2 Door Range Rover project

[DonkeyApple]

NomduJour said:

Coming along nicely - that binnacle leather really lets the side down though, I’m surprised the trimmer let that out of the door.

Yup. I’m letting it settle before tackling it. The standard trimming is top notch but on the unusual items it’s been an issue. The binnacles have already be redone a couple of times And I’ve redone some other parts already. Part of the issue is that I’ve opted for a very thick leather which is about double the normal thickness of automotive stuff.

[KelvinatorNZ]

Sorry, probably a weird question, but the ashtray you modified and fitted to the rear of the cubby, was it original to the RRC, or do you know what its from? Turns out thats what TVR used in my Tasmin, and im trying to source a replacement but don't know what it's from!

[DonkeyApple]

KelvinatorNZ said:

Sorry, probably a weird question, but the ashtray you modified and fitted to the rear of the cubby, was it original to the RRC, or do you know what its from? Turns out thats what TVR used in my Tasmin, and im trying to source a replacement but don't know what it's from!

It’s original to the Rangie and probably other Leyland cars of the era. Once you’ve taken a few Rangies apart you do realise that TVR used a lot of bits from them.

Sometimes you can find some very cheap, key trim parts by searching under Vandan Plas as they were often also used in things like the Princess!

[DonkeyApple]

One of the modern additions I decided upon was a third brake light. The standard brake lights are pretty poor by modern standards and for the sake of losing a bit of originality in order to gain what I consider to be a very significant bit of safety I decided to fit a third brake light.

These were fitted to the last of the US spec Rangies so the parts are pretty hard to come by. You require a taller backing shroud and then there is an additional metal bracket that is needed to hold the bulb casing and finally a plastic cover plate that also holds the front of the bulb casing in position.

You cannot source the bracketry for love nor money. In the US you can find the bulb holder/reflector and also the larger shroud casing but I ended up having a bit of luck with the latter in that years ago I knew I was going to need a shroud for this car as I was going to fit central locking but they are hard enough to find in the UK in normal form so when a NOS cropped up on eBay I grabbed it, On test fitting it recently I discovered that it was the UK spec but a very rare US third brake light spec one. The reflector I bought in the US.

I made a steel bracket out of some scrap sheet the other week but yesterday got round to fabricating the front cover and plate out of a sheet of 2mm ABS and bonding it to the reflector with Tiger seal:

[NomduJour]

That’s on my list - does it not cover the heated rear window lines (I know there’s a different tailgate glass for the light)?

[DonkeyApple]

NomduJour said:

That’s on my list - does it not cover the heated rear window lines (I know there’s a different tailgate glass for the light)?

Yup. It depends on what glass you have. I opted for half heated for this reason but it may be possible to get the US spec later glass in the UK.

On yours the lowerest filament runs into the central locking blacked out area anyway so I wonder if it’s all that important anyway?

[DonkeyApple]

Third brake light now fitted. Moved on to testing the lights on the car and so far all is good. Have a slight short to earth from a switch lever which needs redressing but not far off being able to tuck all the wiring away neatly and complete the internal trim.

Have also been getting the tow hitch to fit. An absolute bugger but done and now off to the powder coaters. This particular set up came from South Africa and is much nicer than either the typical pressed plate affairs or the big, heavy duty ones.



Looking at the rear lights they are pretty poor at lighting in this modern day and age and while this was the reason for the third brake light I've ordered some chrome spray paint to experiment with whether painting up the inner reflector bowls will bring anything to the party.

[RicksAlfas]

Are LED bulbs worth trying?

[DonkeyApple]

RicksAlfas said:

Are LED bulbs worth trying?

I fitted a set to the rears on another Rangie and discovered that the front lights were permanently on main beam!!! I have absolutely no idea what kind of voodoo was going on but LED bulbs seem to send the whole lighting set up loopy.

[RicksAlfas]

DonkeyApple said:

I fitted a set to the rears on another Rangie and discovered that the front lights were permanently on main beam!!! I have absolutely no idea what kind of voodoo was going on but LED bulbs seem to send the whole lighting set up loopy.

I'd heard that can happen on some "modern'ish" cars, but I thought the RRC might pre-date any such peculiarities. Obviously not! Chrome paint it is. As bright as you can get it.

[DonkeyApple]

RicksAlfas said:

DonkeyApple said:

I fitted a set to the rears on another Rangie and discovered that the front lights were permanently on main beam!!! I have absolutely no idea what kind of voodoo was going on but LED bulbs seem to send the whole lighting set up loopy.

I'd heard that can happen on some "modern'ish" cars, but I thought the RRC might pre-date any such peculiarities. Obviously not! Chrome paint it is. As bright as you can get it.

The real test will be whether it burns!

[pistolpedro]

Noticed this in my local Halfords recently, seemed an unusual choice

[DonkeyApple]

Would make going to get a gallon of fuel easier

You wouldn’t automatically think that modern kit would fit an old wagon either! I assume it mounts on the hitch?

[pistolpedro]

yes I took a closer pic and it looks like it does attach there, I thought it was a really old picture at first but the rack itself looked fairly modern, either way made me wonder if someone in the marketing department is an enthusiast

[RicksAlfas]

They do indeed clamp over the tow ball. I had a similar one on mine, but I wasn't asked to take part in a marketing campaign.
Interesting choice of vehicle like you say!

[C Lee Farquar]

DonkeyApple said:

Looking at the rear lights they are pretty poor at lighting in this modern day and age and while this was the reason for the third brake light I've ordered some chrome spray paint to experiment with whether painting up the inner reflector bowls will bring anything to the party.

I have some experience of this. I bought some 'chrome ' spray from Frosts for some lorry headlights, it made them dimmer. Thin aluminium tape does work.

I found a chap on the net who re-chromes plastic light fittings but he had a five week lead time.

[DonkeyApple]

Cheers. I’ve just prepped them in red oxide and have a can of chrome spray in the post.

I considered proper chroming but it’s actually quite complex to remove the electricals so they can be dipped.

Tim foil is the fallback.

[NomduJour]

No possibility of gluing some newer bulb holders in?

[DonkeyApple]

NomduJour said:

No possibility of gluing some newer bulb holders in?

The late Classics have a plastic reflector bowl for the fog lights but that it, I have a set and may use them, Will see how the chrome paint looks.

[DonkeyApple]

Interestingly, those casings were from a late Classic and the scallops in the sides were introduced for the US market where additional side light bulbs were fitted.

I did consider drilling them out and fitting a bulb but Incouldnt really see the advantage in the grand scheme of things.