Devon 4x4 - the 4x4 experts

Recently purchased a 90 truckcab and was thinking of making it an all out offroader but as it is such a low mileage/good nick example I have deceided to use it as a road runner capable of doing some offroading when needed.

I live on an island so this will be used as a beach truck mainly for carrying boys toys and for a few travels when possible.

Anyway probably not the normal "build" you see on here but as I was starting to spend some money and swearing a lot at it I wondered if anyone had any interest in seeing it being modified ?

General plans are:

Alloys and BFG AT's
Custom non winch high mount bumper with integrated steering guard and 2" receiver (Being built by Clive at Black Sheep Offroad)
Allisport products
Additional engine mods
Protectakote bed liner
Remote reservoir suspension setup
X deflex system
LED lighting from mobile centre (ANYONE ANY IDEA HOW TO CONTACT THEM AS ALL NUMBERS I CALL NEVER GET ANSWERED OR WORK)
Under Chassis Rock lights (1 kit potentially left for sale - see for sale section EDIT - NOW ALL SOLD )Under bonnet LED and load bed LEDs
Carling switches
Removable winch so can be used front and rear.
Custom rack system for kayak/windsurfer etc

This will not be a fast "build" as just have the weekends to work on the vehicle and no garage.


As I bought it




Charlie.

sounds good to me! also would be nice to see a different build rather all challenge trucks! also thinking doing same myself possiably.

Ok an update

These last few weekends I have done a few cosmetic things and a few other bits and pieces:

1). New wing top vents (I already had these) were fitted. These are the heavy duty fiberglass ones that you can apparently stand on if you wanted to!
2). I hate the plastic headlight surrounds on Landrover so these have been removed and metal series bezels have been fitted. These were printed and painted. Unbelievably my local hardware store stocks the correct Landrover Black paint in rattle cans!
3). Following on in this vain I ordered some stainless grill mesh and in the future will be trying to fabricate a grill to resemble those found on series landies - again this will replace the plastic item that is prone to cracking.
4). At the same time I installed some better headlight bulbs and headlight units themselves. These make driving at night a little less daunting and also smarten up the front end!



5). the previous owner had half installed a La Salle truck cab interior so I finished that up and installed some 10cm speakers in the roof on the molded areas provided. The La Salle interior kit is definitely well made. Be careful if cutting one though as some pretty nasty fibreglass dust gets everywhere - you do need mask, glasses and long sleeves on!

6). Replaced the front rear most U Joint as the bearing cups had disintegrated and the u joint trunion (i believe that is the correct term) had ovalised. It took me a week of very low mileage driving to locate the noise and this was the extent of the damage!



7). Started to fabricate a little under centre seat tool tray. Don't have a folder and as this is a one off I won't be buying one. I found a railway sleeper and piece of angle iron works well. Once all welded up this will get the planishing hammer on it to try and smooth it out but not to fussed. It will then be painted in rubberised paint.




Managed to sell the Silverstone extreme tyres (the road noise from them was unbearable) and have fitted the new wheels and tyres (Cheers Devon 4x4). There was some issues over the wheel studs I had fitted to my landy as they were the 60mm ones and were to long for the closed alloy wheel nuts. I ordered some standard studs but these proved too short - in the end the 60mm ones had to be cut down.






Other things going on...

I still have an Ifor Williams 90 top for sale.

My order from Allisport has been delayed somewhat by the colour of silicone pipes I requested (Black - I think that blue is the most common) - they were helpful at the ordering stage and offered me a great package price so I can't complain too much just hope I will get some parts this weekend.

Noisekiller bonnet sound and heat bonnet insulation kit arrived as looking to replaced old sagging item.

Custom bumper is in the pipeline and have been in discussions with suppliers over the suspension.

Wiring up of LED lights to follow soon.

Any comments more than welcome but try and keep them constructive

Charlie

nice looking build! Love those head lights what make are they?

Tom - sorry was away for the weekend - not sure on the headlights as the previous owner threw them in when i bought the vehicle so they were just in a box with no ID. I will try and look for a part number/maker on them and post it up. I am fairly sure they are crystal clear ones.

If it is any help they look a lot like these but had some sort of blue side light built in (I have not used this)

www.devon4x4.com/index.php?page=shop.pro...virtuemart&Itemid=14

Charlie

Parts arrived from Allisport ! Still some bits to follow but happy to have most of it !



Does anyone know if you have to do anything to protect the aluminium finish ?

either polish it, but will still tarnish over time, you could try lacquering it maybe?

