Welcome to Florida Rover's 1997 Discovery XD Build Thread.

This is a build, maintenance, and wheeling thread since acquiring the vehicle on November 30th, 2016.

The truck was posted for sale by another member, on the forum and Orlando Craigslist, I had contacted him about a month prior to purchasing to test the waters;
https://landroverforums.com/forum/pr...very-xd-81511/

After test driving one evening around Downtown Orlando, I walked due to the truck's temperature and price being far too high.

In addition, it had also been flopped* onto the passenger side and the transfer case shifter was stuck.

3 days later I purchased the truck for $3000..

 

I believe the truck started it's life in Florida after finding a single stamp from Land Rover West Palm Beach in the "Passport to Service" manual.




The earliest service records I have available place the truck in Louisiana in May 2002.

Owner: Mary Furman

Date: May 31st, 2002
Mileage: 84,025
Location: Land Rover Metairie, LA
Problem: CEL on, look over car for long road trip
Service: 82,500 mile service, front brake pads, serpentine belt, valve cover gaskets

Date: May 22nd, 2003
Mileage: 93,475
Location: Land Rover Metairie, LA
Problem: Overheating at idle
Service: Replaced radiator and thermostat, oil and filter,

Date: August 18th, 2003
Mileage: 98,420
Location: Land Rover Metairie, LA
Problem: PS leaking fluid, Overheating at idle
Service: Replaced steering box and hoses, replaced condenser fans

Date: April 8th, 2004
Mileage: 112,794
Location: SpeeDee Charlottesville, VA
Service: Oil and filter

Date: July 23rd, 2004
Mileage: 114,567
Location: Land Rover Richmond, VA
Problem: Not starting, belt is loose, overheating, exhaust leak, CEL, key wont turn corectly
Service: New battery, serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat, hoses, spark plug & wires, fuel injector, transmission fluid, exhaust manifold gaskets

Date: November 9th, 2005
Mileage: 115,589
Location: Land Rover Greensboro, NC
Problem: Vibration at 50 MPH, ABS light, check brakes, overheating while going uphill
Service: Front steering damper, bushings, rotate and balance tires, brake pads, coolant flush

Date: February 7th, 2008
Mileage: 118,907
Location: Jiffy Lube Charlottesville, VA
Service: Oil and filter



Owner: Aaron Johnson

Date: June 4th, 2008
Mileage: 130,000
Location: All Jaguar Service Charlottesville, VA
Problem: Head Gaskets
Service: Check radiator, bled brakes, remove oil pan & clean pickup, R&R heads, reconditioned heads machined, head surface and valve seals, new head bolts, thermostat, spark plugs, wires, filter, fuel filter, serpentine belt, oil and filter.

Date: February 2nd, 2009
Mileage: 125,004
Location: Highpoint Automotive Richmond, VA
Service: Replace left front brake caliper, bled brakes

Date: June 11th, 2012
Mileage: 166,549
Location: Jackson's Exhaust & Automotive Service Richmond, VA
Problem: Drive-ability
Service: Fuel pump, fuel filter, valve cover gaskets



Owner: Doug Boyer

Date: February 28th, 2014
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Service: Miscellaneous parts, thermostat, gasket, water temp gauge, transmission temperature sender, oil and filter

Date: March 25th, 2014
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Service: Viscous fan spinner, cylinder head bolt set, expansion tank, cap, gasket set

Date: July 14th, 2014
Mileage 180,218
Location: Land Rover Virginia Beach, VA
Problem: CEL
Service: Upstream 02 sensor

Date: May 15th, 2015
Mileage: 183,567
Location: Land Rover Virginia Beach, VA
Problem: Crankshaft seal leaking, motor mounts broken, rear hatch will not open,
Service: R&R crankshaft seal, exhaust gasket, all motor mounts, curfix seals on rear main, oil cooler O rings, power steering O rings, fuel line O rings, oil and filter change, exhaust manifold gaskets, down pipe studs.

 

I love the XD look. Great find and a great price!

 

Bringing her home the first night



Straight to work



Realizing just how bent she was



Don't lie, you would have done it



Waking up the next morning, questioning my decision



Still unsure..



Dirty



Fancy plate



Fancy sticker



Back to work



Bro WTF did you hit



Stickers?



Nah



Brake controller?



Nah



CB?



Trailer plug?



Air system?



Nah



This was the first 12 hours of ownership, which also included vacuuming out dirt and dog hair (not shown)

 

Looking good! Love that Camel Trophy look.


Brian.

 

1/2 rolled is a 'flop'.......not a roll.......
But cool any who.....

 

I've seen that truck before. Haha

 

First mod was the Scangauge E which fits nicely in the ash tray location



Couple days later, test run to the Home Depot after changing the main fluids



Truck was gradually overheating



Pulled the radiator at night



Took a chance on a cheap eBay radiator



Grille notched and front end put back together with new Harbor Freight winch



Headliner came out and stayed out



Taking stock of my collapsed driver's seat, after paracord repair



That was really the only piece I wanted from my buddy's parts truck XD, somehow I ended up owning the whole vehicle...



Stripped



Buddy's yard..



Saying goodbye

 

Gutted the interior



Installed the CB & Homelink



Added light guards



Drove her to work



Getting serious



Stripped the far bolt, had to cut a hole in the trans tunnel



Low range, check.



Added some safety gear



Almost ready for the first wheeling trip

 

1/21/2017 - First wheeling trip in the Ocala National Forest: 150+ mile round trip over two days

Lined up along the pond



Traffic jam while we cleared a tree



Lunch break in front of the US Navy's Pinecastle Impact Range



Posing



Clay pit I assume was used for road construction



Rovering around with my buddies



I need lights



And jerry cans



Back at camp



Random hog dog we found the next day, returned to her owner