Yet another Ghana 110 import! Let's have a look round. Part 2

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[@BritannicaRestorations]

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[@melgregory7339]

Very tactful comments, Mike, with the owner stood next to you, accentuate the positive etc, must take years of practice and self control !

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Absolutely! Tongue biting is my speciality - sometimes...

[@123Bilko]

Rear axel looks right for an early 110. Maybe they wrecked the original LT77 gearbox but had an R380 to hand and bodged that in. But that rear axel......Salisbury ex military? Who knows? I'll be looking for a second hand engine wiring loom for the 200 TDI save a lot of time instead of trying to salvage/repair the one that's their. Good news that the customer has salvage the interior trim.....many $ saved there. Looking forward to how he decides to go forward with this and hopefully getting to watch you sort this one out.👍👍👍

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I have mixed feelings on this one

[@ianhowe8823]

Hello Mike I'm a bit worried about the sound of your knee creaking:) " Making Land Rovers better" more like a " Making a silk purse out out of a sows ear"

[@BritannicaRestorations]

must oil my chair!

[@harveysmith100]

This reminds me of Africa so much. When I see all the missing bolts, I think at it differently to most. The assumption is, they were too lazy to put them in. Not always true. Bolts are expensive, in Africa they are really expensive. The very poorly paid mechanic will collect a few off of each job and they will then be sold at local markets. Really enjoy seeing these old Defenders out of Africa. For those who read Wilbur Smith books. "AWA." "The gearbox is too big," "That's OK, welding is cheap, move the engine forward," a classic African solution. Easy for us to criticise but they get it done with a pocket full of tools and a stick welder.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Another reason to walk away form purchase - the cost of correction is high!

[@coyote5735]

@@BritannicaRestorations This could be a post-apocalyptic COVID RR, anything goes...... all it needs is nitrous oxide.

[@shunter3670]

regarding bolts not always true but in the majority of cases in my experience of 35 years in West Central Africa it is true poverty of course is a huge problem and how they keep cars running is a sight to behold but sometimes you have to shake your head

[@philhealey449]

Now you've got me questioning my memory; I'd swear my 1990 early Defender 200 TDI CSW had all round disc brakes. It also had a Boge strut and soft rear springs. Update, I now further recall I was a bit too keen on predictive maintenance and would measure and log the thickness of discs and pads every time I changed the oil.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Only on the 300Tdi onwards were their disc all round

[@RussM]

@@BritannicaRestorations there's a 15J engine model in my country with rear disc in the back

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Must be a retrofit

[@philhealey449]

@@BritannicaRestorations It was an ex Land Rover development vehicle.....

[@eliotheasman5378]

Hi Mike very well done as always keep up good work m,any thanks Eliot

[@teamces]

Boy, look at that weld work. Great video.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I love it!

[@SiCrewe]

I wouldn't feel confident driving that until I'd taken the body off and put everything right, front to back. You just know that everything you *haven't* looked at is going to be hiding some shonky wiring, welding or spannering. Good of you to tell the customer "it's not that bad". I hope he doesn't watch these videos. :-/

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Very true!

[@gsylass]

True. Worth a strip down & rebuild. I mean if you've already been had, you might as well turn it into a decent car. Yes it costs money but it'll be good for 30 years or so service afterwards. It's not as if they still make them anymore! Problem is if you don't have the cash to splash...

[@andrewk6844]

missing the front brake backing plates

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Not a safety issue

[@badfinger61]

This vehicle embodies the true original spirit of Land Rover in so many ways. In the 1950s and 60s, a person sitting at their kitchen table in London or Leeds could plan an overland expedition to Cape Town or Singapore and purchase a bog standard vehicle straight off the line at Solilhull that would take you there. Of course most vehicles were specially kitted out and adapted for remote conditions as per their owner/operator's wishes, but you see my point. As a result, very few other vehicles ever produced could claim the kind international fame, recognition, and admiration that surrounded Land Rover during the heyday of the 50s and 60s. The great selling point was their versatility and simplicity. They could be serviced and repaired in remote field locations in situ. If something major went wrong or parts were unavailable, a local garage, engineering shop, and/or blacksmith could be engaged to do a reasonable bodge and it was "press on regardless" - you'd get to your destination come hell or high water. (usually high water..lol). That spirit came to a screeching halt in 2016 with the last of the body on frame Defenders as we all know. The new Defenders are just basically iPhones with wheels and a motor attached. Good luck getting one repaired today in Botswana or Burkino Faso unless it's a main dealer or JLR agent. Even then, you'd better have deep pockets or a gold Amex card. JLR has lost it's way. Hence the huge positive reception to Ratcliffe's Grenadier. Sure this Ghana 110 is rough. Most of them are. The bodges are pretty extreme and absolutely do not pass muster in this part of the world. However, in that pragmatic African way they are kept going. "Press on regardless" - that's how it works in developing countries. Every. Day. People are on the bones of their arses and money and opportunity is scarce. Given that, I can't help but tip my hat to the lads who kept this machine on the road back in Ghana. They probably worked outdoors in the dust on a dirt floor with a knackered old stick welder and a gas axe, barefooted and bare chested among the flies and the rubbish but they got the job done! E for effort. Not pretty, but it functions. The Wilks brothers would be proud.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Well said! I said very much the same for the African Queen last year However this ( in my opinion) should have been left over there for parts, but the demand for these vehicles is so high here, that people will buy these thinking they can bring them back to life ( as you can buy all the parts :D) But they do not take into account here in North America, rare vehicles need specialists to put them right - you can do them yourself, and as simple as they are, you do need some mechanical knowledge They are not for the faint hearted or low budget restorers, who want to turn them into 'James Bond' 110's Mike

