Building a Rangie

**walker** · 7th March 2005, 10:12 AM

Hi all,
I am hoping to get some good suggestions and instructions from you all so that I can learn from your mistakes and not mine. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

I am about buy an old Rangie which I hope over time to build up into a machine to tackle the most extreme tracks.

I plan to do this step by step as the budget is small but I would rather do it right the first time.

First step is to get a vehicle. I am looking at getting a 2 door Rangie around the '77-81 era. Any comments so far. :roll:

I have been told to check the motor for blow back by blocking the breathers from the tappet covers and see how much air is then coming from the oil fill hole. Is there anything else to check for. I really don't care about the appearance of the exterior or interior as long as I can get it roadworthied and I would prefer not to have to replace the engine in the near future.

The next step is to get it bush driveable. I have a set of 33" JT2's I use on the Disco which will go onto the Rangie. I guess to run these I better upgrade the axels.

There seems to be so many options for axel upgrades from Maxidrives to patrol. What is going to be the easiest to get and cheapest?

I have twin diff locks in the Disco and was told I could use the front ARB locker from the Disco in the Rangie. If I can put this in the rear of the Rangie it would save a lot of initial expense. Can anyone let me know if this is possible?

I thought I would try and get away with only upgradeing the rear axels to start with then do the front later.

Can I fit 33" simex's on the Rangie with only a spring lift as I think this would be cheaper and easier to begin with.? If so what size lift do I need to fit them comfortably? I have no problems with hacking (sorry carefully cutting) guards where I have to.

I hope that will be enought to begin with. Is there anything else I have forgotten?

**LandyAndy** · 7th March 2005, 01:39 PM

Hi Adam
There were some pretty cheap ageing Rangies when I looked on Ebay (Aus) yesterday.
Do you buy 4WD monthly mag???? No77,March 2005(has a Blue defender on cover) has an article on a 1975 Rangie from Perth.It was obtained for free and rebuilt as an "off road racer".It races in Class 7,stock road registered.A good read if you can get hold of it.
Andrew

**walker** · 7th March 2005, 01:49 PM

Yea, thanks mate. I do have that article. Probably a bit extreme compared to what I want to do but a good read.

Ebay is good but there are plenty of Rangie's in the Trading post for arounf the $2k mark. Finding a vehicle is not that hard, it what i do next that I have to start making decisions about.

There are a few doing Patrol conversions but to make things a bit cheaper for now I would like to find a 24Spline Disco Hub to hub. That way I can pull the locker from the front of the Disco I have and put it in the Rear of the rangie.

Unless I find a set of Maxidrives all inclusive. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

**D110V8D** · 8th March 2005, 06:28 AM

I would look out for rust in the sills and rear load space as well as floor pan.

Otherwise it's just mechanical stuff, all of which is typically LR. Slack drive line, play in the steering and stuff like that. I had to put a new steering box in mine and it set me back $650. Does have the bushes replaced with bearings though so should last the life of the vehicle.

Cheers

Mick

**camel_landy** · 8th March 2005, 07:47 AM

Auto or manual? If you want auto then the old 3spd box is bomb proof. Otherwise, for that era, the RaRo only came as a 4spd but the box was very agricultural... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Other than the regular drivetrain stuff... Check the condition of the top of the chassis, rear cross member and the brake lines (they all start turning to powder at this age). The power steering box quite often starts to go too...

Mark.

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