SOLD 10/28.
I suppose the best way to describe this truck is as a running, driving project. Driven about 150 miles since August, new intermediate pipe and muffler/rear pipe. Weber 34 ICH, electronic ignition, alternator, Superwinch hubs. Decent Goodyear Wrangler 31's on 15” rims. Dark green outside with white hardtop, light green front inside with blue bed and one blue door . Door bottoms aren't bad, rear door good. Radiator appears to have been replaced at some point, along with the water pump.
Deluxe seats have a couple of tears but are pretty good. Also comes with the original green rear tub, a complete extra hardtop (top disassembled from side windows for easier transport), extra rear door (crusty), door tops w/glass. Two bins of spares, starter, diff pig, 4 carbs, new uninstalled front springs/U-bolts, new brake shoes in boxes, etc..
Frame has galvanized rear member over what I can best describe as a marginal frame. Rot in rear members forward of rear frame member that I believe can be repaired. Front left frame horn is quite rotten all the way back to about the spring bump stop but the front crossmember seems sound. Right horn better but rotten at the front. Outriggers are pretty good though all have plenty of surface rust. I thought the frame was in better shape when I bought it but a good powerwashing shows it's flaws.
Engine starts great, is relatively dry except for the front seal and it's quiet. Timing shows little to no scatter under a timing light so I guess the timing chain is ok. I thought the truck was down on power but I found a dragging brake.
Brakes pull to the right. Brake lines all need replacement. Firm pedal, master seems ok and hasn't lost any fluid.
Gearbox is NOISY. I couldn't hear it when I bought the truck – thought it might be a little noisy - because the exhaust was missing. Now that the exhaust is nice and quiet the gearbox is obvious. Shifts fine, very noisy on overrun and under any load in all gears. Has never jumped out of any gear. High and low range seem to work fine, engages and disengages as it should. Leaks out of the rear output shaft (odo housing) seal. Parking brake works, so I guess the oil deflector does too. Reverse stop hinge needs new springs – goes right over to reverse gate.
Steering box leaks at the O-ring. A lot. Relay seems to have been replaced, dry outside and full of oil inside.
Axles, swivel balls seem ok. Rear hubs dry, fronts seep. Fluid levels were fine when I checked them and the fill plugs had enough crud on them to have been in place for a while. Must not leak much.
Lights, signals, horn, wipers, blower motor, emergency flashers all worked before I stripped the bulkhead.
Basically, it's more of a project than I care to tackle any more and it's more than I thought I was getting into. Been there, done that when I was younger. I've had fun tinkering with it and cleaning it so far but I'd rather see it go to a Rover enthusiast. Not trying to hide anything here – I've given you the benefit of my findings so far – and anyone who's interested is more than welcome to poke and prod it in my garage to their hearts content.
Virginia title in hand and in my name.
Came with a ROAV sticker in the rear window. Maybe you know this truck? Originally from Purcellville circa 2007, I bought it on craigslist for $3K in Catlett area.
Edit: Forgot to say that I also have a factory shop manual and that the engine doesn't smoke going down the road or after getting on the throttle after a downhill, so I assume the valve guides are in good shape.
Located about 2 miles west of the Charlottesville airport, I'm available most any time (retired).
Thanks,
Ted (434)978-1811 before 9pm.

Hmm. 62 views to date and no response. Maybe I should be grateful that folks are being gracious.
Hey, I've sprayed PB Blaster on every bolt under it that I can find - what more do you want?
How about another pic?

seems like a pretty good deal, maybe try another board with a wider audience? Would make a great coil hybrid starting point if someone had an RRC with a shot body but decent frame. If I could fool myself into thinking I had the time that would be my route.

Thanks Chuck, I thought I would try it here for a week or so and see if anyone local might be interested. I'd rather for someone to see it in person so they can see exactly what it is.
I guess I could always drive it around in the mud, leave a lot of crud on the frame to hide it's bad spots, take the exhaust back off so the gearbox sounds better...or list it on eBay as a Defender. But I think not.
I just drove it around an hour ago after I installed the trim panel below the driver's door that came with it but was off.
Also - comes with 3 new door seals I forgot to mention and the spare generator (truck has an alternator) is really a spare starter (hey, it's round...).
I'll leave it for sale through the weekend. If it hasn't sold by then, I'll probably start taking it apart and have a long term project.
Another pic?

