Does anyone have any insight into whether anyone is gonna offer a long travel kit for Defenders? Something that would give the longer travel and ride height of the Octa? Seems like longer control arms is part of that but I am aware that ALOT goes into the new Octa suspension and 6D is comprised of many changes. Im just wondering if anyone is working on a upgrade kit that adds some of that performance. I really want to move to 35s for this season at Uwharrie and it just had me curious.

 

I dream of a wide-track 130 V8 "Dakar" build option with 18" wheels but also a 4 seat Outbound combo to have the captain chairs 2nd row and proper cargo area flooring and sub-floor storage. The easiest way to get that is probably to find a wrecked 130 and custom merge its rear end onto an OCTA LOL

If you realistically do the math between equally optioned builds of the V8 vs OCTA, the factory "upgrade" is practically a value. An OCTA being fully under warranty and parts that you just wouldn't be changing because they continue to require change of the next part in sequence.

Anyway, that was my thinking on it and I've done extensive DIY modifications to my LR3 which allows 100% use of 34" tires. While I know I could install the "sub-frame lift" for the new Defenders, then like you said it's not just the control arms but everything else as well while being careful to not degrade the handling dynamics for highway travel at the same time.

If you could "line item" a Defender, what would it be ?
1-6D at least $10k upgrade
2a-$10000 long travel suspension kit - at least
2b-$5000. required body kit for wider track due to long travel kit
3- $4000 ? driveline/axles/joints upgrade for increased angles and forces

However, with all that, I think it would be cool and might even sell, to have a "Dakar" build option which uses a less expensive engine, like the V8 or even the P400, then prices just above the V8, like 10k more.

Allowing it to be in a 130 would seal the deal for me anyway.

Basically, an OCTA is a $40k factory "SVR" package which when compared to other options, isn't that bad a deal.

 

As for tire size, what have you been using and how did you come to 35" as the target? I feel like the sweet spot for weight, width, mods needed, is 34" max. With the way the Land Rover suspensions work, it's like having a solid axle vehicle on 37's, more or less. For example 37's with an 11" differential yields only 13" clearance where it will drag the diff shell.

Put your Defender in high and measure.

 

Im running 33 Nitto Grapplers now. I would just like to be able to air down more for trails. Im just not interested in an OCTA. I really enjoy 4 wheeling trails and I just don't think i would take a 170k vehicle out the way I do with my defender. I would sooner keep my V8 and pick up a year old Rubicon for 170k investment. Dont really care about 6D or the body kit. But the long travel kit and whatever axle upgrades would be necessary would be nice. I my gut says its just to soon for these types of mod kits to be on the market. I also have a 90 and definitely aren't interested in moving to a 110. I love how it navigates trails and I can park it anywhere in town. Plus just me but I think the 90 absolutely looks the best. But again thats just my personal preference.

 

@jwest Thats good advice about 34s Im gonna look into that now. There was ZERO sense making or science behind my desire for 35s.

 

The 90's do look sweet. I just travel with too much stuff for that size. I was about to ask what wheel size but assume you're using 20's with the V8 brakes? If I had a V8, I would be considering how to make an 18" fit. With the right barrel design, and possibly brake caliper 'carrier' and rotor conversion, 18's would fit just fine. I did all that to my lr3 to allow factory 7x17's which have my Nokian LT2 snow tires.

The octa body kit/flares are just due to the wider track created by the longer travel components so kind of required in some fashion.

 

Makes sense about the body kit. Man…I agree. If I could get 18s with 34 inch tires or even just keep my 33s that would be AMAZING. I have just seen no one do this successfully or even try for that matter. If anyone has any resources or places to reach out to about this Im all ears.

 

Maybe you are already aware but the lucky8 videos on what to trim and adjust on your defender to allow full movements of larger tires may provide what you desire. I make my mods to allow non-rubbing movement at zero system psi, basically on the bump stops. This means that the shortened "rods" are entirely unnecessary and even detrimental to the overall handling. On my lr3 shorter rods are required but not for why they're known, but rather to put the sensor arms back within their ideal range after installing strut/bump-stop spacers. The spacers do an actual "lift" whereas rods are not a real "lift" because alone they do no more than the system is already capable of by way of a gap tool, LLAMS, or grounding.

Also, consider the LLAMS interface for "on the fly" height control.

 

Yeah I am. I just really dont want to cut all that metal in the back of the front wheel well if Im being honest.

 

In concept, the same idea as on my lr3. I got the parts for the early 2005-2006 NAS V6 / EU diesel which consisted of 4 rotors, rear caliper "carriers". The same caliper was retained but just set onto a carrier closer to the smaller diameter V6 rotors, pads of course, and that was it. I did it when my rotors were done anyway so no bog deal really.

On the V8 one might look into the P400 brakes parts and or same V8 calipers but just down onto P400 or P300 size rotors. I found in some reading that there have been more slightly different sizes of rotors than I would expect for just a few models - apparently due to changes from the first Defenders to now. This might mean more choices to make it all work though, with careful planning.

My hunch is that there is a hub difference or mounting points for caliper carriers which is why we have not seen this already well documented. So, for V8 to P400 might be more involved than most people are willing to try.