I was quoted £8-10k to fix mine when I got it, I’ve paid out nothing like that and last year it passed the Mot first time and it’s a perfectly reliable vehicle. There’s a big difference between a perfect car and a perfectly usable car.
I worked for Rover dealer for 11 years. I would say 90% "head gasket leaks" were actually just the intake manifold. But, guess what, you have to take the intake off to do the head gaskets so the head gasket job fixed the leak for three times the cost. Especially an oil leak, there is only a very small oil passage through the head gasket that is nowhere near the edge.
That’s the question that’s been driving me to want to do this build and put it on the channel. Old cars are like shelter dogs, there’s a bajillion of them out there, all they need is a good home and some love and they’ll surprise the hell out of you!
I had a disco 1 for 16 years with 300tdi engine. Very easy to work on, 260,000km, never needed a tow. Great vehicle if you appreciated its limitations. Serviced by me.
@@MattKester i would. 300tdi manual. but your in the states so hens teeth I think. how ever the 300tdi was made in brazil. upguned to a 2.8 sold as an international in the US and even fitted to ford rangers for a couple of years. these motors were the default crate upgrade for the D1
The best part is once you just decided you'll do it all yourself it gives you the confidence to really know your rig. Making you even more attached to the enduring ownership experience of the Landrover Discovery
Owning a Land Rover is like being the owner of the Millennium Falcon...your hyperdrive is always out, there's always some problem with the power converters or the power coupling on the negative axis has been polarized and I'm afraid you'll have to replace it. In fact the Corellian YT-1300f light freighter is known as the "Land Rover of the Star Wars Universe". People would think that a guy like Captain Solo would ditch that POS for a more reliable ship....but they don't understand. Just like people don't understand my love for my Discovery 1...Check engine light turns on if a deer farts within 100 yards, she leaks oil, she leaks power steering fluid, my hyperdrive (aka cruise control) hasn't worked in about 10 years, my rear windows only work when they want to, one headlight is full of water...currently my transfer case shifter is frozen and won't move...the list goes on. My point is... like Captain Solo, I wouldn't trade my Disco 1 for anything! If you don't own one you'll never understand that relationship. Now to be fair...there are lots of people who have owned a Land Rover and say things like, "That thing was the biggest piece of crap I ever owned...I got rid of that piece of crap, nothing but problems!" I welcome the problems...I'm an overlander, an adventurer, a world traveler...and I have to say that misadventures tell way better stories, make for better experiences, and are much more memorable than plain old regular adventures. Then again, I'm a "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda guy...like Captain Solo...lol, just my 2 cents... PS.- No, I am not a Star Wars fanboy, it was just an analogy to make my point...besides Trek is better!
Best. Analogy. Ever. I completely agree. I also find that most of these “problems” are more annoyances rather than catastrophic failures that leave you stranded to die on an inhospitable planet. Plus, it doesn’t ever really go anywhere that crazy without our X-Wing 4Runner... which we all know can crash and sit submerged in a swamp in for an unspecified amount of time, then start right up and take us anywhere we want to go, just in case.
Awesome response to owning almost all British vehicles. I loved my 3 Lotus cars, though any sane person would have stopped at one and got rid of it. Something just quirky enough to make you love them!
When I read this l lmao! So very true! You nailed it! I read a comment somewhere.. "the only thing that Land Rover's are used for today is, going to Starbucks and and Whole foods". I will never own a Land Rover, or Ranger Rover again. 4wd pieces of junk!
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words! We’ve picked up quite a few in the last couple of weeks, and I’m super grateful for everyone who’s found this channel and subbed! Thanks!
Ive got a diesel d1 fully decked out top of the line everything , twin locked everyday driver done 335000 and blows less smoke than a petrol !! This is the most comfortable driver ive ever had ... I keep waiting for it to break down and live up to its online rep but it refuses to its twin locked and cops a hard time off road every wet season this vehicle is a weapon to own and drives and handles superbly ...so i guess its horses for courses look after them and they will not let you down, d1 300 tdi one of landrovers finest hours full stop !!!
I just killed my 95 about 6 months ago and now am in a 98. I hate that I love these cars so much. Hope your repairs have gone well. Definitely am going to check out the rest of your videos. All the Disco 1 love.
@@MattKester They are amazing cars. Hate that I love mine so much. After watching all your videos and the work you have done I bet your feeling some what the same. Rover love though right. But don't dump the runner. I love those as well. I had a 01 taco before my discovery that I loved. One of the best cars I have owned. I would have kept it but it was up to about 290,000 miles and just feeling old. Got to love old toyotas though. Great cars. Can't wait to see what you guys do you your disco.
Sunroof leak- remove headliner, oh. Download “RAVE” , that’s the shop manual. Remove headliner, locate drain tubes make sure they are attached. Next check to see if the drain pts, where the tubes attach, are still siliconed onto the metal tray. It’s one of those two. No more leak.
I got a copy of the rave saved on all my devices! We took the healiner down last month and dig into it. Turned out the sunroof drains just fine, it was coming in through the top of the windshield. Two tubes of windshield sealant later, she appears to be holding.
I also have one. A special one, D1 type D2😀, Diesel engine, 7places and working AC. Also some leaking that i learn to fix... and i love it. Cheap repair parts, and a lot of tutorials making owners a kind of mechanics for years.... 😀 Enjoy it.
That is awesome that you are able to do that work yourself. It really opens up a world of vehicles that others can't touch. If I were able to do that kind of work I would still have my 2000 Expedition.
Living in the UK i have had Landrovers since I was 16, my first car was an ex-army series 2a, great cars and very reliable as long as you give them the TLC they require and most importantly have the correct knowledge and technological understanding to keep them running. Good luck with the project, she looks a solid car👌
Thank you, sir! I am really appreciating the community that surrounds these old Land Rovers. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd buy an old car and all of a sudden have people from all over the world be so generous with their knowledge and time helping me figure it out! We are definitely excited about it!
@@MattKester as we say here in the UK, once bitten by the Landrover bug it never leaves you and you find yourself surrounded by likeminded people who get great joy by helping others .... it’s a real pity that the new bosses at Landrover don’t understand that simple point or understand the attraction of the design, the new defender I think is the start of their own destruction, well for the serious off roader/farmer etc anyways...have fun and I look forward to the up dates.
Frugal Explorer Dad Wellcome to the family If you want to know how big it is U Tube the Landrover International Show at the Peterborough show or the Billings Landrover show both here in England . Then do the German , Dutch , Australian , South African , Australian and Japanese owner clubs . I don’t know of another single make club anywhere as big or helpful as Landrover I know all about the reliability issues and the jokes but no one who owns one really seams to care we just love them Enjoy your ownership and learning how to maintain and become a better mechanic Dave
Thanks for watching and subbing! I am so impressed with how engaged the community around old Disco is! I really appreciate the support, thank you so much!
One of the best and honest dives in to the land rover world. You can do this. But yes to need to send the heads out. They are aluminum and a valve job never hurts.
Had the same model but TDI diesel auto here in Australia. that stuff is just wear and tear from being driven. if the radiator hadn't been crushed the head casket would have been ok. looks like it lived its life with just engine oil changes, and forget everything else. The beauty of that model is you could still work on yourself with just minor mechanical skills, no electronics too spoil your life. Enjoy.
I’m beginning to realize just how good she really is! I was able to finally drive it myself offroad for quite a bit of time last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Had the Disco 3, and Defender previously, now only have the Disco 4 (the last real Landrover). Love it! My friend and I are working on a restore of a 90 series from a farm, and possibly a Series 1 after that.
Thanks! We are! It's such a cool rig and I've been surprised just how simple it is to get in and work on. I definitely don't mind doing the maintenance on it!
@@MattKester yeah no kidding to change a light bulb on new cars you basically need ten sockets of all metrics to remove bumpers , electrics and all sorts. new cars are all about adding labor hours to any minor concern. no such thing as an easy job in new cars.
@@philiphawley2915 nope my comment was refering to the new vehicles. I own a d1 and also own new trucks that you basicaly have to remove grills bumpers to get to the bolt that removes the headlight. I had a 2000 suburban, only two L shaped retainers and off came both headlights and blinkers. It was a dream.
Thank you. We have a one car detached garage on the property we use. I don’t think I’d ever be able to get away with doing something like swinging a motor in and out on there, but it’s done surprisingly well for what we’ve done so far. Some things just take a little thinking out so you know where to position the vehicle before you start working on it so you know you’ll be able to get to what you need to on the middle of the project.
I dont know you or your mechanic skill level BUT i would highly recommend looking for a guy called "disco mike" on land rover forum. I believe he is from AZ, he own a disco and he is a certified landerover mechanic. Very knowledgeable, nice guy 😉
I think I've seen some him in quite a few threads. I wasn't aware he was from Arizona. I'd love to hear from him sometime if anyone out there knows where to reach him.
@@MattKester the best way would be thru the forum. I've talked to him on the phone once but its bern over 10 years ago when i had a disco II. Also there is places where you csn download the "rave" manual. Which is the OEM maintenance manual (its like over 500 pages, i printed it...lol)
I don't mean any disrespect to all Land Rover independent shops....but so many of them charge outrageous prices that they send these trucks straight to the junkyard. 1600 for a transfer case reseal is absolute MADNESS. If you're ever in Vegas hit me up I'll do it for you.
Thanks you for the generous offer! The only thing that has had me floored more than what specialist shops charge for these things is how supportive the community of DIY Land Rover owners have been offering all the help and guidance we could ever hope to ask for! Fortunately, it turns out all the oil on the transfer case was from the leaking oil from the back of one of the heads. I just finished the 20k service and the gear oil actually poured out of the fill hole when I got around to changing the transfer case oil! That was a huge relief!
Boy that's pretty scary if it's the nicest one they have seen in awhile , just remember when you think you've got all the leaks taken care of one more will soon start it's a landy by george, great vehicle but always teared up.
I had a head gasket blow out the side of number 5 cylinder in my D2. No over heating or lose of coolant. I did the new head gasket in my driveway. Very easy to do but lots of bolts. I’d suggest replacing your water pump while you have everything apart. Good luck. Subscribed to see what happens. 😀
Thanks, Cory! I watched Atlantic British’s video on the D2 head gasket job and I got the impression that it’s gonna be a lot of bolt work. I’ll definitely be sure to do the water pump, think I’ll put a new fan clutch and thermostat in too, just to be sure. I’m planning on getting everything ordered up tomorrow and starting on it first thing next week. Thanks again for checking out the channel and subscribing!
A Landy is like your own child, you must be able to take care of it yourself. They become part of your life and your family memories. I would suggest that you get yourself a good workshop manual for your Landy, it will make life easier. I own a Discovery 1 300 tdi and my wife an old 1980 series 3 88" swb and no one works on them but myself. ENJOY.
