Brookjm's Land Rover 90

[HMC]

My work colleague has 2 range rover classics (both of which I used to own) and a Triumph Stag. So his only modes of transport all have V8s! His son also has the land rover bug, and since buying a 110, has dumped his old 90 on his Dad's drive and left it there. Long ago I had previously owned a Defender 90 xs, bought brand new (madness) and enjoyed. Times have moved on, and the only sort of land rover, or any car for that matter, that I will buy these days has done with depreciating. I liked the sound of this 90 and having traded cars in the past, knew it would be as described. I agreed to buy it sight unseen yesterday and he was so keen to get the thing off his drive  he drove it into work for me today...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its been used on a farm/ small holding in the past and is pretty sound, but it was the originality that I liked the sound of most. Its so easy to bolt stuff onto and off these that people sometimes can't help themselves. Its never had paint nor has it been altered much from how it left SolihulI, and has a DW approved registration. Its the 2.5 petrol so I expect its not particularly quick but will be thirsty!

[scruff]

That looks great, you rarely see eighties 90s that haven't been OLLI'd. Great work, just needs a border collie in the back.

2.5 is a grand motor.

[Lacquer Peel]

That looks great, like you say, it's nice to see a totally unmolested, original one.

 

Is a petrol one a lot cheaper than the diesel equivalent?

[PiperCub]

That actually looks real tidy for it's age & unmolested (no stupid mods) too. Seen much newer ones that look like Baghdad hire cars. Good buy.

[skattrd]

That does look good.

BIL has the 2.25 diesel and he reckons it's no more economical than the petrol.

[dollywobbler]

Dollywobbler does indeed approve, and not just of the number plate. Would like to try a 2.5 petrol.

[brickwall]

The juice version is  slightly more active that the NA coal version. Not by much, tho.

[Guest Breadvan72]

So much Landy happiness happening around here at present!  I have a bit of a Jones for an early coil spring Landy, but have never seen   one that wasn't mega spenner and/or gefookered, so I stick with my old leaf spring one, which has been amazingly dependable over the year that I have had it  (whoops, shouldn't have said that).   Brookjim, yours looks like the proper thing.  Top buyageing!

[phil_lihp]

Good to see a proper, honest, dirty and battered Land Rover without alloys and checkerplate.  What are these like to drive?  Never actually been in one except for sitting in a shiny new Defender 110 at the London Motor Show a few years ago.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Probably the previous version, but when I had a 2.25 diesel in a series (now gone to Landy heaven, or the other place) it was a desperately rough, gutless and thirsty thing.   The 2.25 petrol in the series Landies is, by contrast, really rather a good engine, I think, at least by late 1950s/early 1960s standards.   Not unsmooth, relatively speaking, and chugs along well enough

[scruff]

Has it got power steering Brookjm? 

[trigger]

That's very smart. I approve.

[HMC]

No power steering, Mr S. I'm yet to drive it, though the heavy, sluggish steering on the P4 means i'm used to it. After my colleague finishes work he's popping over with it and I'm dropping him back in it so will report back.

 

There's a certain symmetry with the engines in my current fleet of Rovers P4, 220 and the Land Rover 90 that I now have. The IOE six in the P4 found its way into Land Rovers in the 60s, the 4 cylinder petrol in the 90 was earlier in its development life fitted to the Rover P4 80, and the T series in the 220 in its later life found its way into the  s1 Land Rover Discovery, though this didnt last more than a few years before it was quietly dropped.

[scruff]

Excellent, proper 80s agricultural spec then.

I had a F reg with no power steering and the same aftermarket sheep windows in the back. Mine had the far inferior 2.5 turbo diesel donk - went alright but I doubt there was much in it fuel economy wise, it was dire (sub 20mpg... I was 19 however)

[meggersdog]

I like that a lot too.Atleast with the petrol version you can have a conversation whilst driving.In my 2.25 diesel you need ear defenders and crash helmet intercoms.

[Asimo]

Mmmm, petrol! Is that still inlet over exhaust?

 

I do hope you will get rid of that bull(shit) bar.

[anonymous user]

I really like that, it would suit me. Let me know when/if you get fed up with it, if it coincides with me having money I'm interested.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

No power steering, Mr S. I'm yet to drive it, though the heavy, sluggish steering on the P4 means i'm used to it. After my colleague finishes work he's popping over with it and I'm dropping him back in it so will report back.

 

There's a certain symmetry with the engines in my current fleet of Rovers P4, 220 and the Land Rover 90 that I now have. The IOE six in the P4 found its way into Land Rovers in the 60s, the 4 cylinder petrol in the 90 was earlier in its development life fitted to the Rover P4 80, and the T series in the 220 in its later life found its way into the  s1 Land Rover Discovery, though this didnt last more than a few years before it was quietly dropped.

The 2.0 mpi not only found its way into Discos , it was also fitted in 90s just like yours. Don't think anyone except the Carabinieri were allowed to buy them though. It was such a 2.0 mpi 90 that famously squashed an Italian anarchist in front of the worlds press during a G8 protest. To be fair he was lobbing stuff at them , very protective of their Landies, the Eytie Old Bill.

