seanlandy

seanlandy

Active Member
Hi chaps. I have recently seen a Defender 90 county local to me and am considering getting it but thought I would seek informed opinions. The chassis is sound, it's had new brakes, cylinder head gasket and just needs a few other things prior to MOT, incl welding a patch at the top of the bulk head near the door hinge. It is an 88 model, so a TD. I already have a Disco TD5 which is great but hanker after a proper defender. I think it would go for about 3.5K I am trying to convince the missus it would be an investment. Am I looking through rose coloured spectacles or would this be worth a punt does the forum think.
Cheers.
 
88? TD? 3.5k? The only reason its that expensive is because its a CSW, I'd have another look at the chassis, I'd also have a look around to see what else is available, prepare to travel to look at vehicles.
 
Personally I wouldn't pay 3.5k for a TD engine, unless... the rest of the vehicle was in very good original condition I.e original paint colour and decals, original seats etc.
The reason I say this is because the TD is not the most sought after engine in the Land Rover line up ( note : not Defender until '90/91 ), for this reason many have been retro-fitted 'newer' engines - the 200tdi out of a rotten Disco being the most common conversion.
This, however, is a blessing in disguise for owners of original, unmolested vehicles as this is what investment buyers/collectors are looking for and Land Rovers are becoming more and more collectable. The American market is particularly well-paying if the right vehicle is found.
So, unless it meets the unmolested criteria, I'd definitely try and get the price down. Especially if you need to do a bit of bulkhead repair, which can be easy or a bit of a pig, depending on the severity and location of the rust.
Any pics for us to go by?
 
The 19J is a pretty decent engine, mine has well over 200k on it and its still running like a sewing machine. An original CSW will fetch a good price even without an engine.
The later 19j is a good little engine, this being an 88 vehicle the chances are its got the later 19j fitted to it.
 
Right thanks for the comments. I think it is pretty standard and as you say unmolested. I didn't realise there was a difference in the engines. A later 19 j being?
I will try and attach a photo so you can see the welding.
 

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Very tidy, buy it, run it, when the engine causes hassle/blows and it will stick a tdi in it.
As Nobber says check and recheck the chassis, the rest isnt that important or as much hassle to fix.
 
seanlandy said:
Right thanks for the comments. I think it is pretty standard and as you say unmolested. I didn't realise there was a difference in the engines. A later 19 j being?
I will try and attach a photo so you can see the welding.
Click to expand...
Looks nice, had a lick of paint at some point. That bulkhead repair will be quite involved, roof up, windscreen out, wings off kind of job and who knows what condition the pillar is in, that alone would make 3.5k a bit much.
 
There does seem a huge range in prices for 90's and I have a mate who has one already converted to a 200 tdi so I could use his as a model. I think the bloke is going to patch the bulkhead and I can always practise my welding at a later date. lol
 
seanlandy said:
Right thanks for the comments. I think it is pretty standard and as you say unmolested. I didn't realise there was a difference in the engines. A later 19 j being?
I will try and attach a photo so you can see the welding.
Click to expand...

Is that it? That looks like its had a respray. A later 19j had a few modifications to make it more reliable. 3.5k is a little steep for that.

You need to get in there and pull the trim from around the door pillars on the bulkhead, its probably rotten.
Check tub to chassis mounts, again probably rotten. Tap the chassis with something metal, a coin or something, do this all around, it will give you an idea of how thin it is as it rots from the inside out.
Has the chassis been freshly undercoated?
 
Good plan. The garage is setting to work to get it through its mot for next week. He has always done work on my disco of good value and i have no reason to think he would sell me a complete crock. He knows the grief he would get. Brsides he would have to do the work i couldnt. Maybe thats his plan lol.
Two of you saying over priced. Not seen a 200 tdi for that though and thats prob my budget.
Maybe just have the Disco.
 
