OK, my penny-worth: To try and give it more power is quite doable. I've done quite a lot to my own FL1. You can read about it here on LZ. GG mentioned I fitted new springs - they are Dobonsons from Australia, along with some slightly taller tyres 215/75/15 MT's - those do give a smidgen more clearance. I was planning a 40mm lift but that's on the 'back burner'.

With regard to motor mod's, I've focused on trying to improve the air flow. Better intake and A' filter with a cold air feed, bigger throttle body, I've done porting & polishing, decat'...

Future things: I've a VVC intake set-up to try as well at some time. Also I've a VVC 135 exhaust cam to fit too when I've fitted the distributor drive spigot - it will be my inlet cam:) oh and I've experimented with water vapour injection as well - it did make a small difference. Would also love to look at a better exhaust manifold with longer primary pipes [4-2-1].

Other mod's have been focused on reliability: remote thermostat, opened up coolant apertures in the head, flowed the oil pump, strengthened oil rail, a tyre pressure monitoring system, substituted a VW coolant tank, new rad' and associated plumbing, engine oil cooler and so on.

I'm not really into cosmetic mod's. Winches?[expen$ive and may not get much use] A removable tow hitch is a good idea if you get into 'off the pavement' adventures. A roof rack - expen$ive will slow you down & co$t you more fuel.

Just what your focus is determines the mod's you do: outright power? [ VVC or a Turbo implant]! fab / hard out 4WD ability - lift kit, underbody armour [front & back], better shockies / springs, a winch maybe? rock sliders, def' good tyres [4 all the same].

This youtube video is a pretty good guide as to the Freelander's 4WD ability [see it here] and it may point you in the direction you want to go. The video maker has commented on this post too. Other comments have come to you from experienced owners - GG - they know what they are talking about.

The fellows who do / did the Freelander Challenge seemed to use VVC engines. I guess they piggy-backed an aftermarket ECU to make it all work?

Fuel economy: I drive conservatively [light foot...], sit at about 95kmh on the open road [ we have a 100kmh limit here] get up through the gears quickly. I commonly get close to 12 km/litre of fuel that's about 8.4 litres per 100km or 33.5MPG. Towing a standard 6x4 trailer with a modest load it drops to about 9.9 km/litre or about 10 litres/100km, or 28MPG.
I don't consider that to bad - it's a smallish motor hauling nearly 1600kg around!

I will watch with interest to see what you get up to.
 
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