E

Elvislives

Member
Hi everyone,

I have just bought a 1989 90 TD County that appears to be very original. It is high mileage with no history, so I am not too worried about keeping it original. It will need a respray at some point, and will possibly need new doors and rear door, but the chassis and bulkhead seems to be fine.

It's a new toy, and I've bought it to have fun with, and want to spend some money on it. It isn't my daily commute, and can therefore be out of action for periods while I do stuff.

The thing is, I'm new to Land Rovers, and don't know what to do first. I doubt that I will ever do any serious off roading in it, but might take it down the odd easy green lane if I get the chance.

So, with the above in mind, what do you think I should do to it and in what order? What parts should I upgrade first?
 
It will cope with anything and more you want to do in it, leave it standard and spend your money on good maintenance and good security, if you got any money left over you could…..its a fender you won't have any money left over.
 
Yep, fit a silly V8 to it! :)


I'd love to get a 90 project sometime and go the opposite way to the usual mods by maybe making it a soft-top, lowering it and fitting a 4 or 500bhp V8 to it :cool:
 
Cheers for the responses guys.

I don't think I fancy sticking a V8 in it. The engine is original and seems to be fine, so I will keep that original until it dies. I've just bought a filter kit and will give it a small service. I hadn't thought of changing the belt, and will take a look at doing that.

You are right about the security. Perhaps I should do that before spending money elsewhere.

After that, I am thinking new suspension, perhaps +2". Any suggestions on the type to go for?
 
I've been searching the web for security. I am now thinking that I would like to put in an alarm, immobiliser and have some retrofit central locking!

Has anyone found an alarm that has central locking actuators that fits well into a 90?
 
Aaronmorris,

I was going to officially introduce myself when I get some pictures. Can't do it yet though, as I don't pick her up until next weekend!
 
Wouldnt spend too much on the td engine, best bet would be fit a 200 or 300 tdi, then although you have said bulkhead and chassis are ok look at them more carefully and realise they arnt as good as you thought;) not a fan of lifts myself, i think landrover knew what they were doing in the first place, how about disc rear axle? Alloys?loads to do :)
 
? Discs were fitted by landrover 2 years later, you like lifts i take it? Dont think landrover have lifted a standard defender...
 
i'm partial to a lift, yeah, but it's kind of compulsory for decent sized tyres. I wasn't having a go at all, just thought it was a funny comment in that context!

and the fact that this whole forum is dedicated to people like us that love landy's and spend an eternity of time and suitcases full of money fixing and upgrading them all the time!
 
going back to the original post, mine was a TD, as matchmetisse said rip that out and stick a 200tdi in, discovery 200 unless you want to spend lots more. 200000 miles probably means the bushes have been done already, check the A-frame ball joint (rear axel) as they tend to get loose and cause a nice klonk that can easily be avoided. (i say easily, you will need to find someone with a big press to get a new one in there) but parts are cheap. again as said before mods depend on what you want to do with it. if you want to retain driveability then personally i would stick some 285 all terrains on there, if you are doing long journeys you might want to consider a 1.222 (discovery) transfer box as this raises the gearing to give you a better cruising speed (+ debatable increased mpg) the 200 will definitely give you better mpg. if you don't go for a 200 i definitely would leave the disco transfer box alone as most TD's wont have the power for it in 5th with some head wind! mine didn't anyway
i think if you are going for new shocks and springs lifted or not, i would say terrafirma (good value and quality IMO and easily available), i have pro comp and don't really rate them. i'm sure there will be pages of spring/shock debate on here for you to read up on. i would never bother with central locking, anything that looks good value will probably be useless. for security i like to use an insurance company! if some one wants to nick a landy, it will be taken regardless of security measures - obviously there are exceptions like a locked, alarmed, security dogged, cctv'd, concrete doored garage.

give us an idea of what you want to use it for
 
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