ok quick break down.

Series 3 109 with good bones, ie good body and bulk head $5000
300tdi I believe you said $7500
Disco 1 parts truck $500-$1000
Galv Chassis $4500
Defender dash $500
Defender seat box to clear LT230 $1,000

We're already at $19,000 to $19,500 no work done.

Fabrication on bulk head to install bad idea heating system, fabrication for seats, fabrication on frame to switch to coil springs, fabrication on frame to accept radius arms and trailing arms, new radiator, new exhaust, oil cooler, oil cooler lines, complete new fuel system. New drive shafts, new transmission or used one rebuilt to work with the diesel, rebuilt diffs (did you say re-geared and pegged as well? More $$$)

Labor to put it all together.

Say the labor rate is $100 an hour. You are probably looking at 100 hours to swap the frames, put in the new fuel lines, brake lines etc so another $10,000 has just gone in, not to mention the cost of the fab work say another $2,000 there, probably more. Then all the cost of labor for the engine swap, or if doing it yourself all the tools you will need to buy, the cost of building the diffs it goes on and on.....

So without all the bits bobbles(mentioned earlier) and oh yeah I need that part your already pushing $31,000 and that is with using the seats out of the Discovery that are probably shot.

It's all cheap in theory, but nothing good ever is.

It can be done cheaper by not going through everything, or doing all the work yourself if you can.

 

Dam.... I imagined it would be alot cheaper. Also did not realize how expensive it is to have a used frame galvanized. Well maybe scrap the galvanized part and cut $4,500. If I could find a Series III with a solid frame I could just clean it up and apply waxoyl. As for labor, your right, I probably could save alot of money by doing most of it myself. I could easily use a forklift to raise and lower the body, and an engine hoist to swap out the engine. As for the welding, I guess that depends on how much fabricating is needed. I was thinking more along the lines of smaller custom brackets used to secure the updated dash assembly. Maybe more custom brackets for the updated seats as well.

I forgot though, how much did you pay for your Defender?

 

Less than I estimated for a Series III and Diesel engine

 

If your planning on reusing the frame figure a grand for having it galvinized and more for repairs. Also probably move the purchase price of the truck itself up $2500. Also you are going to need Fab work and parts on the chassis for the coil sprung suspension to be fitted.

 

The Series and Defender almost always had 90, 110, or 130 inch wheelbases. The Range Rover and Discovery had 100 inch wheelbases. The frame's are not interchangeable, but for the most part, the chassis components from the Range Rover Classic came to be fitted to the Defender, and then the Discovery. Some new things were introduced with the P38, and many of those ended up on the DII as well. For the most part, hybridizing, although entirely possible, is more costly than just buying what you want. It's naive to think that sorting out a classic vehicle is going to be a bargain. It is like hand-building a custom versus a mass-produced product coming off an assembly line.

Here is a video of what looks to be a terrific hybrid project that used DII parts to update the RRC. It's like what could have been had Land Rover not introduced the P38 and continued to build Classics from '96 through to 2004. It tastefully uses a 3-door, which gives it a even more unique an retro-look. Don't be foolish though. I am sure this project cost the builder at least as much as ArmyRover's estimate for your wish list, and if they were to add the value of their own labor, it would have a six-figure price tag if it were to be for sale at all. Just compare an Icon4x4.com, which are for sale.

 

a nice retofit on the RRC is the 03+ headlight and tail lights