Man, I'd love to have this but I have too much $$ tied up in other projects at the moment....

Maybe after I get my GDE sold

I took the wings/rad/bonnet/bumper off to have a look at things. You really don't want to hook anything to those front bumper recovery hooks...
I put it back together yesterday.
I never said that the truck shows 61xxx miles, doesn't matter since the odo doesn't work and title says "not actual" mileage.
Bulkhead condition: Drivers side is pretty solid, a patch at the high beam switch. Passenger side is sealed up but upper portion has been rotten. Decent at floorpan. Both uprights below door hinges have rot at the bottoms. I put lots of Never Sieze on the fender bolts, etc. upon reassembly.
I'll try to add new pix.
Long holiday weekend - surely someone wants to come take this 88 home

9/27 update: Still for sale, best offer, come get it while you're at MAR (I'm about an hour north).
Bulkhead has rust in between the dash vents, otherwise previous descriptions apply.
What you get:
An I.D. plate with a current Va. title in my name, attached to a slightly disassembled Rover.
An extra rear body and extra hardtop. Hardtop that was on the truck has good window felts by the way.
I 'm trying to keep it a roller/yard driver, not interested in parting it out yet, would rather sell the whole shebang.
9/28 update: I made a little wiring harness for the starter/ign/alternator and reinstalled the rad. Just fired it up and drove it out of the garage (while sitting on the spare tire resting on the frame).
Don't be afraid to make me an offer, I realize that I'm going to take a beating on it.

I will be at MAR late Friday til Sunday, are you going? Would like to check out the car on the way home if my wife isn't in too big of a hurry. Interested in a trade for anything? Why are you selling 2 weeks after purchase?
Keith

Keith,
It's a little more than two weeks, but the long and short of it is that I simply wasn't careful enough when I bought this 88 and it's not in the condition I thought it was when I purchased it. Bought it on a whim - nostalgia (my wife and I had a '71 88 when we were dating). My own fault and pretty embarassing, but there you have it.
I don't have a Rover to drive to MAR so I won't be going, I don't see any way to pay a one-day fee to get in to visit.
Give me a call (434)978-1811 before 9 pm if you want to arrange to see it. I'll likely be around this weekend, including Sun on your way home. I'm a couple of miles west of Rt. 29, near the C'ville airport.
Not sure about trades but let me know what you have. 88 was intended to be a "toy" so maybe I need a replacement.
Please be advised that I've tried to describe the 88 fairly above, and that it's probably a better candidate for a farm truck or to be parted out than a restoration project.
Thanks,
Ted

tedanator wrote:

I don't have a Rover to drive to MAR so I won't be going, I don't see any way to pay a one-day fee to get in to visit. Ted

You don't have to pay unless you drive the trails. You can come down, hang out and camp all weekend if you want.

Thanks Tommy, that's great!
Maybe I'll try to come down Fri or Sat.

tedanator wrote:

Thanks Tommy, that's great! Maybe I'll try to come down Fri or Sat.

If you're a ROAV member, just make sure you sign a waiver at registration so you can 'legally' ride along with someone. Our insurance only covers members , and all members need to sign a waiver to drive or ride.

See you there!

Offers?
Someone who needs a rear frame member could cut off the galvanized one on this truck and have lots of extra parts
Save me from myself - make me an offer.

Wish I would have had the time to see the truck after MAR. Have any interest in a trade for a 96 D1 (non-sunroof, no rust)? Any pics of the rusty areas? Thanks!

I'll post pix of the horns and rear rust as best I can.
We made it to MAR Fri midday. Neat stuff to see, had a nice visit with Pam and Charlie Haigh and Mike and Cindy Boggs. Charlie is convinced that the bulkhead on this truck is fixable from my description (he hasn't seen it though).
'96 Disco, eh? I'll think about it, Charlie says the 94-95's are easier to get codes out of. My wife suffered a neck injury since our previous 88 and riding in this 88 doesn't seem to agree with her neck. A coil sprung truck may be a better plan.