Thread: Classic Rangie: Is it the ideal poor man's car?

Well Chucaro, this is the first time i've come across you asking for advice instead of preaching it

How about a little background information as to what you are like swinging spanners, technology and simplicity. See personally i would have an early 4 door, carbied 3.5, manual everything etc. etc, I like to understand my cars and do the work.

As the range of classics is spread over 25 odd years there is a LOT of variety. Are you interested in an older or newer car? And also who will be 'fully restoring' the Range Rover?

Cheers
Will

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

Well Chucaro, this is the first time i've come across you asking for advice instead of preaching it

How about a little background information as to what you are like swinging spanners, technology and simplicity. See personally i would have an early 4 door, carbied 3.5, manual everything etc. etc, I like to understand my cars and do the work.

As the range of classics is spread over 25 odd years there is a LOT of variety. Are you interested in an older or newer car? And also who will be 'fully restoring' the Range Rover?

Cheers
Will

Will, I think that the Classic 87/88 are among the best RR, my previous RR was 88 with a fuel injected 3.5 engine.
I understand that RR made after 1990 have a bit of more problems with the transmission and not as reliable than the 88 models but please correct me if I am wrong
Regarding knowledge to work on them, I worked with spanners for 48 years butt now health do not allows me to do big jobs and for this reason I would like to have an immaculate example which will be require a good preventative maintenance and if something goes wrong, as an example the gearbox it will not cost me several thousand dollars.

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Will, I think that the Classic 87/88 are among the best RR, my previous RR was 88 with a fuel injected 3.5 engine.
I understand that RR made after 1990 have a bit of more problems with the transmission and not as reliable than the 88 models but please correct me if I am wrong
Regarding knowledge to work on them, I worked with spanners for 48 years butt now health do not allows me to do big jobs and for this reason I would like to have an immaculate example which will be require a good preventative maintenance and if something goes wrong, as an example the gearbox it will not cost me several thousand dollars.

The '89-on examples have the viscous transfer case, you just get a Disco one fitted instead. However I prefer the 3.5 engine for ultimate reliability so an '87 is cool. Note however that the later EFI system is better (shared with the D1 up to '98) so there is no such thing as a "best" most reliable RRC.

Yes Chucaro, definitely a poor mans car, I am currently rebuilding a 1980 two door and it is keeping me very poor and I am only getting to the rolling chassis stage at the moment.

Originally Posted by bee utey

The '89-on examples have the viscous transfer case, you just get a Disco one fitted instead. However I prefer the 3.5 engine for ultimate reliability so an '87 is cool. Note however that the later EFI system is better (shared with the D1 up to '98) so there is no such thing as a "best" most reliable RRC.

The 3.5 carburetor model will be better? Will be ease to converting it to dual fuel (petrol/gas)?

Originally Posted by Debacle

Yes Chucaro, definitely a poor mans car, I am currently rebuilding a 1980 two door and it is keeping me very poor and I am only getting to the rolling chassis stage at the moment.

Perhaps but it will not cost you $ 7000 for an overhaul auto gearbox

I'm doing exactly that at the moment - working my way through a rolling rebuild so that we can have a reliable family 4wd.

I got a 1983 carbied V8 Rangie because that just happened to turn up in town for sale. I hadn't thought of a Rangie or even driven one until this old, worn-out thing because I've had my Series IIA for a couple of decades. But now that I've had the Range Rover for two years I have to admit I'm hooked.

I've stuck with it because up here I can fix just about everything. In fact, I'm going to rebuild and upgrade the airconditioning and I'll be able to put it all together and then get someone else to gas it up.

I've replaced almost everything, which is crazy to many, but I don't like the idea of nursing along an old car through a series of breakdowns. And really big jobs have been cheap compared to what someone else would be paying to do the same thing on a more modern car.

It's turned out to be a good thing that it's got the carbies as EFI would be a huge headache to sort out up here. I'm also taking out the automatic and putting in an LT95. The end result is supposed to be a simple car that should be straightforward to fix out bush, (God help me!), but still with nice steering, aircon, and that great suspension.

The only thing I'm dreading is a gradual replacement of the electrics. And I'm thinking of a repaint and retrim so that it will be completely done, then checked by a valuer, and then insured for a decent amount.

But if I did it again I'd look around for one that was in better shape to start off with!

1970's era 2 door ,or up to 1983 4 door ,carby 4speed manual.

Find a rust free example and you re 90% there. the rest is easy and not as expensive as you might think Arthur.

i think you are doing the right thing

jc