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Last week, I had the good fortune to bring home a Disco that ticked the boxes and provided a solid foundation for my light build. Found it online from the original owner who drove it off the lot in 2003. He was a young man when he left the lot and it's had a life of love and use - which is perfectly fine and what I was looking for.
Basically, I will use the disco for 4-5K miles per year for fun, local commutes to ball games, off-roading, camping, etc. Not going for a showroom model.
The starting point - a few great things already finished.
The good:
- 2003 Disco II, 145K miles, S (no leather but the leatherette is in great shape)
- Chawton white with Kalahari 16" wheels
- Rover tech installed 2004 transfer case with CDL (pending lever)
- Rover-tym front bumper
- 5 Nearly new 265/75/R16 Cooper Discoverer STTs
- CB built in, with external tower
- Gasket replaced 25-35K miles ago
- New brakes/rotors all around
The bad & ugly:
- Broken rear bumper
- Some body damage on rear quarter panels
- Enough dog hair and dirt inside to plant a garden & knit a sweater
- Broken right mirror
- Missing right windscreen cover
- Severe weather and sun damage to external plastics
- Front driver and passenger door lock actuators seem stuck but the key works fine
- and of course I need a new headliner
I've taken care of a few cosmetic items and will post more as time goes on.
Looks like a great start. Looking forward to following along. Congrats, on your purchase.
Brian.
Thanks Brian - A few updates from the weekend.
Rover cleaned up very well inside and out. I had the inside professionally detailed for 2.5 hours and 2 guys scrubbing/shampooing carpet, plastics, etc. Great improvement and made a huge difference, particularly when you have 2 guys who know what they are doing. I took care of the outside, light wax, scrubbed plastics, etc.
Next steps:
- Install Hella black Magic lights
- Fix CB radio
- Spray external plastics with 3M rubberized under body sealant (good idea? Anyone done this before?)
- Paint grill
Spent a lot time this weekend doing a few items that were needed. Cranking out a lot of cosmetic tweaks and fun, quick impact items. Having a great time wrenching on the disco
- Driving lights: Installed Hella black Magic lights - I like the blacked out look when off, no effect on lights when on. Wired them to pop on when with high beams - a bit trick but easy once you find the high beam wire.
- Fixed CB - negative cable was broken, positive jammed into fuse box (?) wired directly to positive input from batt to fusebox.
- Sprayed external plastics with 3M rubberized under body sealant (good idea? Anyone done this before?). Looks great and gives a new plastic look to the trim.
- Painted grill - didn't think would make much of a difference but looks good.
- Painted right front windshield pillar (missing plastic cover and don't feel like spending $130 to order one - looks good for now.
- Warn Hawse Fairlead installed - Pending winch and couldn't look at that gaping hole in the front bumper.
- Warn 9T shackles
Next:
- Install Atlantic British rear bumper - arrived
- install TerraFirma Fender flares once they arrive.
A few pics of progress thus far:
Classy, I know Yah, but you should see the other guy Coming together Hella 500 Black Magic 6" Drivers 3M undercoat about to go on Finished coating the trim Looks new - let's see if it stays on
Spent a lot time this weekend doing a few items that were needed. Cranking out a lot of cosmetic tweaks and fun, quick impact items. Having a great time wrenching on the disco
- Driving lights: Installed Hella black Magic lights - I like the blacked out look when off, no effect on lights when on. Wired them to pop on when with high beams - a bit tricky but easy once you find the high beam wire.
- Fixed CB - negative cable was broken, positive jammed into fuse box (?) - wired directly to positive input from batt to fusebox.
- Sprayed external plastics with 3M rubberized under body sealant (good idea? Anyone done this before?). Looks great and gives a new plastic look to the trim.
- Painted grill - didn't think would make much of a difference but looks good.
- Painted right front windshield pillar (missing plastic cover and don't feel like spending $130 to order one - looks good for now.
- Warn Hawse Fairlead installed - Pending winch and couldn't look at that gaping hole in the front bumper.
- Warn 9T shackles
Next update:
- Install Atlantic British rear bumper
- install TerraFirma Fender flares once they arrive
- 3M Hood vinyl
- Atlantic British rear bumper - Much easier than anticipated and was a one man job in about 45 min - needed to pry down the hitch a bit.
-TerraFirma Fender flares - this took a couple of hours to pull off the old fenders and and line up/drill the holes Easy off bumper BAtlantic British bumper with Warn Epic shackles 3M vinyl hood blackout TerraFirma extra wide fenders installed Cleaned and waxed...
Does not appear to be modified but honestly haven't pulled the spare off the back to look. There is very little room (1 cm) between bumper and 31" tire - just enough so it does not interfere. Definitely would not fit a 33".
Took the Disco with some buddies out to Table Mesa, just north of Phoenix, for its first shake out run. Did great! They have a IH Scout and a late model FJ - the Disco definitely held its own and the hill decent control was brilliant. Great first run! Heading back out to a new area this weekend.
A few pics of the steepest hill climb below. Pics never do hills justice however compare the angle of the Disco to the Scout in the back ground.
Traction control walked right up through the loose gravel Did not deflate tires nor disconnect sway bars - will do next time. Nearly there...
03-19-2017, 04:57 PM
2003 Disco Build Light
