Finally got myself a disco!

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deanog

Member
Posts
55
Location
Manchester
Well not exactly, I bought a 200tdi commercial back in March but it needed work and therefore sat in the workshop gathering dust until I could find the time to start the repairs. Work has been really busy and the 200 was just gathering dust and this little beauty came up on a sales page on Facebook and I managed to swap the 200 for this 300tdi. The engine starts first turn of the key and purrs nicely, it does tap a little when driving but a friend of mine has owned Landrovers for the past 20+ years and is a truck mechanic for Malcoms logistics and is taking it to work to get it over the pit for a good checking over.

The dash has lifted in the corners and the roof lining is sagging but that doesn't bother me in the slightest.... I'm just glad I've got a Landrover!!!

There are also a few corrosion spots around the arches and sills but being a welder I can sort them at my leisure.

I took the kids out around chat moss earlier and they had a whale of a time being thrown around over the bumps, not that the moss is any kind of off reading course but I only had 20 mins until the wife went to work! I love the rumble of the tyres and it's dead comfy but already I am wondering what mods I can do to it...... A 2" lift with springs and shocks, I want to change/modify the front bumper, wheel spacers? And a light bar. I already have plans to build my own roof rack so the dog can sit in the boot comfortably when we go camping.

Any suggestions on sensible mods will be very welcome

Cheers
DeanView attachment 72621
 

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Struggling to add all the images of the disco on the same post so here's one of the front angle, I'll post more when I figure out how to add them all at once
 

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Looks nice mate ,Wheel spacers if you want. I had a light bar on my old 200tdi disco,Very bright but the lights reflected of the bonnet into your eyes .Or you could get the raised part of the bonnet sprayed/vinyl rap Matt black ?
 
Cheers, was looking at wheel spacers as the wheels currently sit a little but too much into the arches for my liking. Do you know what kind issues fitting them might cause?

Could a slight adjustment to the lights make a difference to the reflection off the bonnet?
 
Spacers reduce turning circle and could put pressure on a loose or failing wheel bearing. So id just check they are in good condition before fitting.
 
I've run 30mm wheel spacers on my Disco and it meant that I was able to keep stock turning circle despite putting on bigger tyres.

My List of 'sensible' mods:
-Snorkel (Must have)
-Wheel Spacers
-Diff guards (NOT clamp on cause they fall off)
-Steering guard or HD steering arms
-Dog guard

That's what I'd start with. Don't think you'd need a lift unless you're going to fit bigger tyres. Bumper wise, it looks good but I'd get a bar/tube to wrap around the side of the wings (a bit more protection). There's plenty of build threads here so I'd have a look through, pick mods you like and go for it! Also, what size tyres are on it? I assume there Insa Turbo's or some other remould?
 
TrilloThrillo110 said:
I've run 30mm wheel spacers on my Disco and it meant that I was able to keep stock turning circle despite putting on bigger tyres.

My List of 'sensible' mods:
-Snorkel (Must have)
-Wheel Spacers
-Diff guards (NOT clamp on cause they fall off)
-Steering guard or HD steering arms
-Dog guard

That's what I'd start with. Don't think you'd need a lift unless you're going to fit bigger tyres. Bumper wise, it looks good but I'd get a bar/tube to wrap around the side of the wings (a bit more protection). There's plenty of build threads here so I'd have a look through, pick mods you like and go for it! Also, what size tyres are on it? I assume there Insa Turbo's or some other remould?
Click to expand...

Maybe he doesnt have a dog or a flooding problem ! Fix the rust and the leaks first, then buy some proper et32 modulars with bfg MT copy tyres, wide arches and she'll look boss and go most places
 
deanog said:
Any suggestions on sensible mods will be very welcome

Cheers
DeanView attachment 72621
Click to expand...

Don't really need mods, they are already capable machines. Find it's and your limits first, then look to improve in those areas.

So many mods are poorly done and simply reduce the vehicles ability.

Wheel spacers will help, 30mm ones will be fine and no different to running wider offset wheels. Or look at getting yourself some 8 spoke/modular rims instead.

If you plan to off road it, then you'll probably want to do at least a camel cut on the rear wheel arches, as they'll only get bent and damaged.


As for the tyres, those Simex copies are an aggressive tread, good off road, but not so on road. If you only plan mild off roading or mostly on road stuff (even green laning) then I advise swapping them for something more suited. You can still get the off road performance for the most part, but make it much better off road.

If you are planning some serious off road work, then obviously they make a great choice of tyre, in which case having a second set of rims with some other tyres on will also be sensible.

Remember part of what makes tyres like this good off road is the large angular lugs, running them on the road will take the shoulders off the lugs and massively reduce their effectiveness in muddy conditions. Which then sort of defeats the whole point in having tyres like this.


As for a lift. I wouldn't, at least not yet. If you want more ride height clearance, then trimming the arches is a better approach. A cheap crappy lift using Britpart or similar HD springs and rubbish shocks will only give you a crappy ride, poorer handling and reduced off road capability. And cause potential grief with steering geometry and prop binding.

Later down the road you might want to investigate lifting the vehicle, but do it correctly and for the correct reasons.


I suspect being a 300 yours will have ARB's fitted. I'd be tempted to remove these, will improve it's flex off road. It'll lean a little more on road, but be perfectly fine. Some 200 Disco's, most older Range Rover classics and almost all but the latest Defenders don't use ARBs and are fine.
 
TrilloThrillo110 said:
I've run 30mm wheel spacers on my Disco and it meant that I was able to keep stock turning circle despite putting on bigger tyres.

