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Vehicle: Land Rover Defender (200 TDI) owned by: Malcolm & Eunice Jitam. Years owned: 4
This is a vehicle that has undergone modifications to make it an 'EXPEDITION CLASS' off road vehicle.
Report by: Malcolm

Project: 2 inch suspension lift
Details of modification
Workshop: Soon Soon Motor, Jalan Stephen Yong, Kuching
Time taken: 3 days (the machine shop made a mistake. Front and back springs do not have the same footing).
Cost: RM 360

Problem: Ramp over angle low and having difficulty driving in ruts over

Solution: Install 2 inch Suspension lift. This would hold the vehicle's body a little higher, with less things to drag below. 2" is the maximum lift without having to change the shocks, prop shaft and other suspension components.

 Landy is lifted up and the wheels, shocks and springs are removed. The shock is checked to see if it can stretch the extra 2".

The footing of the spring is taken and a mild steel spacer is machined.

Here are the spring with the spacers. According to the workshop mechanic, it would be better for the spacer to be at the top as there is a casing to hold it. I am seriously think about using thick nylon ties to hold the spring in... just in case.

 The lift may be noticeable only to the vehicle owner. First impression are that vehicle sits a little higher than usual, the higher centre of gravity can be felt in corners. Getting into the car is a bit of a chore. There is less shock in hitting bumps (maybe psychological?) Picture on right is vehicle before lift and on left is after lift.

Other modifications:

Snorkel.  3" dia. mild steel with original Land Rover cyclone air pre cleaner.

It's not easy to just drop by your favourite accessory store and pick up a snorkel and get it fitted. It may need to be ordered in and then it may cost quite expensive. It took a while as the first one made was 2" dia pipe. With a 1KZ 3L Turbo engine, 2" is insufficient and a 3" had to be made. The shop could have done a better job in advising me.

Details of modification:
Shop: Tong Seng 4X4 Accessories, Padungan, Kuching
Time taken: 3 days (due to mistake of initially using a 2" pipe)
Cost: RM 400 ( I thought it was a little over priced)
Comment: Tong Seng has metal fabrication division that has the tools to bend pipes. This 3" dia. 1/16 thick pipe is not like a factory production snorkel. Upon close inspection, the weld and grinding can be seen. BUT.. the snorkel works and with the Cyclone head, the engine seems to purr nicely while cruising on highways. The previous Pajero air filter inlet was insufficient.

 Skid Plate (4mm Aluminum with MS angle bar bracket)

Looking into Land Rover magazines, it appears that skid plates fall out of the sky for a small cost. Again in Kuching, it's better to get one made. After two wheeling session in Rayu where the skid plate was really 'used', it was found that the simple design and fitting worked well.

Details of modification:
Shop: Tong Seng 4X4 Accessories, Padungan, Kuching
Time taken: Half day (a few minutes for measuring and then coming back a day later for fitting).
Cost: RM 200+

 

 
Reading the many 4X4 mags, we se that all the UK guys swear that the diff guard is a mandatory accessory. Speaking to the Landy Rover specialist in Sydney, they also said so. So, we fixed one on the Landy.

Shop: Mail order from Nam Seng Auto Singapore - Land Rover specialist supplier. Bolt on, the guard takes a few minutes to install. Cost RM 50.