When I was in college in 2001, I saw my first Disco in the campus parking lot. Absolutely mesmerized by the look - and always thought it was the coolest SUV on the planet. 21 years later as I was getting ready to hand my Grand Cherokee off to my 15 year old daughter, I decided a 2004 Discovery 2 would be my mid-life "corvette". I found one online outside of Boston. 84k miles - head gasket replaced - new drive shaft - frame sprayed - OEM brush guard - new A/T tires - safari rack - snorkel - rear ladder - chawton white color (prerequisite).When I say this vehicle was immaculate - not a single scratch in the paint, and the only interior issue was the driver captain's chair arm had some cracking. Otherwise, everything worked and looked amazing. Paid $35k for the vehicle and to have it shipped to Charlotte, NC. After receiving the vehicle, some gremlins ensued in quick fashion. 1. Starter went bad (Replaced - $400) 2. Power steering pump went bad (Replaced with buddy) 3. New pump went bad (Replaced it again, and replaced all lines) 4. Power steering leak at the steering gear (Mechanic replaced steering gear) POWER STEERING NOW FIXED (~$3,000 in parts and $1,200 in labor) 5. Water pump and radiator leaking (Replaced) $500 6. Mechanic bolting on water pump and broke engine front cover (Replaced engine front cover $500 - mechanic paid for it) 7. Pinion seals and transfer case seals replaced ($1,100) 8. Sunroof intermittent leaking (Not resolved yet) Ultimately, the power steering situation was the most frustrating. It was very odd, and I think more just a string of some bad luck. I have driven the car on several long trips (6 hour and 10 hour trips one way). I absolutely love it, and fortunate I have the means to invest in it to keep it maintained. As a note: If you find one in pristine condition, it will cost you as these are now collector's items. BE SURE TO GET COLLECTOR'S INSURANCE. The book value is much less than the market value. Good thing with that is the property taxes are inexpensive.
Oh boy, you’re gonna be in the driveway for so long the neighbors are going to think you’re a lawn jockey. ;-) Bon Chance! She will be solid when you complete everything and you’ll love every minute of adventure once she’s sussed.
She’s been quite a bit of fun getting to know. I do appreciate how it’s built to be worked on. There really isn’t much of anything I’ve come across on this thing that you couldn’t handle with the most basic of tool kits, which is much appreciated as next week I’m going to replace the upper ball joints and suspension bushings on our 4Runner, which is gonna require a bit in the way of presses and pullers that aren’t in most DIY’ers tool kits.
@@MattKester yeah, depending on the model of 4Runner, they’re fairly simple too. I had a 97 with the factory Elocker that was just a sublime machine. I could change the brakes and rotators on the front in all of an hour.
I just want to put in perspective, that DIscoveries use A LOT of fluid compared to a small sedan of the same age, I was really surprised when I started doing small services to ours
This is indeed going to be a project, think back to why you bought it in the first place and keep going. You will get a lot of respect driving a well maintained old Landy
Thanks man! Its definitely starting to come together, or at least that’s how it feels, now that we’ve got the engine sealed back up and she isn’t gushing fluids like a hemophiliac!
The intermittent problem with the back windows is a dry joint on the ecu board. Plenty of vids on here on how to fix it, takes about 10 minutes. Enjoy the green oval for all it is worth, it will be a love hate relationship with it. When it's running right you will love it, when it's broken you'll want to set fire to it. I have 4 D1's all 2.5 diesel and they don't leak, they sweat power lol.
I just looked up a video on it, and didn't realize until the end that the presenter doing the work only had one full arm, so there's really no excuse for me not being able to do it!
Good luck with your project! Any 22 year old car will require a list of work to be done. Landrovers gain a bad reputation due to people still using them when they need to be repaired, and the list just build up and up. They can be fixed in the main by peope like yourself. Have fun in this great vehicle.
I have a 1998 Land Rover that I payed $200 for it 4 years ago and I just replaced the transmission on it it was $3000 to get it replaced and now my transfer case is leaking, but I love driving that Land Rover
Doing my own d1 they are great cars and cheap parts I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks I had my d2 td5 for 8yrs only thing that killed that for me was rust can't wait to get current 1 on and off road
I hear you. Fortunately, this one hasn't started to rust and we live in Arizona, so we have a lot less potential for it to become a problem here. What's your D1 like? I assume since your D2 was a TD5, you probably don't live in the US and your D1 might have things that would make us jealous, like a manual gearbox or a 300TDI?
@@MattKester I live in Australia my td5 was manual my d1 is a tdi automatic it won't be any speed racer but that's not what it's about anyway look forward to seeing more of your vids stay healthy
Thanks. I’d take that “slow” TDI any day of the week! I was a truck driver for 15 years, so I don’t mind not being the fastest one out there when you get so much more in the way of low end grunt, better fuel economy, and engine longevity vs gas motors. Let me know if you ever post anything on yours, I’d love to check it out!
Thanks! I'm glad to have you along for the journey. Three videos into being Discovery owners and we're starting to understand just how awesome the Land Rover community is. Right now, my frustration is less with the car, and a particular parts vendor who has hung up a critical bunch of parts for the last week. I got in all the transmission cooler lines and radiator lines, but the other guy has my transmission service pack and head gasket set held up, so there's no point in wasting two batches of coolant or tranny fluid doing those fixes until I have the other parts. So frustrating... but that's what I get for going with the "cheaper" supplier.
@@MattKester ive been lucky to have a few contacts here in PA...one thing i have learned about the parts game... dont throw any part away until u have exactly what u need,,, a lot of old parts can be cleaned up and work just like new! and research research research is the best advice on working on the discos!!! land rover community is awesome!!! be well!! thumbs up my good man!!
They are brilliant vehicles.this one needs a tiny bit of TLC...just the usual wear and tear stuff....but they are brilliant 4x4's..they go places few other standard 4x4's can go. 😊😊😊
I totally agree. It's really impressive to see just how capable this thing is, and we haven't really done anything over stock except the 245/75R16 tires!
I got a 96 d1... Love it.... Had it 4 or 5 years now and too many stories... Lmk if you have questions... I do my servicing... Have done the heads also tty bolts... Be careful if you deck them the intake may not align after a couple times.... My diff lock has a shifter btw... Heard it was the d2 that didn't have it....
Right on. Yeah we didn’t have the heads surfaced for that reason. Sounds like you only get one or two passes before they don’t match up. So far, so good with ours!
@@MattKester same here.... Transmission just went out though... Rebuilt the valve body... Pretty sure it was just a clogged filter... Changed the filter and fluid about 3 years ago... Looks dirty in there... Pretty sure it's due to the mesh filter type in it... Not micron...
@@alecaaa1 I see. Guess I better b make sure to do the full transmission service the next time I have it through the shop! How many miles does your Disco have on it?
@@MattKester btw mine was missing the magnet inside the pan for the tranny look like a ton of ferrous soot in there.... Added some bars from home depot for a couple bucks and max atf from royal purp...says it covers dex 2d... Found them around 10ish a qt.. Been driving around in the snow the past couple days with a jacked up transfer case... It had 2 shot glasses of gear oil lol... We lived in a condo for like 3 years... No servicing allowed but that is behind us... Going to town on this car now... Picking up a good used xfer case soon for $120... Where did you find that smashed cooler line just curious?
They used the parts to make these from lots of other vehicles, i used to drive an Ausin Maestro van and it shared the same rear lights, switches and other minor parts, the same parts would come either in a rover box or a land-rover box and the only difference was the price lol
I finally went and looked the Maestro up, I’d never actually seen one since they were never sold over here. Not what I was expecting. I figured it would be something more like a modern Transit or Sprinter... I couldn’t have been more wrong! Wow!
Yeah, and coming from the Toyota world where any type of leak is an indication of something being wrong, it's kinda unnerving sometimes. Although, it appears she may have stopped dripping oil after the head gasket and transmission cooler lines were replaced.
@@MattKester bring it to me and i should you how ease to repair this trucks are !! We can do it together I own a 1996 disco 1 5 speed trans and lifted and fix all from door locks to head gaskets you name it..
I had a Disco 1 V8i and it was a great vehicle while I owned it. You HAVE to be able to swing a spanner to afford keeping these old British 4WDs on the road unfortunately. I sold it for a 3UZ V8 powered Defender 130 but otherwise it was a fun vehicle to drive
I had a 1994 2.5diesel engine. I 've bought it VERY usted, so no complaint. In spite of año the problems I had ( head gasket, hidráulic pump, break depressor pump, etc, most of them on Route) it was the vehicle I love more. Excellent off Road, comfort level, capacity. Go ahead!
The LT230s (Transfer cases) all bloody leak. The intermediate shaft o ring o wears and loses its ability to seal. It's not typically a bad leak but involves pulling the box to fix.
Just bought my first disco, and am so happy I found your channel. I’ve got some similar issues on mine so I will for sure be checking out your other vids and on the look out as you make repairs. Thanks for sharing!
Welcome aboard! They are definitely a labor of love, but when they're working right, you'll be hard pressed to find another vehicle as good. Totally worth it!
just drive it into the ground or do repairs urself what you can do or go2 autozone they can recommend places and get ya all the parts you need to get the job done right the first time
Par for the course on a Land Rover, if it doesn't leave it's mark on the driveway it hasn't got any oil in! My brother has a Range Rover classic and even after we removed the motor and gearbox it still leaked oil.
I live in Phoenix, own an LR4, and would be happy to help you wrench if you need another hand. Just let me know. See you on the trails and thanks for your videos!
ha ha it leaks oil! ... It's ok it's a Land Rover! Mine 300tdi disco 1 leak il from the oil pan, termostat oil filter housing.... it's like the dogs that marks their territory... Hi from Italy.
Thank you! That means a lot coming from another person who has spent a lot of time in the garage with a camera! I just skimmed your Pulsar GTI-R build videos, what a cool car! I'm jealous we never got that one over here, like so many other cool cars everyone outside of North America got to enjoy in that era! I'm sure we'll find more todos as we go on the Disco, however, I can report some of the "problems" were misdiagnosis. I pulled the fill plug on the transfer box the other night and it hardly took any oil, which leads me to believe the leak the "Land Rover Specialist" thought he saw was just a continuation of the engine oil leak, hopefully. Will know more once I can tear into her a little more, but unfortunately, I've got a parts vendor holding up the works at the moment!
@@MattKester I am jealous of the great outdoors local to you! Is pretty much totally flat where I live in the UK. I actually lived in Scotsdale AZ when very little, so took a road trip out a few years back encompassing Sedona. For sure we got nice imports in the 90s but nothing beats some Detriot muscle. I am actually back working the Discovery but is taking ages. Anyways subbing and looking forward to your adventures!
