1986 Land Rover 110, 3.9L Diesel, Restored, Turn Key Ready Defender

1986 Land Rover Defender 110 Description

Located near Portland Oregon (97048)

Feel free to call me if you have further questions (503-369-0459)

I will work with auto transports, or I can meet you at the PDX airport you'd like to drive home.

Many more restoration photos and documents available upon request.

I have owned my Rover for three years. I have a clean Oregon Title in hand in my name. This is not your standard Land Rover Defender. This is a very rare 1986 County 110 variant, factory equipped with the Australian Military Spec Drivetrain (3.9 Isuzu Diesel). This is the civilian version of the vaunted Land Rover Perentie. There are very few of these in North America, and this is the only one restored to this level in the U.S. What makes it so unusual compared to your standard Defender?

• To start this Rover has a factory Installed ISUZU 4BD1 3.9L Diesel. This motor is regarded as one of the most reliable diesels ever produced. This was the only engine the Australian military would accept due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and abundance of torque instantly available off idle. It should be noted parts availability for the 4BD1 is far better, and much cheaper than any of the land rover engines produced.
• Factory equipped with the LT95A Military Spec Transmission, designed for and used in the 6X6 Isuzu powered Defender/Perentie variants. Rover did not have a transmission that could handle the stresses involved with the 6X6 platform, so the LT95A was developed. Regarded as the strongest transmission produced for the Defender Platform.
• Factory equipped Dana 60 rear end (Known as the Salisbury Axle Option), largest/strongest axle fitted in Defender Platform.

As you can see from the photos, this Rover was stripped and rebuilt from the ground up. This is NOT your typical imported Defender with lots of abuse hidden under a fresh coat of paint. Documentation is everything with an old Land Rover, shiny paint unfortunately tells you nothing (I learned the hard way). Review the photos, I’ve tried to document everything I’ve done to my Rover over the last few years and I have many thousands in receipts as well.

I’m sure you’re tired or reading by now, so I’ll finish with highlighting some of the main areas addressed during the restoration.

Engine :

• If you have driven the 200 or 300 TDI, you will appreciate how smooth & quiet the 4BD1 is in comparison.
• The engine runs perfect, always starts instantly (I never need the glow plugs).
• Compression test completed, all cylinders test at the high range of Isuzu specifications (see photos).
• Engine has been resealed using OEM seals, no leaks.
• Complete new mandrel bent exhaust system.
• Injectors have been professionally rebuilt by Pacific Injection of Portland Or.
• Cooling system is all new. The radiator was completely rebuilt, new water pump fitted, new hoses, and OEM thermostat installed.
• New alternator, New belts, Valve Adjustment, New filter/fluids installed before refitting to chassis.
• Power steering system has been gone through and functions great.
• A side note on the 4BD1. I find the power to be good/acceptable with this motor. However, if you desire more power both factory & aftermarket bolt on turbo kits exist which are very easy to install, and very cheap to purchase. I feel it does not need one, but the option is there if you plan to tow or load down with gear etc…

Transmission/Transfercase

• LT95A Shifts very smooth, No grinds, No odd noises etc…
• As you can see from the photos the transmission has been dissembled, checked over, and resealed.
• New upgraded oil pump fitted
• The transfercase has been rebuilt. All tapered roller bearings replaced, bearing thrust caps replaced, lay shaft replaced. Everything set to factory spec. it’s tight.
• Diff lock function flawlessly.
• New Clutch, Resurfaced flywheel, & associated hydraulics fitted.

Suspension/brakes:

• The suspension has been overhauled with a small 2” lift, and new control arms fitted front & rear to maintain proper axle alignment (expensive kit). Rides smoother than stock.
• All shocks replaced, to included steering stabilizer
• Tie rods replaced
• Front axle rebuilt, No leaks
• Brake system has been overhauled, stops very well. New extended stainless steel brake lines fitted as well. Parking brake system also rebuilt.

Body:

• Complete respray inside and out over the original paint. Body completely disassembled, all glass removed, doors stripped to shells, all floors stripped and painted front/back, all galvanized trim removed during paint.
• New Windshield fitted, Brand New rear sliding windows fitted (expensive), and every piece of weather stripping replaced with new.
• All 4 doors were completely rebuilt with new seals, window channels, and locks. All doors function as new, no rattles. This job is not to be over looked on an old Rover. Almost of them need this service. It’s very expensive and time consuming to rebuild all 5 of the doors.
• All interior floors, and bulkhead sprayed in color matched urethane textured coating (think bed-liner). It’s very strong.
• The wheels are factory alloy discovery wheels that in in perfect condition (they have been powder coated). The tires are brand new. I have SIX matching wheels and tires for this Rover (expensive).

Electrical:

• As you may know, electrical was not properly done from the factory and they only got worse and overly complicated as the years went on. They cannot be driven reliably with the 30+ year old electrics, which were poor to begin with.
• Every original piece of wiring has been removed and replaced with a new modernized system. No more splices, No brittle wiring, No poor grounds to worry about.
• Every light has been replaced new assemblies.
• All new VDO gauges, to include diesel tach. Also had a brand new Genuine Land Rover MPH Speedo fitted, along with new cable drive.

Interior:

• The interior is very nice/complete condition.
• I built a custom instrumentation housing all from steel. The original plastic housings were of poor quality. The steel housing is much more robust, and much cleaner.
• Seats still wear they’re original tweed, No rips or stains to be found.
• I had the carpet professionally upholstered. The Original rover carpet was thin with little sound proofing. The carpet I used is very thick with sound proofing added to every piece. The carpet is designed so every piece could be quickly removed in sections for cleaning.
• Head liner is new.
• Dash is original, and remains in excellent condition.
• - All door panels are original, and still look great.

In summary, this Land Rover could not be duplicated for my asking price. The initial cost of a rust free candidate to start with, sheer cost of paint/body, interior work, complete rewire, and hundreds of man hours invested would be very expensive. This Rover is turn key ready to go. I receive complements on it every time I drive it, usually have crowds around the vehicle when parked at stores etc...I have a very detailed factory print service manual included, along with several spare parts as well.