Check out my new Lift and Tires! (Pics) - Land Rover Forums

honda50r · #1 09-19-2011, 10:05 PM

Hey all. So, this process has been going on for about a month and a half. While at a local junkyard, Tennessee has lots of them with some rare vehicles by the way, I came across an old Rangey Classic with a 1.5" OME HD Full Lift Kit and it also had four 265/70/16 Maxxis Buckshot Mudders with around 70% percent tread left. I put it in the back of my head and figured I would wait, and if it were still there next time I was there I'd nap it all, figuring it wasn't meant to be and it wouldn't be there. Well, sure enough, a few weeks later the old Rangey was there, waiting for me.

So, I grabbed some friends and gathered various tools from neighbors, brother-in-laws, etc. I defintely over-prepared, as I didn't want to be on the ground in that junkyard any longer than I had to be. I walked into the office and negotiated the entire lift (Shocks, Springs) plus wheels and tires for $150, plus a trade for a spare set of LR wheels and tires I had. Eventually during all this I ended up in a yelling match with the yard owner, when he realized his employee hadn't made such a good deal, so we renegotiated to $200. (Another thread-long story in itself.)

Day one; I learned how hard it was working in the July heat in the middle of a junkyard. I had gotten all the bolts I could without a breaker bar, and got two tires. I was working front to back.

Day two; I came back on another weekend and used a Blazer driveshaft to loosen up more bolts.

Day three; I planned on this being my last day, and fortunately it was; but not without hardship. My father and I worked for hours in 95+ degree heat, finally making real progress and eventually getting the entire lift off. We threw my traded tires onto the rig with one lugnut a piece and we were out of there.

So, last weekend I put Landy on jackstands and worked my ass of all day to install the lift, staying up until 11:15. When I lowered the jacks the front end sat higher than the back, by over 3". I soon found out, the coils were backwards. By the way, HD coils are an absolute pain to compress.

This weekend I got some free time from work and got back on it. I ended up getting everything switched around within a day and was sure to Loctite everything, as I had forgotten to the first time. I also fit my new tires.

She looks great in my opinion, it was well worth it. I hope I'm done with her for awhile, but as we all know that's never the case. I have yet to obtain extended bump stops and this afternoon got familiar with how far I can go until I start eating fender. She rides like ****, but I love it!

Don't forget my rattle can blackout kit

honda50r · #2 09-19-2011, 10:10 PM

My history report

-After hard flexing or offroading the suspension seems to "pop" and "shift," is this the suspension settling back into place? That's what I am assuming it is, as the sounds soon dissipate.

honda50r · #3 09-19-2011, 10:18 PM

What do you all think?

Full Rub

A few more questions;

-I hate the Range Rover wheels, I think they're ugly. Anybody want them? I want some good 'ole Steelies.
-Also, the studs on the tires seem to "bump" when they're not perfectly pointed straight while driving. It's only slight, and it's not rubbing, because that only occurs at hard turning. (I figured if I'm turning the wheels hard enough to rub against the fender than I have other problems to take care of.) Sorry to naively describe this, but will an aftermarket steering damper help this?

tweakrover · #4 09-19-2011, 10:21 PM

Those aren't ome springs

honda50r · #5 09-19-2011, 10:23 PM

I painted them blue, lol.

honda50r · #6 09-20-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honda50r

-After hard flexing or offroading the suspension seems to "pop" and "shift," is this the suspension settling back into place? That's what I am assuming it is, as the sounds soon dissipate.

I figured out this problem. It seems I didn't install the bushings facing the ground on the other side of the shock, and the shock is stopped from going through the hole due to just the nuts being on.

GreedyRover · #7 09-21-2011, 06:56 AM

Looks good. Did you get a front end alignment after the lift?

slanginsanjuan · #8 09-21-2011, 08:22 AM

Looks great. Nice job on everything including the paint. I'm going to do much of the same...and the roof! How's the spray black out look up close?

Looks like you did the grill mod too. Can I see that closer with bumper cuts as well? Choice of grill material?

Tires look good.

RR wheels don't look that bad....but black steelies will look great.

yloDiscoII · #9 09-21-2011, 10:19 AM

I have to disagree with you...I love those RRC rims on a Disco, looks so much more European and unique.

Great work on your "budget build," you truck is looking tough!

honda50r · #10 09-26-2011, 03:51 PM

So you guys like the Rangey wheels?

But yeah, I was thinking of blacking out the roof as well. Juan; I just used a flexible plastic 25' plastic mesh roll I found at Lowe's for like $5. I hate it, I need to redo it. The flexible plastic can't even hold the steel emblem I have and there's no way of mounting it on the bottom of my grill, so it just hangs there.

I did not get an alignment. I've never heard of anyone doing that. Landy seems to be driving fine, what are some pros/cons to doing so?