Alistair Davidson said:

What you guys reckon if the 86 90 is going to get an engine upgrade (planning td5) from the 12j… still ok to stick with drum brakes? (Always felt like it she stops bloody well)
both my drums are leaking fluid so either I get a disk conversion kit (seems complex and $$$) …a d1 rear axle (with 4 bolt diff flange) or just get drum repair kit…
what you reckon?

Click to expand...

Working drums are fine and will stop no problem. Drums become an issue when they get wet and muddy and when the auto adjusters stop. Just makes the entire brake system poor. Swapping a Disco 1 axle on is probably the easiest option.

As for engine.... The Td5 is nice. But if you are in the USA with cheap petrol (aka gas) you are mad to want a diesel compared to a V8. Rover V8 in 4.0 or 4.6 with some mods would be way nicer than any Td5. Or fit a more locally available V8 if you don't want to stick with LR engines.

Td5 is great in places like the UK and EU where our fuel is 3 or 4 times the cost of yours and every mpg matters...

v8250 said:

For ref' I've a correctly breathed on 200Tdi in my Ninety. It pulls like an Ox and many a TD5 struggles to keep up. My brakes are as above...110 stopping power at the front, std new drums, springs and cylinders at the rear with Mintex 1144 material all round.

Click to expand...

Td5 is dynamically better, no only makes more power stock for stock, but also tuned vs tuned. I too have a modded 200Tdi that goes very well. But a Td5 is likely another 50hp more with equal mods.

NO auto adjust on Ninety drums, just get under with a spanner