[@badfinger61]

@@BritannicaRestorations I agree. As Kenny Rogers sang: "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run.."

[@nzrestoration9486]

I think who ever does the inspections gets paid a little more over the top for their services, wink wink !

[@BritannicaRestorations]

The best inspectors money can buy...

[@fastinradfordable]

I used to have a guy who would pass my ‘68 beetle. He looked under it and said eh it’s lasted 50 years already. Now I live somewhere we don’t have inspections..... See scary things as a mechanic. ... Very scary.

[@soylentblue6924]

...it's looking more like an old service vehicle that's done it's rounds "TWICE" bless it and each time someone has been buggering about with it, when I bought my late 2011 110 tdci from a well known utility company here in the UK it had the odd one or two bolts missing? Why? Anyway Mike the chassis looks sweet but some bits may need a sprinkling of Yorkshire fairy dust👍 liken the latest project all the same!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Gonna have to have deep pockets for this one

[@SiCrewe]

@@BritannicaRestorations At best, this is a "death of a thousand cuts" thing. Ignoring the bulkhead, and the fact we haven't seen the engine running yet, there's at least 20 things wrong with it that, by themselves, would be "$200 jobs" but added together make this an epic money pit. It's sad really. If somebody told me they'd found this behind an office in Ghana and brought it home to fix it up, I'd be right behind them. When I hear that this is for sale as a "rust free" Defender, though, I just get angry. Random anecdote:- When I was about 17 I went on holiday with my mum and dad to Portugal and saw a RHD VW Karmann Ghia in an alleyway and fell in love with it. Went back on my own a couple of years later and it was still there. Bought it, drove it back to the UK and spent a couple of years restoring it (as best I could). Kept it for a couple more years and then flogged it for £10k. To me, that's what foreign vehicles are all about.

[@chopstomp]

If you take out the R380 please do a video as mine is an R380 on the 200tdi amd would love to see it 🤙 great work

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Coming soon!

[@patrickjobling8676]

Ph my goodness gracious me yes .. that as a lovely twist on the wire ..😂😂😎pip pips and carryon squadron leader

[@stevep8773]

I've got a Defender in Africa (Cape Town) and it has all its nuts and bolts including some extras :-) The problem in "Africa" (I always find it amusing that this encompasses 40+ counties and +1 billion people, who are incredibly diverse) is that these vehicles are often aid or NGO vehicles. They are driven by local help, not by owners. The drivers are often in a hurry and lack mechanical sensitivity. So where you or I might get out and take a look, they just put their foot down and "Whoops" - another broken 4X4. Then, the bush repairs are really just a get-you-home, but the drivers don't care. It either works or it doesn't. I would run away from this one as fast as I could, though. Make it a parts vehicle and save a life

[@BritannicaRestorations]

This should have been left over there for parts

[@jorgeosorio1880]

We want to see the repair of this defender if brent wants to repair it .

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I have not heard form him since it arrived - not a good sign

[@jorgeosorio1880]

@@BritannicaRestorations 😞😞😞

[@faroukwasswa3588]

Hei Mike, people do many more weird things with these cars in Africa especially and I believe you got a perfect example and these things keep running day in day out and never stop.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It should have been left there for spares

[@secpac58chichi]

Hey tell the owner if he comes to NYC look me up - have a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge WADA

[@BritannicaRestorations]

How much!?

[@thomaslemay8817]

You are too late my brother purchased the bridge last year !

