Thinking of buying a 1985 RR...

[spudboy]

I seem to have found a 1985 Range Rover in unmolsted condition which I'm considering buying as a getting about car from the farm to the city and just general running around stuff. I'm not too fussed by atrocious MPG as it won't be used for long trips - got the Diesel for that.

I'm off to look at it tomorrow evening, but at this stage all I know is:
- 1985 Model in Beige
- 5 Speed manual
- 3.5L Carburettor version
- 4 door
- Standard steel wheels with standard Michelin M&S tyres
- Koni shocks
- Airconditioner not working
- Leak in Front swivel hub
- 130,000 apparently genuine KMs
- Asking price $6000

So, my Questions are:
- Is this a good engine/gearbox combination?
- What are parts like? As easy to get as any other Land Rover?
- Are the carburettor versions difficult to tune?
- Is the 5 speed a nice gearbox?
- Is the price reasonable if it's in good/excellent condition?

I have seen a lot on eBay/carsales.com/etc for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price, but of course much higher KMs and poorer condition.

Don't want to modify it wildly or anything - I'd be keeping it stock standard.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks
David

[UncleHo]

G'day Spudboy :)

The carby versions were more reliable that the early injected vehicles and reasonably easy to keep in tune if done right in the first place, that type of carby all suffer from the diaphragm dying of old age and from needle wear, but both are quite repairable problems, if the engine oil & filter has not been changed regularly the cam lobes can wear, with the symptoms of nothing appearantly wrong with the motor "it just wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding" a slug,a new cam fixes that;), the rest of the car check it for rust in the usual places, rear inner wheel arches, upper tailgate, etc. if it is as good as it seems it may well be worth the price but I would haggle and also want to see any service history, I once bought a sedan that was twice the normal price, but it had never had anyone in the back seats and had every receipt from delivery, it served me from 1986-2001, when I got rid of it it still had standard rings & pistons, drove well, but the tin worm had got it:(

cheers

[HangOver]

$6000 seems like a lot of $$$$$ for an 85'
unless it's excellent condition, no air, leaky hub?
Maybe that's whats obvious so they have told you?
been stung tooooooo many times

generally get them in good condition with maybe gas for that price IMHO

[loanrangie]

85' is the best year for a non injected rangie, tacho in dash, better front seats hi comp 3.5, 1 piece front door glass, intermitent wipers etc. The only real drawback would be the LT77 5spd as there were known for shaft wear.

[BigJon]

Seems pretty pricey for one that old. I got my 88 for that price, genuine two owners in very nice condition. I guess it depends on if you really want it. Classic Rangies are fast becoming enthusiasts vehicles. Servicing, done properly, can be quite expensive.

[spudboy]

LoanRangie: Will LT77 shaft wear be an issue at 130,000Km? Is it a big cost item to repair? I gather there is a later gearbox called the LT77S which had some mods to make it quieter.

HangOver: I know the price is pretty high. Will have a better opinion when I take a look at it this arvo. Am going to find out what is wrong with the aircon and get a price to fix. I don't think the leaking hubs will be a big cost item.

UncleHo: Thanks for all that info. I really want a manual, and most of the later ones I've seen are auto. They can't have brought in manuals after a certain date (or they are never advertised for sale).

[loanrangie]

Even ith only 130k if genuine could still be a prob but unlikely, as for price if its in really good nic then 6k isnt a lot for decent rangie although i sold my 85' for 3k with 270k and lpg but it needed some tidying up but still very solid car.

[100I]

I'd be keeping it stock standard.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks
David

3046

[BigJon]

LoanRangie: Will LT77 shaft wear be an issue at 130,000Km? Is it a big cost item to repair? I gather there is a later gearbox called the LT77S which had some mods to make it quieter.



If you were going to pull the LT77 box out it would be best just to fit a good second hand R380 instead. Supposed to be a much stronger box (my LT77S is still good after 250 - 300 000km).

