Range Rover Classic buy/build

Trailstar · Sep 18, 2018

Just purchased this 1983 classic...
3.5 converted to full time lpg(will be changed back to petrol in the future)
5 speed manual (being a 1983 this is a suffix D LT77 Gearbox?)

It's going to need a bit of rust work done to it, main areas I can see atm being doors, sills, and roof...

But I'll keep on posting here to keep you all updated, I'm hoping to change a couple of things on suspension, some longer medium duty springs, +5 shocks, and new radius and trailing arms....still deciding at this stage though!
I am definitely not just going to lift it for the hell of it or put spacers or HD springs....I hate the idea!

Trailstar · Sep 18, 2018

One more pic of the interior.....
Couple of plans for this include recovering the seats and new carpets and trim and headlining.....

It's also got a sun roof which someone has covered over, what do you guys reckon, cover it completely and cut and weld a new section in, or make the sun roof functional again??

Ratae · Sep 18, 2018

Trailstar said:
It's also got a sun roof which someone has covered over, what do you guys reckon, cover it completely and cut and weld a new section in, or make the sun roof functional again??

Either make it functional again or get a good non sunroof roof & swap them.

If you haven't already have a thorough look underneath at all the steel panels, floor, boot floor sides, sides, footwells, inner wings.

Mark Piercy · Sep 18, 2018

Keep the sun roof!
Cracking bus mate!

Trailstar · Sep 18, 2018

Ratae said:
Either make it functional again or get a good non sunroof roof & swap them.

If you haven't already have a thorough look underneath at all the steel panels, floor, boot floor sides, sides, footwells, inner wings.

Ok are the sun roofs good though, if I replace it am I going to have other issues with it sealing?
If that's the case I will definitely be swapping a non sunroof roof in.....

Yep I've have had a good look already in the inner wings and foot wells and they look alright, but I am yet to pick it up as have been busy finishing other projects

got rid of a bedford tk last night so that frees up a bit of space...

Trailstar · Sep 18, 2018

Mark Piercy said:
Keep the sun roof!
Cracking bus mate!

Yeah I do like the idea of the sunroof, just want it to work ok....!

Thanks, should look even better in a couple of months too mate

Ratae · Sep 19, 2018

If you get a manual then you'll get all you need to know. The later RAVE cd is too late for yours, mine - 1986 - is covered by the big thick paper manual SRR660ENWM which covers just about everything for 1986 - 1989 incl roof removal. I have an older Haynes but that's quite limited.
I'd suggest the biggest issue would be discovering corrosion on the areas the roof seals onto.

ETA. There's an excellent 'how to' somewhere on here on retrimming the roof & having done the job earlier this year I recommend Martrim for the material & adhesive. The material (silver grey) was a perfect match for what was on mine, the width was good & the length supplied was enough to do it at least one & a half times.
https://www.martrim.co.uk/
When you do it remove all foam etc from the backing board, ensure your hands are totally clean, line up very carefully, glue & fit a section at a time & get someone to assist by holding the material up & away from the glue until you press it down as the grab is instant & not adjustable so wrinkles are going to be permanent!

Further ETA. Depending on the LPG system fitted & what sort of mileage you intend to do it may be worth changing it to run dual fuel.

Trailstar · Sep 20, 2018

Ratae said:
If you get a manual then you'll get all you need to know. The later RAVE cd is too late for yours, mine - 1986 - is covered by the big thick paper manual SRR660ENWM which covers just about everything for 1986 - 1989 incl roof removal. I have an older Haynes but that's quite limited.
I'd suggest the biggest issue would be discovering corrosion on the areas the roof seals onto.

ETA. There's an excellent 'how to' somewhere on here on retrimming the roof & having done the job earlier this year I recommend Martrim for the material & adhesive. The material (silver grey) was a perfect match for what was on mine, the width was good & the length supplied was enough to do it at least one & a half times.
https://www.martrim.co.uk/
When you do it remove all foam etc from the backing board, ensure your hands are totally clean, line up very carefully, glue & fit a section at a time & get someone to assist by holding the material up & away from the glue until you press it down as the grab is instant & not adjustable so wrinkles are going to be permanent!

Further ETA. Depending on the LPG system fitted & what sort of mileage you intend to do it may be worth changing it to run dual fuel.

Ok I'll definitely look into getting a decent manual then...Haynes seems to do some stuff in lots of detail and the other stuff not so much....

Sounds good, I'll have a look at what they do and see if I can get their stuff over here in nz... my dad is an auto trimmer by trade so I'll see what he reckons too...

As for the Lpg, I like the idea of dual fuel as it will be used fairly heavily off road on weekends, so I will definitely be doing this....just not right away...maybe a couple of months down the line...

Range Rover Classic buy/build

Trailstar

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Ratae

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Mark Piercy

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Ratae

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