[@MrRobmellor]

Mike there one thing amongst the many wrongs that needs to be put right before anything else, and that is replace the manifolds and turbo with the correct Defender ones. ( they are a foot higher ) That would put so many things right a lot easier than leaving the Discovery one on. I love the 200Tdi and the short bell-housing that I fitted to my 36-year-old 110 15 years ago, it's a really balanced unit with all the right gearing shift and the power is more than adequate for me to get a speeding ticket on the M6. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Your a braver man than me gungerdin. good luck with this one Mike. I fear that you will need it with this one. Yorkshire Rob.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I can make the turbo manifold work, but it is up to the customer - trying to get a Defender 200tdi manifolds and pipe work is like finding chickens teeth!

[@davidyeates5525]

It's just interesting trying to figure out the story and why they did things. You are like the Inspector Columbo of defenders.

[@weaton25]

It would be nice to get the owners thoughts on it probably be to embarist to do it but no shame it that we all make mistakes when buying things and wished we had got another one.

[@stap0035]

This is an odd vehicle indeed. I'm baffled by how good the chassis is, yet the body is a sieve. There's many a defender owner would die for a chassis as good. I'm looking seed to hearing it running... If it will that is. I think the first ivestagatory test drive will be a nervous one. All those missing bolts.... If its been driven in that state, how much is bent and gnarled? Has it been cobbled together from a load of parts lying around in some African motor pool skip? They have gone to a lot of trouble to relocate the engine after fitting the gearbox. Albeit in Shonky manner... (hat to top you there Mike) lol It needs a rewire by the looks of things. It'll be interesting to watch how this one turns out. Great work as always Mike

[@roverron7509]

If only that truck could talk. The stories it would tell.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Horror stories....

[@llamedosr7843]

It will reminisce about when it was stolen

[@guidovonohlen738]

On the later Defenders, all the clips for the brake pipes are plastic. The all break and get rotten like the cable ties 😁

[@BritannicaRestorations]

You cannot win!

[@petersmith4455]

hello mike i would change all the oils underneath and also the engine oil.the exhaust pipe woud need go as well as it looks bodged up. thats without checking the timing belt. expensive to put this right ?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Very expensive

[@coyote5735]

I'm wondering if the body was dropped from another motor on this Chasis the corrosion topside is at odds with the underneath. Mad Max would be proud of this vehicle. Give us laugh how much did the owner pay for it?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I am not at liberty to say, but it was not a restoration price

[@letmeoffthisplanet6208]

Had to laugh at;Ahh there's a bolt missing...Personally that would be the last of my worries,i'd be more worried about getting it to a quiet spot before it had a major issue with the crusher.

[@coyote5735]

Missing bolts phifff gravity hold the gearbox in place, African physics 101.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Don't forget the speedo cable - opps that fell out!

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

This looks like a scrap parts bin bodge job to me. They just wanted something to look like a car so they could sell it, but really it's just a con' job. 😟 At least it has a reasonable chassis. I hope you can do something with it... 🤞

[@dobcross]

Not bad underneath 👍

[@gazzafloss]

Are you blind, or a vehicle inspector from Quebec?

[@GrumpsBarn]

.....hmmm....the lemon appears to be just a prize plum then!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Funny I was thinking of this for your next project!

[@GrumpsBarn]

@@BritannicaRestorations 😂😂😂

[@jamesbarker4808]

Is the rear diff pan white? Ex army axle from Batus? Options could be fit Ashcroft short bellhosing kit and re fit new engine mounts? Or as 200tdi parts becoming scare sell them a 300!?!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It is not a question of a short bell housing but the primary motion shaft in the gearbox has to be changed as well as it is too long - 200Tdi's are getting like hens teeth now - once it was popular to fit the Disco 200Tdi to Defenders as the D1 rotted before your eyes but the engine was good - but those days have gone - most D1 200Tdi have gone to the scrap

[@jamesbarker4808]

Sorry I didn’t know that. I thought Land Rover brought the short bellhousing kit out in 1994 to allow the r380 to be fitted as a direct swop for the lt77, that’s what I did on my n/a.

[@jamesbarker4808]

With a different pinion!

[@thomasgibbs8559]

Hi mike what’s the best thing for a leaking power steering pump it’s an 89 90

[@BritannicaRestorations]

well an old trick was to put a few spoonful's of brake fluid in the oil to swell the seals - that is a bit hit and miss - maybe time to save up for a recon box?

[@thomasgibbs8559]

@@BritannicaRestorations thanks mike I’ll give that a go noticed the last couple of days drips where ever I park and last night driving home the steering felt heavier than normal I’ll try that though thanks again

[@Fireman9ify]

Clean chasis in all fairness

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes and that is the strange thing - usually rotten footwells = rotten outriggers

[@gsylass]

@@BritannicaRestorations bulkhead off different vehicle?