Funny you mention Sedona, I actually am waking up after camping there right now. A friend had never done the Broken Arrow trail and wanted to so I went with him and ended up camping out up here last night. It was awesome with that nearly full moon last night!
I'd say $1500 would be more in the ball park for headgaskets to be replaced at an independant imo. Assuming the heads and block are flat ofc.But yeah if you can do it yourself, $500 should be more than enough. Depending on the heads/block ofc.
I hear you. We ended up getting it done well under the $500 mark, as long as I don't charge myself for the bajillion hours of labor I put in, this being my first HG job and all!
cool video! i just found your Chanel and subscribed. i own a 1998 discovery 1 with 225k on it, and have a bit over 8k worth of new parts on it. that's parts alone i did the repairs. i estimate ive saved myself close to 15k in labor alone. i got most of my parts from Atlantic British, some used parts such as exhaust manifolds from eBay i also recommend lucky8llc, rovahfarm and rockauto for parts. most repairs are not very difficult and can be accomplished with only one person. i honestly love my discovery 1 and often i start it up just to hear that v8 purring. i recommend downloading the rave manual for the disco. it has been an invaluable resource that and UA-cam. A decent set of spanners and sockets, a dewalt impact driver with socket attachments bits, and a regular impact wrench for easier part removal where applicable. Also several your beverages of choice may be needed and highly advised while doing repairs/upgrades. if you're replacing the gaskets and machining the heads, i do recommend you replace the timing chain *my next project before it breaks*, water pump(STC4378OE), coolant hoses, thermostat with a 185 degree Fahrenheit unit, oil pan gasket(602087), oil pan bolts/lock washers (EOPBK), clean the oil pan sump hose metal filter/replace it *used brake cleaner to remove all varnish and thoroughly clean it*, metal radiator cap (ERR4686B), new exhaust manifold bolts (ERR6734G) *nickel based Copper slip for the bolts for easier future removal, 2400 degree version*, exhaust manifold studs (ERR551) *old studs will likely snap when removing, new manifolds/used manifolds may be required*, new exhaust manifold gaskets (ETC4524K2), zddt additive *to prevent premature cam wear added to new oil* (ZDDPLUS), fan clutch (ERR3443) *used a dewalt impact driver with allen hex bits to remove allen bolts made short work of them*, fan clutch wrench (88550) inertia switch (WQT100030L), new brake bulbs *vehicle will not move out of park if a brake light is blown out, found this out the hard way and bypassed mine by using a pin punch on the shift solenoid under the plastic center counsel* i do also recommend investing in a 52mm socket for the wheel bearings to adjust the pre and post load. also replace the fuse able links under the fuse panel in the engine bay x1(STC1757G), x3 (STC1758G), x1(STC1759G), x1 (STC1760G) *keep the old ones as backups as most non dealer parts stores do not carry the 100 amp alternator fuse and could very well leave you stranded should the alternator fuse blow* although it is alot of work, however most of this can be completed in a couple weekends worth of work. replacing those items will ultimately save you time in the future and give you a rock solid engine to build your rig onto. The fan clutch and water pump should be replaced as soon as possible as likely they're overdue for replacement, especially in a very hot climates, these engines are all aluminum so any overheating is a serious issue, as a new remanufactured block alone is 4500 without the core charge. new coolant green coolant is also recommended, avoid any oat based coolants as they tend to be harmful if left unchanged for long periods of time despite the claims that they are long life coolants. i replaced my cat back exhaust with a magnaflow system and it changed the sound quite a bit its not obnoxiously loud however you definitely know when its running. i look forward to watching your progress on your disco. welcome to the club ;)
Thank you, Chris! That's quite a good bit of info! I actually just got my head gasket kit on Friday, and I'm in the process of getting the head gasket done. I am replacing all the coolant lines, power steering lines, water pump, and thermostat while I'm in there, hadn't thought about the timing chain... fingers crossed the one that's in there stays together for a while. It's been fun, so far though. Hoping to have it all buttoned up by tomorrow night or Wednesday morning at the earliest!
@@MattKester sounds good man. the engine itself Ive found is quite reliable, it does lack in power a bit on pavement however its true power shows through once it gets off road. good call on replacing those lines as they generally will rot from the inside out and likely they will look fine until you try to pry them off to remove components only to have the hose crack. i wouldn't worry too much about the timing chain as long as your oil light isn't staying on, and you dont hear alot of rattling or unusual vibration. mine has lasted 225k miles and is still running like a top. however with that many miles its definitely in the back of my mind that it may be time to see about replacing it and the oil pump in the near future.
@@krookdfinra Well, considering it’s stablemate is a 3rd Gen 4Runner, we are pretty used to not breaking any land speed records on the highway. I’m glad I ordered those hoses too, the ones that were on there were definitely on the drier side, based on how hard some of them were to pry off.
Not bad, bought my D1 for $900, and I'm close to $4k+ on parts and labor so far lol - Oh and I see you guys drove by Palm Springs, good stuff, I'm just down the street from those windmills lol
That’s awesome. Those windmills are one of my favorite landmarks on the drive from Phoenix to LA! That and the dinosaurs at Cabazon! How’s your disco coming song? Anything crazy you’ve found I should look out for?
@@MattKester I should get it soon if not tomorrow, maybe on Monday. Did an engine swap (same engine, low miles), but couldn't hold temp, always overheating. So I took it to IE Rovers and they pretty much fixed all the issues I missed (cylinder misfire) and they rebuilt my radiator (don't get an aftermarket one) and they replaced my 02 sensors. And I couldn't figure out why my passenger seat wouldn't move, but he fixed that too lol. Were on the same boat, I have no idea what I got into when I got the Disco for my gf lol, but she wanted it sooo were here haha
@@bstunt oh the joys of that aftermarket radiator. Mine, unfortunately has one courtesy of some previous owner. Of course the plastic fill plug on that one had deteriorated and started leaking, and I couldn’t find any info on it. Tried ordering an OEM one, but they aren’t compatible. Ended up having to use a M12x1.25 oil drain plug which fit it perfectly, but of course is the wrong material to use in a brass radiator. I’ve used a metric F-ton of Teflon tape to try and minimize the metal on metal in there, but I need to figure out where I can get that correct plug before the plug and/or the radiator start corroding away. I know it’ll be worth it, once we get it all sorted, just a little time consuming and challenging getting it there!
@@MattKester I have a D1 as well. I fucking love it! But I must add, maintain the cooling system, the radiators go on these often, it is important to maintain the radiator fins and to flush it of dexcool if it hasn't been already and use regular green coolant mixed with distilled. These aluminium blocks warp easily. Watch Britannia restorations youtube channel for amazing land rover content. It's mostly defenders and TDI but they are so similar that the information is completely relevant to our Discovery V8s. Keep the rad updated, maintain the viscous fan clutch and thermostat! Lube the driveshaft and ujoints consistently, every oil change or right after power washing or driving through water. I love the truck it's just high maintenance but that is part of the vehicle I love too. It's a lifestyle vehicle, that's for sure.
Disco you sir are brave there really cool I just don’t want that much of a project.if it was just the under hood stuff yes that inside stuff drives me crazy!! I’m looking for a R50 (pathfinder or QX4 ) in Phoenix meow for an overland build,not as good off road as the disco but with some upgrades think I can get close without headaches(hopefully) I’m hoping to find one in sun city that’s not beaten!!
I think you’ll likely be able to come across one. I don’t think they’ve started to get as inflated yet, but I haven’t looked at the prices too hard lately either.
easy stuff, NB the head gaskets have relief for oil return both ends of the head, IE there is no left and right head gaskets. the 3.9 and 4ltr blocks have no oil gallery's in the back of the block to match these relef. it can be an annoying and ongoing problem. now there are a number of slightly different heads but i suspect the American 4ltr has oil gallery's at the back of the head, I tend to dowel these, send the heads out for a light skim ( mandatory) check the deck of the block, well not so much the deck but the liners. some 3.9 castings were shocking for slipping liners, the 4.lt is the same block ( actually still 3.9) but they stepped the bottom of the bore for the liner. however it sometimes can move. the reason i mention this is, back of the head gasket is usually associated with getting a bit of the worm side, being alloy block and alloy head the liner expansion of head and block are about the same as opposed to a iron block and alloy head. thus you don't shit a head gasket as often. while your there check the velocity stacks are not lose, centre punch the alloy if they are.
Nice video mate I’ve had many types of landrover and yeah very common problems I remember my discovery it had pretty much the same problems ahh especially the leaking sunroof and I live in the U.K. so yeah was very stressful haha but it’s a shame that you Americans didn’t get the 300tdi yes it’s a inline four 2.5L turbo diesel but my god they are bulletproof and go one forever.. but nice v8i
@@MattKester haha I’m guessing you can’t get at 300tdi or 200tdi in the states ? Emissions? Or just non about? I’ve got a 12j 2.5 n/a diesel in my defender 110 wanting to put a 300tdi in her but even over here they are getting pricey..
@@alfieh913 we just never got it, LR never brought it over. We got hosed like they on diesels until it was too late and they all got screwed on the failure oronenissions systems. I did see a RHD imported Disco one with a 300TDI listed in another state for about $15,000 a few months ago. About the only way for us to get one would be to import one that’s over 25 years old, or find a motor and do the conversion, which you can imagine all the fun that would go into that.
@@MattKester oh that sucks :/ I know you Americans love your v8s but I dont know why every British car maker always has to send you the v8 models it would be nice to see you have fun with the smaller engines... wait $15,000 for a tdi my goodness that’s a lot I paid roughly £400 for my 98’ 300tdi gs auto which is about $540... yeah it’s madness
@@alfieh913 yup, anything with a diesel in it over here automatically gets a boost in price over here, it seems. You should see what people want for pre-2007 domestic pickups with diesels in them. It’s nuts! I don’t know what the deal was, but I’d take a diesel 4 over the V8 any day, especially off-road! Don’t they like double the duel mileage too? I think we are rocking a solid 13 mpg on ours. Which, cost of fuel aside, it also means you’ve got like double the range!
To save money the first thing is not go anywhere near an official dealer, i mean stuff like a light lens cover isn't exactly end of world or ripped seat's, all that mechanical work you can do yourself, their so easy to work on and there's enough you tubers vid's about, their's tons of life left in that.
I hear you. I just wanted to get a good baseline of what was actually wrong with it. They ended up really going over it. Fixed the seats problem with a set of neoprene seat covers and we've slowly been going through and addressing most of the rest of it. I believe I finally got her to quit leaking oil after the head gaskets and trans cooler lines were replaced (fingers crossed). We're taking her out on a quick camping trip tonight and tomorrow to see where we stand and kinda figure out what we want to do next.
Just another thought the V8 Rover motor is basically a Buick nail head motor and maybe you should investigate if you can do a straight swop to a BOP motor?
