New member in need of advice on a 90

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I use LRSeries, Im 40 mins away, just the other side of Eye, let me know if you want to pop over, Ill stick the kettle on.
 
Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would update this thread as its been a while. Busy time of year being a Chimney Sweep etc... Thank you to everyone who has offered help so far, and thanks also to people offering a meet up. In the new year I should have a lot more free time so will take you up on the offers if thats ok.

Well, the Land Rover has been fantastic so far. Its old and ropey, has been well used and abused but for some reason it still feels like it has a million miles left it it. For now however, I have only racked up about 450 miles, but thats not bad for a vehicle that sat around for ages unloved.

At the moment, I've been tinkering with the small jobs. Things like fixing the non working lights, wipers, heated rear screen etc. It just needed a little time spent on the wiring for it to all spring into life again.

I've been troubleshooting the noisy transmission and have discovered that its the transfer box bearings causing the problems. However, after taking the drive gear out of the transfer box, I discovered that the output shaft of the gearbox is literally almost smooth! Coupled to the transfer box leaking so much oil that it must have run dry in previous ownership, I'm in need of a gearbox and transfer box. If anyone in the Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridge area has known good ones for sale please let me know.

Apart from that, its all good and I'm really enjoying finally having a Land Rover!

Thanks,

Dan.
 
Hello,

Thanks for the reply. I have some pictures of the vehicle now - hopefully they will upload.

I decided to buy the 90 as it seems straight enough. Also found out that its had all the fluids changed and new shocks too.

Looking forwards to my first Land Rover experience in the coming weeks.

Thanks,

Dan.

View attachment 161771 View attachment 161772 View attachment 161773 View attachment 161774

Just in time for winter, water droplets dropping into your crotch form the condensation on the roof, side widows that wont clear so you cant see the mirrors, random water that somehow end sup soaking yout feet, the awesome heater that wont heat you at all, the screen is about its limit, its the only car that I have driven that I was glad to get to work as it was warmer and it was just a huge non heated warehouse, the jaw dropping acceleration, race car handling.
Plus of course the werdios who will start talking to you at the fuel pumps as they all believe its the best car ever made:D
Then theres the constant fear that some toerag is going to nick it.
Ps all the new fluids will soon be on the ouside of whatever they are currently in.

Enjoy!
 
I've been troubleshooting the noisy transmission and have discovered that its the transfer box bearings causing the problems. However, after taking the drive gear out of the transfer box, I discovered that the output shaft of the gearbox is literally almost smooth! Coupled to the transfer box leaking so much oil that it must have run dry in previous ownership, I'm in need of a gearbox and transfer box. If anyone in the Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridge area has known good ones for sale please let me know.

Although an expensive option I would remove them (do-able for a novice diy, they are just nuts and bolts but at heavy, and there are several illustrated write ups) and send them both to Ashcrofts, or similar if you can get a good recommendation, to get them both refurbished. I have had both of mine (separately) refurbed by Ashcroft and have no complaints from their service, was about a weeks turn around before they sent it back so was not off the road for long. This is in contrast to local refubed box that I bought when it failed first time which lasted about 20k before the bearings were howling again :mad:
 
Just in time for winter, water droplets dropping into your crotch form the condensation on the roof, side widows that wont clear so you cant see the mirrors, random water that somehow end sup soaking yout feet, the awesome heater that wont heat you at all, the screen is about its limit, its the only car that I have driven that I was glad to get to work as it was warmer and it was just a huge non heated warehouse, the jaw dropping acceleration, race car handling.
Plus of course the werdios who will start talking to you at the fuel pumps as they all believe its the best car ever made:D
Then theres the constant fear that some toerag is going to nick it.
Ps all the new fluids will soon be on the ouside of whatever they are currently in.

Enjoy!
You really know how to sell a vehicle. ;)
 
You really know how to sell a vehicle. ;)


I do keep toying with the idea of selling it, but might neglect to mention the downsides of tractor ownership!
It was my everyday car for 4 years and I have now owned it for over 8 years and am kind of attached to it.

But when I went out to the D3 fo find the battery dead I just got the TDI keys flicked the starter and we were off, kept me going for two days with no issues apart from wet crotch and freezing hands, I even treated it to 20quids worth of derv, am I generous or what?
Had forgotten how much fun it was to park as dents/scratches are just not an issue, plus no one cuts you up ever.

New battery amd the D3 felt like a limo even after such a short time in the TDI.
 
Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would update this thread as its been a while. Busy time of year being a Chimney Sweep etc... Thank you to everyone who has offered help so far, and thanks also to people offering a meet up. In the new year I should have a lot more free time so will take you up on the offers if thats ok.

Well, the Land Rover has been fantastic so far. Its old and ropey, has been well used and abused but for some reason it still feels like it has a million miles left it it. For now however, I have only racked up about 450 miles, but thats not bad for a vehicle that sat around for ages unloved.

At the moment, I've been tinkering with the small jobs. Things like fixing the non working lights, wipers, heated rear screen etc. It just needed a little time spent on the wiring for it to all spring into life again.

I've been troubleshooting the noisy transmission and have discovered that its the transfer box bearings causing the problems. However, after taking the drive gear out of the transfer box, I discovered that the output shaft of the gearbox is literally almost smooth! Coupled to the transfer box leaking so much oil that it must have run dry in previous ownership, I'm in need of a gearbox and transfer box. If anyone in the Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridge area has known good ones for sale please let me know.

