Coldstream69

New Member
Morning all, please could I have some advice about buying a 1986 2.5 N/A 110 defender? I currently have a 2000RR P38 but my wife wants a basic landie without the electrical gremlins of the RR. The 110 is an ex Mod lwb and in good nick with 155,000 on the clock. My wife has horses and I do a lot of shooting. I am sure I will be fine off road shooting but will the N/A 2.5 engine cope with pulling 2 horses in a ifor Williams 510 box? Not worried about how fast we get up hills as long as it gets up them. I am also not too worried about fuel as the RR 4.6 is currently returning 15.9 mpg 😳. I really asking for a review of the 110 defender. All advice welcomed, thanks Marc
 
A 2.5 N/A will handle everything you care to throw at it ... just as long as you don't expect a racing machine and compare it with a Rangie!

I certainly wouldn't change mine, which tows and launches a 2 1/2 ton boat.
 
yep second everyone, the 2.5na is a good engine just not the quickest, once its rolling though its fine and the military ones have a slightly lower first gear to to aid pulling off
 
It's worth checking the 110 has power steering. My 1985 90 doesn't.
It might be a bit of a shock after the RR. It's fine, just heavy. If you've driven a series you'll know what to expect.
 
Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.
 
Morning all, please could I have some advice about buying a 1986 2.5 N/A 110 defender? I currently have a 2000RR P38 but my wife wants a basic landie without the electrical gremlins of the RR. The 110 is an ex Mod lwb and in good nick with 155,000 on the clock. My wife has horses and I do a lot of shooting. I am sure I will be fine off road shooting but will the N/A 2.5 engine cope with pulling 2 horses in a ifor Williams 510 box? Not worried about how fast we get up hills as long as it gets up them. I am also not too worried about fuel as the RR 4.6 is currently returning 15.9 mpg ��. I really asking for a review of the 110 defender. All advice welcomed, thanks Marc

The ex Mod cars are well looked after but are run very hard so some of them are not going to keep going for much longer.
 
110 ex-mod will have a 1.6 transfer box in. Cruising speed on the flat will be around 50-55. Top speed with the engine screaming will be 60-65.

I'm looking at changing my transfer box as I now have a 200 TDI in mine and 4000 RPM buys me about 65. I don't really want to go faster than that, but it would be nice to cruise at under 3000 and be able to hear myself think.
 
...and a new transfer box. Standard Defender 1.4 might be better if doing a lot of towing. I'm going to try a 1.2 and see how I get on as I don't tow.

My military 90 has a 1.4, did they fit different x-fer boxes to 90s and 110s?:confused:
 
...and a new transfer box. Standard Defender 1.4 might be better if doing a lot of towing. I'm going to try a 1.2 and see how I get on as I don't tow.

I.2 ok if you use disco size tyres, any bigger and the extra gearing is too much, I only get in 5th when on the motorway:)
 
Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.

Sound advice that I have often forgotten when buying cars over the years. Thanks for the reminder, my wife will love it if there's no pas.
 
Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.

i thought the usual checks where... go prepared to check everything.. see it, get excited, forget to check anything, drive away ten miles and then think... oh f**k!
 
I.2 ok if you use disco size tyres, any bigger and the extra gearing is too much, I only get in 5th when on the motorway:)

I'm running standard military 7.50R16 XZL tyres. They are pretty tall, hopefully they will be ok.

Gearing at the moment is mental - I'm in 5th gear at 30mph, then carry on in same up to 60+.

Also as it's a military gearbox, I've got the lower 1st and 2nd gears, so I would imagine setting off and towing will be fine. As it is, I can't use 1st to set off, except on very steep hills as it's just too low.

My military 90 has a 1.4, did they fit different x-fer boxes to 90s and 110s?:confused:

It would make sense - a 110 is a lot heavier than a 90 and more likely to have a towing function.
 
I'm running standard military 7.50R16 XZL tyres. They are pretty tall, hopefully they will be ok.

Gearing at the moment is mental - I'm in 5th gear at 30mph, then carry on in same up to 60+.

Also as it's a military gearbox, I've got the lower 1st and 2nd gears, so I would imagine setting off and towing will be fine. As it is, I can't use 1st to set off, except on very steep hills as it's just too low.



It would make sense - a 110 is a lot heavier than a 90 and more likely to have a towing function.

i've got a 2.25d, lt77,1.6tbox, 7.50r16 in a 110. 3rd gets to 30 and it can get to 60+ in fifth.. although downhill or flat :D
 
i've got a 2.25d, lt77,1.6tbox, 7.50r16 in a 110. 3rd gets to 30 and it can get to 60+ in fifth.. although downhill or flat :D

What's your comfortable cruising speed on the flat? I used to feel that 50 and 55 were the kindest with my 2.5 N/A.
 

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