[dungarover]

Like others mentioned, $6K is a bit exxy for an 85 and you can get a good 90-91 3.9 EFI Rangie Vogue with about 220K on the clock for that. There was a 90 Rangie 3.9 EFI 'dungs spec' auto for $4K unreg on the 4WD Monthly forum a couple of months back and is still for sale. This had 190K on the clock and is a tidy unit (have seen it). Also it was an ex-tagalong tour vehicle as well so it would have been serviced reguarly. Paint is a bit faded but apart from that it was a solid Rangie :).

Have a lok at it and if you think it's worth the money, then buy it but I would be haggling a bit to lower the price IMO.

Good luck with it.

Trav

[UncleHo]

G'day Spudboy :)

At a guess I would say that it would be the seals in the piping, as they were the R12 type and the seals didn't like the current type A/con gas but they can be repaired with the current type seals and compressor seals I think, Ladas would be the man to ask, would be worth a PM;)

cheers

[spudboy]

Thanks for all the comments. I have just got back from looking at it. The main comments after seeing/driving for 4 or 5KM in it are:
- Pretty good nick for a 22yo vehicle. Not mint condition, but nice condition and obviously well cared for by the first owners. Just looking a bit tired now and needs a freshen up.
- Service receipts back to day 1. Serviced every 5000Km. Has had a gearbox o/haul and a new clutch 20,000 Km ago.
- Stainless exhaust system on original headers
- small amount of rust on the rear tailgate, and the strip of steel on top of the tailgate "fold-down"
- Broken side mirror + small dent in pass. door.
- Seats clean but looking threadbare. I don't think the back seats have ever been used.
- Air conditioner compressor apparently compresses (it has been tested) but something is blocked under the dashboard. He's had a quote of $800 to pull the dash and fix it. It has the new aircon gas in it.
- Gearbox baulks on 3rd sometimes. Mostly went in OK, but every 3rd or 4th attempt would not go (gearbox not really warmed up though)
- Gearbox was quite notchy and felt tight (just too tight in 3rd!)

It drove nicely although it was really just a potter around the block in peak hour.

Anyway, will make some calls tomorrow about the aircon & will post a picture or two later.

I think $6K is too high with the gearbox/aircon issues. I reckon it's prob worth about $4.5K, but don't think he will let it go at that price.

Thanks again.

[UncleHo]

G'day Spudboy :)

The gearbox might just not have warmed up enough, as that is sometimes the problem, also the type of oil in it, as if it has the wrong oil it will cause problems, yes, your price range seems about right, the airflow problem could be just a blocked phelm chamber, under the windscreen, particularlaly if it has been partked under trees and dropped leaves are blocking it, it will have poor fresh air intake too.

cheers

[dungarover]

With the rusty tailgate (although not horrendous as you describbed) and the other list of faults, it can't be worth more than $3K IMO. It might have a good history which will justify thr $3K price tag but like you said it's 22 yo Rangie and it's looking tired.

My Brother-in-law bought an 85 Rangie off here a couple of years back for $1.9K and it was a good runner although a bit scrabby in spots but it was a good buy even with 400+ kms on the clock :eek:

If he doesn't let it go, then it'l sit for months even years til it does sell for the right price. There's plenty of Rangies about for less that are just as good if not better :)

Trav

[HangOver]

seems odd that it had a box overhaul 20k ago but still a problem into 3/4th sometimes.

not to put you off but that happened to me now I have no reverse and am swapping the box. mines an lt95 though.

I paid 2.5k for my 81 about two years ago, needed lots of hidden work though.
Maybe there is someone in your area who knows rangie's might be willing to have a look with you?

But if it's a nice motor for you and you want THAT rangie good luck.
My FIL aways said cut thier legs off you can always offer more, you can't offer less.