It’s an interesting idea. A quick google search make it look like a straight swap might be possible with a ‘63 and older BOP small block, but I think they changed the pattern on the bell housing after that. I think if I were going to re engine it, I’d be more interested in investigating a 300TDI swap (after I win the lottery) or, as much as it pains me to say it, an LS swap. There are a couple of kits out there, this one even allows you to keep the ZF transmission instead of swapping in a GM one with the LS. www.alternativeconversion.com/product-page/discovery-1-and-range-rover-classic-ls-swap-basic-kit
@@MattKester the issue with an LS swop is that the diff and axles can't handle the torque and they let go. I'll swop in a Buick 3,8 v6 and have more power and reliability than the Rover motor. I live in South Africa and we don't have any laws governing what motor can be fit to what vehicle, neither do we have emissions regulations here either. A common swop here is a Lexus V8 in most 4x4's, they make plenty power and have lots of rpm for mud and sand.
I never even thought about the Buick V6, but that makes a lot of sense. I figured an LS would have the potential to be a bit much, unlike a lot of folks, I was less into it for the performance potential and more for the reliability and efficiency improvements, but yeah, it would have to be one of the less potent iterations. Which Lexus motor do they like to use over there? Is it something we got here, like the 4.7L 2UZ or something else entirely?
@@MattKester mostly the 4,7 then make an adapter plate to fit the bell housing. We mostly have stick shift vehicles here, so a flywheel mod, unless you have a Toyota that you fit it to, and a spitronix management system. 2 guy's I know have the mid to late 80's Hi Lux double cabs, the one had a 3,0 straight 6 7MGE and he loved it, the other guy went overboard and fit a 2JZ with twin turbo's to his. Was useless off road, but towed like a dream on road. In the end I guess it's what you want to use your rig for. My Pajero is an auto and if it was economical I'd put a lower stall converter in for better off road ability. But being that our Rand is at 15:1 to the US Dollar that's not going to happen soon. If I were you, in an ideal world, and could legally do it, I'd look for a virgin 3,5 Rover motor and swop that in, least amount of mods and the 3,5 was the origin of your motor. Smaller bore=more head gasket material=better seal between the head and block. The loss in power is not that much and the reliability goes up exponentially. But if I were you and the motor puked I'd go the Buick 3800 route.
i just brought a 2000 model Discovery 2 with a 2006 petrol motor in it it has $10000 of extras twin batteries full offroad suspension 10 ply tyres which cost 1800 dollars reverse camera with recording mode for insurance in case you get rear-ended Geenie headers brand new brakes all around disc brakes of course heaps of other stuff too i paid $6000 not sure if i paid to much i also own a 1985 Landrover county it runs an American v8 Diesel i have never had one scrap of trouble with it and i have never seen another one like here in Australia
not sure how much you have got done, but the transsfer case isn't finished with gaskets, it's a tube of sealant that you need to split as if you're replacing gaskets but just a bead of sealant and bolt back together to the required torque. Most of your other parts on the list is small and you can work out what to do I'm sure. The intermitent rear windows is caused by a dry solder joint on the rear window power relay inside the control box (under the dash, behind glove box) removal of the board doesn't require the unit to be unbolted, just lever out the plastic finisher where the plugs are and the board comes out. you may need the glove box totally removed though. Wipers are either the multi-function unit behind the internal fusebox or a plug issue probably at the back door... Mine used to work when it felt like it. As a note here if the rear door is open the wiper will not work, so make sure it's not a door sense issue. Have fun!
Turned, out, the T-case wasn't the issue, the head gaskets were just dumping so much oil it was running down the back of the engine an onto it. I pulled the fill plug and it immediately began to spill as I filled it. The dry socket on the window power relay is definitely on my list of to-do's!
@@MattKester That one is really easy, once the board is out you might see the crack, if not just reflow the solder on all the pins, Done a few of them now, litterally a 5 min job once the iron is hot. :-)
I love that D1s are criminally undervalued and misunderstood. In the US the d2 completely deserved the horrible Land Rover reputation and those prejudices fall back on the d1 undeservedly. They are almost unhyperbolically defenders without a tractor cab on top and entirely different than the d2, which was an exercise in BMW cost cutting. Unlike defenders they are dirt cheap and actually relatively comfortable to ride in. Land Rover does a fantastic basic truck, they do “luxury” horribly. You can find versions of these in poverty spec and absolutely without options and even with three pedals, those are the ones you want. The options you paid for when new are exactly the shit that broke six months after new and remains broken to this day and in no small part gives Land Rover unhappy buyers.
Yeah, I have a feeling they are likely to be the next unicorn everyone is looking for here in the states, once people start catching on to how great of a value they are... or not and those of us in the know can just smile all the way to the bank with all the money we’ve saved over the hyperinflation that’s so prevalent in the Jeep and Toyota world! And to answer your second, the center diff and high/low function just as they should. We’ve actually done a little bit of crawling in it a couple of weeks back and she was amazing!
Power steering system on this truck DOES NOT take power steering fluid. It takes auto trans fluid. Nobody realizes this and it exacerbates leaks. D1s are fantastic, simple trucks easy to work on and parts are cheap. The shit that ALWAYS sucks is the “luxury” they grafted on to make it more like a Range Rover than a defender. Sunroofs, electric seats, cruise control etc. if you find the most basic SD truck with cloth seats and sunroof delete it’s magic. These are NOTHING like D2s. This is a somewhat rare and good color.
Thanks! I hear you on the power steering fluid. Previous owner was dumping standard power steering fluid in it, I've since started putting the correct ATF fluid in to maintain. I'm planning on replacing all the power steering lines while I have her down to do the head gasket. Hopefully that dump and fill will get most of that incorrect fluid out. I feel you on the grafted luxury, I'd love to have cloth and power nothing!
@@MattKester im on San diego ,california . I will like to should you pictures of my disco 1 after all interior work ,lift and many things i have done to it myself 760 270 0497 norman
Power steering leak.... most common leak ever.. The crappy steering box develops a leaky lower seal because of two things: 1. the Sector Shaft (the vertical one the drop-arm is pressed onto) nests in a pocket machined into the coverplate.. lets call it an iron bushing.. that sector arm is harded...the pocket "bushing" is not (it is soft iron).. - This causes, over time, an elongation/enlarging of the pocket in the cover plate. - This in turn causes a pinching of the lower seal, which ultimately leads to failure of the seal. * The area above the lower seal is part of the down-stream 'low pressure' area of the hydraulic bits inside the box. This is compounded by the second problem with this box: - The biasing valves (that provide directional boost to the steering) are high-pressure above, and low pressure below.. but they are kinda crappy and fail to seal fully (over time).. When this leakage happens it causes the low pressure area to become pressurized with high-pressure fluid.. which of course means the already weak and weeping lower seal opens the flood gates... Regarding head gaskets.. normally its the valve cover gaskets that are actually leaking.
Its funny as over here (UK) we don't have many disco ones on the road and most of them a the good old donkey (diesel) and the V8 well they are low mileage because the cost of petrol and are pretty good all round and the faults you've have are more or less come every day things now once you have done all these pain in the butt jobs at the same time lift the body and reinforce the body were the mounts go it will pay in the long run and parts seem to be a lot cheap over there in the state . ;-))
I was quoted £8-10k to fix mine when I got it, I’ve paid out nothing like that and last year it passed the Mot first time and it’s a perfectly reliable vehicle. There’s a big difference between a perfect car and a perfectly usable car.
"Perfectly useable car" might be my new favorite term!
Landrover: turning vehicle owners into mechanics since 1948.
I love working on my landrover lol they're fun until you see them leaking all over the engine and underneath
Facts 🤣
I worked for Rover dealer for 11 years. I would say 90% "head gasket leaks" were actually just the intake manifold. But, guess what, you have to take the intake off to do the head gaskets so the head gasket job fixed the leak for three times the cost. Especially an oil leak, there is only a very small oil passage through the head gasket that is nowhere near the edge.
You beat me to it. Those valley pans leak like crazy.
I've got a disco 1 in the fleet, love it!!! Every time I drive it I always question why people need new cars!? It's so nice
That’s the question that’s been driving me to want to do this build and put it on the channel. Old cars are like shelter dogs, there’s a bajillion of them out there, all they need is a good home and some love and they’ll surprise the hell out of you!
Be careful when the shelter dog bites you then poops all over your house. That's my experience with these tired dogs.
I had a disco 1 for 16 years with 300tdi engine. Very easy to work on, 260,000km, never needed a tow. Great vehicle if you appreciated its limitations. Serviced by me.
I’m really beginning to think I need to start a TDI swap fund!
@@MattKester i would. 300tdi manual. but your in the states so hens teeth I think. how ever the 300tdi was made in brazil. upguned to a 2.8 sold as an international in the US and even fitted to ford rangers for a couple of years. these motors were the default crate upgrade for the D1
The best part is once you just decided you'll do it all yourself it gives you the confidence to really know your rig. Making you even more attached to the enduring ownership experience of the Landrover Discovery
Owning a Land Rover is like being the owner of the Millennium Falcon...your hyperdrive is always out, there's always some problem with the power converters or the power coupling on the negative axis has been polarized and I'm afraid you'll have to replace it. In fact the Corellian YT-1300f light freighter is known as the "Land Rover of the Star Wars Universe". People would think that a guy like Captain Solo would ditch that POS for a more reliable ship....but they don't understand. Just like people don't understand my love for my Discovery 1...Check engine light turns on if a deer farts within 100 yards, she leaks oil, she leaks power steering fluid, my hyperdrive (aka cruise control) hasn't worked in about 10 years, my rear windows only work when they want to, one headlight is full of water...currently my transfer case shifter is frozen and won't move...the list goes on. My point is... like Captain Solo, I wouldn't trade my Disco 1 for anything! If you don't own one you'll never understand that relationship. Now to be fair...there are lots of people who have owned a Land Rover and say things like, "That thing was the biggest piece of crap I ever owned...I got rid of that piece of crap, nothing but problems!" I welcome the problems...I'm an overlander, an adventurer, a world traveler...and I have to say that misadventures tell way better stories, make for better experiences, and are much more memorable than plain old regular adventures. Then again, I'm a "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda guy...like Captain Solo...lol, just my 2 cents... PS.- No, I am not a Star Wars fanboy, it was just an analogy to make my point...besides Trek is better!
Best. Analogy. Ever. I completely agree. I also find that most of these “problems” are more annoyances rather than catastrophic failures that leave you stranded to die on an inhospitable planet. Plus, it doesn’t ever really go anywhere that crazy without our X-Wing 4Runner... which we all know can crash and sit submerged in a swamp in for an unspecified amount of time, then start right up and take us anywhere we want to go, just in case.