Apart from that, its all good and I'm really enjoying finally having a Land Rover!

Thanks,

Dan.


There was a guy who I sold an LT77 box to in Norfolk who was setting up a new geafbox recon business, seemed to know his stuff and had all the tools/shims to do the job.
He came and collected the box from me in Newton Flotman so must be around the Norwich area?
 
Use LR direct for parts. You can easily select replacement vs OEM. Vs Land Rover parts. Get that rust sorted and then proofed.
 
Thanks again everyone,

I've decided just to get Ashcroft to recondition both the gearbox and transfer box. Not exactly what I wanted to do considering the cost, but at least they should last a good few years. I've considered second hand ones from ebay and the like, but its probably going to be near impossible to tell the internal condition until they are installed, so I don't really want to be swapping them multiple times.

I've been following the Haynes manual today and have removed everything apart from the gearbox mounts and bellhousing bolts. I reckon another hour and the assambly will be out. Cold work rolling around outside on the driveway in January....

I noticed that the front propshaft is really wobbly at the expansion joint. Not only when you twist it, but also it you wiggle it side to side etc. Assume this isn't normal and that it needs replacing. Are the cheaper (ie £65) ones from the likes of Britpart or other aftermarket brands ok to use or is it best to spend more? Lots of choice from LRDirect I see.

https://www.lrdirect.com/Parts-by-Model/Defender-Parts/Propshafts/Propshaft-Front/FRC8390-Propshaft/

Also, I figured I should replace the clutch too. A Valeo kit seems to be about £120 - is that what people would go for, or is there a better/cheaper/prefered option. Its a 2.5NA diesel, so not really going to be putting a lot of torque through the various bits. Is the Heavy Duty clutch option worth it? I'm already finding the clutch really heavy, so plan to change the old style pedal to the later one with the extra spring, but didn't then want to make things heavier again.

Also, I've read about the Britpart reinforced clutch fork - worth doing or should I just put a new standard one in?

I hope people don't mind all the questions. I do use the search fuction and read lots of threads on everything, but just wanted to run through my thoughts as well.

Thanks as always,

Dan.
 
Hi, I’m a newbie & bought my first defender 90 2.5 Na (1985) last month pretty much blind (eBay) & overexcited as had owned a couple of Freelanders before but had always wanted a defender, clutch went 10 miles into the 50 mile journey home & I had to get a tow the next 40 miles down the M1, ended up replacing master , slave & pipe hoping it was only this as not ridiculous to get new parts & simple enough to have a go at (went through 5 push rod clips & about 7 hours laid out before reading through this forum & just going ahead without it) which got it running this weekend, plenty of rust similar to what your saying & the knocks/screeching also but I still love it & intend to just keep me occupied & consume any disposable income I have picking jobs as I go or they go whichever comes first!!
Good luck with it & I’ll keep checking as it’s probably my future
 
Thanks again everyone,

I've decided just to get Ashcroft to recondition both the gearbox and transfer box. Not exactly what I wanted to do considering the cost, but at least they should last a good few years. I've considered second hand ones from ebay and the like, but its probably going to be near impossible to tell the internal condition until they are installed, so I don't really want to be swapping them multiple times.

I've been following the Haynes manual today and have removed everything apart from the gearbox mounts and bellhousing bolts. I reckon another hour and the assambly will be out. Cold work rolling around outside on the driveway in January....

I noticed that the front propshaft is really wobbly at the expansion joint. Not only when you twist it, but also it you wiggle it side to side etc. Assume this isn't normal and that it needs replacing. Are the cheaper (ie £65) ones from the likes of Britpart or other aftermarket brands ok to use or is it best to spend more? Lots of choice from LRDirect I see.

https://www.lrdirect.com/Parts-by-Model/Defender-Parts/Propshafts/Propshaft-Front/FRC8390-Propshaft/

Also, I figured I should replace the clutch too. A Valeo kit seems to be about £120 - is that what people would go for, or is there a better/cheaper/prefered option. Its a 2.5NA diesel, so not really going to be putting a lot of torque through the various bits. Is the Heavy Duty clutch option worth it? I'm already finding the clutch really heavy, so plan to change the old style pedal to the later one with the extra spring, but didn't then want to make things heavier again.

Also, I've read about the Britpart reinforced clutch fork - worth doing or should I just put a new standard one in?

I hope people don't mind all the questions. I do use the search fuction and read lots of threads on everything, but just wanted to run through my thoughts as well.

Thanks as always,

Dan.

As your there it’s well worth doing the clutch, heavy duty if you want but with the NA there isn’t really a need. Fit a quality made part, OEM spec. Avoid ‘budget’ brands

That prop sounds worn and dodgy - I would replace

Reinforced clutch fork is definitely worth it. As it stops the clutch rod wearing through the arm

Yes fit the extra spring clutch pedal mod

:)

Ed
 
Also check the rear crank seal is dry before installing the box.
If it's weepy at all then replace with a quality one NOT a cheapy!
Britpart props are fine I've found but you can replace the UJ on its own if the sliding splines are ok to save a few quid.
 
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