Roberto's Ruminations

Land Rover Defender 90 - The Team

I drafted a short list of vendors in Denver, Colorado who have solid reputations and proceeded to tell each one of my plans restore Emma, the D90. I made my decisions based upon who had the knowledge, time, and people to get the project done in a timely manner.

For the motor replacement, I decided to use Land Rover Flatirons. I've known Ed Dobbs, the General Manager since he was a Land Rover Service Advisor and before he became a grand dad. It's been great knowing Ed all these years and I trust him and his team to make Emma purr.

In addition to the new motor, Land Rover Flatirons will deal with any leaking seals, and overhaul the air conditioning system. I anticipate there will be a bunch of little things like light bulbs, sensors, and hoses that will be replaced as needed.

The body repair and painting will be done by SVE Auto Body. Butch Powers, the owner, and his team have a reputation for meticulous workmanship and a deep knowledge of Land Rovers. It was also encouraging to see a Defender 110 in the shop going through a major overhaul. Butch and his team will be changing Emma's color from Alpine White to Zambezi Silver. They'll also be subletting work to Line-X Of Boulder for coatings on the tub, firewall, cabin, roof, and doors.

Emma's interior is getting a major face lift from Rich Lawrence at Award Auto Trim. Rich came highly recommended and his work is absolutely first rate. The interior treatment will include newly upholstered seats front and rear. The cushions will be recontoured to provide more bolstering in the seat and back. The carpet, padding, and headliner will also be replaced with upgraded materials. All interior door surfaces and roof line will be further insolated with Dynamat prior to the installation of a new sound system.

Fabrication and plating of parts will be done by Kip Valdez at Metalworks Performance. SVE recommended Kip as one of the best craftsmen they'd ever worked with and in my initial consultation it was clear he has a passion for this kind of project.  Metalworks will fabricate numerous pieces of protective plates as well as aftermarket accessories to enhance the off road capabilities of Emma.

Land Rover Defender 90 - What To Repair/Replace/Improve

My early research into the restoration of Emma indicated the sky's-the-limit in terms of what could be done and what it would cost. I established guidelines to keep the project focused and not go crazy on all the possibilities. The basic framework is:

1.  Keep Emma as close to original specifications as possible.
2.  Improve on the overall build and engineering quality - specifically a more powerful motor, better suspension, improved sound deadening & heat retention characteristics, more comfortable interior, and a few accessories that would get Emma anywhere I wanted to go.

With the general direction set, I planned on a 4-6 month time to completion. I would need to coordinate a team of vendors around ordering parts, scheduling work, ferrying Emma between workshops and minimizing dead time in between vendors. I've budgeted the whole project at $25,000 but expect this could be a low figure depending upon how much fabrication work might be needed. Many parts can be ordered from Atlantic British or Rovers North, others can be purchased in the UK, but the British Pound exchange rate to the US Dollar may make it cheaper to fabricate.

Here is the laundry list of work that will take place from mid-April into August or October:

1.  Replace motor with factory 4.6 liter V8 and Crower Cam.

2.  Reseal transfer case, replace all necessary seals, hoses, and miscellaneous components as needed.

3.  Upgrade all suspension components to Old Man Emu.

4.  Fabricate 5 bar diamond plate pieces for fender wing tops, hood center, rocker panels, lower quarter panels, ladder rungs, rock sliders, and rear step bumper.

5.  Add Mantec spare tire carrier to alleviate rear door loading.

6.  Refinish ARB bull bar and add mounting lugs for limb risers and Hi-Lift Jack.

7.  Line-X body tub interior, passenger compartment, fire wall, roof line, and all door interiors.

8.  Repair/Replace all corroded body panels, doors, and repaint in Zambezi Silver.

9.  Reupholster all seats with contrasting perforated leather, upgrade carpet pads and carpet, Dynamat interior of doors and roof line.

10.  Install Alpine Satellite Radio with iPod interface, new sub woofer, new speakers, and new amp.

Stay tuned for photos as Emma begins her overhaul. Next up the project teams.

Land Rover Defender 90 - A Bit Of History

I purchased my first Land Rover in late 1989. It was a very reliable Range Rover Classic in Colorado Silver Metallic. Over time, the stable included an Alpine White Range Rover LWB (Long Wheel Base) and an Alpine White 1994 Defender 90. I've found all my Land Rovers to be reliable and a lot of fun. They have all been driven off road in Colorado and throughout the Rocky Mountain states.

Given the extensive restoration effort on "Emma" I felt it would be worth sharing a bit of the rich history behind Land Rover, and specifically the Defender model. The company started making 4 wheel drive vehicles in 1948 beginning with the Series I to the left. The vehicle was simple to build and maintain. The Series I consisted of a steel box ladder chassis, an aluminum body, and leaf spring suspension. Production of the Series I, II, and III vehicles ran from 1948 until 1983 in varying configurations. If you want a more thorough treatment on the badge's history, check out Web Rover and make sure you cruise through the Model Photos.

Emma's story starts with the Defender model, which was introduced in 1983 and entered the US market in 1993/1994. It was the first time that the true Land Rover utilitarian vehicle was sold in the US since 1974. The Defender bears a strong resemblance to their Series ancestors and are hand built in Solihull, England.

The first Defenders to reach North America was the Defender 110. Only 500 of these vehicles were made and the link gives you a pretty good idea of their whereabouts. The 110 described the wheel base of the vehicle, and was fitted with a 3.9 liter V8 gas engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. Your color choice was white, white, or white. Though limited in colors, they sold quickly and finding one today will command a price between US$50,000-$90,000 depending on its condition.

In 1994, 1995, and 1997 Land Rover offered the Defender 90. The shorter wheel base while more  maneuverable also lacked the spacious interior of the 110. Both the 90 and 110 were underpowered and lacked that final bit of fit and finish that just would have made a world of difference in comfort. In 2007, the Defender is receiving a major set of upgrades primarily geared to fit, finish, and ammenities. It is unclear if it will make it to the United States.

Today, the Land Rover Defender plays a vital role in military applications world wide. It can be configured as a light attack vehicle or ambulance. It's narrow profile allows it passage in places where a HUMVEE would be too wide. It is a favorite of vehicle of bush country doctors and NGO teams that need tough and reliable transportation in developing nations. For many people, it is the first and only vehicle that they have ever seen.

Land Rover Defender 90 Restoration - 1997 Model Year

On occasion, I have projects that take on a life of their own. They sometimes wreak havoc with my need for completion - in a reasonable period of time - and often make a bigger dent in my bank account then originally planned. This month I decided it was time to restore and enhance  my 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 aka "Emma".

Here's Emma in Moab, UT just after I ran the Moab Marathon. She looks pretty good in the photo, but on close inspection, there are things that need attention. Her suspension needs to be replaced, her motor works a lot harder than it use to (especially at Rocky Mountain elevations), and the lack of adequate sound proofing makes it hard to carry on a conversation. Oh - I almost forgot about the streams of water that invade during a hard or steady rain.

When I first began research on this project, it quickly became clear that the resources on the Internet were either too fragmented or non-existent.  I spent the better part of 3 months researching the different things that others have done to upgrade their Defenders. A good starting point is East Coast Rover, these folks have a great website and good general descriptions on their restoration projects. As Emma's restoration progresses, I'll share photos and background on what is being done with the motor replacement, suspension & drive train upgrades, exterior customizations, and interior improvements.

The work is fairly extensive, but these are rare and incredible vehicles that will take you anywhere you want to go. The work will improve upon the factory build, include a lot more craftsmanship and renew Emma's life at least 15 or more years.