What rover?

[Rhiggins]

I have a budget of about $8000 and i want a vehicle which i will be able to mod easily... what year and model would anyone suggest and why? how do the rangies run if they have an LPG conversion? and what kind of mileage can you expect out of a converted engine?

[RaginRover]

What sort of mods do you want to do ?

For the $8K, I would look for a 3.9 EFI Range Rover classic they convert easily to LPG and run well with some tuning there is minimal power loss on duel fuel and more power if you run straight LPG.

The ranige classics around 1991 the only downside is the Viscus coupled transfer case which you can swap out for an LT230, IMO I would rather the bigger/better engine over the tcase, ie. it is heaps easier to put a tcase in the car than swap the engine.

However it all depends on what you want to achieve, the above would give you a capable car for social wheeling and a really nice car to drive around every day. Otherwise a defender might be a better proposition less refined but stronger drive line

Tom

[Gollywog]

Just reading the last reply, what can be gained by using the lt230, over the viscus coupling?
Is it just a straight swap?

Thanks

[ISUZUROVER]

Bit more info on what body type and what you want to do with it would be good.

8k should get you a reasonable 110 200TDi or early 300TDi ute. Good economy, reasonable power, reasonably new and easy to mod. Make sure the gearbox mainshaft is has been updated or has the mod to improve oiling. If you get a 300TDi make sure the timing gear fix has been done.

[Rhiggins]

The mods that i would want to do would be:
- 2" to 4" suspension lift.
- About 2" body lift
- Mud terrain tyres
- LPG conversion
- plus a few interior mods like CB radio and stuff like that

[Suspension Stuff]

Gollywog wrote:

Just reading the last reply, what can be gained by using the lt230, over the viscus coupling?
Is it just a straight swap?

Thanks

You would get one out of a 96 Discovery give or take a couple of years and while you are there you would need to grab the front tailshft, the handbrake cable, the transfer case mount bracket and a plate for the transfer case lever. I am no expert so I may have missed something.

Apparently the centre diff lock on the other type transfer case goes on them and that costs more than the transfer case conversion. Also the chain gets loose and wears through the casing eventually so that is another $1500. As I said I am no expert so if I am wrong hopefully someone can correct me.

I will leave the benefits to someone else

Shane

[Aquarangie]

The Viscous Coupling is costly to replace. Most times they seize causing you to have a locked center diff and there's no give at all. Viscous units are not cheap but there's been people who have sourced them from the UK directly for a affordable price.

The LT230 is the best option for any 'real' off-road work compared to viscous. It's a small trade-off on a 90 to mid 92 model Rangie classics because this vintage are bloody good exaples.

I had a 93 Rangie for 4 years and still it's the best Rangie I owned. I do like my 83 though since I can throw it around and not worry about scratches, but I did that in my 93 anyway

Good luck with it.

Trav

[Marty1]

Check down the page for some hints from "what years the best rangie??"
*Last post was Oct 14th. I had a similar question with a slightly lesser budget... From what I've gathered so far, the better manual is the R?380, (reverse to driver and down) and the auto's ok. I got a 3.5 which is fair to gutless with power and I'm hoping my economy can be improved with a tune up (approx 400ks to a tank). Take your time and shop around until a good one comes up, I looked at farn heaps.