Pros and Cons of 89 RRC
- Thread starter Arnival
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djromaric
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djromaric
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djromaric
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Not hard at all acutally, fits right in, just need to change front shaft for length.
More info here: http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36078&highlight=lt230
More info here: http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36078&highlight=lt230
The '89 is a good rig for turning into a trail rig of any level. They are true RRC's, with lots of upgrades that other cars of that vintage don't have, but they are still a bit low on the electronic gizmo level. The electronics generally are not needed for daily operations, or they are (even the ECU) simple enough that you don't have an overwealming amount of problems. Mine had some gremlins that effected the drivability of it for the first few months of ownership. I worked them out, it runs great, is easy to work on, easy to modify, old enough that you don't feel guilty about denting it, and comfortable enough to use daily -- I drive 35 or more miles every day in mine.
Benefits: First year of the 3.9L, no sway bars, no ABS, less electronics
Drawbacks: Two different versions (hidden door hinges, exposed door hinges), 10 spline axles, no center difflock (viscous coupler)
Drawbacks: Two different versions (hidden door hinges, exposed door hinges), 10 spline axles, no center difflock (viscous coupler)
1989 had an exhaust system unique for its year. That's not a big deal but if you want to use an NRP or Borla exhaust you'll need to switch out the transmission crossmember.
1989 had a unique EFI ECU in the form of the one year only 14CU engine management computer from Lucas. There is no OBDI display for reading codes easily. I don't know if you can simply substitute a 14CUX should the 14CU take a dive.
The gas tank needs to be dropped in order to change the fuel pump. The changeover to the newer style tank didn't take place for another two model years.
I'm sure I'll think of a few other things unique to the 1989 MY.
1989 had a unique EFI ECU in the form of the one year only 14CU engine management computer from Lucas. There is no OBDI display for reading codes easily. I don't know if you can simply substitute a 14CUX should the 14CU take a dive.
The gas tank needs to be dropped in order to change the fuel pump. The changeover to the newer style tank didn't take place for another two model years.
I'm sure I'll think of a few other things unique to the 1989 MY.
Oh yeah, probably not a really big deal but the A/C evaporator and the assembly that holds it all in place under the dash is unique to MY 1989. Honesly, I doubt many Rovers from '89 still have working A/C but you never know.
1989 was also the last year to use the two part speedo cable with its angle drive gear mounted behind the speedo on the instrument binnacle. I think, but cannot say for sure, that the angle drive gear is NLA.
If I'm not mistaken, the 1987-89 RRC had a square transmission crossmember whereas the later ones had a tubular style. I haven't had an '89 come through in awhile so I could be wrong. It also could very well be that a previous owner changed the crossmember. NRP sells (or sold) a complete kit that swapped out the older style crossmember for the tubular one so that their system could be used on the earlier NAS RRC's. Again, I could be wrong about '89, the changeover could have occurred at the end of '88.
I just checked Rovers North's website and they do have a crossmember listed specific to the 1989 RRC for fitment of the NRP exhaust.
http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-12663-crossmember-nrp-exhaust-1989-range-rover.aspx
It seems as though the factory changeover to the tubular style crossmember occurred in 1990.
The main point of all this is to illustrate that the style that came from the factory on the 1989 was, in some ways, superior to the later style from the standpoint of protection. The 1987-89 RRC allowed passage of the exhaust pipes above the crossmember whereas the later style had them pass under where they were less protected. Granted, the exhaust pipes where smaller on the earlier RRC's but they were out of harms way above the crossmember.
http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-12663-crossmember-nrp-exhaust-1989-range-rover.aspx
It seems as though the factory changeover to the tubular style crossmember occurred in 1990.
The main point of all this is to illustrate that the style that came from the factory on the 1989 was, in some ways, superior to the later style from the standpoint of protection. The 1987-89 RRC allowed passage of the exhaust pipes above the crossmember whereas the later style had them pass under where they were less protected. Granted, the exhaust pipes where smaller on the earlier RRC's but they were out of harms way above the crossmember.
ptschram
Well-known member
The ECU can be directly swapped with earlier or later models with minor changes necessary to retain the A/C. Otherwise, they work just fine with other than original ECUs. My '88 has an ECU from a '95 Disco.
Pro: 3.9, no ABS
Con:B/W
Pro: 3.9, no ABS
Con:B/W
See if they'll give it to you to drive for a day. hopefully any issues will pop up during that time. No ABS is a big bonus as the pump is expensive and when it doesn't work, you're not going anywhere. We had one at the shop I worked at for awhile as a runabout vehicle and it was a nice beast. We never filled it up completely with gas and when we sold it, found out fairly quickly there was a small crack in the top of the gas tank when the new owner filled it up and gas started pouring out on the gas station forecourt 
Check the gas & brake lines for excess corrosion too. Easy to fix. We replaced the gas lines on my wife's 90 RRC with new rubber encased steel pipe.
Check the gas & brake lines for excess corrosion too. Easy to fix. We replaced the gas lines on my wife's 90 RRC with new rubber encased steel pipe.Thanks PT, that's good to know that the pin configuration between 14CU's and 14 CUX's is the same.
Maybe this will help -- why I am moving to a '93:
~ Brakes are better... when they are working.
~ Family car, so ABS, and TC are better to have for road driving... when they are working.
~ LWB is great for both family and trekking... Not as good off-road, but I don't off-road in a way that would make it bad.
~ Keyless entry, alarm.
~ MUCH BETTER factory stereo
~ Moon roof that can have the slide open for the window, you don't have to open the roof to get the benifits of the extra light coming in.
~ 4.2l
~ Newer, but the same!
~ Old style, but newer!
~ OBD read-out -- something I don't like about the '89 is no codes.
~ My '89 is a bit of a beater, and like Ho says, "There's nothing cool about a beater." And even though it really would make a sweet trail rig -- I use it on-road 99% of the time!
~ Brakes are better... when they are working.
~ Family car, so ABS, and TC are better to have for road driving... when they are working.
~ LWB is great for both family and trekking... Not as good off-road, but I don't off-road in a way that would make it bad.
~ Keyless entry, alarm.
~ MUCH BETTER factory stereo
~ Moon roof that can have the slide open for the window, you don't have to open the roof to get the benifits of the extra light coming in.
~ 4.2l
~ Newer, but the same!
~ Old style, but newer!
~ OBD read-out -- something I don't like about the '89 is no codes.
~ My '89 is a bit of a beater, and like Ho says, "There's nothing cool about a beater." And even though it really would make a sweet trail rig -- I use it on-road 99% of the time!