|
THE NINETY is without question one of the most accomplished off-road vehicles ever produced. Few other vehicles will match the off-road ability of the Ninety without serious aftermarket modification and the Ninety will beat anything straight out of the showroom.
The Ninety was launched in 1984, a year after the One Ten marked a turnaround for Land Rover with the introduction of utility coil spring vehicles. Many body panels were modified from the Series Three to save production costs; the distinctive wheelarch eyebrows were to accommodate the increased track without the need for additional tooling. But front disc brakes, together with the coil springs and permanent four wheel drive, made this a very different vehicle from the Series Three.
Early examples were fitted with 2.3 engines, but the majority had the 2.5 petrol or diesel and later the diesel turbo. Both 2.5 petrol and diesel are very reliable engines, which generally give few problems. They do make the vehicle slightly under-powered but you can expect high mileage, given regular servicing and care. You should not expect high performance on the road, but the Diesel Turbo introduced in 1986 gives better performance.
This was a much re-engineered version of the normally aspirated engine but has always suffered from a bad reputation. The loading on the engine is high and it can suffer from breathing problems, cracked heads and pistons.
a mystical beast
The 3.5 carburated V8 transforms the Ninety into a mystical beast, which grown men talk about with a certain reverence. Available from 1985, the de-tuned V8 had the LT85 Santana gearbox for greater strength. Fuel consumption for the V8 can get down to single figures, but expect the high 20s for the other engines.
As with all Land Rover products, it is imperative to check the chassis first. Rear chassis rails and cross member are particularly vulnerable (eight hours workshop time to replace), as are the bulkhead outriggers. Look out for leaking shocks and worn suspension bushes, which are invariably MoT failure points.
Worn bushes, including the A-frame bush, will affect the ride and handling and will be noticeable when letting out the clutch. Polybushes will last much longer and will not noticeably affect the ride (complete Polybush set GAL100 £95.20 + VAT).
The bulkhead can suffer corrosion in the top corner close to the top door hinge, often hidden by filler. Try to get some waxoil into the bulkhead to prevent further corrosion by removing a couple of the door hinge bolts. Footwells are steel and can corrode and so can the battery tray in the battery box under the left hand seat.
|
|
Almost all door skins will corrode where the aluminium skin touches the steel frame; try to get some waxoil into the steel frames too.
A friend of mine recently complained that her passenger window on her early Ninety would not wind down. Removal of the inner door panel revealed a piece of wood holding up the glass! A replacement window regulator (MUC3025 £17.80 + VAT ) was duly fitted, but Series III doors will fit for those who prefer removable door tops.
Door seals are remarkably ineffective and it is quite normal to have a pool of water in the footwell after a heavy night of rain. Water will also come in around the bulkhead; only considerable time and determination with a mastic gun will help.
Power steering was an option and some will find the manual steering quite heavy, especially for parking. Unfortunately, Land Rover never produced a ‘power steering kit’ and all the parts needed will cost around £300 new. Steering column UJs should be kept clean and lubricated to avoid ‘notches’ in the steering.
The great thing about the Ninety is that the design has remained virtually unchanged for the last sixteen years. By fitting a new Tdi engine into an early vehicle, for example, you still have virtually the same model specification as a much newer vehicle. The interior styling is in desperate need of a make over, but the advantage is that the majority of parts are interchangeable. Prices have remained relatively high; expect to pay upwards of £2000 in the UK.
an admirable performance
I owned a diesel Ninety for many years. I bought a Hard Top and gradually transformed it into a full Station Wagon spec with side windows, Rostyle wheels and side stripes. Perhaps the finest hour for my Ninety was when I was invited to drive the Jungle Track at Eastnor Castle as part of the Bay State Rover Owners contingent at ARC National back in 1993. My Ninety performed admirably on the hallowed ground of Eastnor and the memory of that special day will always stay with me.
The Ninety is an ideal vehicle for off-road competitions and trials and most of the Regional Clubs listed in LRM regularly hold events. These start with RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) Trials which, as the name suggests, are suitable for any vehicle. Canes are stuck in the ground as ‘gates’, ten gates to a section. Competitors must negotiate a section without touching a cane or stopping.
The good turning circle and agility of the Ninety makes them ideally suited to this type of competition. This type of trialing is designed to be non-damaging and can be as competitive as you want it to be. Contact your local Club for details of events in your area
|
|
|
