Chicken Drumstick

TTT

+1 on buying new rims, you can buy deep dish 8 spokes for £25 a piece or keep your eye out for some genuine LR One Ton rims, I just got some for £23 each.

endcap are the plastic bumper corners on the front bumper. The extend down and form a small spoiler/valence. They also form part of the front of the wheel arch. Bigger tyres will often rub on these. I had that problem fitting some 31.10.50R15's on mine. Lots of options, fit a HD bumper, remove the end caps altogether (what I did) or some people trim along the horizontal line of the bumper corner inline with the rest of the metal part of the bumper. Bump stops are rubber block like things mounted on the underside of the chassis rails, as the axle goes up under articulation it will eventually hit this and prevent that side going any higher, it will also to an extent limit the downward travel on the other side of the axle. They are nothing to worry about though, only on certain suspension setups do you need to look at changing them.

Anyone have an exploded diagram of a 200Tdi heater matrix/fan? I don't even know where the fan motor is, is it possible to get near it without having to take the entire dash apart? Thanks.

oh bugger!

You might well be right. Although I don't think Ford would need to fear loss of sales, the F150 is and has been the best selling vehicle for eons. I think they sell almost as many in year as Land Rover has managed in 60 years. Well not quite but ~2007 Ford sold 900,000 F-series pickup trucks, which from what I understand is a pretty regular annual sales amount. That's a lot of trucks for a BIG market. If LR could sell only 50,000 units a year into that market it would be something and still double what current Defender production is.

What did you do to reduce weight? I was thinking: Pickup conversion, so lose most of the roof and rear panels with just a flat(ish) bed and some for of lightweight tailgate. Remove the rear bumper and either smooth off or fit a lighter alternative of some description. Strip the interior, probably keep the dash, seats of some description and centre console, but ditch anything thats not needed. Fit a lighter weight front bumper of some description. Remove spare tyre and possibly jack (but leave room to refit if a longer trip is planned) And that's as far as I've got. The only thing I was thinking of doing to add any weight would be a roll hoop behind the cab, partly for safety and partly for looks.

Thanks. I admit those adapters are not the cheapest, but I think its still the way I'd like to go. I think a D1 is still my choice of vehicle for this. I'd really like vented discs and ABS, but I think that means a 300 shape not a 200 with a 3.9V8 also these have 24 spline axles don't they? Current thinking is, 300 series 3.9V8 with R380 (if I can find one, if not auto it'll have to be).

What did you do to construct the cab? I sort of recognise some of the panels. Would be interested in any info/advise you could give.

Oh, I wonder if its the same on mine, it was a little dark when I was looking last night so I'll have another look when I get home. Would be handy, I'm sure all it needs is a tab and flick to free it off. Thanks

lol, that would help wouldn't it 1990 200Tdi

I dunno, I quite like it. It looks like a Land Rover, even if you couldn't see the badge. Ok I think the indicators need re-assessing but the rest just looks like an evolution of the current Defender to me. But then again, the 90 looked quite, quite different to the original 80" Series 1 so I guess change is always met with mixed feelings.

Anyone know of a good reference site that shows the Discovery 1 model history, such as spec, options, year on year changes and available models? I'm after info, like which models had vented discs, options packs, ABS, axle types, engine and gearbox variations and so on. I've found a good one for Range Rover's but don't know of one for Discovery's. Thanks.

Got a problem with my Disco, the heater fan appears to be stuck. It was working, but while away for its MOT it must have jammed and blown the fuse. Ok, I've replaced the fuse but its still jammed, I'm sure the motor still works because when you switch the fans on the dash lights dip slightly indicating a power drain by the fan motor, but nothing turns. I kinda feel if I could give the fan a flick it might free and be ok, is there an easy way to do this or am I going to have to take the dash apart?

Ta. I think ACE is a good thing, but 90's/Defenders can be made to corner well (been in a few that do). The D1 isn't really all that different just a bit heavier, which with the pickup chop I'm hoping to solve. I think lower ride height and bigger ARB's should make a difference, ride quality isn't really a concern, which I think was key to ACE, as LR wanted to retain the ride and the articulation but reduce roll. Maybe I've got it all wrong though.... More reading and waiting to see if a nice D2 4.0 litre turns up at sill money.

The prices on D2's does seem to be getting cheaper, just not sure if I'd want to spend a wedge on a vehicle to then cut it up. Doing to a cheapy to begin kinda seems to sit better in my mind.......