[@4WDIESEL1]

hi, was wondering whats it like living in Lennoxville, if i remember you said you use to live in Orangeville Ont.. do you speak french or can you manage with English.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

It's a nice little town - I didn't live in Orangeville but I visited a few times I can get by in French but cannot write to save my life

[@ezrawhite8565]

Are those Africa imports only a thing in the states and Canada? Haven't seen any in Europe (Belgium) yet and I tend to follow the market quite well. South African ones have been imported to Europe for ages but not from other African countries, are they much cheaper then the ones from the EU?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I have no idea - bu they must be cheap to buy, as I do not think anyone else will touch these parts cars

[@garthrichert5256]

A round crossmember under the gearbox. Is that denoting a V8 perhaps.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

This is all sorts of parts the LT77 had a square section if I think -but a round would fit

[@karlhrdylicka]

More than enough to keep you going for the rest of this year and most likely well into next , You're a glutton for punishment Mike .

[@davejones9010]

92 deffo a 200tdi chassis/ looks like a Salisbury rear axle.

[@leighriley6277]

👍👍

[@diggerd9267]

Did you film getting it started? The owner must feel sick

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Badly twisted wire on the solenoid -bad ground too

[@paulboon1100]

It looks to me like the motor and gearbox were stuffed or missing, had one out of an old disco wreck stuck it in and didn't connect anything properly just so it looks like it's got an engine/gearbox, then get rid of it quick! Hope he didn't pay much for it.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

This power train has been fitted a while ago

[@lancerutherford3933]

It’s from Africa. Probably added together as things failed and it’s the “good enough “ mentality because lack of money and spares. If it goes, that’s really all that matters

[@raywalsh5822]

who was last owner frankinstein

[@daviemaclean61]

I don't think that's the dictionary definition of "interesting"! Very tactful with the owner hovering over your shoulder though! ;-)

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes Davie - tactful is the word!

[@darrendavidson9645]

What’s known as a bitsa

[@mcmoor7644]

I don't think you can install a R380 to a 200tdi without modifying it. The swap of bellhouses does not do the trick as the gearbox will self destruct in a short time. I expect this is a issue with this car.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

You can fit an R380 to a 200tdi as the bolt pattern is almost the same - some holes are not tapped out that is all - the difference is there are 2 x R380 a long bell housing from a Defender and a short bell housing from a 200Tdi or LT77/s equipped vehicle In this instance they fitted a long bell housing from a Defender to a 200Tdi - so they moved the engine forwards In order to do this properly you need to swap the primary motion shaft of the long R380 and fit a short shaft and bell housing for the short box - not a cheap or quick job

[@gazzafloss]

No disc shields on the front brakes, no bolts in the bell housing, no iso rubber in the engine mount, pretty rusty rear cross member, etcetera, etcetera, and Mike you saying it's not too bad, you are "the eternal optimist", not bad compared to what? I hope you keep us "up to date" with this project right through to actually roadworthy and registered. Are all your vehicle inspectors blind then...

[@ck166666]

Not too bad compared to a 1992 one from the uk I suspect!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Not too bad compared to the African Queen we had in a while ago

[@gazzafloss]

@@BritannicaRestorations I haven't caught up with that one yet, it must be a real "little beauty"...

[@Patmac74]

Obligatory bent steering bar

[@BritannicaRestorations]

naturally

[@landieman6044]

Nightmare, rebuild from scratch, it’s a donor, that’s all. V8 chassis I reckon.

[@interestedinstuff9601]

Bit of industrial artwork. Form over function. :-)

[@nlomas]

Its sad, i hope he paid no more than scrap value for it

[@secpac58chichi]

who is "THEY" LR Mafia ?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

close

[@_captain_underpants]

Is there no such thing as trading standards over there Mike? If it were me I think I'd be telling the customer to take the damn thing back and report the company and/or whoever inspected it. The cert must be traceable back to the tester, it's criminal putting something like that on the road.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

You are right but it is not my vehicle and not my battle, but something has to be done. The vehicle was sold with 'restoration project' on the receipt - fair enough as it gets the seller out of any comebacks - but to give it a safety is a bit of a contradiction

[@_captain_underpants]

I guess if it's bought as a "resto", then buyer beware on that. But the certification thing is a joke.

[@Br1anuk]

The British Empire was built on people having a "cup of tea" and a think. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJKZn4OrYpaUq6c

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Indeed - that is why tea is good in a crisis- takes a while to brew so time to reflect

[@chrismate16]

Unable to watch due to some stupid creek every few seconds. Disappointed.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Gosh I am so sorry - let me do it again just for you

[@vidodaluca5828]

Please tell me who this car came from.