So..

What do you have in mind? I'm still wondering if you're going to clear your bulkhead outriggers. I know the rear axle is no problem, but what about the front axle?

-John

Doug,

What are your thoughts on this? How far forward do you think we can move the front axle forward without re-locating the steering box but perhaps changing the panhard mount on the axle slightly?

Rich

Remember that I run a higher lift than you guys, and my wheel offset is greater (plus the 38 sx's are really only 37.1" tall). But I do have enough concern to test fit one before plunking down $1000 for four.

ps. I have just decided on a major change in the entire vehicle. I will give clues as things progress.

Blister

Sheesh man... why did you have to do that on Friday?

Now I'm going to have to wait the whole weekend to hear what you're planning.

I am anxious to know. And if you're getting rid of rover components, let me jump in line for your hand-me-downs now!


-John

Originally posted by BillnSandi
Remember that I run a higher lift than you guys, and my wheel offset is greater (plus the 38 sx's are really only 37.1" tall). But I do have enough concern to test fit one before plunking down $1000 for four.

ps. I have just decided on a major change in the entire vehicle. I will give clues as things progress.

Blister

Yikes! 38's, my 37 Boggers are close to the outrigger! Want me to measure? At any rate... I bet your major vehicle change will either be axles or engine!
:D

Originally posted by BillnSandi

ps. I have just decided on a major change in the entire vehicle. I will give clues as things progress.

Blister

Wait just one FAWKING minute here....This board does NOT settle on "clues"...You said you made the decision...Well then...Quit pullin' a "Hills" and OUT WITH IT!

--D

Okay, okay

Since we got Sandi a reliable daily driver, and we are getting the FJ60 fixed up for some family 4 wheeling. I am going to take the project 110 (already have a new 110 frame) and use most of the existing parts from the D90 and build an open topped 110.

It will have the D90 front clip/bulkhead/seat area, then a 110 HiCap bed, and no top (ala the Tomb Raider D110). Plan to use stock front seats and such, and put in 2 bucket seats in the bed facing forward with just enough room passenger legs. The rest of the bed will be storage and such.

It will have a full external roll cage similar to the TR 110 that extends from in front of the windshield to just behind the rear passengers and angles downward from there. It will be 300 TDI/ZF/Lt230 powered (or maybe R-380 with crawler box).

Plan on using my existing Rover axles (ARB's/4.75's/HD axles and CV's), and 38 SX's on MRT beadlocks (at least till I break all the spares I have built up).

Will also transfer over all the suspension components (3-link, trailing arms, etc).

Prolly will have lots of left over stuff to sell like:

-D90 frame (could actually be a rolling chassis with the extra axles I have).
-Bulkhead
-4.0 V-8/ZF and all the wiring including ECU
-Complete Airconditioning (maybe)
-Autobox center console
-D90 rear bed/fenders/tailgate/SG sparetire carrier

Anyway. I have to get Sandi's FJ60 going to even get started on this. Putting an OME full suspension on it. Re-gear it for 33" tires. Maybe put in lockers. Build some rock protection and such.

Here is a pict of the TR110 with most of the "trash" photoshopped out of it. My 90/110 hybrid will look somewhat like this I hope (minus the diamond plate/bumper crap).

This will give me a long wheelbase extreme wheeler that I can cart the family/dogs/gear in.

Blister

ps. Still planning the project at this point. So suggestions (except "your rover axles are crap") would be appreciated.

A 110 frame should be very nice. The more you play the more you need wheelbase.

And Blister would you bob the rear to the same rear overhang as your 90. The 110 do have a lot of rear overhang but I guess you need the length for the family/dogs/gear.

Oh yea, as far as the axles go I carnt add any more to what you just said :D (although I wouldnt say it like that)

Sam

bob the bed! bob the bed! Hey the kids are small :D

TomW

Hi cap beds are HUGE though they look cool.

go 110 regular bed

Also, if you don't mind suggestions, why use the 90 bulkhead and seatbox and all that stuff? Seems like a lot of effort to move it all over v just buying new stuff. Also, with a high cap bed you really need a chassis cab style front behind the seats bulkhead set up rather than a NAS D90 style set up? You know what I am saying?

It seems that parting out the D90 as you are will not net you that much v if you kept it complete and sold it as one piece, plus it would be much less of a PITA to do. I can definatley see swapping the axles and suspension over to the 110 though.