[spudboy]

Some photos:

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR006.jpg


http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR007.jpg

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR009.jpg

[spudboy]

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR013.jpg

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR017.jpg

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR020.jpg

[spudboy]

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR026.jpg

http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR027.jpg
http://www.gestalt.net.au/Defender/FranksRR008.jpg

[HangOver]

looks very original !
Things I have had problems with and may be worth looking for

rust:
check the sills behind the door rubber
under the spare wheel
both footwells
at the hinge end of the lower tail gate.
botton corners and inside near handle of upper tail gate
along bottom of doors and near hinges

overheating, try low range for a while
look for sooted black plugs <-- is bad
droopy headlining
play in rear a frame balljoint
sagging back-end springs, (get someone to sit in cargo space to see if it drops too much)

[spudboy]

look for sooted black plugs <-- is bad


The tailpipe was sooty, but I am used to a diesel so pretty normal in my eyes. What is the big drama with sooty? I thought that would be just running rich. There was a puff of black when it started, but nothing otherwise - as clear as.

The headlining was not sagging, but needs a good clean. Small amount of 'clonk' in the drivetrain when going off/on the accelerator but no more than any other land rover. Much better then my 130 anyway.

[jsp]

hey Spudboy I just realised your close ;)

thats a really straight looking car! Bit expensive though? guess it depends what you want. A few might have seen ebay and thought oh no - but I bought this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/09/317.jpg

(you can all laugh now)

And by the time I am finished with it I expect a zf 4sp auto and a 3.9 efi from a 89-94 rangie planted in with a new coat of paint and some other bits and bobs for about your $6k figure and then I know I have a fairly solid car as all is fairly solid except for maybe the diffs. Its sitting down at TOLL dry creek waiting to be delivered to me :) I am tossing up though on putting a 3.5 with edelbrock manifold and holley 4 barrel carb in it I have spare, but I don't know the engines history even though it seems to run ok. I intend to run the car on LPG.

Then again I bought the car I was really after - a 2 door with a little rust - not allot like the last 2 I had. I have always wanted a good 2 door.

There was a blue 88 rangie I think which looked ok in the few pics in the classies and it went for a tad under 4K as supposedly a good solid runner. There's been one or two around Adelaide the past few months which have gone in the 6-8K range but they were all 91-93 3.9's which from a distance looked real clean.

Let me know if I can help out :) I am overly critical of little things when looking at buying a Rangie :)

[spudboy]

jsp - n..i..i..i..i...c..e.... paint job! Did you pay a lot extra for that :D. The things people do to perfectly good cars.....

I'm not in a hurry. I was attracted to this one because it hasn't been mucked about with. There is something strangely alluring about the earlier range rovers with the plain steel rims! Will just wait and see how it pans out.
David

[jsp]

jsp - n..i..i..i..i...c..e.... paint job! Did you pay a lot extra for that :D. The things people do to perfectly good cars.....

Its the gold pin striping between the two tone which was the deciding factor..... ;)

I quite like colour coded 3 spoke vogue rims which most seem to not be keen on?

You could always offer the guy on the corner of Richmond and South Roads 6K for his ugly red rangie with gold lettering and fat star rims, he's had it there for 4 years now and the price has gone from 15k to 9k. I laugh everytime I see it!

[HangOver]

The tailpipe was sooty, but I am used to a diesel so pretty normal in my eyes. What is the big drama with sooty?

when I got mine i thought it was just running rich too but after leaning both carbs right off it was still rich to the point of using about a tank and a half in about 1/2 a day.
Try turning it over from cold I always got a splatter of crap out the pipe but once it was warm it stopped blowing crap.

I had to get the carbs re-built about $700 from memory.
Now runs fine and no black sooty tail pipe, (well not much anyhow).
Maybe you can borry one of those spark plug indicators that shows rich and lean.?

[Maggot4x4]

I paid 6k for my '85 3 years ago, but it had a 4BD1 / LT85 conversion already done.

You can get a p38a for 6k now :)

[BigJon]

You can get a p38a for 6k now :)

If you are Scouse you can get one for $4000 :p.

[spudboy]

Compression test results: 140Psi plus/minus 5psi for all cylinders. Is this acceptable for a 3.5 high compression engine?

The quote for getting the air con fixed is around $800, It needs a new thermostat and a new Transceiver (?) valve. Half of the dash has to be pulled to do the work. Any comments?
David