My very first car was a Series 3 SWB petrol. I had it for 5 years and it was a rolling refurb sort of car. i.e. I kept improving it but it had to be permanently on the road.

I loved that car and loved the simple ruggedness of it.

I've never had a Defender 90, but just recently I have been finding myself looking at the classifieds. the amount of retro fit accessories, retrims, seats, carpets, extras, wheels, tyres etc you can get is unlimited.

I know they are cramped, the handbrake is in a stupid position that bangs on your left knee all the time, and they are not exactly smooth to drive. But, I'd really like one! Just a hard top, nice seats, alloys and MT tyres, rugged looks, the rear loadspace just for dog and chainsaw/guns etc. It would be SUCH fun. Can't see the wife allowing to happen though...

Anyone got one? Done much to it? Is it reliable? What's the best engine for an older one? Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Adam,

we have owned loads of the LR 90 and 110 Defenders since they were launched in 1983.

Depends on your budget, the naturally aspirated 2.5 diesel is a very reliable but slow workhorse, if you want more power the 300tdi is excellent and can be worked on by any mechanic with a basic knowledge of tools - replacement engines etc can be taken from discovery 1's - literally hundreds being scrapped. The TD5's get expensive and are more specialist.

Avoid at all costs the 2.5 Turbo Diesel - endless reliability problems. The 2.5 petrol is a reliable engine as are the 3.5 V8's - but these were very much detuned at 114 hp.

2.5 Diesels will cruise at 75 and do 25mpg, TDi's will cruise at 80 and do 22/24, V8 3.5 will cruise at 90mph and do 11 mpg - due to low gearing - the best I managed to squeeze out of one was 14mpg. The 2.5 petrols will do 15/18mpg and cruise at 75ish ok.

Spares are cheap and readliy avaulable - as per the series 3 they are just a large mechano kit - but then you know that anyway - virtually any jobbing mechanic can replace body panels / doors etc.

The benefit of the 90 over the series LR's is the Range Rover coil suspension nicked from the classic. Biggest problem is rust, I would go for a good mechanical vehcile with sound chassis - bodies can be tarted up easily and cheaply. Even scabby decaying bodywork looks ok with a hand paint of military drab - the matt finish hides all the blemishes and looks good. Interior trim is cheap and easy to replace - ebay is a good source of all spares - again you know that anyway.

Alloy weels from RR Classics and Discovery's will also fit the 90 and 110 - but make sure it has the rear discs - as early 90's had drum brakes - there is insufficient clearance to fit genuine alloys over the drums. You can swop axles from RR's and Discoveries to a 90. Ebay is again a good source for cheap s/h wheels and tyres from classics / discoveries - have seen them go for pennies.

For a good sound workable but scruffy vehicle I would look to pay £2.5 to £3k and go for a 300tdi. 90's you can make money on, they don't depreciate if you buy right and look after them - plus everybody wants one!

oh and finally beware of hybrids - far too many LR's have been mucked about with - engine and gearbox changes from other vehicles - stick to original spec if at all possible e.g. early V8 90's only came with a 5 speed box - no 4 speeders and no auto's, no ford v6's, no V8 efi's etc etc - messed about vehicles and engines suffer with cooling problems, clutch problems etc etc. Late special edition vehicles were available though with a V8 auto - but these are expensive and highly sort after.

I am finding myself looking closely at adds for V8 90s and 110s

Has to be done.

(LPG of course)
Around five thousand seems to buy a nice one. 15MY SDV8 Vogue SE

I have just purchased a totally original 1990 Defender 110 V8 County in amazing condiiton with just a little rust on the passenger door frame, undented body work, and unmarked seats. Supplied and maintained by Dunsfolds from new, Phil Bashall knows its complete history.

Its condititon is partly attributable to it being waxoyled from new. It also lead an unusual life being used only in summers to tow a caravan and dry stored during the winters. It has only in the last two years being driven in the winter.

I have been driving it in and out work recently and love the V8 burble, I drive arm out the window whenever possible listening to it.

The size and presence on the road is almost unmatched. I have already spent £500 on accesories and have a long list to work through, though it will always look almost standard as I am not in to winches, chequer plate and extended wheel arches.

The performance is similar to that of the Range Rover from the same period with the identical 136 BHP engine fitted from 1998 onwards. The gearbox however is a five speed Santana unit to handle the more arduous duty expected of the mark, it is slow and clunky which I am still getting used to.

