[Eugene]

I have a chance to buy '95 RR for very reasonable price. It has blown head gasket, 150K miles. I could deal with that part.
What makes me worried is, that the front drive shaft is removed / or not installed. I am thinking maybe the VC is bad. Is there a way to check it on the street. The "truck" is not running and it is very cold. The VC is @$1K. That would break the deal. It is how much I would pay for the vehicle. anyone with "crystal ball"?
Please someone talk me out of it!
Evzen

 

[76FJ55]

You should be able to test the VC in the truck. Since the front drive shaft is removed what you will need to do is:
1. Set the parking brake and block the wheels to ensure the truck can't roll.
2. Place the transmission and or transfer case in Neutral.
3. Place a large breaker bar with socket on the nut of the front output shaft Where the front drive shaft would normally attach) of the transfer case.
4. Apply steady pressure of 20 Nm (~15 Ft Lbs) to the turn the front output shaft.

If the output shaft can be slowly rotated with the rear axle stationary (~30 degrees per minute) then the VC is working correctly.
If the front output shaft can not be rotated the VC is locked up, and will need to be replaced.

Edit: the manual specifies the test to be performed at 20 deg. C (~70 Deg. F). So if it is freezing out the numbers may be off slightly.

 

[Eugene]

Thanks, planning to go and see the truck tomorrow. It is 7deg above outside, so it will be stiff.

 

[PTSchram]

Expect the transfer case to be seized-at least to the extent that it involved the viscous coupling.

I have put hundreds of thousands of miles on various Range Rovers with seized viscous couplings with no major adverse impact. Yeah, it chirps going around corners and I might have had to replace a few CV joints but those are cheap compared to a VC.

Use it get a better price, get your headset from me and enjoy your truck when it becomes unbearable, slap an LT-230 into it.

Headsets in stock. For that truck, $195 shipped CONUS via UPS, includes headbolts.

 

[Eugene]

Thank you Paul!
As always you have fresh angle on things. I was going to offer $1000 for the truck, he is asking $1200. I will know more when I see it. Definitely I will keep you in mind on the headset. I think there will be more stuff to fix.
Thanks.

 

[Eugene]

After 120 mile trip, it was sad, to see once beautiful truck is R.I.P state. The metal under body was like made out of saltines, seats ripped, headliner about ready to go. Front corner of the hood rusted thru. The owner left water in the system since summer. Last few days was here in Colorado -10 deg. at night, can you imagine what happened. When I open the reservoir cap it was frozen solid. I think there will be more than head gasket to fix. Very sad. Sorry Paul, no business for parts this time.
I guess the question about the VC was premature also.

 

[mikieman]

if yer lookin to get a rover..check ebay..there always seems to be one or two there...
ya never know..

 

[roverandom]

After 120 mile trip, it was sad, to see once beautiful truck is R.I.P state. The metal under body was like made out of saltines, seats ripped, headliner about ready to go. Front corner of the hood rusted thru. The owner left water in the system since summer. Last few days was here in Colorado -10 deg. at night, can you imagine what happened. When I open the reservoir cap it was frozen solid. I think there will be more than head gasket to fix. Very sad. Sorry Paul, no business for parts this time.
I guess the question about the VC was premature also.

Yikes! I've parted out nicer Rangies than that. Keep looking, but perhaps you should look further west?

 

[OkieRover]

If the front tires have cupping on them you can bet the vehicle was driven with a locked VC.

 

[Eugene]

Thanks guys for all the input, learning allot. So you don't feel sorry for me on the deal, I have to say, that I did not need another Rover. I was hoping someone will talk me out of it. I try to post photo of the black one, the one with all the rust. It look pretty decent and for $1200 OBO, something had to be wort that or spare parts. Nope.
I have already '87 in Caspian Blue (faded badly) over 200 000 and front end damage this Fall. And few months new to me '95 Classic in Epsom Green 130 000. Will see if I can upload photos. So how many RR "should" man have.That is the question.

Evzen