My first ever Defender 90

Hey folks. So this is my recent purchase.
1986 Defender 90
2.5TD
Engine is sweet. Minor gasket leak
Cracked windscreen
Blowing exhaust
Some rust cutting out of the rear cross member and the doors but thats on every landy haha
She also came with with poly bushes
Rebel steering guard
And some change


So here she is.


Got her back on saturday and work has already begun.

Picked it up like this.


Quick wash inside the truck.


The filth that came from just the front


Now the more serious stuff starts.

Chassis wash, wire brushed and sealed.


The advantage of mates who know more than me 😃 Electrics were badly modified so need to correct them.


Respraying the chequer plate black.


Got some goodies that are turning up tomorrow fingers crossed. As and when more happens I'll keep everyone up dated

Thanks for checking out my page 👍

Nice purchase. You'd better go and introduce your self before the gremlins come for you.

Cheers mate. Well happy with it. I have already then my thread was hijacked buy someone complaining they didn't get the drive his truck enough and worked to hard haha

Who was that?

Looks surprisingly good for a 1986 model. A bit of surface rust but it doesn't look like it has rusted through anywhere in the photos. Should be a good project.

Congratulations on owning one of the coolest vehicles on the planet.
Looks great, good luck with her.
It's not a Defender by the way - pre 1990 they were known by their wheelbase - the pedantic correct name (and I will be corrected probably) is a Land Rover 90. It should say this on the grill panel.

someones stuck a defender sticker or slam panel on this one though- shame

looking really good!!

Zeaphod, a pre-December 1987 model is known as a Ninety not a 90

Thanks for the clarification on that folks

I'll get some photos up at the weekend of the bad bits.

But these lot just arrived at work and I came straight home to un box it all. 😝


Heavy duty springs
Shocks
Snorkel
Side chequer plates
Rear washer jet
CB radio (in another box)
And other little bits

are you too be carrying heavy heavy loads in your 90?

HD springs are not generally a great move for most folks.

Your spine wont like you

mines on worn stock springs and its still jarring. i went with soft soft springs in my rebuild.

so yeah in short unless your carrying heavy loads id return the HD springs and get some normal or even soft ones if your to be offroading unloaded.

It cant be anything like my current car. Got a stripped out civic type r and thats rock solid so even if this is 5% softer I'll be happy haha

She's gunna be a tow vehicle so thought it was a good move to get the up rated springs
But yes she will see some off-roading unloaded aswell

your call just thought id give you a headsup.

somefolk think HD unilaterily means better quality springs but when it comes to land rovers it means ####ING STIFF

Haha okay mate thanks. I'll see how they get on when she's on the road again 👍

top drive said:

your call just thought id give you a headsup.

somefolk think HD unilaterily means better quality springs but when it comes to land rovers it means ####ING STIFF

Click to expand...

+1, My last one had them fitted, It was bone jarring and they was changed in the week it was that bad.
God knows what springs they were!

Great looking Ninety, just a word of warning be wary about any item in blue packaging with britpart written on, too many people learn the lesson the hard way. Chassis looks mint, what's the rear crossmember like?

Oh I've got HD springs on my 90 and they are fine

Chedgy said:

Hey folks. So this is my recent purchase.
1986 Defender 90
2.5TD
Engine is sweet. Minor gasket leak
Cracked windscreen
Blowing exhaust
Some rust cutting out of the rear cross member and the doors but thats on every landy haha
She also came with with poly bushes
Rebel steering guard
And some change

Click to expand...

That doesn't look too bad, pretty straight and original, a lot of these have been cut around and blinged up now.

Good to get some protection on the chassis, stop that surface rust spreading. Make sure you have treated the rear chassis legs, and the upper cross member where it joins the chassis, those are usually the rust problem areas on these.

I like poly bushes, some don't!

Its not a Defender, by the way, just a Ninety

Naylz said:

Great looking Ninety, just a word of warning be wary about any item in blue packaging with britpart written on, too many people learn the lesson the hard way. Chassis looks mint, what's the rear crossmember like?

Click to expand...

I'll get photos of the rear crossmember up this weekend in the daylight. two sections aren't very good but other than that the chassis is solid all round.

Looks like a tidy motor
enjoy it
and don't be afraid to ask questions if you are stuck
there is a mass of knowledge on this site

Good luck with it