Classic questions

[Woolly]

Hi All,
I have acquired the 1980 2door that my son owned about 10 years ago and it is sitting in the shed awaiting attention that will unfortunately have to wait until I complete the list of house jobs my better half has given me.
However, I am trying to collect bits I will need, hence the first of many questions......
What is the correct original colour for the bumpers for a 1980 model?
Is it possible or practical to replace the dash with a slightly later one that has provision for a/c?
It has had an aftermarket system but it’s not very neat, and
I would like to keep it reasonably original looking.
Good to see a few other people are working on these, I’ve learnt quite a bit already,
Thanks,
Woolly.

[350RRC]

1980 would have black bumpers. Paddocks UK have the section for sale, but not the ends.

The 81 body that now sits on my 74 chassis had an aftermarket a/c that mostly sat where the glovebox is. Got rid of it because it was a bit ugly. Still have the rotary compressor somewhere if someone wants it.

Turfed the whole 81 dash at the time as well because I like the early ones with the gauges down lower.

DL

[Woolly]

Thanks DL,
I have a black rear and a silver front, so now I know which way to go.
Cheers,
Woolly.

[Homestar]

Another Sunbrarian! Yes, black bumpers as mentioned. If the AC is ugly, pull it out and open a window. 👍😊, but I'm sure there would be a way of grafting something more modern in if needed.

Be sure to post some pics at some stage. 👍

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Yes Yes Woolly!
Lots of pics of the build please[thumbsupbig]

[dungarover]

The old AC system in the 2 door Rangies was for the most part useless anyway. I remember getting mine re-gassed and it never worked properly, total waste of money!!

Trav

[donh54]

The old AC system in the 2 door Rangies was for the most part useless anyway. I remember getting mine re-gassed and it never worked properly, total waste of money!!

Trav

My old County was like that. I heard from someone supposedly knowledgeable about these things, that the early Pommy aircon was not designed to cool the air, just to de-humidify it. He called it "warm-air conditioning"

[DoubleChevron]

that's strange because the later cars have great air conditioning. I'm sure the soft dashes are nowhere as good though as they go back to a mixer system with much small evaporator and lots of crappy plastic flappy things to break :)

seeya,
shane L.

[superquag]

that's strange because the later cars have great air conditioning. I'm sure the soft dashes are nowhere as good though as they go back to a mixer system with much small evaporator and lots of crappy plastic flappy things to break :)

seeya,
shane L.

My thoughts too. 'Sarah' - 1995 softdash - was only effective, ...., and not what I expect from a + $90,000 LUXURY car Yep, sticker-price way back in 1995.

Everyone of my other cars, older and newer Mitsubishi Magnas, Mazda 121, Jap import 626, even the '89 / NG Pajero had equal to superior A/C.
Magnas especially.

[350RRC]

My old County was like that. I heard from someone supposedly knowledgeable about these things, that the early Pommy aircon was not designed to cool the air, just to de-humidify it. He called it "warm-air conditioning"

The early 80's aircon was all Oz made aftermarket, just like the various automatic trans options of the day.

LR had none of either.

Was done to corner the Saudi market apparently.

Quite possibly changed the whole LR direction with RRC's to this day.

PhilipA might chime in......
DL

[Classic88]

Vintage Air in the US is well known for its A/C kits for classic cars. Might be pricey though.

[DoubleChevron]

Why would you buy an aftermarket setup, when jsut about every late 80's/early 90s Range Rover has amazing air conditioning.... and they are being wrecked/parted out all over the country for pocket change. Not only that, everything in thoery should just bolt in [bigrolf]

The A/C in my Rangies here is very effective. Far better than the A/C in any other car in our yard (including my wifes modern poogoe 407... Europeans just can't do decent A/C!)

seeya
Shane L.

[Classic88]

Why would you buy an aftermarket setup, when jsut about every late 80's/early 90s Range Rover has amazing air conditioning.... and they are being wrecked/parted out all over the country for pocket change. Not only that, everything in thoery should just bolt in [bigrolf]

The A/C in my Rangies here is very effective. Far better than the A/C in any other car in our yard (including my wifes modern poogoe 407... Europeans just can't do decent A/C!)

seeya
Shane L.

Really? The system in my 1988 RRC is pathetic (it's the one that is installed under the dash on the passenger side).

[DoubleChevron]

does it have the vents that run the length of the bottom of the dash ... and the huge evaporator above the passengers feet.... If so, then yes, it should be very good. I'd suggest there isn't any gas in it if you find it no good. Mine is so good the front passenger always turns it off as it's too cold to have blowing on you.

[Classic88]

Evaporator in front of the passenger but no additional vents over and above the heating system. Would this have been an interim set-up before it went to an under bonnet system?

[DoubleChevron]

this dash

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/379.jpg

that big bulge above the passengers feet is a huge evaporator with two fans pushing air through it.

seeya,
Shane L.

[Meccles]

I had the old Mark 4 with York compressor in my 2 door. Mounted to left in passenger area but with fairly neat ducting to center. It worked like every other Mark 4 - very well. Kept car cool no issue. Be interested to see how the Vintage air unit works in comparison

[PhilipA]

I had the old Mark 4 with York compressor in my 2 door.
I did also in my 77 and it worked well.
The only problem was that it had an idler pulley down really low as the compressor hung off the LH . The bearing got wet easily and they used to fail often.

