Early 90s and 110s

[jsonova99]

I'm kind of interested in possibly picking up an early 90 or 110 when they finally become legal to import. I'm just wondering if anybody knows the exact drivetrain they have. I know the engine options and that they have permanent 4wd, but do they have the CDL? I think in '84 the LT230 and LT77 gear box replaced the LT85 gear box which had the tranny and t-case combined in one package. Actually I think I saw one sight that claimed you could get the LT230 in the 83 110 as well, but I'm not sure. Correct me if my designations of gearboxes are wrong.

 

[EricSiepmann]

I'll check the info when I get home. The book "Land Rover" specs out the years and drivetrains...

EwS

 

[Alan]

Joe,

I'm restoring an ex-MOD 1984 LR90 (or at least that's what the VIN indicates). Yes it does have CDL and the gearbox is a LT77.

 

[jsonova99]

Joe,

I'm restoring an ex-MOD 1984 LR90 (or at least that's what the VIN indicates). Yes it does have CDL and the gearbox is a LT77.

So basically they are extremely similar to the NAS Defenders other than engine options. Which engine does your '84 have?

 

[EricSiepmann]

So basically they are extremely similar to the NAS Defenders other than engine options. Which engine does your '84 have?

They are not as similar as you would think.

Tubs in the Euro trucks have a bulkhead as opposed to a stiffening bar in the NAS. Lights are wrong. FIller hole is in the wrong lococation.
The Cage in the NAS
The fuel tank is in the rear as opposed to the Euro side option
V-9 bulkhead in the NAS vs the Euro Diesel Bulkhead.

Many other smaller differences which would be very difficult to locate parts for as some are NLA....

 

[Alan]

Joe,

Eric is right on all aspects. My 84 has quite a few differences between itself and a NAS Defender when you get down to it. Dimensions are the same but body panels, tank location, light arrangements, etc. are quite different. Unlike the bar "bulkhead" that is in the NAS, I have a big steel bulkhead right behind the seats so you're not able to lean the seats back very far. My gas tank is located under the passenger seat with the filler spout just behind the door (see picture in my profile) as opposed to NAS tanks under the cargo area. It is a factory LHD unit but there are lots of differences though.

The truck currently has a 2.5L n/a diesel engine but I will most likely switch it out and put a 3.0L 5.0 cylinder MB turbo diesel in that drops in quite nicely.

As far as locating parts for an 84, I haven't had too many issues. You can find most of what you need on ebay.uk or flip through any LR magazine and you see many suppliers. Britpart carries most of what I need but even here in Canada, I have local contacts that I can get parts from if I need or you improvise and come up with a different solution. This is if you aren't a stickler about using OEM parts for everything which isn't always the best to begin with. I've also noticed that some parts for ex-MOD Defenders seem to be cheaper than their counter-part civilian versions...at least on the parts that I've looked for.

Park a NAS D90 next to an older LR90 and you'll see a lot of differences. Overall they resemble each other but details-wise they're different.

 

[Leslie]

I have a big steel bulkhead right behind the seats so you're not able to lean the seats back very far. My gas tank is located under the passenger seat with the filler spout just behind the door (see picture in my profile) as opposed to NAS tanks under the cargo area. (snip) Park a NAS D90 next to an older LR90 and you'll see a lot of differences. Overall they resemble each other but details-wise they're different.

Steel? Not aluminum, as a SIII would have?


Put a SIII beside the older 90, beside a NAS 90, and you can see the progression.....
Not revolutionary, just evolutionary.


-L

 

[jsonova99]

I was familiar with most of the tid bits you guys mentioned, but you've got me thinking now about getting parts. I have to imagine that there will be sources for parts here in the US for these. I guess we'll have to see when the time comes. Still seems like it could be a nice alternative to paying the NAS Defender prices currently.

 

[Alan]

You got me Leslie It's Aluminum. I just used steel in a generic sense to describe it. I wondered if anyone was going to pick that out as I was typing it.

Yea that's pretty cool to see the "evolutionary" changes when these older LR's sitting next to each other. On one of the weekends that I was working at the shop, there were two 90's, two 110's, a D1, a D2 and a RR there. Was neat to see the family resemblence when you stood back and looked.

