1990 Land Rover Range Rover CSK

Fired Up – Starting the 1990 Range Rover CSK

The last time we showed you the assessment done on the wonderful 1990 Range Rover CSK that we currently have in at Bridge Classic Cars for sympathetic restoration.

After the assessment was done by our technician Mauro, the first port of call was to try and get the 3.9 litre V8 to fire into life. From the assessment, we could see all of the soft fuel lines had cracked and were too brittle to attempt to be pressurised. For that, Mauro fitted up a testbed fuel system to ensure the Range Rover would get all the fuel it could need.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, the starter motor had failed. Before rigging up the fuel, Mauro installed the brand new starter motor to the engine to make sure the big V8 would turn over well enough to be fired.

With the testbed system in place, it was a case of adding the fuel, the air and spark into the chambers. Success. The now 31-year-old V8 roared into life inside of our workshop.

Next on the list of mechanical checks for the CSK while it’s here at Bridge Classic Cars, is to see if the Range Rover will move under its own power…

Getting Started – Fitting a New Starter Motor to the 1990 Range Rover CSK.

A starter motor is the unsung hero of any car. You rely on it for vehicles new and old to begin every sort of adventure.

Eventually, however, they do give up. That is the story of the starter motor on the 1990 Range Rover CSK we have in at Bridge Classic Cars. Our technician Mauro began looking into exactly what was happening.

After removing the old starter motor, he found it to be in rather a bad shape. A massive crack was found in the stator, this was due in part to the ignition switch on the steering column. When Mauro first tried to check to see if any power was going to the starter, he noted that the 3rd position would not return the 2nd position. This meant that the starter motor was constantly on which caused the crack in the stator.

After the replacement starter motor had been delivered, Mauro tested the component on the bench to check it operated as it should before installing it into this very rare piece of 4×4 history. Along with the starter motor, Mauro also cleaned up some of the grounding points.

The next step for the CSK here at Bridge Classic Cars will be firing up the 3.9 litre V8 with this very lucky customer right next to it to enjoy the first start.

All Hail the King – Inspecting the 1990 Range Rover CSK

When Charles Spencer King developed the Range Rover back in the late 1960s he intended it to be a particular, useful and utilitarian vehicle but with slightly more refinement than the Series II Land Rover.

Then in 1990 to commemorate the great man, Range Rover released the CSK (Charles Spencer King). 200 of these limited edition 2 door Range Rovers were released to the public in either manual or very rare automatic. This one you see here with us at Bridge Classic Cars in number 47 in the series and is one of the incredibly rare Automatics.

It has been stored at our Bentwaters facility awaiting workshop space to begin inspecting what this glorious old girl needs to be useable and splendid once more.

When it arrived for inspection, it was not under its own power. Our in-house technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars believe there to be an issue with the starter motor which will soon be replaced in order to make sure the 3.9-litre powertrain at the heart of this beast works as it should.

Meanwhile, there is quite a lot of corrosion on the underside of this 31-year-old beauty which is being looked at and thoroughly assessed by our amazing team.

Keep your eye out for updates on this incredible piece of 1990s luxury on our projects page.

Starting Off – Starting a 1990 Range Rover CSK

The 1990 Range Rover CSK is important in the history of the luxury 4×4. Built to honour the memory of its creator, only a limited number were built and even fewer still remain.

This particular example has been stored with us at Bridge Classic Cars in preparation for its move over to our workshop but when that day arrived, unfortunately, it would not start under its own power. This was no problem. Some manpower and our vehicle transportation team in the closed vehicle transporter, the CSK was on its way to our workshop.

Once safely at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our technician Mauro clambered under the 1990s icon to check over each component of the starting system methodically and carefully. First starting with the battery, which was indeed flat. Putting it on our Sealey battery charger was simple to get some power back into the black beauty. However, this didn’t change the issue.

Checking that the engine was free became Mauro’s next job. Carefully and precisely barring the 3.9 litre V8 over several times to check that it span freely, which happily it did. With the key in the ignition in the second position, Mauro gently clicked it over to the third point on its cycle. Again nothing.

With this information and his experience, Mauro recommended changing the starter motor on number 47 of the 200 Range Rover CSK’s built.

With this crucial part on order. Mauro enlisted the help of the other in-house Bridge Classic Cars technicians to get the considerable car on our 4 post ramp to begin its inspection.

Re-freshing our Range Rover CSK

The transformation is now underway as Colin from Viper Auto Valeting has been working his magic on our Range Rover.

The exterior and interior has been given the once over to get rid of all the nasties that have been living and growing in and around the car.

When we get a space in our workshops the next step will be to carry out a full assessment to see what is required for the recommission.

Range Rover CSK – in for recommission

Our 1990 Range Rover CSK is in for storage at The Hangar with the intention of a possible full recommission.

It’s also going to get a thorough clean, which you can see is much needed from the photos. There’s also a video of Craig doing a walk-around, for your viewing pleasure.