My List of 'sensible' mods:
-Snorkel (Must have)
-Wheel Spacers
-Diff guards (NOT clamp on cause they fall off)
-Steering guard or HD steering arms
-Dog guard

That's what I'd start with. Don't think you'd need a lift unless you're going to fit bigger tyres. Bumper wise, it looks good but I'd get a bar/tube to wrap around the side of the wings (a bit more protection). There's plenty of build threads here so I'd have a look through, pick mods you like and go for it! Also, what size tyres are on it? I assume there Insa Turbo's or some other remould?
Click to expand...

The underbody guards are already on my to do list as I intend on going green laning (nothing too serious as I don't ant to wreck it and so the wife still likes it), im going to make my own dog guard and the snorkel was on the back of my mind just purely for cosmetics if anything else as I love the look.
I know what you mean about the bumper, it stops just shy of the end of the wings, my mate has just fabricated a bumper for his 110 so I may copy that to an extent.

The tyres are Kingpin Trekkers?? and are 235/70/16
 
ronsealdeath said:
Maybe he doesnt have a dog or a flooding problem ! Fix the rust and the leaks first, then buy some proper et32 modulars with bfg MT copy tyres, wide arches and she'll look boss and go most places
Click to expand...

I am going to remove the sill covers this weekend to see what awaits but the boot floor is solid! I am going to rip the boot carpet and insulation out though as there is damp under there so will cure it before it becomes a problem. The inner wings have been repaired but quite shoddily so I will rip the patches off and re-do them myself, as for the corrosion around the bottom of the body panels and rear lights, my friend is a paint sprayer and reckon I could do a job for him so he does a job for me kind of thing

I am surprised that not everyone is suggesting a suspension lift as I thought that would be the first thing people do but what do I know??? at least I know I can save some money to begin with and get the main bits sorted out first
 
300bhp/ton said:
If you plan to off road it, then you'll probably want to do at least a camel cut on the rear wheel arches, as they'll only get bent and damaged.

As for a lift. I wouldn't, at least not yet. If you want more ride height clearance, then trimming the arches is a better approach. A cheap crappy lift using Britpart or similar HD springs and rubbish shocks will only give you a crappy ride, poorer handling and reduced off road capability. And cause potential grief with steering geometry and prop binding.

I suspect being a 300 yours will have ARB's fitted. I'd be tempted to remove these, will improve it's flex off road. It'll lean a little more on road, but be perfectly fine. Some 200 Disco's, most older Range Rover classics and almost all but the latest Defenders don't use ARBs and are fine.
Click to expand...

How far up the arch is recommended for a camel cut?

I take it that Brit part are to be avoided for all parts as ive not heard many good things of them and if so what brand is best to go for?

And lastly, being new to landrovers and the 300tdi what are ARB's and there purpose? I have already been informed to blank off the EGR and possibly turn up the boost but I think I would want to fit a bigger intercooler before I go down that road

Thanks for everyones advice so far

Dean
 
deanog said:
How far up the arch is recommended for a camel cut?
Click to expand...
Probably best to have a Google or search on here, I fitted wheel spats to mine, so hacked far more away.

deanog said:
I take it that Brit part are to be avoided for all parts as ive not heard many good things of them and if so what brand is best to go for?
Click to expand...
Britpart are fine for many bits actually, they get a bad rep, because they are the biggest pattern part maker and sell a lot of stuff, so they are an easy target. And true enough some bits aren't great, but many service items and such are fine.

As for who else, well it depends on what part you are looking for specifically, as there are often many choices with many parts, especially upgrade and mod bits.


deanog said:
And lastly, being new to landrovers and the 300tdi what are ARB's and there purpose?
Click to expand...
Anti roll bars. Pretty standard kit on the suspension of many vehicles. They limit roll while cornering, but also limit axle travel off road. And aren't really needed on road.


deanog said:
I have already been informed to blank off the EGR and possibly turn up the boost but I think I would want to fit a bigger intercooler before I go down that road

Thanks for everyones advice so far

Dean
Click to expand...
See how you go, but you can get very worthwhile gains without an upgraded intercooler, although I'd advise fitting an EGT gauge first.
 
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A snorkel is only useful if fitted correctly and sealed tight.ive seen snorkels let in water and #### engines due to poor sealing. I overlilled my rtv sealnt and tiger seal to do my safaril snorkel
 
I don't have any major plans for a snorkel just yet but when I do it will be done correctly, I have a bit of a methodical nature and wouldn't be happy unless it's right!!

Once my pal has had it over his pit at work and the boggles he finds are sorted that's when I'll look at the mods. The sills will be getting cleaned back, any repairs done and fully sealed and wax oiled inside. The inner wings will be getting patches fully welded as the ones in there now are like stevie wonder has done them! The boot floor will also be getting a good cleaning and undersealing.

Is it still possible to get golf window rubbers as most on the truck are perished in the corners and I don't fancy sealing them?
 
Fitted the EGR blanking kit today, have to say there is a difference but not as much as I was expecting going off other threads but all the same I like it. Found a few more holes in the inner wings so going to order some replacement panels later in the week and strip the front end down. also need some headlight clips as when I go over a bump the nearside headlight drops forward being held in by just two of the three clips!! I notice there only cheap on ebay...... bonus
 
Blanking off the EGR will stop it getting the soot in the intake. But won't transform how a car runs. The EGR valve is, well a valve. This means it only works at part throttle and shuts off under wide open throttle. So you shouldn't see any gains at full throttle, not unless the valve was stuck open.
 
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