 1:05am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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I had a load of issues with an LRParts order recently too. Wasn't very impressed by them.
The Defender build standards are... interesting at best. I hope you've measured the front as well as the back, I know when I've built stuff for mine using measurements form by the back door I've found they then don't fit at the cab end which is rather annoying. As for water... I've recently accidentally been through some very deep water (as in it would have flooded the air intake had a stopped) and was the only vehicle there not to get water inside, so they're not completely useless |
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30th May 2016 12:44pm |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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Measure front and rear
My mechanic told me I should have bought Correction Arms for the front as well, while installing 2" lift. Do you guys agree? Talked to Devon4x4 and wasn't advised to buy it, so I'm curios if guys from D44 forgot to tell me it was needed, or it is not needed for the lift like that? |
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3rd Jun 2016 3:38pm |
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| sharkey964 Member Since: 05 Oct 2014 Location: On a muddy track Posts: 570  
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I have never fitted them on front of my 90,though I do have them on the rear.
It has a 2" lift. Click image to enlarge |
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3rd Jun 2016 4:56pm |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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What about extended bump stops? Do you have ones installed in yours?
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3rd Jun 2016 5:17pm |
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| sharkey964 Member Since: 05 Oct 2014 Location: On a muddy track Posts: 570
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No,I don't use extended bump stops,because I have a Gwyn Lewis extreme suspension set up with +6.5" OME shocks.
Ihave standard bump stops so if I take a big hit on the suspension it's not metal to metal contact,axel to chassis. Only If you lift uses standard length shocks you will need extended bump stops
Marc |
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3rd Jun 2016 5:26pm |
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| Simon.pl Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 98
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But isn't the extended bump stop to protect the shocks as well against full closing and taking the whole force while a big hit on the suspension comes?
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3rd Jun 2016 7:01pm |
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