I had an 81 in Saudi with an Alpinaire setup (Italian). It worked well also after I sikaflexed the quarterlights and sliding windows closed. It also had a York compressor but on the RH of the motor. I fitted a 16inch or so Mercedes280SE electric fan to help in the 45+ambient. It would cool down to about 35C from 50C.
They both worked well on R22 but I don't know how good on R134A. Maybe you could try LPG Greenchill.
My 91 had the setup like in the picture above and it worked very well especially with Greenchill.
The fans in front of the condenser have to be working or the head pressure rises lots.
For the 91s to work well you have to remove the bottom trim and vacuum about 3 tonnes of fluff and dirt out of the fans. You also have to make sure that the hose to the RH vent is actually attached behind the dash. A touch of Sikaflex on the hinges of the vents will stop them rattling as will some foam draft excluder on the top and bottom of the vent where i t fits in the dash.
Regards Philip A

[Meccles]

My compressor is mounted bottom left of engine in line with power steering pump. Drive belt runs it and power steering. No idler pulley. To tension the power steering pump swivels on top bolt with an adjustable stay on bottom to timing cover. I converted the York to R134A back in 94 only thing required was different oil in pump. It worked just as well as F22

[drover81]

I'm in process of receiving an old mark IV system (everything in the engine bay has to be installed), and noticed that the standard condenser is mounted behind the radiator and between the engine... Most modern cars have it in front of the radiator - could this be half the reason the standard was pretty poor? I can't see how 70deg+ air is going to cool refrigerant that well...

[BigJon]

this dash

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/379.jpg

that big bulge above the passengers feet is a huge evaporator with two fans pushing air through it.

seeya,
Shane L.

I have that one. It is garbage. I have resorted to blocking the vents on the passenger side to try to get some air flow towards the driver's side. Still like an asthmatic blowing through a straw. Maybe I need to pull it apart and check for blockages.

[DoubleChevron]

I have that one. It is garbage. I have resorted to blocking the vents on the passenger side to try to get some air flow towards the driver's side. Still like an asthmatic blowing through a straw. Maybe I need to pull it apart and check for blockages.

Your fans must be dead. You need to put both the outer flaps down levers down (so you get recycled air only).... Then move the a/c lever all the way over. This should switch off the main heater fan, and kick the two fans build into the evaporator box into action. it flows a lot of VERY cold air. Mine isn't as cold as it was 6months ago, so I still have a slight refrigerant leak. That WILL be fun to find. You can't use leak detectors when your using bang gas as the refrigerant :)

You can:

a) Have a good laugh at my expense
b) See how HUGE and decent the A/C is in the rangie by looking here

Air Conditioning (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/231602-air-conditioning.html)

I'm betting either one or both of your evaporator fans are not working.

seeya
Shane L.

[BigJon]

Fans are working. Makes plenty of noise, not much breeze.

[DoubleChevron]

Fans are working. Makes plenty of noise, not much breeze.

They aren't working properly. Does the heater fan turn off, then the two big barrel fans above the passengers feat switch on ?

[bee utey]

Fans are working. Makes plenty of noise, not much breeze.

Drop the fans off, you'll probably find a good layer of fluff from the foot well stuck on the evaporator. They're pretty easy to get to work well, those things.

[BigJon]

They aren't working properly. Does the heater fan turn off, then the two big barrel fans above the passengers feat switch on ?

Yep

[PhilipA]

You should also check that the vacuum hoses to and from the vacuum storage "ball" under the bonnet are not cracked as this will put the air into the footwells rather than the face vents.

Regards Philip A

[DoubleChevron]

You should also check that the vacuum hoses to and from the vacuum storage "ball" under the bonnet are not cracked as this will put the air into the footwells rather than the face vents.

Regards Philip A

pretty sure the hard dashes are all cable operated ?

[PhilipA]

pretty sure the hard dashes are all cable operated ?


No my 91 had vacuum operated flaps. I think it was an upgrade in 89 with the 3.9.
I also thought of something else about both the really old ones and the later ones. You have to be sure that the thermostat sender is not touching the fins of the evaporator but is close. They sometimes wander.

Regards Philip A

[Mercguy]

Fans are working. Makes plenty of noise, not much breeze.

Fans shouldn't make any noise - if they are, you have **** in the evap box and possibly brushes/bearings on the way out on the motors.

Shane's dead right on this - these HVAC units on 88-93 hard dashes are freaking cold as charity, and you don't need the fan on high to freeze to death, just on 1.

The Evap cores leak, as do the compressors. UNusual for a hose to go, occasionally the fittings do leak. Most of the time the schrader valves are the culprit - not uncommon for them to not be fully screwed in, and the cap covers can depress the pin. Even thought e covers have an oring, they are only meant to keep detrirus out, not seal gas in.

If you put dye in the system, you're likely to see it all over the evap fins after a while.

That's how I found mine. Cleaning that setup is a pain, but worth it.

I pulled all the ducting and cleaned it in the laundry tub with some napisan as well. clark rubber has the EPDM foam rubber seal material if you need to redo the seals.

It's not a 5 minute job, however it is worth doing, even if you find issues elsewhere and not in the evap core.

[Mercguy]

No my 91 had vacuum operated flaps. I think it was an upgrade in 89 with the 3.9.
I also thought of something else about both the really old ones and the later ones. You have to be sure that the thermostat sender is not touching the fins of the evaporator but is close. They sometimes wander.

Regards Philip A

That's interesting. I think maybe we are confusing the fan recirc function (lower left horizontal slide switch) as opposed to the dash/upper/lower controls?

Mine (vent controls) are cable operated. Oct 1991 build date.