Are my brakes inadequate...

Well, it has all the decals of a Defender for starters, so there is a remote possibility it could be a youger vintage. Even has them on the sides of doors, and they look about as weathered as the rest of the vehicle. But I guess you can get those (decals) for about $100 off eBay. Just cos it says its a Ferrarri, doesn't mean it's one. Are there any other distinguishing features that would differentiate a Land Rover (pre 89) from a later Fender? Door handles a push button (xcept back), no ribbed roof... the obvious ones that I've come accross in the past.

Oh, and as far as I know (lol... which is about as far as you can throw a stone... hehehe... so please correct me if I'm wrong), Tdi only referes to 200Tdi and 300Tdi.

Now the decals on the front qarterpanels (wings) were definately Tdi, as the paint under where they were is quite new and dark, in comparison to the rest of panels (and all the panels match the weatheredness of the front quarterpanels)... so I'm very certain that new wings haven't been fitted recently, if they've been replaced from original at all.

I think that website (where you enter the vin number) would be great, if anyone knows the web address, to put this mystery to bed.

Bojan,
Check the body mounts on the rear cross memeber, if they are just butt welded on it's more than likely a Defender, I'm not sure when they started doing it though, but every Defender I've looked at has been like that. The V8 was available in the 90 from 1985, and in 1994 was introduced to North America with the 3.9l disco V8 and was available until 1997.

The rear cross member? as it the rear "bumper"? If that's the case, it is definately welded on. Ok, and I also know for certain this V8 is a transplant from a rangie.

Bojan,
All of the body mounts on the rear cross member are welded on. The Defender ones are butt welded to the top corner of the cross member, wheras the earlier Land Rovers were tag welded ( Think that is the term ) on the side of the cross member. If that doesn't make sense, the Defender ones just have one straight line of weld along the bottom, wheras the Land Rover ones are welded at the bottom and the sides.

Hope this makes sense!

Craig,

I hope I'm not totally off track, but do you mean the mount half visible in the top RH corner of the pic below (mounting to the body from behind)? If so, it's welded both at the back and around the sides. If I'm on the right track, that would make it a Land Rover, right?

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Originally Posted by Offender90

Craig,

I hope I'm not totally off track, but do you mean the mount half visible in the top RH corner of the pic below (mounting to the body from behind)? If so, it's welded both at the back and around the sides. If I'm on the right track, that would make it a Land Rover, right?

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That looks like a later Defender rear cross member, kind of thin in the steel & with the body mounts mounted on the top edge of the cross member. Series Land Rovers & I think also earlier 90/110s had the body mounts overlapping the rear face of the cross member & welded around the tag that protruded downwards. Harder to describe than imagine. I think this is what Craig was referring to. I'm not sure when the cut off date for the change was.
Steve

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

Dave has given a good explanation as to how to test the brakes. The oversize tires will have an adverse effect on braking, but should not be all that much. My guess is that you have either a sick vacuum system (if you are using manifold vacuum excessive idling speed will reduce the vacuum available or there may be a kinked hose fro example) or a small vacuum leak.

Those brakes do quite a good job of pulling up a fully loaded 110, so they should do OK with the 90.

John

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His tyres arent oversized diameter wise....

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Originally Posted by Offender90

Craig,

I hope I'm not totally off track, but do you mean the mount half visible in the top RH corner of the pic below (mounting to the body from behind)? If so, it's welded both at the back and around the sides. If I'm on the right track, that would make it a Land Rover, right?

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That's the mount, but no it makes it a Defender as it is butt welded to the top corner of the cross member. I'm not sure when the Defender went with rear disc brakes, so it's still possible that it did have drum rear brakes. If you are at all interested I can take a picture of the earlier type mount and post it up sometime tonight?

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Originally Posted by tombraider

His tyres arent oversized diameter wise....

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O.3" according to my calculations - oversize but negligibly so.

John

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Originally Posted by cmurray

That's the mount, but no it makes it a Defender as it is butt welded to the top corner of the cross member. I'm not sure when the Defender went with rear disc brakes, so it's still possible that it did have drum rear brakes. If you are at all interested I can take a picture of the earlier type mount and post it up sometime tonight?

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If you could, that would be great Craig

Cheers