Only one downside, it likes the petrol pump expect 11 to 15 mpg............... 2018 Range Rover Autobiography
2010 Land Rover Freelander XS
1959 Series II
1950, 1952, 1954. 1955, 1957 Series I
1952 Minerva Ambulance

I got rid of the 110 to get the FFRR ! The 90 is fine if it's just one/two of you and dogs - if you want to carry more people around and have more space then the 110 is better. To tow a trailer/ horse box/ boat the 110 was far better than a 90.

If you are only doing local journeys then the noise and agricultural suspension will not worry you - it put a smile on my face when I drove it, but you need to be aware of just how cramped your right arm/ shoulder will be. If you have decent tyres then it is a very easy "go anywhere" truck that you can just load the dogs into and go (and hose out afterwards).

However, I haven't missed the 110 at all ...

I run a chipped TD5 90 with an autobox and it is great fun to drive and is getting me around in the snow up here in the highlands much better than the FFRR even with its new Vredesteins, the 90 runs General AT2. Have to admit that it is not as refined, comfortable, quiet, warm etc etc but it is not ment to be.
Get one they are great fun.

I suspect there are a lot of us FFRR who have a yearning to get a Defender to use off road for fun or on the shoot.
My TDV8 is great off road with mud terrain tyres but I want to keep it looking good and that's going to near impossible over time based on what I've done with it over the last year.
The only thing holding me back from buying a Defender is that anything sound and straight will probably cost over £5k!! Been bidding on ebay for some but not yet been successful at a sensible price or the reserves are too high.
Have even considered a restored lightweight.

Hubs Don't mistake my snoring for a lack of interest?

Series 2a lightweights look so cool! Never find one, hens teeth.

Typically the nearest garage to me has one just how I'd want it, standard and unmessed with, a blank canvas.

With a 40k kitchen project in June this pipedream will never fly! Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

£40k Kitchen who's doing it , De Dietrich , Alno , Schuller , Schmidt , Allied Kingswood , Teka .........

If your stuck for ideas Adam, could list you websites for Worktops , Doors , Sinks , Taps , Appliances ...... etc etc ......

 ====================================

"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy

Mick, kitchen project being done by a local company, hand built made to measure, they did our last house, wouldn't use anyone else. Got 4 quotes this time for due diligence but they still blew everyone out of the water for attitude, quality and ability.

Project includes £10k of building work too you see, knocking 2 rooms into one. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Now, who's going off topic?  2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded

Ooooppsss it's the Topic Police ...........  ====================================

"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy

I've just whittled my little fleet of toys down to four to tidy up the garden and pay for a holiday...

I agree with most of what Vogue says although I don't shy away from the modified wagons, just assess them carefully and bargain accordingly.

I bought an original V8 90 in London for £1000 with a snapped chassis - The bloke had spent a fortune on wheels & tyres, LaSalle headlining, Trakker seats, mats, bars, lamps and a paint job but neglected the steel work. When it broke, he just advertised it as "spares".

Chassis swap took a few weekends but I rebuilt the engine with a new top end and fitted a disc back axle. The missus ran in for a couple of years (and loved it!) while I pootered about in an LSE and rebuilt another 90.

"My 90" initially had a totally bored and rebuilt V8 but it popped the back shafts a couple of times so I fitted Detroit diffs and then the gearbox lunched itself. That came out and a ZF auto went in...

Both of them were run on LPG with 35l tanks under the seats and contingency petrol tanks under the tub. They were great fun and really easy to work on... "My 90" was sold a few weeks ago and is now running about Vogues neck of the woods - its painted matt orange so won't be hard to miss

At some point, both of them were used to push the snow plough which they did with ease.

Would I have another?

Already got one (in bits) and the 4.2 V8 from my corrosion expired LSE will be going into it, along with the auto box and both axles.

POINTS TO WATCH FOR:
The chassis and bulkhead for corrosion.
Butchered (ie badly done) modifications.
Noisy gearboxes & jumping gears.
"The usual stuff" with engines etc.

Next to nothing is beyond repair though...

For a chuckle..... takes the backache out of shovelling...


Different winter, other 90. Same plough blade so compare the two pics to get an idea of the depth of the snow...

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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

I bought myself a 1996 300TDi in January and am slowly but surely adding bits to it (silver one below). There are quite a few out there for silly money, but if you look long and hard enough (and are quick) then there are some nice examples out there.

James

Click image to enlarge