Thread: Newbie test drove a D1 V8 seeking some feedback (longish)

All above pretty par for the course with a D1 or RRC.
1 The oil in the valley is usually from a leaking end seal on the valley gasket or may be the Oring on the dizzy shaft. you do not give Ks covered or year, but it could mean a lot of crankcase pressure. Did you take off the oil cap when running to see if it sucked or blew? If it blew then there is engine wear. Nearly all V8s when they get to 200KK will need a new cam and lifters.

2 The clunk is pretty standard din an old D1. You have to consider that the LT230 transfer is gear driven whereas most newer designs are chain driven. The LT230 therefore has the potential to clunk more, however excessive clunks could mean wear in the gears /shafts. Was the transfer covered in oil?( silly question-of course it was) . How big a pool? more than say 30MM is probably bad.
3 You have really omitted some of the most expensive problems. Did the rear main seal of the engine leak? This costs lots as it is engine or transmission out. Did the auto shift from 1st to 2nd quickly when cold or hang on to first for a long time. This is the deal breaker as it will cost $4000-5000.
The other stuff like rusting skylights and non operational door locks are little DIY jobs
The brakes on early D1 s are quite unresponsive particularly with cheap pads which are often harder than genuine. With genuine pads they stop OK. You have not said whether it has ABS or not. This is for pre ABS. Again, new pads and discs are a bit of money but not ruinous.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

All above pretty par for the course with a D1 or RRC.
1 The oil in the valley is usually from a leaking end seal on the valley gasket or may be the Oring on the dizzy shaft. you do not give Ks covered or year, but it could mean a lot of crankcase pressure. Did you take off the oil cap when running to see if it sucked or blew? If it blew then there is engine wear. Nearly all V8s when they get to 200KK will need a new cam and lifters. Built 93 Delivered 94 and Nearly 300K, I didn't get time to do that test.

2 The clunk is pretty standard din an old D1. You have to consider that the LT230 transfer is gear driven whereas most newer designs are chain driven. The LT230 therefore has the potential to clunk more, however excessive clunks could mean wear in the gears /shafts. Was the transfer covered in oil?( silly question-of course it was) . How big a pool? more than say 30MM is probably bad. That's not something I looked closely at where does the oil pool?
3 You have really omitted some of the most expensive problems. Did the rear main seal of the engine leak? This costs lots as it is engine or transmission out. Owner mentioned his mechanic said a seal that needed the engine out needed doing so I'm assuming RMS, Engine had Welch plugs done recently but unfortunately not that seal. Did the auto shift from 1st to 2nd quickly when cold or hang on to first for a long time. This is the deal breaker as it will cost $4000-5000. Auto shifted ok from cold I thought.

The other stuff like rusting skylights and non operational door locks are little DIY jobs.

The brakes on early D1 s are quite unresponsive particularly with cheap pads which are often harder than genuine. With genuine pads they stop OK. You have not said whether it has ABS or not. It's built 93 delivered 94 so non ABS I assume? This is for pre ABS. Again, new pads and discs are a bit of money but not ruinous.
Regards Philip A

Thanks for the comments and the Auto box condition does concern me the most. I didn't do all of the tests you mentioned as I had sort of made my mind up at that stage it wasn't the one for me. I definitely need to get out and look at a few more and learn the signs. It takes a surprising amount of time to get through all the looking and road testing.

P.S. I just recalled that I tried to shift into low range (dirt car park nearby) but couldn't get the selector to move forward or back just side to side, transmission in neutral and handbrake on. Also there was a gear whine from around the centre console area which I assume is also from the transfer box?

P.S. I just recalled that I tried to shift into low range (dirt car park nearby)
but couldn't get the selector to move forward or back just side to side,
transmission in neutral and handbrake on. Also there was a gear whine from
around the centre console area which I assume is also from the transfer box?

Again pretty normal for a D1 which hasn't been in low range for a long time. The linkages get sticky. Again a bit of oil over the arms and a few bruised knuckles will usually fix it.
But you have to accept that a 93 car with 300KK on it is OLD. Depending on what has been done already the transmission would be very tired unless oil has been changed frequently, the engine again will be tired.

All sorts of annoying little things may go wrong like starter motor, alternator, the heater core may spring a sudden leak and so on. For it to needs welsh plugs will probably mean it has not had the correct coolant % in it as if the coolant was changed regularly, this does not happen. There could be corrosion everywhere in the water passages.

Cars this age are generally DIY as if you pay a mechanic you will go broke quickly.

I gather this car is very cheap , but good lower mileage ones of these can be had for under 5K , in fact you can get a D2 which is much younger for about 5-7 K. ( for a cherry low K one) and the lower the mileage generally the more years you will get out of it before major costs.

Mark my words it is easy to spend $2K very quickly on repairs. The rear main seal alone would be about $1000. If it has crankcase pressure and therefore needs new head gaskets this could be $2000-2500, and a auto $4000 or more.
Regards Philip A

I would pass on a vehicle that age with those k's, there are plenty of later model less K D1's around.
At 300K the engine is getting tired and will require major repairs like camshaft and timing gear.

here is one
Discovery 1 Land Rover | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Gosford Area - Wamberal | 1053955345
Regards Philip A