Modding an oldish 90

I'm planning to make a few modifications to my 1987 ex-RAF 90, so I'm looking for a few tips to make sure... well, to make sure that it'll start with all this stuff bolted on.

At the moment it's all stock, right down to the NATO light switch. It's got a new battery, since the old one kept discharging. But everything else (well, OK, it's got a new seat from Exmoor Trim as well) is stock.

Basically what I want to add is the following, roughly in order of preference: Worklight at the back, either one or two Two 12V lighter sockets for internal gadgetry Cabin heater, engine heater Radio/CD Changer Extra lights, front; either bumper-level or roof-mounted (which is best?) PMR or other comm radio PA system Poss. 220V power output?

What's the best way of doing this, and will I need to make any modifications to handle the increased power load? I saw something in LRO about mounting an extra battery for something, could that be worth it?

What components would be recommended for this lot, and what would be the best (not to mention cheapest) way of doing it?

Oh, and where can I get good but cheap folding steps to put outside the front doors?

Cheers!

Reply to
Torak
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It'll work fine with that lot on but personally I'd add a big leisure battery and a split charger to feed most of your extras, I'd use it to feed anything you may use when the engine is not running, internal/work lights, radios, high voltage output etc.

more later, going out again now ;o)

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Reply to
Mr.Nice.

Leisure battery, split charger, check.

Eagerly awaiting the "more later"! Thanks!

Reply to
Torak

Any other suggestions?

Reply to
Torak

It'll work fine with that lot on but personally I'd add a big leisure battery and a split charger to feed most of your extras, I'd use it to feed anything you may use when the engine is not running, internal/work lights, radios, high voltage output etc.

more later, going out again now ;o)

If it were mine I'd have a leisure battery bolted to the floor and bulkhead in the rear, or you might get one between the passenger seat and the bulkhead, on a split charge circuit to the main battery, all extras would go through their own in-line fuses to the second battery, this way you could accidently leave an extra something switched on and flatten it and it'd not leave you stranded, also you'd have extra capacity when the engine is running.

Worklight at the back, standard location, 55watt halogen.

lighter sockets. I'd get a triple socket from somewhere like towsure and mount it horizontally on the rear of the bulkhead, and maybe another horizontally on the dash (mount it facing up and it'll fill with crap, mount it pointing down and stuff may fall out when offroading).

cab-heater, never bothered, even in expeditions to places at -30c. if I was doing it I'd get a defender heater box complete and fit it to the bulkhead in the back fed by engine coolant.

Radio, I'd have an mp3 cd player mounted in a central cubby box with a shelf above the bulkhead with 2 paird of speakers in.

Comm radio, I'd have a CB (very commonly used) mounted on the above shelf with holes drilled through the shelf inline with the cb's speaker.

Extra lighting, I like the look of the light pod from QT services myself but a cheaper option is a pair or 2 of driving lights from somewhere like towsure wired to the vehicle battery through a relay from the main bean circuit. mount them on top of the bumper, never below it. You can also fit some to the roof rack which can be a great help offroading in the dark. if it were me I'd have both and also a pair of rectangular fog lights on each side and at the rear instead of the worklamp, powered by switches from the leisure battery, this gives you great light for tricky off road in the dark and for site lighting when camping etc. (the only reason I don't currently have this setup as the lanes near me are too low for a rack).

PA system, get a waterproof speaker mounted behind the front grille, connected to the PA socket on the CB.

220 volt outbut. get a big inverter connected to the leisure battery and bolted to the front of the bulkhead, run a line from it to a couple of domestic switched sockets on the rear of the bulkhead.

You could also fit an uprated alternator.

a great modification in my opinion are 12 volt flourescent lights as for caravans, I have 2 mounted inside the roof of my 110 csw, loads of light and very low power drain, you can also screw one to a piece of wood, make 2 hooks on the back from a wie coat hanger, and fir a long

3amp lead to a cigarette lighter plug and use it for working under the vehicle or lighting inside a tent.

Any questions? ;o)

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Reply to
Mark Varley

Thanks, that'll come in handy!

A few questions:

Are there any dual CB/PMR radios that could work, or would I need one of each? Most of the time I use PMR, y'see. I was planning to have the local smithy build me a cubby box to my specs; partly because the previous owner wired in three antennae for CB, so I need space for the wires, and partly because I want to be able to have the whole lot in a self-contained unit that I can remove if I'm going to be parking somewhere insecure, for instance. That unit will contain the stereo, the CD changer, the speakers, the radio, the PA... Maybe an additional lighter socket, a holder for my mobile, and I suppose I have to have mug holders on it... Any suggestions?

Any suggestions as to makes and models of the various bits mentioned?

Many thanks!

Reply to
Torak

I'm still, slowly, fitting out my 110, only had it a year, sloppy I know...

for CB's and such like I don't know, I'm personally going to source a pair of handheld PMR's that sit in a 12 volt charger hooked to the leisure battery, this is more use to me as I'm usually out in 1 vehicle and often 1 of us would leave the vehicle on location. Also I don't feel CB has the kind of local coverage for summoning assistance that it once had, so I carry a mobile phone for that.

I'm planning to build a cubby box with cup holders front (2) and rear (3) (it's a CSW). and mount the stereo (mp3 cd player) in it. built from plywood and carpeted inside and out. I'll make a little cover to hide the radio and hope the flashing LED puts them off.

It would be easy enough to mount a CB, stereo and anything similar in the cubby box, could wire the cb audio into the stereo speakers easily enough.

As for the other bits, Maplin is the place I'd look for an inverter, I stick with 12v myself. for the flourescent lights, aux lights, and other shiny things try towsure

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just had a look and their website is irritating, I have a catalogue which is worth looking at.

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Reply to
MVP

Cheers, that's a good start. Might go with a PMR charger instead of a fixed unit.

Reply to
Torak

By the way, I'm planning to take my Landy to an airsoft game this summer, kitted out as an MP vehicle (I've checked with the local police to make sure it's all legal).

Where can I get a blue rotating beacon and a decent-sound siren? And how can I attach the beacon temporarily without drilling and bolting and things? Have a garage nearby specialising in Land Rovers, so I'll get them to do it if it's complicated... the main thing is I need to be able to remove the beacon when not at games.

Reply to
Torak

I'm sure you can get blue magnetic beacons same as the amber ones you see around. I'd rivet a steel plate to the roof and the magnet will hold on that.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Reply to
MVP

MVP wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

No need to rivet the plate. The magnetism will go through the aluminium sheet.

Derry

Reply to
Derry Argue

Ummmm

You would not be wanting to be sitting under the plate if the magnetic lamp got knocked off !!!!

-- Marc

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Reply to
Marc Draper

"Marc Draper" wrote in news:cv9md1$4cb$1$ snipped-for-privacy@news.demon.co.uk:

Depends on the thickness of the plate -- also the thickness of the head!

Derry

Reply to
Derry Argue

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