And no fresh undercoat to disguise horrors. Garaged for 15 yrs hence new brakes.
Are the floors double skinned. Sheet of paint/rust fell off in hand but seemed sound underneath.
 
seanlandy said:
Hi chaps. I have recently seen a Defender 90 county local to me and am considering getting it but thought I would seek informed opinions. The chassis is sound, it's had new brakes, cylinder head gasket and just needs a few other things prior to MOT, incl welding a patch at the top of the bulk head near the door hinge. It is an 88 model, so a TD. I already have a Disco TD5 which is great but hanker after a proper defender. I think it would go for about 3.5K I am trying to convince the missus it would be an investment. Am I looking through rose coloured spectacles or would this be worth a punt does the forum think.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Only being picky, but if you want a "proper" Defender, then you need something post 1990. As the Defender did not exist before that. What you are looking at is a Ninety.

As for being proper. Depends entirely what you are after. If you are doing extreme off roading where the large overhangs of a Disco/RR and the bulk of them make them less competitive. Then sure, go for a Ninety/90.

If you want to take a Ninety and try and make it quiet, comfy, high speed cruiser. Then don't bother. Land Rover did a much better job at doing this, it's called a Discovery 1.

As far as money is concerned. You are unlikely to loose money on a 90 at the moment. Not in terms of retail price. But like all older vehicles, they may well require some TLC to keep in working fashion. This means you can buy, try and sell on for relatively little risk.
 
While the TDi was a more modern engine, with more power, a well looked after TD will do fine unless you are planning to tow a heavy trailer. One that has not been looked after and has been overheated at some stage may give you lots of trouble and need replaced sooner rather than later. The need for a head gasket makes me suspicious in this case. Also, if the bulkhead needs obvious welding, how come the chassis is good? I'd have a really good look - top of the front outriggers, around the rear spring mounts and rear crossmenber - tap and poke them hard with a screwdriver. It looks nice, but as most of us have found out, a good paint job can hide a horror story. Fingers crossed the chassis and engine are good, if so the rest can be sorted easily. I'd still be looking a few hundred off though.
 
I cant remember the amount of times my 19j has overheated, its true you don't want that to happen but any engine can suffer from over heating, look at the 300tdi's? 19j's are under powered and struggle to turn high gearing (disco t'box) but they run like sewing machines, nice and quiet.
I run mine on a mix of veg oil and diesel, been doing it for years, I get a little more power, it runs smoother and it gives a few more MPG's. Spare parts are easily available, dead easy to work on, cheap to run (parts) , I never felt the need to put a TDI in there , however , on its next rebuild I'll probably put a 300 in there just because it will be down to a bare chassis anyway.

But really fella, for 3.5k you should shop around, find someone who knows what they are looking at and take them with you. Be prepared to travel to get the right vehicle.

What exactly do you want one for? What will you be using it for? If off roading then a CSW probably isn't right for you.
 
Having just welded up a bulkhead, prior to zinc dipping, i would be very surprised if there was not more to the rust on that one that immediatly meets the eye.
The one i stripped did not look so bad before blasting...

Also, arent they replacement wings? Im never too sure what has what pannels, so cant be sure...
 
Don't underestimate the bulkhead repair. Having recently done mine, it can quickly turn into a can of worms ( tin worms, of course ).
From this...
image.jpeg

to this...
image.jpg

to this...
image.jpeg

Took two of us a weekend, plus all the extras like seals, bolts, paint gaskets etc. Dread to think what a garage would charge.
Definitely a bargaining chip for you in negotiating a price.
 
I really want it to offroad, not extreme but also to maybe tinker with. The Disco needs to used everyday so although we do take it i do t really want to break it
Different wings you say?
I dont think he would sell me a crock as he works on our Disco and also lnows he would have to do any work i couldnt. Maybe his plan. Lol
Two of you say too expensive but would i get a tdi for that that didnt need even more doing to it?
 
I wouldn't get to head up about the bulkhead. It's only really a problem if you start taking them apart. I suspect far more 90's and 110's suffer bulkhead rust like the pics above, but just are apparent.
 
Maybe something like an Ex Mod Tdi 90 might suit your needs better?
A CSW is full of seats, trim , carpet and paint you wont want to scratch, with an Ex Mod you can open the door and hose them out.
 
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