Ron

There are alot of bits and pieces that make up the truck. The nickel and dime stuff adds up to alot of time and money (just ask Serious One about his scratch built 147). There is no way I could sell this D90 as is and pay for all the stuff to put the 110 together (considering suspenion/axles/etc). Plus, noone would want this dented/scratched/modded sucker anyway. Also, there is the question of title. We this route, I have that secured already, with no title hanky panky.

I personnally like the 110 hicap bed. Seen it in person a few times at RoversDownSouth and it is the bomb. Love the tailgate and extra wide rear opening. (edit - shut up Merv). We will see about bobbing though.

Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

Blister

Good move on the transfer of the 90 to the 110 IMO....The market for D90's has dropped through the floor...Example is my bud (James Frederickson) just picked up a CHERRY!!!! And I do mean CHERRY!!! 94', red, new trans, plastic hardtop, A/C, side steps, brush-bar, (100k miles) yadda', yadda', yadda'...For $18k....This thing NEVER saw off-road, and looked as good or better than mine did when I picked her up at the dealer. Now he's trying to sell it in the Tucson/Phoenix area for $22k and, in the last three months, has had maybe two inquires on the beast ...Granted it's high miles, and stock, but sheeze...

The 97's in AA on the other hand are still commanding high $, but (again IMO) Bill could get a lot of $ for all the bolt on stuff he can part out...Heck I (almost) paid for my entire "build up" for the stuff I sold. And if the execution of his project is as clean as I know it will be, the price he can get for the Houston TRP will pay for itself AND the 97 if he does it right (and doesn't flip her in Moab! :flipoff2: )

BTW Bill, James is considering the SAME thing you are....He's already sourced the frame from RDS, and is looking at the hi cap tub...I'll forward this thread to him and maybe you guy's can collectively mash brains together for the ultimate ride!

O'yea, so the FJ is gonna' be your hard-core machien then? Hate to loose you guy's on the brainless trips!

-D

No way man. The 110 will be pure hardcore wheelin. Gonna put 38's on it and wheel the crap outta it. The FJ will be the family/camping mobile.

Blister

I say go with the double cab 110.
You can use the rear pair of doors from a series rig to have the half doors for the full convertible look.
You can also still have a hard top; either just the doublecab or even the full 110 roof.

ruff measurement show that the hi-cap bed has almost 12 more inches of rear overhang
(this is past the rear crossmember!)

One other thing you might consider is moving the rear axle back.
Sure 110 is a good wheelbase length but with yor needs of space this could help your departure angle and if you do do a 4-door you might need the clearance on the front side of the rear wheel opening.

And I know you don't want to hear about axle upgrades; but you could put in a rear salsibury with a 35 spline kit from jack the mac

:D

I kinda like the HiCap bed, and there aren't many on this side of the pond. Length of the whole truck is no different than the station wagon, which would be our other choice. The HiCap bed does not extend past the rear crossmember on 110 HiCaps. At least in pictures on the internet (which would make sense if they are the same length as the station wagon). Here is a link for stats and such.

http://www.off-road.com/RoverWeb/Defender.html

I might bobtail the bed, or take off the two cosmetic rear rocker panels and run some serious tail sliders. We shall see.

Blister

ps. The crewcab 110 has a really small bed, and would isolate the dogs outside. Plus the crewcab 110 has a special bed (since it is new this year) and sourcing one here in the states is rather difficult. Although RDS has already gotten one (which was slightly dinged up).

Bill,

Don't even bother with parting out your 90. I think you should pull the bed, door frames, etc....down to the frame and just stretch it to 110 (or whatever you fancy at the time), strap it and then reassemble. You'll save MONTHS of deconstruction/reconstruction time and the end result will be about the same (save the engine swap).

BTW, Rover axles are CRAP (I have 8 of them tho!).

Hehe.

I put a new pic up in my divorce mated LT-230 album on D90TECH of the new shop space I secured this weekend. Check it out, steal a copy and post it. I want to make these guys totally sick!!! :flipoff2:

Just kidding about the sick part. It is a far cry from what I was working in though.

Personally I'm not too thrilled about the 300Tdi/R380 combo powering a seriously built 110 for hard-core wheeling. I think that the engine is just not strong enough (even though Smith's 90 was totally awesome in Moab).

Everything else sounds sweet! I love the photoshop rendition too. I should post my rendition of how the 145 is going to turn out one of these days.

Later,

Michael

Originally posted by BillnSandi
I kinda like the HiCap bed, and there aren't many on this side of the pond. Length of the whole truck is no different than the station wagon, which would be our other choice. The HiCap bed does not extend past the rear crossmember on 110 HiCaps.

the 12" I said before is measured from my 130 hi-cap. I'm guessing the 110 is the same or close as it connects to the rear of the frame in a different manner than the standard tub.
In this picture you can see that it does over hang the rear crossmember; maybe not 12" but some.