[holbeck]

Aye,<< Anorak on>>

 

The MPi Defender was a Carabinieri contract. 2500 vehicles specified to be Pez powered as they had no diesels at all on their fleet.

 

The engineering was done by the LR Special Vehicle department.

 

<<Anorak Off>>

 

p.s. I DO like your landy   Brookjm.

 

[drum]

A likey from me too.

 

I spent most of the winter driving this C reg, mostly off road. It is 2.5 na diesel and powerless steering. These early 90s have lots of series dna.

[warninglight]

Nice buy! I know its brother through facebook...

[HMC]

The MOT is due on this fairly soon so thought I'd take a look at the bad blow from the exhaust manifold. This 90 had a weber carb originally, but during the 90s for whatever reason this was binned and an SU fitted. There had previously been some sort of connection between the inlet and exhaust maniflolds which then was redundant and blanked off with a bit of metal plate. Except the joint had blown. And that bit of the exhaust manifold was impossible to get to without taking the inlet manifold off the block...

 

 

After I undid the nuts and a few fixings I reallised I could slide it away from the face of the block and create just enough space to get to the hidden bolts on the end nearest the block...

 

 

To access these allen bolt fixings which were partly seized. The left one shifted after a bit but eventually the right one started rounding off. In the end it did come but hex bit at the top is a mess. As its an aftermarket conversion these bolts are not what was there originally. I think some studs projected out from the manifold when it came out of the factory, so the usual parts people dont have anything suitable. What I was going to do was build up some weld where the mangled allen bolt bit is and use a fine cutting disc to make a small gutter so I can tighten it with a screwdriver- unless anyone has a better idea? Clearance is an issue as theres no space for a bolt to sit proud once the inlet manifold is in place. If im feeling flush I may buy a stainless exhaust system when the existing one falls to bits which will do away with the old manifold.

 

I must say that the amount of space to work around in the engine bay is great......

 

 

With the added bonus that cups of tea fit nicely on the main chassis rail while you work. If only access to SWMBO's freelander 2 oil filter was anywhere near as easy.

 

I also decided to de-sticker it (didn't take long as there wasnt many)

 

 

Plus with the notion that this land rover isn't going to have bolt on goodies of any sort I decided to ditch the bull bars....  (was getting late hence the crappy pic)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JohnK]

I like the look of where this is going.

[mat_the_cat]

To access these allen bolt fixings which were partly seized. The left one shifted after a bit but eventually the right one started rounding off. In the end it did come but hex bit at the top is a mess. As its an aftermarket conversion these bolts are not what was there originally. I think some studs projected out from the manifold when it came out of the factory, so the usual parts people dont have anything suitable. What I was going to do was build up some weld where the mangled allen bolt bit is and use a fine cutting disc to make a small gutter so I can tighten it with a screwdriver- unless anyone has a better idea?

 

Am I right in thinking you got the allen bolt out? If so why not just replace with a standard countersunk allen bolt, but a stainless one? Or have I misunderstood?

[scruff]

Ooooh an ACR manifold and SU conversion!!

[HMC]

^ Thanks for the id-ing the mod! Been on their website, and it turns out they do a "performance" manifold to go with the su conversion, whoever did it on this 90 decided against splashing out on it, and made to with the bypass plate on the old one. In the end I added some weld to the rounded off Allen bolts and carefully cut some slots for a screwdriver. After hammering straight the plate, and fitting a new gasket etc, put it all back together and it's suddenly much quieter.

 

With no soundproofing its made a massive difference to the driving experience, I can hear the suck of the su and it ticks over like a little sewing machine. In fact is starts brilliantly, warms up fast, yet stays bang in the middle of the gauge and doesn't smoke at all so it's certainly been well looked after.

 

The handbrake on these is basically drum brake on the drive train and after id put it on i had to climb underneath to free it off (at least it was easy to get to) After cleaning the linkage it was fine. I took if for a spin and aside from replacing a mirror I recon its pretty much ready for Friday's MOT

 

 

Although looking at that pic I hope the light output/ beam pattern on that headlamp is fine. They're cheap enough to replace anyway, like most bits on these!

[HMC]

I can haz MOT!

It failed initially, most dramatically when a brake pipe let go whilst being tested. Spent the weekend making up new brake pipes for the front wheels, and used a pressure bleeder to flush thro fresh fluid.

Sorting a bit of locallised rot on the rear x member was next up. I went a bit OTT and made up a repair section that I let in rather than stick a patch on it MOT style. it was only a small bit but it was quite therapeutic to do.

.

 

For extra shite points thats a bit from a sienna brown triumph spitfire.

As it turned out, I had all the bits needed to hand so it only cost me (fee aside) a bit of time. It went back in today to have the once over, and returned with a crisp ticket, with only a couple of advisories....

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Though after my terrifying exploits in the Disco, I'd get that wheel bearing changed post haste - though I guess it could just be out of adjustment perhaps. Having a wheel just suddenly lock up on me was not at all enjoyable though. Ruined my planned weekend of Shite-laning that did (until Will let me drive Olga anyway!).