European Defenders are certainly cheaper but you got to look around to find one that's in decent shape if you're planning on buying a project vehicle. Make sure the frame is sound as well as the bulkhead/firewall. Most other stuff you can replace relatively easily. I was forutnate that the 90 I'm working on has a frame that's in pristine condition and most of the panels are straight. It's just there's about 20 layers of military paint I have to strip off!! In some spots I've taken off about 8 layers and still haven't seen aluminum yet.

 

[JSQ]

got pics alan?

mine is sanded down to the bare aluminum and stripped as we speak. no doors, seats, hood, trim. nothing.
putting it back together is going to be fun.

 

[Alan]

Click on my avatar and you'll see a picture of my 90 after I took the roof off but that was a while ago. Since then I've taken the doors off and stripped some of the paint off. In some spots you can see aluminum.

I have more pictures at home. I'll send you some when I get home tonight. Haven't worked on it since early December though. I have some things I need to fix on my Disco right now...

 

[EricSiepmann]

I was familiar with most of the tid bits you guys mentioned, but you've got me thinking now about getting parts. I have to imagine that there will be sources for parts here in the US for these. I guess we'll have to see when the time comes. Still seems like it could be a nice alternative to paying the NAS Defender prices currently.

Joe,

I would seriously review the proposed budget. Your going to be buying a 1983-4 90 or 110 and then have it shipped from the UK then to your door. I would bet at least another 2k to the purchase. Then a new frame, bulkhead, motor, transmission, t-case, . . . adds up quickly. I would crunch some numbers and see what a 5k USD truck imported into the US to your door would cost you as opposed to buyying a nice NAS D-90. Might be cheaper.

And NAS Defender prices have been falling each year.

EwS

 

[marc olivares]

And NAS Defender prices have been falling each year.

EwS

great, so that means that what youre asking for yours in entering the realm of reality too?
it'll look nice parked next to my disco

build a hybrid Joe, then not only will you know and understand it, it wont cost you 28-30K

 

[syoung]

You can easily get a nice classic series "driver" in the U.K. with a solid or replaced frame and needing nothing major for $6K US.
There's NO justification for the outrageous NAS Defender prices other than they are bling.

 

[Alan]

Don't forget though, you don't necessarily have to buy from the UK if you want to get your hands on a 1984 Defender. Up here in Canada we have a 15 year import rule so we've been able to bring in anything up to 1991 for a while now. There are mid to late 80's Defenders available up here for sale if you look around and I'm sure shipping would be much less.

 

[marc olivares]

Don't forget though, you don't necessarily have to buy from the UK if you want to get your hands on a 1984 Defender. Up here in Canada we have a 15 year import rule so we've been able to bring in anything up to 1991 for a while now. There are mid to late 80's Defenders available up here for sale if you look around and I'm sure shipping would be much less.

please go on, where should one look?
i wouldn't mine getting my hands on some truggy donor vehicles

 

[Alan]

LRX has a few mid-80's Defenders in Canada right now but the shop I'm doing my restoration at has 4 mid-80's Defenders inside along with another 4 sitting outside. One of them is a 3-door 110 that's for sale although I think it's a late 80's Defender so it will still be a few years before it's available to you guys. All are ex-MOD Defenders. All the ones outside are project trucks but the ones inside the shop are mostly restored or near completion (except mine) and have been registered and driven.

I've also seen mid-80's Defenders come up on LRX from time to time and I see them at local auctions too every so often as there are a few military bases around here.

 

[kellymoe]

Joe,

I have a 1988 130 RHD that has a 1t85 with a lt230. The lt85 shifts a it harder than the 77 at least from my experience but it is supposed to be stronger. I have had no problems finding parts for the truck. It originaly had a twin SU V8 that I quicly switched over to a Edelbrock intake manifold and 4 barrel carb, BIG change in power but still weaker than say a 1988 EFI RR.

 

[marc olivares]

kev, where'd you find your beast?

 

[kellymoe]

kev, where'd you find your beast?

Thats funny because thats what I call it "the beast"
I bought it from a guy in San Francisco. He had had it for a few years. Bought it in the UK shipped it to the US shipped it to South Africa and then back to the US.