dom_

dom_

Member
I know this might have been discussed a hundred thousand times before, but I just wanted reassurance before jumping in.

Picking up a completely stock 300tdi 1996 tomorrow and this is what I had planned.

Already ordered:
Wadding kit, snorkel, slick shift, boost pin, dynamic timing advance spacer, CB radio.

Thinking of getting:
Terrafirma 2" maxi dislocation kit, the one with front and rear corrected arms
Longer brake cables
Front and rear bumpers, tree sliders, steering guard, diff guards, tank guard
Big tyres like insa turbo special track on steel rims
Wide arches and cut

What I am less sure of is propshaft (double Cardan or wide angle, front and back?) and anything else I have missed.

I don't want to raise it and then drive it a few times and start breaking bits off. I want to do it right first time round.
 
Have you owned Land Rovers before and off roaded them?

If not maybe start simple and see how you get on and address things as they come up. Or are you trying to build a Vehcile for a specific competition?

I’m not against modding (far far from it). But simply throwing loads of crap onto a vehicle without really knowing why and without seeing how it performs initially is not a good way of making a good performing vehicle - IMO.
 
Will be my first land rover but not my first 4x4, been off roading with mates and want to build this up as a weekend fun car. I know decent tyres and it could be done, but my mates tend to go on pretty crazy routes so the snorkel is a must as is the lift to fit big tyres to get ground clearance.
 
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dom_ said:
Will be my first land rover but not my first 4x4, been off roading with mates and want to build this up as a weekend fun car. I know decent tyres and it could be done, but my mates tend to go on pretty crazy routes so the snorkel is a must as is the lift to fit big tyres to get ground clearance.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about legal green laning or are you saying your mates drive where they shouldn’t be?

Almost every green lane in the country should be passable by a stock Discovery on mud terrain tyres. If not, then your probably shouldn’t be there in the first place.

If you want more extreme off roading, I would recommend joining a trials club. The ALRC has the largest collection of events with clubs all over the country and multiple events every month. As well as a number of larger events throughout the year.

The ALRC National is the next bank holiday where 140 Road vehciles will compete in a day long off road competition. And another 120-140 purpose built Land Rovers on the subsequent day.

https://www.alrc.co.uk/NationalRallies/2018/2018index.html

If you would like help finding a local club please let me know.

The AWDC also run a number of events also.

And of course there are pay & play sites.
 
Front & rear winches, second alteenator & aux battery, roll cage, ratio change in the diffs, diff locks, HD shafts an CVs.

Go big or go home.
 
Mine is standard mechanically, I fitted 245/75/16 Kumho MT51’s for a little extra diff clearance and rock/tree sliders etc, snorkel.

Got me through Wales amoungst some much more capable cars, I and the others in the group were quite surprised how well it did. Have a play with it before you get too carried away, you might save yourself some money. It is after all what they were built to do in the first place.
 
All legal don't worry, pay and play and Salisbury etc.
Not really interested in competitions myself.

Like the go big or go home.

AdamD1 said:
Mine is standard mechanically, I fitted 245/75/16 Kumho MT51’s for a little extra diff clearance and rock/tree sliders etc, snorkel.

Got me through Wales amoungst some much more capable cars, I and the others in the group were quite surprised how well it did. Have a play with it before you get too carried away, you might save yourself some money. It is after all what they were built to do in the first place.
Click to expand...
Sensible enough advice, do you run those wheels without a lift then? If so any rubbing?
 
CACF734C-E6ED-496B-B5C2-30423C377D0D.jpeg
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538022D5-B2F2-46CB-A552-E1B0823A2852.jpeg
Had to trim a tiny amount of the rear arch, only the folded in part of that makes sense? Also had to adjust the steering stops. Otherwise all good, just fitted new britpart springs and shocks for the princely sum of £130.
 
dom_ said:
I know this might have been discussed a hundred thousand times before, but I just wanted reassurance before jumping in.

Picking up a completely stock 300tdi 1996 tomorrow and this is what I had planned.

Already ordered:
Wadding kit, snorkel, slick shift, boost pin, dynamic timing advance spacer, CB radio.

Thinking of getting:
Terrafirma 2" maxi dislocation kit, the one with front and rear corrected arms
Longer brake cables
Front and rear bumpers, tree sliders, steering guard, diff guards, tank guard
Big tyres like insa turbo special track on steel rims
Wide arches and cut

What I am less sure of is propshaft (double Cardan or wide angle, front and back?) and anything else I have missed.

I don't want to raise it and then drive it a few times and start breaking bits off. I want to do it right first time round.
Click to expand...
How much money are you planning on spending? Your list is rather extensive and would seem to add up to quite a lot.

Probably nothing wrong with the bits you are looking at. Although they aren’t probably the bits I’d buy myself.

I’d look at X-Arms for the rear. Gwyn Lewis for the rear shock mounts. RAC parts for front shock mounts. And Flatdog for some longer non HD springs. Try and keep the lift to minimal.

OME, Rough Country or Pro Comp shocks.

I’d also look at some Ashcroft ATB diffs.

As for tyres. Depends how much cutting of the arches you want to do. You can’t stick them back on so make sure you are really sure. 235/85R16 is a nice tyre size and lots of choice. Unless you want to spend big on upgrading the diff ring and pinion, CV’s and half shafts I’d probably stick to 33” or less tyres.

Also what terrain are you driving on? The SIMEX copies are ok. But a bit obvious and not much cop on the road. If I wanted aggressive I’d probably look at Recip Maxi 3D’s. And it has to be said. While big tyres often look the part. In the U.K. narrow tyres usually perform better. So maybe consider Diamonds even in a 7.50 x 16.

Diff guards unneeded
Tank guard probably won’t need unless you are in rocky terrain a lot.


A MUST is some sensible and safe recovery points. High tensile bolts and spreader plates or Jate rings.

Also get yourself a kinetic rope.
 
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Main thing I like about the tank guard aside from the recovery points is that the tow bar is removable. Maybe not an issue if you do lift it but I’m not in a rush to. I just tried to idiot proof what I could as I’d never done any off road driving before, how much of it was needed is another matter entirely.
 
Awesome advice thanks guys.
I have been looking at 235/85R16 as not too wide.

Going to do some more homework before ordering more bits.
Would love a Whitbread style car, but want to keep it road legal.
 
Should be possible to keep it road legal. It would just be a body type change to the DVLA. So long as you fit lights and mirrors.

They also offer more Land Rover looking space frames that fit on your existing chassis. Again should be able to keep it legal the same.

They look a bit like this.
Tomcat03-04.jpg
 
Keep in mind that 235/85 will affect your gearing quite a bit, it’s noticeable even with the 245/75’s. You’ll also have a fair amount to cut. You will get a nice bit of extra diff clearance going that big though, I just didn’t want to chop mine up.
 
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