Awesome response to owning almost all British vehicles. I loved my 3 Lotus cars, though any sane person would have stopped at one and got rid of it. Something just quirky enough to make you love them!
You sir, are an artist, and i thank you
When I read this l lmao! So very true! You nailed it! I read a comment somewhere.. "the only thing that Land Rover's are used for today is, going to Starbucks and and Whole foods". I will never own a Land Rover, or Ranger Rover again. 4wd pieces of junk!
This guy gets no likes for his amazing edits, this dude needs to have more subs
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words! We’ve picked up quite a few in the last couple of weeks, and I’m super grateful for everyone who’s found this channel and subbed! Thanks!
@@MattKester I just subscribed. Hello from Tucson. Where you live in AZ?
Not only that, great writing/narrating, shooting and audio quality! Definitely got a new sub from me
Ive got a diesel d1 fully decked out top of the line everything , twin locked everyday driver done 335000 and blows less smoke than a petrol !! This is the most comfortable driver ive ever had ... I keep waiting for it to break down and live up to its online rep but it refuses to its twin locked and cops a hard time off road every wet season this vehicle is a weapon to own and drives and handles superbly ...so i guess its horses for courses look after them and they will not let you down, d1 300 tdi one of landrovers finest hours full stop !!!
The tdi and td5 are bloody great engines. They will rack up huge mileage without issue if you look after them.
I just killed my 95 about 6 months ago and now am in a 98. I hate that I love these cars so much. Hope your repairs have gone well. Definitely am going to check out the rest of your videos. All the Disco 1 love.
Thanks, Brian! I'm definitely loving ours. If I could find another on in good shape at a decent price, I'd dump my 4Runner for it in a heartbeat.
@@MattKester They are amazing cars. Hate that I love mine so much. After watching all your videos and the work you have done I bet your feeling some what the same. Rover love though right.
But don't dump the runner. I love those as well. I had a 01 taco before my discovery that I loved. One of the best cars I have owned. I would have kept it but it was up to about 290,000 miles and just feeling old. Got to love old toyotas though. Great cars.
Can't wait to see what you guys do you your disco.
Sunroof leak- remove headliner, oh. Download “RAVE” , that’s the shop manual. Remove headliner, locate drain tubes make sure they are attached. Next check to see if the drain pts, where the tubes attach, are still siliconed onto the metal tray. It’s one of those two. No more leak.
I got a copy of the rave saved on all my devices! We took the healiner down last month and dig into it. Turned out the sunroof drains just fine, it was coming in through the top of the windshield. Two tubes of windshield sealant later, she appears to be holding.
I also have one. A special one, D1 type D2😀, Diesel engine, 7places and working AC. Also some leaking that i learn to fix... and i love it. Cheap repair parts, and a lot of tutorials making owners a kind of mechanics for years.... 😀 Enjoy it.
That is awesome that you are able to do that work yourself. It really opens up a world of vehicles that others can't touch. If I were able to do that kind of work I would still have my 2000 Expedition.
Living in the UK i have had Landrovers since I was 16, my first car was an ex-army series 2a, great cars and very reliable as long as you give them the TLC they require and most importantly have the correct knowledge and technological understanding to keep them running. Good luck with the project, she looks a solid car👌
Thank you, sir! I am really appreciating the community that surrounds these old Land Rovers. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd buy an old car and all of a sudden have people from all over the world be so generous with their knowledge and time helping me figure it out! We are definitely excited about it!
@@MattKester as we say here in the UK, once bitten by the Landrover bug it never leaves you and you find yourself surrounded by likeminded people who get great joy by helping others .... it’s a real pity that the new bosses at Landrover don’t understand that simple point or understand the attraction of the design, the new defender I think is the start of their own destruction, well for the serious off roader/farmer etc anyways...have fun and I look forward to the up dates.
Frugal Explorer Dad
Wellcome to the family
If you want to know how big it is U Tube the Landrover International Show at the Peterborough show or the Billings Landrover show both here in England . Then do the German , Dutch , Australian , South African , Australian and Japanese owner clubs . I don’t know of another single make club anywhere as big or helpful as Landrover
I know all about the reliability issues and the jokes but no one who owns one really seams to care we just love them
Enjoy your ownership and learning how to maintain and become a better mechanic
Dave
Yessssss ! I have a 1999 D1. It marks its territory daily.....Subscribed !
Thanks for watching and subbing! I am so impressed with how engaged the community around old Disco is! I really appreciate the support, thank you so much!
i drive older vehicles so i have a third piece of junk for back on the other two that way i always have some thing to drive.
One of the best and honest dives in to the land rover world. You can do this. But yes to need to send the heads out. They are aluminum and a valve job never hurts.
I have a feeling I’m going to regret not having done that!
Ah there's your problem..it's a petrol.
Had the same model but TDI diesel auto here in Australia. that stuff is just wear and tear from being driven. if the radiator hadn't been crushed the head casket would have been ok. looks like it lived its life with just engine oil changes, and forget everything else. The beauty of that model is you could still work on yourself with just minor mechanical skills, no electronics too spoil your life. Enjoy.
Love my discovery's they are fantastic old wagons and every bit as capable as a defender if you ask me 👍🏻
I’m beginning to realize just how good she really is! I was able to finally drive it myself offroad for quite a bit of time last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Had the Disco 3, and Defender previously, now only have the Disco 4 (the last real Landrover). Love it!
My friend and I are working on a restore of a 90 series from a farm, and possibly a Series 1 after that.
Discovery 1's are for DIY people. They are worth every penny.
Wow, I thought mine was bad. Kudos to you for taking this head on. I hope things get better.
Thanks, it has. We just took her on a 600 mile trip this past weekend for three nights across southern Arizona and she gave us no issues.
Man this is a classic, worth way more than any 2015 LR, do it the mainteinance and repair it... and enjoy
Thanks! We are! It's such a cool rig and I've been surprised just how simple it is to get in and work on. I definitely don't mind doing the maintenance on it!
@@MattKester yeah no kidding to change a light bulb on new cars you basically need ten sockets of all metrics to remove bumpers , electrics and all sorts. new cars are all about adding labor hours to any minor concern. no such thing as an easy job in new cars.
@@mrsteel10213 It only takes a minute or two to change any light bulb on an old Discovery.You must be doing something wrong.
@@philiphawley2915 nope my comment was refering to the new vehicles. I own a d1 and also own new trucks that you basicaly have to remove grills bumpers to get to the bolt that removes the headlight. I had a 2000 suburban, only two L shaped retainers and off came both headlights and blinkers. It was a dream.
My D2 has less problems than this thing! Thanks for making feel better about my Disco
Anytime!
Wait until your D2 throws up the 3 amigos on the dash or develops a leak in the air suspension which is almost gaurenteed at some point
@@jonathannicholson5264 i have a d2 with no 3 amigos or air suspension so i’m good 😂😂
@@alexdalton6215 AHHHH soon the Germans will have there revenge lol
I like that your just a regular joe and not just a self proclaimed expert. I noticed you live in a condo, where do you work on your car?
Thank you. We have a one car detached garage on the property we use. I don’t think I’d ever be able to get away with doing something like swinging a motor in and out on there, but it’s done surprisingly well for what we’ve done so far. Some things just take a little thinking out so you know where to position the vehicle before you start working on it so you know you’ll be able to get to what you need to on the middle of the project.
I dont know you or your mechanic skill level BUT i would highly recommend looking for a guy called "disco mike" on land rover forum. I believe he is from AZ, he own a disco and he is a certified landerover mechanic. Very knowledgeable, nice guy 😉
I think I've seen some him in quite a few threads. I wasn't aware he was from Arizona. I'd love to hear from him sometime if anyone out there knows where to reach him.
@@MattKester the best way would be thru the forum. I've talked to him on the phone once but its bern over 10 years ago when i had a disco II. Also there is places where you csn download the "rave" manual. Which is the OEM maintenance manual (its like over 500 pages, i printed it...lol)
I don't mean any disrespect to all Land Rover independent shops....but so many of them charge outrageous prices that they send these trucks straight to the junkyard. 1600 for a transfer case reseal is absolute MADNESS. If you're ever in Vegas hit me up I'll do it for you.
Thanks you for the generous offer! The only thing that has had me floored more than what specialist shops charge for these things is how supportive the community of DIY Land Rover owners have been offering all the help and guidance we could ever hope to ask for! Fortunately, it turns out all the oil on the transfer case was from the leaking oil from the back of one of the heads. I just finished the 20k service and the gear oil actually poured out of the fill hole when I got around to changing the transfer case oil! That was a huge relief!
Boy that's pretty scary if it's the nicest one they have seen in awhile , just remember when you think you've got all the leaks taken care of one more will soon start it's a landy by george, great vehicle but always teared up.
I had a head gasket blow out the side of number 5 cylinder in my D2. No over heating or lose of coolant. I did the new head gasket in my driveway. Very easy to do but lots of bolts. I’d suggest replacing your water pump while you have everything apart. Good luck. Subscribed to see what happens. 😀
Thanks, Cory! I watched Atlantic British’s video on the D2 head gasket job and I got the impression that it’s gonna be a lot of bolt work. I’ll definitely be sure to do the water pump, think I’ll put a new fan clutch and thermostat in too, just to be sure. I’m planning on getting everything ordered up tomorrow and starting on it first thing next week. Thanks again for checking out the channel and subscribing!
@@MattKester OH OH just had a thought, the water pumps do not have a bypass, that's on the plastic heater hose valve. don't be tempted lol
I have an old MGB, the old saying for a UK built car is "if it ain't leaking its empty."
A Landy is like your own child, you must be able to take care of it yourself. They become part of your life and your family memories. I would suggest that you get yourself a good workshop manual for your Landy, it will make life easier.
I own a Discovery 1 300 tdi and my wife an old 1980 series 3 88" swb
and no one works on them but myself. ENJOY.
I’ve got a 01 Disco, I feel ALL your pain!!! And yes I’ve replaced the head gasket from a eBay kit for $80 bucks.
That disco has a very nice colour! I love it! I have a 1998 disco 1 my self! Looking forward to see result!
Thanks, and thank you for watching. We are pretty excited to see how it all turns out too!
Me too, Woodcote Green LSE
When I was in college in 2001, I saw my first Disco in the campus parking lot. Absolutely mesmerized by the look - and always thought it was the coolest SUV on the planet. 21 years later as I was getting ready to hand my Grand Cherokee off to my 15 year old daughter, I decided a 2004 Discovery 2 would be my mid-life "corvette". I found one online outside of Boston. 84k miles - head gasket replaced - new drive shaft - frame sprayed - OEM brush guard - new A/T tires - safari rack - snorkel - rear ladder - chawton white color (prerequisite).When I say this vehicle was immaculate - not a single scratch in the paint, and the only interior issue was the driver captain's chair arm had some cracking. Otherwise, everything worked and looked amazing. Paid $35k for the vehicle and to have it shipped to Charlotte, NC.
