EdoubleD

EdoubleD

Member
Hello,

I just bought my first discovery an R reg 300 TDI with 3" lift kit. It seems in good condition but I want to get into some DIY maintenence. I've never worked on an engine in my life but I'm fairly handy with lots of other things and I figure I might as well learn!

I'm planning on taking it down through to Europe through to North Africa and back round again which has been something I've wanted to do since I was a kid. In the mean time i want to do as much work as I can (within reason) to learn a bit about the engine and of course get the disco in the best possible condition I can.

The first project on it is that the exhaust needs replacing as it's rusted through in a number of areas. Although there is little rust in it (most of the main areas have been repaired) it's been suggested to me that I treat the whole of the bottom chasis etc. I figure these two jobs should be done at roughly the same time. Can anyone point me towards picture, step by step resources for replacing the exhaust pipe and any advice on how best to treat the vehicle to further protect it against rust.

Any help would be very much appreciated!
 
Hi mate

First thing, get a Haynes manual.

Second thing, do jobs when Halfords is open so you can keep going back for more tools. You will need a healthy tool kit for landy work and Halfords advanced stuff is actually decent. So get your wallet out :D

Third, I would advise using the car a LOT for green laning and offroad in the UK for a good while before taking it to Africa.

You will need to throw a lot of money into and under it on preparatory items to ensure you have a trouble free trip.

Plenty of help available on here but people aren't going to be bothered to tell you about egg sauce replacement when it's just a Haynes job, and rust treatment is defo a search item bt involves blood, sweat, tears and a lot of **** in the eyes plus some POR15 paint :D
 
^^^^^ this pritty much lol
deep pockets help!
I have a load off halfords advanced stuff and they havnt failed yet except the little 1/4 drive socket screwdriver
And i find that rachet spanners are a god send !
Also noticed everythings bigger on a landy compared to my normal lot
so 17mm 19mm 24mm 32mm 52mm ect ive all had to buy seperate
grease gun a stronger jack as my landy bent my last one on the first day lol

also have a good recovery provider :D pmsl
I dont have a manual yet but need 1 as they do help

If ur planning on going there i advice to take ALOT of spares
 
For a trip to Africa you'll probably need two vital extras ... Defenders.
One to carry all the tools you'll need and the other one to carry the spares :rolleyes: :D
 
brian47 said:
For a trip to Africa you'll probably need two vital extras ... Defenders.
One to carry all the tools you'll need and the other one to carry the spares :rolleyes: :D
Click to expand...

Good thinking, but what are you going to do with 3 clapped out Landys in Africa? Best stick to 1 and minimise the losses ;)
 
If you're really serious about it then the European leg shouldn't cause too much difficulties, most of the roads are reasonable, fuel is easily available as is food, water and a bed for the night.

The problems might come once you're on another continent. You're quite probably going to have to repair/maintain the vehicle yourself and possibly sleep under the stars once or twice. Provisions might not be as easy to find either.

So, IMHO you're going to have to get yourself educated on repairs, bodging repairs, getting out of trouble (diplomatically and mechanically). It might be a reasonable idea to do some of the Land Rover courses on off-road driving, sand driving, winching and so on.

Left to me I think it's easier and safer to stay at home and watch the National Geographic channel.
 
It has always been my ambition to drive from UK to Persepolis(in Iran), but what with the odd revolution, the occasional war, and general ill feeling towards westerners in certain countries on the way, National Geographic is the option for me at the moment. There is some cracking green laning in UK, so get plenty of that done while you wait!
 
Ebay is quite good for tools.dont buy the cheap stuff.ive bought mac snap on and advanced halfords off there and the warrenty is still good.

and get a 3 ton jack.

Eggsauce is easy enough job mate just get on your back and look how its held on and goes back on.haynes manual is good for all jobs.but sometimes common sense or searching is easier.

Local lads will help you out so stick you location up.

And good luck
 
Last edited:
EdoubleD said:
Hello,

I'm planning on taking it down through to Europe through to North Africa and back round again which has been something I've wanted to do since I was a kid. In the mean time i want to do as much work as I can (within reason) to learn a bit about the engine and of course get the disco in the best possible condition I can.

Any help would be very much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Hi there, in 2008 I took a perfectly std Disco TDi 300 auto through Europe and down through Northern Africa and it was PERFECTLY alright in std trim.

It had no lifts, no big, off-road tyres, nothing special at all.

It was however, thoroughly checked over, serviced and if anything looked anywhere near worn, was replaced.

I took spares with me but the only thing I used was a fuel filter.

I did 8,000mls and it was the adventure of a lifetime. When I see places like "Volubilis" on the telly, I can say I've been there!


Make sure your vehicle is in the best possible condition mechanically, then just go - don't fritter money on UK-style off-road must-have's. They REALLY aren't necessary.

Good luck, have a great trip

Dave
 
Dave is right.

Lifting and widening your vehicle on standard axles makes it more vulnerable to breakages.

If I was planning a long distance trip I would let it down a few inches, put 31" tyres on it any sensible wheels.

The fashionable mods are not usually good for longevity.

Tbh, do what camel did and you're not going far wrong.
 
+3. When they make the standard production D1, Defender etc, they're pretty good already. Also, more basic parts are easier to source, mend etc when they go wrong. And they will go wrong, at the worst possible time.
 
Thanks for the constructive replys! (some of them).

Some how I've managed to get to 30 and never fiddled around with an engine but lots of googling etc and staring blankly at the 300tdi over the past few days I've come up with an initial list to do (and subsequent questions). It's probably easier for me to post up separate threads for each issue I'm going to be working on.

As I'm a total newbie to mechanics I'm sure I will have lots of very annoying and obvious questions but then everyone has got to learn somehow and I'm fairly handy. I figure all this work on the engine will come invaluble for when I go to North Africa!

Thanks in advance!
 
thanks for the info on the lift etc.....the folly of youth (am i young?)....I've gone ahead and bought it now so will have to get on with what I've got.....god knows what the score with dropping it down is going to be I literally wouldn't know where to start where that is concerned
 
EdoubleD said:
thanks for the info on the lift etc.....the folly of youth (am i young?)....I've gone ahead and bought it now so will have to get on with what I've got.....god knows what the score with dropping it down is going to be I literally wouldn't know where to start where that is concerned
Click to expand...

Crack on with what youve got. Itll be fine. Id say take a few trips out laning and defo try a pay n play first.
 
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