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Originally Posted by TerryS
Ryan, I can't disagree more.
For starters, have you personally inspected any 109 wagons for sale in the $1-3K range. They are totally wasted. 109 frames are so reasonable now that any trucks that are simply in need of a frame, have had them done. There is so much that quite literally turns to shit, on a 109, when they get to be that price, they are just parts trucks. Keep in mind, when the frame has deteriorated to the point it needs changing, so too have the doors (All 5 of them) sills, B pilars and the bulkhead too.
If one just fell in your lap, you're still MANY thousands from driving away. NAS 110 frames are under $3K, but EVERY piece of suspension, including both axles must be changed. Much of the steering componants also need to be replaced or modified.
I am intimately familiar with both series truck and Defenders, from the very skeleton to the finished truck. Unless you have actually done this kind of work, you can't begin to fathom the work, money and time required.
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I am not familar with restoring a 109 specifically, but you can go a LONG way with an 88 series for what it's going to cost you in a defender. Perhaps one difference is on the west coast the price of a defender is as high as anywhere, but the rust on a series (if it spent its life in CA) is not as bad as the east coast. During the time I was looking for a series, there were some good base vehicles under 5k. Given most defenders are going for 20k+, that gives the do-it-yourselfer a fairly nice budget to make a very trail worthy truck.