After receiving the vehicle, some gremlins ensued in quick fashion.
1. Starter went bad (Replaced - $400)
2. Power steering pump went bad (Replaced with buddy)
3. New pump went bad (Replaced it again, and replaced all lines)
4. Power steering leak at the steering gear (Mechanic replaced steering gear) POWER STEERING NOW FIXED (~$3,000 in parts and $1,200 in labor)
5. Water pump and radiator leaking (Replaced) $500
6. Mechanic bolting on water pump and broke engine front cover (Replaced engine front cover $500 - mechanic paid for it)
7. Pinion seals and transfer case seals replaced ($1,100)
8. Sunroof intermittent leaking (Not resolved yet)
Ultimately, the power steering situation was the most frustrating. It was very odd, and I think more just a string of some bad luck. I have driven the car on several long trips (6 hour and 10 hour trips one way). I absolutely love it, and fortunate I have the means to invest in it to keep it maintained.
As a note: If you find one in pristine condition, it will cost you as these are now collector's items. BE SURE TO GET COLLECTOR'S INSURANCE. The book value is much less than the market value. Good thing with that is the property taxes are inexpensive.
Oh boy, you’re gonna be in the driveway for so long the neighbors are going to think you’re a lawn jockey. ;-) Bon Chance! She will be solid when you complete everything and you’ll love every minute of adventure once she’s sussed.
She’s been quite a bit of fun getting to know. I do appreciate how it’s built to be worked on. There really isn’t much of anything I’ve come across on this thing that you couldn’t handle with the most basic of tool kits, which is much appreciated as next week I’m going to replace the upper ball joints and suspension bushings on our 4Runner, which is gonna require a bit in the way of presses and pullers that aren’t in most DIY’ers tool kits.
@@MattKester yeah, depending on the model of 4Runner, they’re fairly simple too. I had a 97 with the factory Elocker that was just a sublime machine. I could change the brakes and rotators on the front in all of an hour.
I just want to put in perspective, that DIscoveries use A LOT of fluid compared to a small sedan of the same age, I was really surprised when I started doing small services to ours
This is indeed going to be a project, think back to why you bought it in the first place and keep going. You will get a lot of respect driving a well maintained old Landy
Thanks man! Its definitely starting to come together, or at least that’s how it feels, now that we’ve got the engine sealed back up and she isn’t gushing fluids like a hemophiliac!
The intermittent problem with the back windows is a dry joint on the ecu board. Plenty of vids on here on how to fix it, takes about 10 minutes. Enjoy the green oval for all it is worth, it will be a love hate relationship with it. When it's running right you will love it, when it's broken you'll want to set fire to it. I have 4 D1's all 2.5 diesel and they don't leak, they sweat power lol.
I just looked up a video on it, and didn't realize until the end that the presenter doing the work only had one full arm, so there's really no excuse for me not being able to do it!
Good luck with your project! Any 22 year old car will require a list of work to be done. Landrovers gain a bad reputation due to people still using them when they need to be repaired, and the list just build up and up. They can be fixed in the main by peope like yourself.
Have fun in this great vehicle.
I have a 1998 Land Rover that I payed $200 for it 4 years ago and I just replaced the transmission on it it was $3000 to get it replaced and now my transfer case is leaking, but I love driving that Land Rover
I hear you, it’s one of those vehicles that puts a smile on your face every time you get in it.
I have a 98 Disco LSE. I find your vids very helpful
I just got a 99, foreseeing the same problems 🤦♂️good luck!
Doing my own d1 they are great cars and cheap parts I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks I had my d2 td5 for 8yrs only thing that killed that for me was rust can't wait to get current 1 on and off road
I hear you. Fortunately, this one hasn't started to rust and we live in Arizona, so we have a lot less potential for it to become a problem here. What's your D1 like? I assume since your D2 was a TD5, you probably don't live in the US and your D1 might have things that would make us jealous, like a manual gearbox or a 300TDI?
@@MattKester I live in Australia my td5 was manual my d1 is a tdi automatic it won't be any speed racer but that's not what it's about anyway look forward to seeing more of your vids stay healthy
Thanks. I’d take that “slow” TDI any day of the week! I was a truck driver for 15 years, so I don’t mind not being the fastest one out there when you get so much more in the way of low end grunt, better fuel economy, and engine longevity vs gas motors. Let me know if you ever post anything on yours, I’d love to check it out!
@@MattKester I was truck driver as well and I grew up with dad having lots of landrover defenders
as an owner of a 97 disco 1 and 03 disco 2, i am anxious to take the "ride" with u!! and get the curse jar ready lol!!! thumbs up!!!
Thanks! I'm glad to have you along for the journey. Three videos into being Discovery owners and we're starting to understand just how awesome the Land Rover community is. Right now, my frustration is less with the car, and a particular parts vendor who has hung up a critical bunch of parts for the last week. I got in all the transmission cooler lines and radiator lines, but the other guy has my transmission service pack and head gasket set held up, so there's no point in wasting two batches of coolant or tranny fluid doing those fixes until I have the other parts. So frustrating... but that's what I get for going with the "cheaper" supplier.
@@MattKester ive been lucky to have a few contacts here in PA...one thing i have learned about the parts game... dont throw any part away until u have exactly what u need,,, a lot of old parts can be cleaned up and work just like new! and research research research is the best advice on working on the discos!!! land rover community is awesome!!! be well!! thumbs up my good man!!
and btw tell ur wife my pug Betty is my copilot!!!! i noticed ur beautiful pit in one of ur vids!!
They are brilliant vehicles.this one needs a tiny bit of TLC...just the usual wear and tear stuff....but they are brilliant 4x4's..they go places few other standard 4x4's can go. 😊😊😊
I totally agree. It's really impressive to see just how capable this thing is, and we haven't really done anything over stock except the 245/75R16 tires!
I got a 96 d1... Love it.... Had it 4 or 5 years now and too many stories... Lmk if you have questions... I do my servicing... Have done the heads also tty bolts... Be careful if you deck them the intake may not align after a couple times.... My diff lock has a shifter btw... Heard it was the d2 that didn't have it....
Right on. Yeah we didn’t have the heads surfaced for that reason. Sounds like you only get one or two passes before they don’t match up. So far, so good with ours!
@@MattKester same here.... Transmission just went out though... Rebuilt the valve body... Pretty sure it was just a clogged filter... Changed the filter and fluid about 3 years ago... Looks dirty in there... Pretty sure it's due to the mesh filter type in it... Not micron...
@@alecaaa1 I see. Guess I better b make sure to do the full transmission service the next time I have it through the shop! How many miles does your Disco have on it?
@@MattKester had 114 when I got it for $1150 now probably 160...170ish after 4 or 5 years.... They've been hard years lol
@@MattKester btw mine was missing the magnet inside the pan for the tranny look like a ton of ferrous soot in there.... Added some bars from home depot for a couple bucks and max atf from royal purp...says it covers dex 2d... Found them around 10ish a qt.. Been driving around in the snow the past couple days with a jacked up transfer case... It had 2 shot glasses of gear oil lol... We lived in a condo for like 3 years... No servicing allowed but that is behind us... Going to town on this car now... Picking up a good used xfer case soon for $120... Where did you find that smashed cooler line just curious?
They used the parts to make these from lots of other vehicles, i used to drive an Ausin Maestro van and it shared the same rear lights, switches and other minor parts, the same parts would come either in a rover box or a land-rover box and the only difference was the price lol
I finally went and looked the Maestro up, I’d never actually seen one since they were never sold over here. Not what I was expecting. I figured it would be something more like a modern Transit or Sprinter... I couldn’t have been more wrong! Wow!
I want to follow all the way through I'm considering I'm buying a Land Rover you are my inspiration
This is awesome!! Looking for D1 To buy and build up!!
I bought one and a donor one with head gasket gone so had parts both gone now but it was a money pit
nice! i am also in AZ and so excited about your channel as i just found a 2k disco 1 I want to buy as my first car!
It certainly would be a cool first car! You’ll definitely learn quite a bit about working on card going that route with it, for sure!
Don't forget the Land Rover mantra: water in, oil out. And when it stops dripping - it's empty!
Yeah, and coming from the Toyota world where any type of leak is an indication of something being wrong, it's kinda unnerving sometimes. Although, it appears she may have stopped dripping oil after the head gasket and transmission cooler lines were replaced.
@@MattKester Good job that!
Can’t wait to see your projects! Your editing skills for the vid were on point
Thank you! I should have a video out later today with an update on where we are at with the project.
@@MattKester bring it to me and i should you how ease to repair this trucks are !! We can do it together
I own a 1996 disco 1 5 speed trans and lifted and fix all from door locks to head gaskets you name it..
@@Terrifier1984 I just might have to! What part of the world you in?
I had a Disco 1 V8i and it was a great vehicle while I owned it. You HAVE to be able to swing a spanner to afford keeping these old British 4WDs on the road unfortunately.
I sold it for a 3UZ V8 powered Defender 130 but otherwise it was a fun vehicle to drive
I had a 1994 2.5diesel engine. I 've bought it VERY usted, so no complaint. In spite of año the problems I had ( head gasket, hidráulic pump, break depressor pump, etc, most of them on Route) it was the vehicle I love more. Excellent off Road, comfort level, capacity. Go ahead!
Thanks Gustavo, wish we could get our hands on a diesel variant over here!
The LT230s (Transfer cases) all bloody leak. The intermediate shaft o ring o wears and loses its ability to seal. It's not typically a bad leak but involves pulling the box to fix.
Just bought my first disco, and am so happy I found your channel. I’ve got some similar issues on mine so I will for sure be checking out your other vids and on the look out as you make repairs. Thanks for sharing!
Welcome aboard! They are definitely a labor of love, but when they're working right, you'll be hard pressed to find another vehicle as good. Totally worth it!
just drive it into the ground or do repairs urself what you can do or go2 autozone they can recommend places and get ya all the parts you need to get the job done right the first time
Par for the course on a Land Rover, if it doesn't leave it's mark on the driveway it hasn't got any oil in!
My brother has a Range Rover classic and even after we removed the motor and gearbox it still leaked oil.
Sounds about right! i've found I gotta take this thing to a wash bay every time I patch something up just to make sure, there's so much residual!
I live in Phoenix, own an LR4, and would be happy to help you wrench if you need another hand. Just let me know. See you on the trails and thanks for your videos!
Thanks for watching! I just might have to take you up on that one day! We’d definitely be up for hitting a trail sometime!
ha ha it leaks oil! ... It's ok it's a Land Rover! Mine 300tdi disco 1 leak il from the oil pan, termostat oil filter housing.... it's like the dogs that marks their territory... Hi from Italy.
