Thread: Project 89 Rangie Major problems found :( keep or junk

Hey Razzor, the main problem here is that you own a Suzuki GSXR1300... if it were a Honda you wouldnt have this prob

Seriously, when I bought my Rangie, it had rust on the drivers floor, the door pillars were cracked, the drive shafts were worn, the reverse gear was stuffed (eventually needed another gearbox), and the list went on for me too. The thing to do is take a few steps at a time, talk to Aulorians (like Rovercare) who have a wealth of experience and these things will be sorted. DONT go out and spend big dollars on new bits, like the power steering. My thing is now pretty sorted out, and its going great. But remember that at the end of the day, Rangie parts are cheap.

Sorry I cant help mechanically wise, but hand in there and the Rangie will reward you for being patient with it

Originally Posted by RaZz0R

IN short the following has been found.

1. Corrosion along coolant pipes (Top of engine)
2. Coolant leak somewhere at the back of the engine - could be welsh plugs?
3. Torque Converter is leaking (The seal - so engine out)
4. Engine mounts are cracked (Mount rubbers)
5. Power steering box is leaking pretty bad - Jamie said about 800 ~ 1000 for this ****!
6. Some rust was found... in the damn floor! FFS! maybe plate to fix.
7. NFI how - but the fuel tank is leaking slow as well.

Lets see if we can cut the cost on this


1. Corrosion along coolant pipes (Top of engine)
$0 .... Donation from AULRO member // Plenty being junked
2. Coolant leak somewhere at the back of the engine - could be welsh plugs?
$100 .... Beer & BBQ .. to lube a AULRO member with a day to spare
3. Torque Converter is leaking (The seal - so engine out)
$50 ... No labour charge as refer to Item 2
4. Engine mounts are cracked (Mount rubbers)
$200? .. plus labour or free ... Refer to item 2
5. Power steering box is leaking pretty bad
$300 + labour ... Rip one out of a 94 Disco
6. Some rust was found... in the damn floor! FFS! maybe plate to fix.
$50 ... Fiberglass it up .. It will never rust again
7. But the fuel tank is leaking slow as well.
$100 .. Enough being junked or chemi weld it

It doesn't look so bad now

It's not what you know but .... who you know

for real?

Thats all easy & can provide some errr... IT errr.. help & design & all sorts of stuff as I do IT design & engineering. I am all for helping each other. My worry is the engine is screwed. I'll be thinking tonight & tomorrow about where to start.

1. Corrosion along coolant pipes (Top of engine)
$0 .... Donation from AULRO member // Plenty being junked
2. Coolant leak somewhere at the back of the engine - could be welsh plugs?
$100 .... Beer & BBQ .. to lube a AULRO member with a day to spare

My main worry is that its stuffed the head & block.... I guess I am seeing it worse then what it really is? Jamie was pretty sure the best thing to do would be to junk it... but I am not seeing it that way atm - and looking to confirm it lol "

But hey - I am willing to rip it apart & more then willing to prime & return the help & what not as well - bbq / beer is the normal with me Having bikes over & working on all the bikes is what we normally do - includes BBQ & the rest so for any help with this... its more then just a BBQ

2. Coolant leak somewhere at the back of the engine - could be welsh plugs?
$100 .... Beer & BBQ .. to lube a AULRO member with a day to spare


Not to put a dampner on things - but you have to wonder why its leaking through the welsch plugs, they may have just rusted through, but mine was doing this also and having had the gearbox out to replace the plugs at the back of the motor - we then discovered that the head gasket was blown thus pressurising the cooling system and popping the plugs out. Hopefully its just a case of rusty plugs

Originally Posted by RaZz0R

for real?

Thats all easy & can provide some errr... IT errr.. help & design & all sorts of stuff as I do IT design & engineering. I am all for helping each other. My worry is the engine is screwed. I'll be thinking tonight & tomorrow about where to start.



My main worry is that its stuffed the head & block.... I guess I am seeing it worse then what it really is? Jamie was pretty sure the best thing to do would be to junk it... but I am not seeing it that way atm - and looking to confirm it lol "

But hey - I am willing to rip it apart & more then willing to prime & return the help & what not as well - bbq / beer is the normal with me Having bikes over & working on all the bikes is what we normally do - includes BBQ & the rest so for any help with this... its more then just a BBQ

I can't help you on the labour .. as i am on the other side of the country .. But at least i got you to perk up a bit

.. It's only "nuts & bolts"

Car'n boys (& girls) // Give him some of the pro & cons on the problem
Surely it can be put "right"

mm, yeah its all the unknown's.

Just got off the phone from the old man talking about it & cost vs worth & what not.
I am going to start looking for a 3.9, the power steering box - but at the same time try & find a place where I rip apart the cooling system & head to see how bad it currently is.

GuyG - good point as well - when I was there we pumped about 10psi in to the cooling system & it showed the leaks, so will only know once I pull the engine.

Funny, never thought I would go down this path but the bodys good, tranny is good. so I have decided I am going to rip her apart & find out what is what & go from there

Mike 90RR - your idea rocks mate - if anyone is willing but either way - I'll have her back at my place next week & will start the process. Just means instead of 4 weeks away from 4WD'ing - going to be a few months
And thank you - because your post did make me look at it from a different point of view.

Someone should have a pressure tester which they can fit to the overflow tank to check what pressure the cooling system gets to when the engine is running - this is what they did to mine - I don't remember what it should be but this should give you an indication of whether the gasket is the cause

Also with my car when we had the welch plugs replaced we also fitted a new overflow tank cap which has the low level light in it - this was the previous weak spot - as this point was then removed it blew more water into the engine

Good luck with it - I know there in Brisbane but Jag and Rover Spares at Kelvin Grove import low km 3.9v8's

I think that I would take off the thermostat housing and have a look at it.
If it is heavily corroded, then the odds are that the engine has not had good coolant for a long time.

Now maybe you can replace all the welsh plugs, heater hoses etc and it will be OK, but again the heads could be badly corroded. The radiator will almost certainly need replacing if there is lots of corrosion in the motor.
Also the back plate of the water pump may have corroded away. somewhat common in old engines and needing a welded timing cover.

The heater core will probably also be cactus.
Consider all this in the possible costs.
Regards Philip A