To make a Disco handle better and be more road biased who sells the best on road suspension upgrades? I assume poly bushes, lower stiffer springs, better damping and bigger anti-roll bars. I know Twisted Performance have done some good stuff with the Defender, would they be a good starting point to look at? Or does anyone know of any other good places to look? Thanks.

I assume this is possible, but whats the easiest/cheapest way to achieve it? Thinking about the 18" D2 rims. BTW - are P38a rims the same fitment as D2?? :unsure: This is further to my pickup Disco idea. Thanks in advance.

depends really. I would probably stick to no bigger than 33" tall unless you want expensive drivetrain upgrades. If you don't want them to stick out keep them narrow. Sadly tyre choice is slightly limited unless you go for 15" rims though. I like 235/85R16's though, quite tall (~32") but still fairly narrow. Some 7.50R16's measure very similar sizes, although some are a lot narrower, 7.5" should only really be 190.5mm wide, but many are as wide as 235's. Failing all this, just buy a wide arch kit then you can go a lot wider and still won't stick out

I think LR have still missed something though. And as much as it pains me to say it, the cause (or lack of response) was probably the Series III, it pains me because I have a lot of very found memories of Series III Land Rovers and still own one. But while the Series II opened up the desert in Africa and the east, along with the outback in Australia and even much of Canada and North America it had it's problems, such as weak axles, poor reliability, under powered, small fuel tank and so on. So what did LR do about it - well sadly sod all. They moved the headlights to wings because they were legally forced to and introduced a plastic radiator grill. Ok I know this dumbs down the SIII changes, but it didn't bring anything new to the market. The result Land Rover pulled from North America and loses almost all of its market share elsewhere (Australia, Asia and Africa mostly) to be replaced by other 4x4's that responded to the market. The 90/110 was a welcome update, but sadly too little too late for the global market and still didn't address some of the prime issues with the Land Rover. Today the Defender isn't even the chosen 4x4 of our own Military and its not sold in many markets with any degree of success outside the UK. Even Top Gear where Hammond, a sell confessed LR nut and Clarkson also an LR fan chose to use a Toyota to drive to the North Pole - why? Because of what the Toyota offered most likely. I also don't think it would be that hard to update the Defender, ok it would need a redesign, but the 1940's Rover P4 axles are well overdue for replacement anyhow. Jeep recently re-launched a whole new Jeep. Brand new chassis, axles, engines, drivetrain and body panels. Yet it still 100% utility and a true 4x4. No namby pampy plastic fantastic kind of thing. It has a proper ladder chassis with body panels bolted to it. Simple OHV engine, and a proper old fashioned transfer box. Old - but 100% 21st century. If they can do it, I can't see why LR can't. Also vehicles like the pickup trucks in America or Japan are not so different. All/most ladder chassis, engine up front and a body mounted on top. Ford have just launched a whole new F150 with coil springs all round. The chassis and basic construction would make an idea basis for a new Defender IMO. All the r&d has been done, all they would need to do is bias it to off roading a bit more and tailor it to what a Land Rover should be. They could use the design ethos of the LVC prototypes to keep it looking like a Defender, just a new one with new abilities. This is the LVC at Gaydon, I personally quite like the look of it: Something that looks like this available in 92.9", 110 and 127" wheelbases (or there abouts) with maybe a 150" for commerical/US market for heavier loads. With a 3.5 DOHC AJV8 with ~220bhp and loads of torque or a 2.7 193bhp common rail diesel. 6 speed manual or auto. Low range (electronic shift) Option of Terrain Response or plain old diff lockers Strong Ford 8.8 or 9" axles (or Dana 44/60 items) It should be quiet and comfy yet functional and reliable. The larger vehicles could be offered with a 4.4 V8 and the 3.6 TDV8 engines. All on a new chassis or as per the LVC using a unibody (I think separate chassis would be the way to go though and just use the styling ideas from the LVC) And then sell it out at sensible money and undercut the current Japanese offerings. Target farmers, haulers, commercial applications as well as the consumer market. With the advance of a new chassis, LR could also look to making a better heavy duty truck in a forward control configuration, a bit like the Llama project but a lot better and aim at a more mass market than just Military. I still think a luxury Disco 3 double cap pickup truck would work too, probably more in the US and Australia than here in the UK. But hummer and GMC, Caddy and others all make such vehicles and they have generally sold very well. I suspect this could be based on the current D3 platform or simply use the new one and slap a D3 looking pickup body on it. Keep the alloys, air con and gadget and price it higher along side the other current expensive LR's. Sadly going green will probably not be a long term solution for LR (or any company). Mostly because it costs more than a regular vehicle to develop, has a limited audience and usually heavily compromised abilities. Its more of a current trend/fad than long term company survival IMO. lol, think I might be getting carried away there..... well what might have been, lol :rolleyes: Sorry to thread hijack.

