Am I nuts? v. 1982 2-Door

[m3 bavaria]

Recently, I purchased my dream truck, a 1982 Range Rover 2-Door. It's grey market with a 3.5 and a 4-speed.

My initial ambition was to keep the 4-speed, mate a 4.6 to it, gut the interior, make it factory fresh, have the exterior resprayed and daily drive it instead of the LR3 I have now.

I have a 1995 Classic that's in mint condition, and a D90 that I use for trail duty, so I'm not terribly interested in abusing this or making it a garage queen.

However, now I'm thinking that it's just a never ending project to make it streetable and comprable to an LR3. I was nuts to try, right?

 

[Tacoma4life]

No way your nuts, that will be very cool...

 

[crusader]

Well, if money is no object (and it sounds as if it isn't) and it makes you happy, then go for it.

Sounds like a nice project that'll keep you off the street corner, getting into trouble...

 

[David Harris]

Much cooler than an LR3. You don't see many of those original RR's around. Very usable daily driver too.

 

[Viggen]

I want a two door RR so badly. How bad is the one you have, rust wise?


I daily my built 95 D1. Its no where near as nice as an LR3 but then again, I dont mind being seen in the D1. The newer stuff just doesnt do anything for me. Youre not nuts, just have the sickness...

 

[Wander]

It's better than golf!- probably cheaper too..

Does anyone go into a Rover project with the hopes of a reliable vehicle?

Post some picutres if you can-sounds like a cool project.

 

[Maryland 110]

I think I would ditch the lt95 before the 3.5. That transmission seems appropriate in the 101fc but Range Rovers aren't as agrarian and should have a more refined trans/better drivability. I'd convert to an r380 and lt230 before going for the 4.6.

 

[Viggen]

Does anyone go into a Rover project with the hopes of a reliable vehicle?

Call me crazy but I do. Keep up on the maintenance over the weekends and mine has been and I see no reason for it not to be. My 1972 MGB GT, which was my sole car and daily driver year round for 2 years, was 100% reliable too. It went all around town and multiple 300+ mile road trips. Its all in how you take care of them. Problem is that most of these Rovers, and British cars in general, have been poorly maintained by previous owners. In some cases, the repairs might cost more than the car/ truck is worth so repairs are short changed or neglected all together. Working at a British car shop, Ive seen some scary things that resulted in cars that werent reliable as daily drivers. It wasnt the cars fault but an owner that should be on a 'No Tool Purchase' list. You know the type Im talking about.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

To echo Mary....when you get tired of that LT95 let me know. Can't have too many spares.

 

[Wander]

Call me crazy but I do. Keep up on the maintenance over the weekends and mine has been and I see no reason for it not to be. My 1972 MGB GT, which was my sole car and daily driver year round for 2 years, was 100% reliable too. It went all around town and multiple 300+ mile road trips. Its all in how you take care of them. Problem is that most of these Rovers, and British cars in general, have been poorly maintained by previous owners. In some cases, the repairs might cost more than the car/ truck is worth so repairs are short changed or neglected all together. Working at a British car shop, Ive seen some scary things that resulted in cars that werent reliable as daily drivers. It wasnt the cars fault but an owner that should be on a 'No Tool Purchase' list. You know the type Im talking about.

Ok...you're crazy:coffeedrink: JK- I agree that with routine maintenance a Land Rover is very dependable-heck there has to be a reason that so many are still around. The work is pretty basic as well. I'm not sure at what point the general public stopped taking care of their vehicles and also started expecting that they would not have to do anything more than add gas and maybe change the oil. It happened sometime between my Grandfathers and my Fathers generation. Knock wood but my IIa hasn't had an issue since I've had her. She's not my DD but I do run her on the weekends at least so that she will continue to run well.

 

[Saratoga]

My first RR was a 1984 4dr with a 5sp manual to the 3.5 V8 and it ran very well. Really enjoyed driving it too. Good luck with your conversion. You might want to look at an overdrive to go on it too if you're doing commuting with it.

So, you gonna show us some piccies

 

[Viggen]

Ok...you're crazy:coffeedrink: JK- I agree that with routine maintenance a Land Rover is very dependable-heck there has to be a reason that so many are still around. The work is pretty basic as well. I'm not sure at what point the general public stopped taking care of their vehicles and also started expecting that they would not have to do anything more than add gas and maybe change the oil. It happened sometime between my Grandfathers and my Fathers generation./QUOTE]

That might be true. I remember an old guy brought his TR3B into the shop once. It was "Lucas this" and "Lucas that" always letting him down. Now, the electrical system on a TR is about as basic and simple as it comes so we took a poke around to see what was going on. Looked under the dash and he had patched something into the harness, and made general harness repairs with ROMEX and screw on solderless connectors! ****** on huge levels! It wasnt bad electricals. It was bad repairs that let him, and the car, down.

 

[94Discovery]

Recently, I purchased my dream truck, a 1982 Range Rover 2-Door. It's grey market with a 3.5 and a 4-speed.

My initial ambition was to keep the 4-speed, mate a 4.6 to it, gut the interior, make it factory fresh, have the exterior resprayed and daily drive it instead of the LR3 I have now.

I have a 1995 Classic that's in mint condition, and a D90 that I use for trail duty, so I'm not terribly interested in abusing this or making it a garage queen.

However, now I'm thinking that it's just a never ending project to make it streetable and comprable to an LR3. I was nuts to try, right?

no you are not .
my first lr was a rrc 2 doors 1981,this truck made me fall in love in LR.
i say gut the interior try to install an soft dash like your 95 rrc insulate the interior very well .install a 4.6 with an auto and lt230,install a 14cux as ecu or you can buy an after market ecu like Megasquirt and you have a total control of the ecu and yes it can be a reliable dd .
i wish had the money i will do all the above good luck in your project :smiley_drive: