EX MOD 1985 n/a 2.5 110 - Advice please

Hi All,
Just bought one - I'm first registered owner other than MOD - don't pick it up till Friday. Any advice/observations at all very welcome as I've little knowledge of these ex MOD vehicles. Especially the n/a 2.5 diesel - seems noisy but doesn't smoke and pulls OK.

Thanks.

I'd check for usual off road damage, axle's are prone to getting smashed, check outriggers and usual land rover places, x-member and bulkhead

Thanks Dave90 - it seems good underneath. Remarkably rust and dent free. Apparently it spent 25 years on a military base in Cyprus. Done 160,000 km. They're giving it an oil & filter change before I pick it up. 12 months MOT, 6 months tax and a 3 month warranty. Sounds good to me, but then what do I know? It's a local garage that I've dealt with for a few years on other landies - had a diesel turbo once, then a 200 tdi and then a couple of td5's - I'm actually reverting. I like the simplicity though - it seems there's not much to go wrong. Famous last words...

Seems like a good one and if it's come from Cyprus then chances are it will have had very limited exposure to any sort of rain Having been there it's a lovely place, people are friendly, weather is great, loads to do, Perfect

Dave90 - will this engine be the 12J? It's 2.5 n/a diesel. I'm beginner but keen to learn to do my own maintenance.

General said:

Dave90 - will this engine be the 12J? It's 2.5 n/a diesel. I'm beginner but keen to learn to do my own maintenance.

Click to expand...

Yes it's the 12j, later TD are 19j, there's not too much to them really

Thanks, I've got a manual but it covers 1983-Td5 so very basic on 12J - is there anything else you would recommend I could read up on?

General said:

Thanks, I've got a manual but it covers 1983-Td5 so very basic on 12J - is there anything else you would recommend I could read up on?

Click to expand...

I wouldn't like to say, you'll get different problems on different land rovers, probably welding is the best thing you can put your mind to with them

Hi General - Sounds like you have got a good buy. I purchased one last August direct from the MoD. Check out my thread here for what ive done to it so far 110 Project Thread
Basically its now a 200tdi with disco transfer box. You got any plans for yours?

To add - The 2.5NA with military LT77 (slightly lower gears) and 1.6 transfer box does seriously limit the top end to about 65mph flat out (according to sat nav). On the other hand it pulls ok and accelerates ok for a 2.5NA.

lucifus said:

Hi General - Sounds like you have got a good buy. I purchased one last August direct from the MoD. Check out my thread here for what ive done to it so far 110 Project Thread
Basically its now a 200tdi with disco transfer box. You got any plans for yours?

Click to expand...

That looks the business

Thanks, Lucifus - yours looks good - I will checkout the work you've done after writing this.
Mine's a truck cab 110 - don't know how to play it yet - will need to see how things go. I think the kind of tilt you have looks better than a truck cab with a canvas back but is it waterproof - mine will have to live outside through the winter.
Also I'm a real beginner - never done an oil change! But I want to learn so I can look after this myself.

The soft top is more water tight than my last hard top. It doesnt leak at all. A defender is the perfect car for you to learn to change oil etc. where are you located?

In Lancashire, near Preston. I need to think what I'm gonna do with it ultimately. I used to have a Td5 110 hard top (Not MOD) which I converted to a camper with a bed down one side and cupboards/twin burner hob and sink down the other. Cramped but good for one.
Don't do so much camping now but might start again - what mpg does the j12 do?

I'm still thinking about getting an ex-mod 110 too. I want to get it direct from Witham's but I live quite far away so I'm still working out how best to get down there/if I should bother.

Also I can't decide between hard or soft top. Soft top I think looks a lot cooler but hard top would be better security-wise.

I know what you mean between hard and soft top - mine is a truck cab and I plan to get a new green canvas tilt to match the cab colour so that it looks similar to a soft top but with a cab. If that makes sense?

I chose the soft top as I thought it looked better. I also figured that a second hand hard top is a lot cheaper and readily available than a used soft top with frames and a roll bar. As for security, I don't think a hard top is and deterant to a car theif.

I might end up with a full soft top - I honestly don't know how it will work out yet. Haven't even got it yet - should pick it up tomorrow. Got any latest pics of yours Lucifus?

Hi, just bought one myself 110 Soft top, flew through MOT and very god chassis and body work. Lucifus yours looks very good, is their a knack to changing gears with the 2.5 n/a?

Tim - my defender is a 200tdi now but it does have the original NA gearbox. There's no knack to changing gears. Just don't rush it. Its not a sports car. Are you having problems changing gear on yours?