My First Defender

[dickyf]

just thought i would share, i recall a thread about off roading group/event in the High Peak but i cant find it despite looking in all the wrong places!

[scrwright]

shiney

[300bhp/ton]

Nice, needs some proper tyres though

[norush]

That's not a proper Defender; no rust on it...........................................yet!

[Hybrids]

We used to offroad, trial and lane with Glossop 4x4 Group, friendly bunch with plenty of organised events

[camel_landy]

Fantastic colour for showing all of the scratches!!! You could try wrapping in this sort of stuff, to help prevent them though.



I've not tried it myself but would love to know if it works or not.

M

[downthepub]

And presuming Dukes of Hazzard entry after that has been applied? Might be tough with bigger lads through the nippit Defender opening windows

[Gafferjim]

camel_landy said:

Fantastic colour for showing all of the scratches!!! You could try wrapping in this sort of stuff, to help prevent them though.



I've not tried it myself but would love to know if it works or not.

M

When it rains / gets wet, it goes all white and starts to fall off, you tend to leave lumps of it floating about the c/way. If it gets very warm, it bakes onto the car, it's then a right pain to remove! you finish up riding around in a very large badly wrapped parcel!

[Gafferjim]

camel_landy said:

Fantastic colour for showing all of the scratches!!! You could try wrapping in this sort of stuff, to help prevent them though.



I've not tried it myself but would love to know if it works or not.

M

When it rains / gets wet, it goes all white and starts to fall off, you tend to leave lumps of it floating about the c/way. If it gets very warm, it bakes onto the car, it's then a right pain to remove! you finish up riding around in a very large badly wrapped parcel!

[Ayahuasca]

Welcome to the fold!

Had mine about 18 months and still love it.

[dickyf]

Quick update to my avid followers!!
Installed four Bilstein B6 shock absorbers today along with a bilstein steering damper.
What an improvement in ride, far less bouncing and seems to turn into corners nicely and stay there rather than the fidgety nature previously.
I'm having a Steinbauer tuning box installed on tues which will hopefully improve the engine response and sort out the flat spots and surging. Its said to give improved power and torque.

http://www.steinbauer.cc/gb/products/passenger/lan...


I really like the car but haven't bonded with it 100% yet due to the relative appalling ride and engine set-up. I know they are a bit agricultural but I have adopted a 15 mile distance restriction on journeys in it prior to the shocks replacement as it was too much!!
I use it as an everyday car so am probably expecting too much from it but it I cant live with it its being swapped for a TDV8 RR.

[Sarge 4x4]

Chalk and cheese the two vehicles.

Get the Defender mapped for better performance and fit maybe a 265/75x16 AT tyre with 30mm spacers, think you should like the ride.

[dickyf]

the tuning box is essentially a remap that has a residual value.
not sure about tyre sizes or spaces, maybe that's for later as i want to make sure the mods ive undertaken improve it sufficiently.
what advantage or otherwise do the spacers offer? the wheels are genuine LR sawtooth items although i dont know what the offset is.

[stevegals]

Sorry but spacers is just a good way to screw your bairings faster

[300bhp/ton]

stevegals said:

Sorry but spacers is just a good way to screw your bairings faster

Not convinced on this. A spacer does nothing that a wider offset wheel does.

[andyb66]

300bhp/ton said:

stevegals said:

Sorry but spacers is just a good way to screw your bairings faster

Not convinced on this. A spacer does nothing that a wider offset wheel does.

Both spacers and more offset rims have same effect; mostly to improve steering lock.

IME, both will eat wheel bearings.

[dickyf]

looking on Twisted website they fit 285 75 16 on 16" rims so im going to give that a go. Re the spacers, ill see what the new tyres look like and make a decision, wheel bearings aren't the biggest worry unless of course they collapse!

Again, the overall improvement with the Bilsteins on is remarkable. LR should fit them as standard or at least something comparable. The standard ones are truly dreadful.