Im going to do this to mine seams like it will save a headache, what size bolts did you end up using to mount them?
Very much approve of your choice! Nice to pick one up with such a small list of todos ;-)
Thank you! That means a lot coming from another person who has spent a lot of time in the garage with a camera! I just skimmed your Pulsar GTI-R build videos, what a cool car! I'm jealous we never got that one over here, like so many other cool cars everyone outside of North America got to enjoy in that era! I'm sure we'll find more todos as we go on the Disco, however, I can report some of the "problems" were misdiagnosis. I pulled the fill plug on the transfer box the other night and it hardly took any oil, which leads me to believe the leak the "Land Rover Specialist" thought he saw was just a continuation of the engine oil leak, hopefully. Will know more once I can tear into her a little more, but unfortunately, I've got a parts vendor holding up the works at the moment!
@@MattKester I am jealous of the great outdoors local to you! Is pretty much totally flat where I live in the UK. I actually lived in Scotsdale AZ when very little, so took a road trip out a few years back encompassing Sedona. For sure we got nice imports in the 90s but nothing beats some Detriot muscle. I am actually back working the Discovery but is taking ages. Anyways subbing and looking forward to your adventures!
Funny you mention Sedona, I actually am waking up after camping there right now. A friend had never done the Broken Arrow trail and wanted to so I went with him and ended up camping out up here last night. It was awesome with that nearly full moon last night!
I'd say $1500 would be more in the ball park for headgaskets to be replaced at an independant imo. Assuming the heads and block are flat ofc.But yeah if you can do it yourself, $500 should be more than enough. Depending on the heads/block ofc.
I hear you. We ended up getting it done well under the $500 mark, as long as I don't charge myself for the bajillion hours of labor I put in, this being my first HG job and all!
i love the land rover discovery 1 it is my favorite i hav one
It’s definitely growing on us! We are thoroughly enjoying ours!
cool video! i just found your Chanel and subscribed. i own a 1998 discovery 1 with 225k on it, and have a bit over 8k worth of new parts on it. that's parts alone i did the repairs. i estimate ive saved myself close to 15k in labor alone. i got most of my parts from Atlantic British, some used parts such as exhaust manifolds from eBay i also recommend lucky8llc, rovahfarm and rockauto for parts. most repairs are not very difficult and can be accomplished with only one person. i honestly love my discovery 1 and often i start it up just to hear that v8 purring. i recommend downloading the rave manual for the disco. it has been an invaluable resource that and UA-cam. A decent set of spanners and sockets, a dewalt impact driver with socket attachments bits, and a regular impact wrench for easier part removal where applicable. Also several your beverages of choice may be needed and highly advised while doing repairs/upgrades.
if you're replacing the gaskets and machining the heads, i do recommend you replace the timing chain *my next project before it breaks*, water pump(STC4378OE), coolant hoses, thermostat with a 185 degree Fahrenheit unit, oil pan gasket(602087), oil pan bolts/lock washers (EOPBK), clean the oil pan sump hose metal filter/replace it *used brake cleaner to remove all varnish and thoroughly clean it*, metal radiator cap (ERR4686B), new exhaust manifold bolts (ERR6734G) *nickel based Copper slip for the bolts for easier future removal, 2400 degree version*, exhaust manifold studs (ERR551) *old studs will likely snap when removing, new manifolds/used manifolds may be required*, new exhaust manifold gaskets (ETC4524K2), zddt additive *to prevent premature cam wear added to new oil* (ZDDPLUS), fan clutch (ERR3443) *used a dewalt impact driver with allen hex bits to remove allen bolts made short work of them*, fan clutch wrench (88550) inertia switch (WQT100030L), new brake bulbs *vehicle will not move out of park if a brake light is blown out, found this out the hard way and bypassed mine by using a pin punch on the shift solenoid under the plastic center counsel* i do also recommend investing in a 52mm socket for the wheel bearings to adjust the pre and post load. also replace the fuse able links under the fuse panel in the engine bay x1(STC1757G), x3 (STC1758G), x1(STC1759G), x1 (STC1760G) *keep the old ones as backups as most non dealer parts stores do not carry the 100 amp alternator fuse and could very well leave you stranded should the alternator fuse blow*
although it is alot of work, however most of this can be completed in a couple weekends worth of work. replacing those items will ultimately save you time in the future and give you a rock solid engine to build your rig onto. The fan clutch and water pump should be replaced as soon as possible as likely they're overdue for replacement, especially in a very hot climates, these engines are all aluminum so any overheating is a serious issue, as a new remanufactured block alone is 4500 without the core charge. new coolant green coolant is also recommended, avoid any oat based coolants as they tend to be harmful if left unchanged for long periods of time despite the claims that they are long life coolants.
i replaced my cat back exhaust with a magnaflow system and it changed the sound quite a bit its not obnoxiously loud however you definitely know when its running. i look forward to watching your progress on your disco. welcome to the club ;)
Thank you, Chris! That's quite a good bit of info! I actually just got my head gasket kit on Friday, and I'm in the process of getting the head gasket done. I am replacing all the coolant lines, power steering lines, water pump, and thermostat while I'm in there, hadn't thought about the timing chain... fingers crossed the one that's in there stays together for a while. It's been fun, so far though. Hoping to have it all buttoned up by tomorrow night or Wednesday morning at the earliest!
@@MattKester sounds good man. the engine itself Ive found is quite reliable, it does lack in power a bit on pavement however its true power shows through once it gets off road. good call on replacing those lines as they generally will rot from the inside out and likely they will look fine until you try to pry them off to remove components only to have the hose crack. i wouldn't worry too much about the timing chain as long as your oil light isn't staying on, and you dont hear alot of rattling or unusual vibration. mine has lasted 225k miles and is still running like a top. however with that many miles its definitely in the back of my mind that it may be time to see about replacing it and the oil pump in the near future.
@@krookdfinra Well, considering it’s stablemate is a 3rd Gen 4Runner, we are pretty used to not breaking any land speed records on the highway. I’m glad I ordered those hoses too, the ones that were on there were definitely on the drier side, based on how hard some of them were to pry off.
Not bad, bought my D1 for $900, and I'm close to $4k+ on parts and labor so far lol - Oh and I see you guys drove by Palm Springs, good stuff, I'm just down the street from those windmills lol
That’s awesome. Those windmills are one of my favorite landmarks on the drive from Phoenix to LA! That and the dinosaurs at Cabazon! How’s your disco coming song? Anything crazy you’ve found I should look out for?
@@MattKester I should get it soon if not tomorrow, maybe on Monday. Did an engine swap (same engine, low miles), but couldn't hold temp, always overheating. So I took it to IE Rovers and they pretty much fixed all the issues I missed (cylinder misfire) and they rebuilt my radiator (don't get an aftermarket one) and they replaced my 02 sensors. And I couldn't figure out why my passenger seat wouldn't move, but he fixed that too lol. Were on the same boat, I have no idea what I got into when I got the Disco for my gf lol, but she wanted it sooo were here haha
@@bstunt oh the joys of that aftermarket radiator. Mine, unfortunately has one courtesy of some previous owner. Of course the plastic fill plug on that one had deteriorated and started leaking, and I couldn’t find any info on it. Tried ordering an OEM one, but they aren’t compatible. Ended up having to use a M12x1.25 oil drain plug which fit it perfectly, but of course is the wrong material to use in a brass radiator. I’ve used a metric F-ton of Teflon tape to try and minimize the metal on metal in there, but I need to figure out where I can get that correct plug before the plug and/or the radiator start corroding away. I know it’ll be worth it, once we get it all sorted, just a little time consuming and challenging getting it there!
@@MattKester I have a D1 as well. I fucking love it! But I must add, maintain the cooling system, the radiators go on these often, it is important to maintain the radiator fins and to flush it of dexcool if it hasn't been already and use regular green coolant mixed with distilled. These aluminium blocks warp easily. Watch Britannia restorations youtube channel for amazing land rover content. It's mostly defenders and TDI but they are so similar that the information is completely relevant to our Discovery V8s. Keep the rad updated, maintain the viscous fan clutch and thermostat! Lube the driveshaft and ujoints consistently, every oil change or right after power washing or driving through water. I love the truck it's just high maintenance but that is part of the vehicle I love too. It's a lifestyle vehicle, that's for sure.
@@MattKester which rad do you have? Is it Genuine?
I sold my1990 mod for 20 years ago, it still going strong :)
Wishing you kept it?
impressive drone shot at the end there!
Disco you sir are brave there really cool I just don’t want that much of a project.if it was just the under hood stuff yes that inside stuff drives me crazy!! I’m looking for a R50 (pathfinder or QX4 ) in Phoenix meow for an overland build,not as good off road as the disco but with some upgrades think I can get close without headaches(hopefully) I’m hoping to find one in sun city that’s not beaten!!
I think you’ll likely be able to come across one. I don’t think they’ve started to get as inflated yet, but I haven’t looked at the prices too hard lately either.
Wait, your doing maintenance on yours? Mine sat under a tree for 5 years and I’ve only ever done oil changes
easy stuff, NB the head gaskets have relief for oil return both ends of the head, IE there is no left and right head gaskets. the 3.9 and 4ltr blocks have no oil gallery's in the back of the block to match these relef. it can be an annoying and ongoing problem. now there are a number of slightly different heads but i suspect the American 4ltr has oil gallery's at the back of the head, I tend to dowel these, send the heads out for a light skim ( mandatory) check the deck of the block, well not so much the deck but the liners. some 3.9 castings were shocking for slipping liners, the 4.lt is the same block ( actually still 3.9) but they stepped the bottom of the bore for the liner. however it sometimes can move. the reason i mention this is, back of the head gasket is usually associated with getting a bit of the worm side, being alloy block and alloy head the liner expansion of head and block are about the same as opposed to a iron block and alloy head. thus you don't shit a head gasket as often. while your there check the velocity stacks are not lose, centre punch the alloy if they are.
Excellent presentation.
Thank you kindly!
Disco looks sick!
Thanks! It’s definitely different! Can’t wait to get it all sorted out and see how it handles on some more challenging trails!
The biggest problem is ... it's a Land Rover 🙂
It’s still going strong 20k miles later!!! Will have an update on it out soon.
Nice video mate I’ve had many types of landrover and yeah very common problems I remember my discovery it had pretty much the same problems ahh especially the leaking sunroof and I live in the U.K. so yeah was very stressful haha but it’s a shame that you Americans didn’t get the 300tdi yes it’s a inline four 2.5L turbo diesel but my god they are bulletproof and go one forever.. but nice v8i
I think I should make a video called, “the top 5 despicable things I’d do to have a TDI in my Discovery!”