I think the link you provided has some errors since they list the pickup as being shorter than the hi-cap(7") but list the wagon as the same as the hi-cap. I say the wagon and standard pickup are the same length. :flipoff2:

Just found some more specs and you are right. The HiCap bed is longer than the standard 110 pickup. A whopping 4.4" (which accounts for the minimal overhang from the rear crossmember. It is also about 7" wider than the standard pickup. Anyway, not enough to worry me, as I intend to hang a big ass wrap around slider rear bumper with some casters (ala all the CJ8 scramblers use).

Here is the spec site:
in Japanese of course

http://www.cleveland.co.jp/specs/dim.html

Blister

Thanks for the input Mike,

I would agree with you on the strip and stretch if I was planning on reusing the engine and tranny and wiring. I am not, so that changes things considerably, I think. Who knows for sure. Interesting to see how it turns out.

I essentially hate all of the electronics of the existing system (engine management, ecu, wiring harness). So I plan to start from scratch with a new wiring harness and as few of the OEM wiring parts as necessary.

I have seriously considered doing a Chevy v-8/th400/lt230. But I think that combo would tear up the axles and unfortunately I don't have a guy like Timm around here in Houston to fab all of the "extra" parts this sorta conversion requires.

When you price out all of the bits and pieces (crate engine, fuel injection, alternator, tranny, shifters, powersteering stuff, etc etc) the cost difference between Chevy v-8 and TDI is getting pretty small. The TDI is essentailly a bolt in deal (although the motor mounts have to be relocated), and custom exhaust run around the 3-link crossmember.

Anyway, always happy to here your input, thanks dude.

Blister

"I want to make these guys totally sick!!!"

I am sick from seeing the size of your shop!

township says I can only go 25'x25' and I am happy to get it!

:barf:

Ron

PS if you do not want to fit an oil temp sensor to the LT230 a pre bosch new body style range rover drain plug fits the hole perfectly.

I like the trick 94 NAS rear lights on that Hi-Cap

I have a similar set up on my 110.

Ron

Also you have to remember that you need to do a couple more mounts if you put a regular or hicap bed on a SW 110 frame.

The biggest challenge for me was putting together the bulkhead which would make your transfer stuff from the D90 idea a good idea. Disconnect the wiring on the engine and at the fuel tank and T-case, tranny, whereever else there are sensors. Undo the brakes lines, steering at the u-joint, brackets and the two bolts holding the bulkhead down and you are done in one shot.

BUT if you are not reusing the wiring why bother?

Sure swap the axles and suspenion over, but if you are not keeping the wiring and electronics, gauges, etc.

95 and 97 D90s have some gotchas as far as wiring goes, lights need proprietary connectors which are not available seperately (94 lights have normal connectors as they are truck light). The damn VSS/wheel speed sensors. Probably won't matter much but its crap like that adds hours to the build time.

I guess what I am saying is that since you have a complete, running, wheelable, D90 use it and keep it in one piece (also helps to have one in one piece to look at for how things go together) and build the 110 up how you want. If you are not looking for stock wiring its not too terrible to buy what you need especially if you are already set on a new drivetrain.

I would make a list of what you plan to reuse from the 90 and see if buying it would add that much to the cost, I suspect it would not make sense. Also since you are saving so little (no drivetrian, no chassis) from the 90 what is the difference between using its title and using a series title?

In any case I am sure it will be a :vader: rig

my 2 cents (and thats only slightly less than I have in my 110)

Ron

That 110 HiCap is gonna be neat! the good thing about them (to add to the list) is that they're pretty light, well, compared to a 110 Sw they are.
i built one a couple of years ago that had my 3.9 EFI in it, and it used to FLY! would pull 110mph, not bad for a "110 pick up 'ute!"

there are 2 different mounting brackets that fit onto the rear cross member, but they're not much to buy. and you need the rear bulkhead that fits behind the seats too.

i keep toying with the idea of building another one too.... and those huge rear wheelarches would EASILY eat a 38" tyre!! :D


shout if you need any parts listings Bill.

Jamie

Love the ideas Bill! Sounds like an incredible rig. Just the type of thing to enjoy whenever/wherever you want to go. I look forward to seeing this beast in action someday.

And your list of interesting rigs keeps growing.. and growing..

It's a sickness I tell you!!!

-John