Team Wingnut: Thanks - I will see what Allisport advise

Tom: Re the headlights, no other info I am sure they are cyrstal clear ones

Charlie

Tom found the headlights box - they are Bearmach units part number BA070C - crystal light conversion kit

OK an update for anyone who may be interested.

Not much done over the bank holiday weekend as had to paint the house.

Managed to get the Noisekiller acoustic and thermal under bonnet sound deadening on

Old item starting to sag and disintergrate



Had to sand down and prime a few rust spots prior to repainting - this is one of the only spots on my vehicle that wasn't fully resprayed when painted black.



New NK matting on - I must say that some of the sections were not cut very accurately but guess it is a landy so some variation is likely and the instructions do mention this.



I found a little wodden roller from B&Q worked well in making sure all edges and everywhere else was firmly attached.

Back on the vehicle



Total time including sanding, priming and painting the bonnet and dinner = 2 hours
Result = has cut some noise down but not a huge amount - mainly has stopped the bonnet vibrating which was annoying me and I presume was causing some noise and unnecessary wear on parts.

if it has cut more noise out from when you had the factory liner in then i think it must be pretty good, as the factory one did a very good job (not so well when they got tired)

nice clean job!

Good Point - Noise killer also suggest reinstalling the factory liner back over their product so that would really help with noise.

Would probably do this if mine wasn't so ragged !

Thanks pal :D I will get some for my new truck!

Ive just fitted a Noise Killer full kit on my 90 and i totally agree with you the cutting is poor to say the least. Yes there is variation in every defender but that doesn't account for 1/2'' gaps in most places and non-straight lines, that is just lack of care whilst cutting!

Having said that my 90 is now a lot quieter, its actually a nice place to be now. Wishing i'd got the engine blanket as well now, i wonder how much quieter that would have been?

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing the rest of it.

Regards,

Mark

Mark

Yes agree on the Noise Killer quality of finish but also agree final product does what it says on the tin !

I am thinking of Wright Offroad for the cab protection kit as I like the look of the final product and can get it in black - I was just about to buy it previously but then went on holiday and forgot to do it when I came back !

Yeah I can't wait to get some weekends on it and final parts from Allisport - forgotten now when I made my order but it must be nearing on 2-3 months - a total joke !

Should have the bedliner applied soon, weather dependent, and will do a write up on the product as think it will work well for some people.

Charlie

Partial update...

Ok so not much done over the last few weeks due to bad weather and work committments . Mainly wiring and speakers, replacing missing coontrol knobs etc.

Planned my wiring diagram then lost it on the computer - lucky i had it printed out !


I have been buying electric things for the various lights and stuff



And have started the wring process - dash removed....



Ingnition, dash light and earth wired in and out of the ashtray ready for the mudpod and carling switches (need to sort the tape out!)



Hopefully wiring will be done by the end of the weekend if weather holds and parts arrive - so will post up if any progress.


Also moving along on with the onbord air project - hopefully sourced a good bracket and compressor - any idea if you have to remove the A/C gas before use as an air compressor only ? Anyone have any good websites for air fixings, connectors, hose, filters, oilers, pressure switches, check valves, manifolds etc - I have looked online but all seem to do one or two bits and not everything andwould prefer to buy in one batch.

PS found this lurking in a corner in Guernsey - Our new £183,000 riot van. No idea why we need one or how it cost so much





Charlie

Hi Charlie,

I can thoroughly recommend the Wright offroad mating, in conjunction with the noisekiller it really makes the inside of the 90 a quiet, nice place to be. My 200tdi is now quieter than my 2009 Tdci 90 hardtop!

The only thing that Drew from wright offroad recommended is that you don't use the noiskiller around the transmission tunnel as his mating system is quite tight around there. It took about two weeks from ordering to arriving.

You are lucky that you didn't have the rear noiskiller kit to fit, that was even worse than the front kit!

Regards,

Mark

Wright Offroad Matting & Noisekiller wow that must be quite - how come you did both was one not upto the job as i thought the Wright Offroad stuff would be sufficient ?

I'm heading off on the northern lights trip next year so i was after insulation from the cold as much as anything, but yes its really quite in there now. I never tried either one on there own.

Ah - I went to Kiruna at the start of this year with the family for my Father's 70th It was amazing - snow mobiles, huskies, northern lights, ice hotel, stockholm islands etc etc

You'll be needing the insulation as was butt cold when I was there (-25c on a good day and was -40c the week before we got thereapparantly) - you'll have to get a few reindeer skins to sleep on (if you are sleeping in your truck) they are amazingly warm.

Presume you have a webasto fitted or ordered then as all the cars there plug into block heaters when in car parks etc

Charlie