@@MattKester haha I’m guessing you can’t get at 300tdi or 200tdi in the states ? Emissions? Or just non about? I’ve got a 12j 2.5 n/a diesel in my defender 110 wanting to put a 300tdi in her but even over here they are getting pricey..
@@alfieh913 we just never got it, LR never brought it over. We got hosed like they on diesels until it was too late and they all got screwed on the failure oronenissions systems. I did see a RHD imported Disco one with a 300TDI listed in another state for about $15,000 a few months ago. About the only way for us to get one would be to import one that’s over 25 years old, or find a motor and do the conversion, which you can imagine all the fun that would go into that.
@@MattKester oh that sucks :/ I know you Americans love your v8s but I dont know why every British car maker always has to send you the v8 models it would be nice to see you have fun with the smaller engines... wait $15,000 for a tdi my goodness that’s a lot I paid roughly £400 for my 98’ 300tdi gs auto which is about $540... yeah it’s madness
@@alfieh913 yup, anything with a diesel in it over here automatically gets a boost in price over here, it seems. You should see what people want for pre-2007 domestic pickups with diesels in them. It’s nuts! I don’t know what the deal was, but I’d take a diesel 4 over the V8 any day, especially off-road! Don’t they like double the duel mileage too? I think we are rocking a solid 13 mpg on ours. Which, cost of fuel aside, it also means you’ve got like double the range!
I love the scene you forgot your mask lol!
Right, I feel like that’s 2020’s version of forgetting your keys!
To save money the first thing is not go anywhere near an official dealer, i mean stuff like a light lens cover isn't exactly end of world or ripped seat's, all that mechanical work you can do yourself, their so easy to work on and there's enough you tubers vid's about, their's tons of life left in that.
I hear you. I just wanted to get a good baseline of what was actually wrong with it. They ended up really going over it. Fixed the seats problem with a set of neoprene seat covers and we've slowly been going through and addressing most of the rest of it. I believe I finally got her to quit leaking oil after the head gaskets and trans cooler lines were replaced (fingers crossed). We're taking her out on a quick camping trip tonight and tomorrow to see where we stand and kinda figure out what we want to do next.
An oil leak in a Land Rover discovery is looked at as a feature rather than a problem most of them left the factory that way.
Couldn’t agree more!
Also inspect steering box , prone to leaks
I hear you. I replaced all the power steering lines, but I think there may be a drip in there somewhere near the steering box I can't quite pinpoint.
What was the little black cube you put in your pocket at 1:19? GPS? Looked like a beeper...
It was actually a GoPro, I shot that whole sequence from the house to get the Disco and back on it.
They are like an old Detroit Diesel, if they stop leaking THEN you know you have a problem .
I got a dd and a d1 lol
Thanks for sharing. Subscribed
Just another thought the V8 Rover motor is basically a Buick nail head motor and maybe you should investigate if you can do a straight swop to a BOP motor?
It’s an interesting idea. A quick google search make it look like a straight swap might be possible with a ‘63 and older BOP small block, but I think they changed the pattern on the bell housing after that. I think if I were going to re engine it, I’d be more interested in investigating a 300TDI swap (after I win the lottery) or, as much as it pains me to say it, an LS swap. There are a couple of kits out there, this one even allows you to keep the ZF transmission instead of swapping in a GM one with the LS. www.alternativeconversion.com/product-page/discovery-1-and-range-rover-classic-ls-swap-basic-kit
@@MattKester the issue with an LS swop is that the diff and axles can't handle the torque and they let go. I'll swop in a Buick 3,8 v6 and have more power and reliability than the Rover motor.
I live in South Africa and we don't have any laws governing what motor can be fit to what vehicle, neither do we have emissions regulations here either. A common swop here is a Lexus V8 in most 4x4's, they make plenty power and have lots of rpm for mud and sand.
I never even thought about the Buick V6, but that makes a lot of sense. I figured an LS would have the potential to be a bit much, unlike a lot of folks, I was less into it for the performance potential and more for the reliability and efficiency improvements, but yeah, it would have to be one of the less potent iterations. Which Lexus motor do they like to use over there? Is it something we got here, like the 4.7L 2UZ or something else entirely?
@@MattKester mostly the 4,7 then make an adapter plate to fit the bell housing. We mostly have stick shift vehicles here, so a flywheel mod, unless you have a Toyota that you fit it to, and a spitronix management system.
2 guy's I know have the mid to late 80's Hi Lux double cabs, the one had a 3,0 straight 6 7MGE and he loved it, the other guy went overboard and fit a 2JZ with twin turbo's to his. Was useless off road, but towed like a dream on road.
In the end I guess it's what you want to use your rig for. My Pajero is an auto and if it was economical I'd put a lower stall converter in for better off road ability. But being that our Rand is at 15:1 to the US Dollar that's not going to happen soon.
If I were you, in an ideal world, and could legally do it, I'd look for a virgin 3,5 Rover motor and swop that in, least amount of mods and the 3,5 was the origin of your motor. Smaller bore=more head gasket material=better seal between the head and block. The loss in power is not that much and the reliability goes up exponentially.
But if I were you and the motor puked I'd go the Buick 3800 route.
A pretty car..
🤩🤩🤩
Love my 99 disco 2
Well this isn't a surprise!
i just brought a 2000 model Discovery 2 with a 2006 petrol motor in it
it has $10000 of extras twin batteries full offroad suspension 10 ply
tyres which cost 1800 dollars reverse camera with recording mode for
insurance in case you get rear-ended Geenie headers brand new brakes all
around disc brakes of course heaps of other stuff too i paid $6000 not
sure if i paid to much i also own a 1985 Landrover county it runs an American v8 Diesel i have never had one scrap of trouble with it and i have never seen another one like here in Australia
Dang! That sounds like quite a rig! Which American Diesel motor is it running, by the way?
not sure how much you have got done, but the transsfer case isn't finished with gaskets, it's a tube of sealant that you need to split as if you're replacing gaskets but just a bead of sealant and bolt back together to the required torque. Most of your other parts on the list is small and you can work out what to do I'm sure. The intermitent rear windows is caused by a dry solder joint on the rear window power relay inside the control box (under the dash, behind glove box) removal of the board doesn't require the unit to be unbolted, just lever out the plastic finisher where the plugs are and the board comes out. you may need the glove box totally removed though. Wipers are either the multi-function unit behind the internal fusebox or a plug issue probably at the back door... Mine used to work when it felt like it. As a note here if the rear door is open the wiper will not work, so make sure it's not a door sense issue. Have fun!
Turned, out, the T-case wasn't the issue, the head gaskets were just dumping so much oil it was running down the back of the engine an onto it. I pulled the fill plug and it immediately began to spill as I filled it. The dry socket on the window power relay is definitely on my list of to-do's!
@@MattKester That one is really easy, once the board is out you might see the crack, if not just reflow the solder on all the pins, Done a few of them now, litterally a 5 min job once the iron is hot. :-)
Hello! which specialist did you take this to in Arizona? just picked up a D2 and need someone to work on a few things. is this in Tempe?
I love that D1s are criminally undervalued and misunderstood. In the US the d2 completely deserved the horrible Land Rover reputation and those prejudices fall back on the d1 undeservedly. They are almost unhyperbolically defenders without a tractor cab on top and entirely different than the d2, which was an exercise in BMW cost cutting. Unlike defenders they are dirt cheap and actually relatively comfortable to ride in. Land Rover does a fantastic basic truck, they do “luxury” horribly. You can find versions of these in poverty spec and absolutely without options and even with three pedals, those are the ones you want. The options you paid for when new are exactly the shit that broke six months after new and remains broken to this day and in no small part gives Land Rover unhappy buyers.
Yeah, I have a feeling they are likely to be the next unicorn everyone is looking for here in the states, once people start catching on to how great of a value they are... or not and those of us in the know can just smile all the way to the bank with all the money we’ve saved over the hyperinflation that’s so prevalent in the Jeep and Toyota world! And to answer your second, the center diff and high/low function just as they should. We’ve actually done a little bit of crawling in it a couple of weeks back and she was amazing!
My 1996 3.9 just stopped at the lights and wouldn't start has gas but not getting it
Power steering system on this truck DOES NOT take power steering fluid. It takes auto trans fluid. Nobody realizes this and it exacerbates leaks. D1s are fantastic, simple trucks easy to work on and parts are cheap. The shit that ALWAYS sucks is the “luxury” they grafted on to make it more like a Range Rover than a defender. Sunroofs, electric seats, cruise control etc. if you find the most basic SD truck with cloth seats and sunroof delete it’s magic. These are NOTHING like D2s. This is a somewhat rare and good color.
Thanks! I hear you on the power steering fluid. Previous owner was dumping standard power steering fluid in it, I've since started putting the correct ATF fluid in to maintain. I'm planning on replacing all the power steering lines while I have her down to do the head gasket. Hopefully that dump and fill will get most of that incorrect fluid out. I feel you on the grafted luxury, I'd love to have cloth and power nothing!
@@MattKester im on San diego ,california .
I will like to should you pictures of my disco 1 after all interior work ,lift and many things i have done to it myself
760 270 0497 norman
Running 2 years with that same kind of oil leak.
Power steering leak.... most common leak ever.. The crappy steering box develops a leaky lower seal because of two things: 1. the Sector Shaft (the vertical one the drop-arm is pressed onto) nests in a pocket machined into the coverplate.. lets call it an iron bushing.. that sector arm is harded...the pocket "bushing" is not (it is soft iron)..
- This causes, over time, an elongation/enlarging of the pocket in the cover plate.
- This in turn causes a pinching of the lower seal, which ultimately leads to failure of the seal.
* The area above the lower seal is part of the down-stream 'low pressure' area of the hydraulic bits inside the box.
This is compounded by the second problem with this box:
- The biasing valves (that provide directional boost to the steering) are high-pressure above, and low pressure below.. but they are kinda crappy and fail to seal fully (over time).. When this leakage happens it causes the low pressure area to become pressurized with high-pressure fluid.. which of course means the already weak and weeping lower seal opens the flood gates...
Regarding head gaskets.. normally its the valve cover gaskets that are actually leaking.
Good editing and flow. Keep it up.
Thank you!
2:07 there’s a Land Rover defender LE 1/300
Its funny as over here (UK) we don't have many disco ones on the road and most of them a the good old donkey (diesel) and the V8 well they are low mileage because the cost of petrol and are pretty good all round and the faults you've have are more or less come every day things now once you have done all these pain in the butt jobs at the same time lift the body and reinforce the body were the mounts go it will pay in the long run and parts seem to be a lot cheap over there in the state . ;-))
Oil leaks on brit cars are an engineered way of preventing rust.
No AC in AZ. That would be my first repair 🤣
Turned out to be a ridiculously easy repair too!
@@MattKester AC systems are usually fairly simple repairs, unless the dash needs to come out 😡
Been there before!