Should I buy this Range Rover?

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
48
6
United States
Hello all, a recent opportunity came up and I am quite interested. A family friend of mine is selling an old Range Rover classic for a missionary who is trying to raise money for himself. The guy replaced a lot of it with Chevy parts, including a 6.2 Chevy Diesel engine, and a 4l80 transmission. The engine runs well, and there’s no rust on the frame. This would be a project car, as I have been looking for one (my discovery is a project, but is my daily so I can’t experiment too much). The issue with it is that the vehicle will not switch out of 1st gear when last driven. The man selling says it is because the transmission is too big for the vehicle. It has got fj80 electric lockers. It is in decent shape, and the transmission is the thing I am worried about. It is also 1.5k in price. What is everyone’s opinions? It comes with an original Range Rover t case as well (not sure if the t case in it is stock or not).
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,215
463
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Hello all, a recent opportunity came up and I am quite interested. A family friend of mine is selling an old Range Rover classic for a missionary who is trying to raise money for himself. The guy replaced a lot of it with Chevy parts, including a 6.2 Chevy Diesel engine, and a 4l80 transmission. The engine runs well, and there’s no rust on the frame. This would be a project car, as I have been looking for one (my discovery is a project, but is my daily so I can’t experiment too much). The issue with it is that the vehicle will not switch out of 1st gear when last driven. The man selling says it is because the transmission is too big for the vehicle. It has got fj80 electric lockers. It is in decent shape, and the transmission is the thing I am worried about. It is also 1.5k in price. What is everyone’s opinions? It comes with an original Range Rover t case as well (not sure if the t case in it is stock or not).
As a Classic owner it is difficult enough to keep the beast operating properly totally stock. You’re throwing in the mix many unjoined parts. However if you’re up for the challenge with enough $$$$ anything can be made to work. Another option is to bring it back to Rover by selling the engine, etc. and starting over.
Key is its your Rover - do what you want with it.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,733
1,024
Northern Illinois
I think if you get it for under a grand it might be fun for a little while. But I’m sure it will have some catastrophic failure before too long. Then you have a parts truck.