I believe so, although not done anything like this myself. From what I understand though its best not to make more hassle for yourself than you need. If you change the engine or body colour fill it out on the V5. Let the MOT centre do the rest, if they aren't happy they should say so and you can take it from there. Not sure if a camper body would need anything updating to inform the DVLA, there only have some many options you can choose from. Have a look here: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=39348 Les Brock posted a very helpful link in post 9, its probably worth a gander.

Its a shame that nobody at LR thought to use a bit of Ford technology and parts bin scavenging when they had the opportunity. I love LR (had loads) and truly a green oval supporter. But the high end LR's are too pricey and out of my league, and now the global economy has turned seems they are out of a lot of people's leagues. So why didn't they update the Defender???????????????????????? And support the utilitarian market? Trucks are still selling well in the US, better than Prius type cars (probably due to price cuts and cheaper fuel - that's what Motor Trend report anyhow). But why oh why oh why did no one at LR think...... Umm - Those Ford 9" axles look good, oh and complete with lockers or limited slip diffs. That hydroformed F150 chassis is pretty cool too...... With a little thought LR could have a top notch line up of upto date utility vehicles for a world market (instead of just the UK and a small bit of Europe). How about a Defender as we know and love it but with modern pressed steel panels (cheaper to make and mass produce), easy construction and profitable. With a new stiffer hydorformed chassis and ultra tough Ford axles. Wheelbases could range from the current 92.9" to 150", they could even offer a Disco 3 look-alike twin cab variant with plusher interior and options. Ideal for the American market. Take on Jeep Wranglers, 1500 light/middle weight trucks from GM, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan and so on, and all the Jap makers for the Asian and Australian markets. Very little development would be needed as all the ground work is there all ready, it just needs Land Rover'izing. Ideal engine solutions, base model Defender should be equipped with a 3.5 litre variant of the Jaguar AJV8 (as used in the early XJ8's) or a 2.7 V6 diesel. There's even the Ford modular V8 engine range to choose from too. These could then be promoted as "green working vehicles" with long life service and contributing to the country's infrastructure. Next steps if they really want to wave the green flag is to look to diesel hybrids - nobody seems to do this yet, they are all petrol for some reasons. Combine this with the technology gained from the LVC prototypes and there's loads of possibility. A word to Land Rover - keep the bling and the high end prices if you must, but remember where and why Land Rover started and what made it a success. Produce a vehicle for the masses and not just the rich and famous. Bring back the rugged utilitarian 4x4 workhorse and make Land Rover once again the best 4x4xFar!

Thanks guys all food for though. Have to say my plans may not be quite as accepted on here as some others. I'm not really looking at make a great off roader, just something different. A pickup would serve a good purpose and I still think removing all the interior and most of the roof must save some weight. But I was thinking of making more of a road biased vehicle. 18" alloys (maybe D2 if they can be fitted), lower stiffer suspension and big anti-roll bars. Weight saving where pos and more road biased tyres. I then want to see about some more power. Thinking cammed 4.6 Rover V8 or Chevy V8 conversion, Jag V12 did enter my line of thoughts but I don't think the engine bay is long enough. Would like to shoot for ~300bhp with good handling. Kinda of a bigger Impreza, but with attitude sort of vehicle. And it'll still be capable of going over the fields and up the lanes, nothing serious in the off road department though. More of a fun and slightly unsualy road vehicle. I did consider a 90, but I think the 100" wheelbase of the Disco should provide more stable high speed handling, and if I can get the weight down to something similar it won't be any loss. Also a lot cheaper to start with a Disco and more easy to buy a V8 and auto. Think I need to keep an eye out for a 3 door V8 auto then, or would the 24 spline axles on a latter Disco be worth the extra hassle of having a 5 door body?

Are they different?

I don't know much about this, but I can see it being expensive. Maybe a cheaper option would be to retro fit Land Rover's HDC system, I know its not the same, but if you could fiddle with it and lower the speed down a tad it may answer the question.