A racer in the making...

I bought a Land Rover 90 to build up into a racer that could also be used for everyday running...

Defender: the ultimate off-roader


Land Rover is the world's leading four-wheel drive specialist and Defender is its ultimate off-roader.

Brilliant simplicity, unrivalled strength, and legendary ability: Defender is sure-footed and unstoppable, whether climbing high altitude mountain trails, crossing desert sands or deep-wading through rivers.

Welcome to the world's toughest 4x4!

Shown below are some of the modifications done...

The 90 started out life with a 2.5litre diesel engine fitted. This was removed and a V8 Range Rover engine was grafted into the engine bay. The gearbox was also replaced at this stage, as the bell housing is different on the Diesel engined models and I need a box that would stand the power of the V8. I managed to get hold of a Santana LT87 gearbox and mated it to the standard transfer box off the 90.

A diff guard has been added as well as some strengthened steering bars. Consideration was given to the weight of the items being fitted.

The origional seats have been removed and replaced with Drew Bowler off road competition seats. The Harnesses will follow just as soon as the roll cage is fitted.

The standard steering wheel has been changed for a mountney 15" wheel to make more room and for quicker steering.

Custom-made exhaust designed to be out of harms way, gas flowed and finished with an M3 style 4-pipe exit.

4 Mounting sections have been grafted to the chassis ready for the Roll cage to be mounted. By doing this it made making the cage easier and also enables removal if ever required!

The roll bar is built up and tacked in place ready to be welded fully.

With the closer shot you can just see the 4 roof mountings that will support the bars to the front hoop.

Front hoop in place

Rock sliders replace the existing Sills and provide extra support for the front roll cage hoop to mount to. These also provide a strong mounting for the lower harness bolt.

The roof bar supports are tacked in place

Brackets are made up to support the 2nd set of shock absorbers. (Rose jointed Bilstiens) The original shocks have to be kept to keep the Land Rover in a standard class for racing.

The full cage welded and painted.

A closer shot of the finished cage.

New Bumper - Designed to give a good approach angle, Strong yet light weight and with recovery points.

A safety battery cut off has been added and the gear stick has had an extension piece made up for easy reach with the full harnesses on! You can also see the wires to the remote switch block.

The remote switch block enables the navigator to operate the washers, wipers and horn.

The wires attached to the Battery isolator are these remote pull cords so as in an accedent the battery can be cut from outside the vehical. There is one at each side of the bonnet.

Additional lights added to the back of the 90 are Running lights (fog lights) and brake lights both at high level for good visibility.

Race tyres. These have been fitted so as not to destroy the tyres that I use for every day use. They also have extra grip and are cheaper to replace if you do damage them.

Loaded up and ready for off - Its first ever event. The 90 will have to pass the Scrutineering (safety check) before being allowed to race.

Additional Modifications...

I have Fitted a new lighter Bonnet and have fitted Race/Rally Bonnet pins to prevent the risk of the standard bonnet catch failing. The new Bonnet will also allow for the Hill Rally sponsors stickers to be fitted.

The new Bonnet also includes some home made cooling vents to assist with cooling the high under bonnet temperatures!

I have fitted a Terratrip Race/Rally Computer to assist Matt with the Navigating at the Scottish Hillrally. This computer tells us every thing we could want to know and more! It has been calibrated using satellite navigating to ensure accurate reading. It has been connected in using the Range Rover fly by wire speed transducer.

A later type discovery drop arm has been fitted to eliminate the week drop arm ball joint that was standard on the 90. Because this was changed a new steering arm had to be bought in order to fit. I now need to find a way of refixing the steering damper!

A later type Range Rover axel has been fitted with vented disc's. I have also replaced the flexible brake pipes with goodridge/aeroquip hoses.

Front and rear anti-roll bars have been added to help make the 90 more stable when cornering hard. These will have to be tested because they may hinder its flexible axel travel over the rough!

After entering a few events I have decided to remove the front anti roll bar. It made the handling excellent on the road and on flat rallys but over the rough ground & axle twisters the 90 wanted to pick a wheel up. This ment running the risk of blown diffs as it alowed a wheel to spin freely under power then as it came back into contact with the ground it put too much strain on the shafts & diffs!

A Discovery R380 gearbox and transfer box has been fitted to try and improve the low gearing of the standard 90 transfer box and make for faster gear changes. Because the box has been changed to a discovery type a new tunnel had to be made up to hide it all!

The Discovery transfer box was excellent for on the road but was found to be too high geared for racing off-road! I have now replaced it again back to the Defender one!

A new 12volt Terratrip professional intercom has been fitted to replace the other battery operated bike intercom. I have mounted the intercom to the roof to help keep the cables out of harms way!

After attempting to get the corner weights in order for TOMCAT to set me up with some new springs I found that I was unable to find any one with some bathroom scales big enough!! There-for I have bought a full set of FAMOUS FOUR heavy duty +1" springs to replace the tired old springs that are currently fitted!

In order to control the new springs I have got hold of a pair of 12" Bilstein remote reservoir shocks to put on the front axle. These will replace the standard 10" Bilsteins currently fitted.

After breaking a half shaft & struggling to find a replacement (who thought Land Rover gear all interchnged like me?) then I decided to upgrade the rear axle to a stronger 23 spline type of a late 300TDI Discovery.

New FIA approved & dated 3" harnesses have been bought for the 90 as the old ones were in need of an up-date after confusion about them needing to be dated or not & the current ones only being 2" - Should be no confusion now!

Jake Wright

I needed to change the 90 Fuel Tank when the old one developed a leak. After searching round I found Jake Wright offered a special anodized fuel tank that should out last other replacements at a very competitive price. The tank came with all required gaskets & seals included.

Due to regulation changes coming in to force in 2010 I have now changed my Helmet for a Peltor Hans open face type and have also changed my intercom to a Peltor FMT110

Due to excessive corrosion of the doors the time came to change them...
August 2010

I replaced them with SIII type doors. These will be lighter and enable me to remove the door tops for events if required. The 90 doors also ment I was unable to reach the window winder handles with the harnesses fitted so these windows will be easier to operate when strapped in!

As I was having the doors painted I decided it would be worth replacing the scabby front drivers side wing. I managed to find a new (Slightly damaged) TD5 wing on E-Bay for just £20. This also ment changing the old type side repeaters so I obtained a set of clear units and got the required plug connector & wires from a scrapped Discovery 2.

The rear cross member was also in need of change - Would like to attempt a snatch recovery with the one fitted!

A new Cross Member was grafted into place and new 2010 spec mud flaps made & fitted.

After removing the exhaust back box to aid this work it was noticed that the middle section of exhaust pipe was shot so a new piece had to be made & fitted too! (Work finished Nov 2010)