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My good friend Chris messaged me while he was in Mexico about a white 95 SD7 D1 with no title for 750.00 about an hour and a half away from me. I looked at the FB Marketplace ad and the D1 was in exceptional shape for 750.00! I immediately sent the guy a message. Poor guy had just posted the ad and after I messaged him he said his phone was blowing up. I ended up paying 850.00 for it and he delivered it to my house which was totally worth it as I didn't have the time to go out and get it. After he dropped it off some severe weather passed thru so I didn't get to really look at it plus the mosquitoes were AWFUL!!!!
I was told all it needed was a fuel pump lol, I thought to myself how many times have I heard that before!! A few days passed and one day I got home from work a little early so I decided to spray myself down with bug spray and go out and take a look. The rear drive shaft was disconnected because there was no ignition key, and the original fuel pump was placed nicely in a box, and someone had gone to the trouble of making sure to cover up the open fuel tank which was empty and very clean inside. The fuel pump hard plastic lines had got brittle and just crumbled in my hands, so I made a note to order a new one.
Since I didn't have an ignition key I went ahead and removed the ignition switch and simply removed the black electrical part so I could use a screwdriver to start it. I got a battery, and then connected the fuel pump back up as I just wanted to see if the thing even primed when the key was turned to position II. Sure enough it turned on and primed just like it was supposed to and I heard the relays. So that told me all the electronics were good up to that point. Under the hood was 100% stock without a single zip tie or hack. Odometer showed 217K so I was already getting the feeling it was taken care.
The fuel pump showed up a week later so I went out and installed it. Slapped 5 gallons into the tank, and primed the pump several times to get fuel up to the fuel rail. Verified I had fuel at the rail and I tried to start it. She turned over really slow, but it never coughed. I verified I had nothing living in the airbox so Air = Good, Fuel = Good, so that left Electronics/Spark = Unknown. I verified 12v and spark at the coil, but I had nothing at the spark plug wires. I simply swapped out the rotor inside the dizzy, and it fired right up! At first the engine was a little loud because it had to get oil back up and fill the rocker shafts, but after that it ran super smooth, idled great, and no noise from the engine at all. I shut it off and considered that a successful day!
Next day I verified the fluid levels, topped off the coolant (didn't take much), and let it run again. Same thing fired right up and ran great. Then the weekend came and I attacked the Radius & Trailing Arms on XD 2.0.
On Sunday after the XD was all back together, I went out and added ATF to the 750.00 D1 it took nearly 6qt and when I climbed under it the reason became very apparent. The drain plug consisted of a bolt with about 6 washers, and it was seeping. So however long the D1 sat the ATF slowly leaked out. I jumped in, cranked it up, locked the CDL, and drove it over to my driveway where I could do the drive shaft stuff. Got that back on and I drove the D1 for it's first mile around the neighborhood. The AC also works, but the blower is dead which of coarse is an easy fix.
Body wise the D1 only has a little rust around the alpine windows, but besides that not a spot of rust in the usual spots. Frame is solid, and drive line wise it appears solid as everything works and the transmission shifted smoothly. Electrical = so far only 2 things that don't work are both front windows which could possibly be a bad solder on the ECU. The brakes = reservoir leaked so air in the lines. Interior wise front seats are trashed, but the rear seats, carpet, interior plastic trim, and the headliner are all good. Rubber Bushings top/bottom up front are completely gone as well, but that once again is super simple. I had really only bought it for parts, but I honestly might look into a bonded title for it.
You can't buy a gas powered golf cart or a side by side with 4wd and AC for 750.00 lol.
Pics! Need pics! I debate at times finding a D1 and building it to be as capable as my Jeep, but that seems a little silly since the Jeep is a such a hammer for reliability and capability.
Pics! Need pics! I debate at times finding a D1 and building it to be as capable as my Jeep, but that seems a little silly since the Jeep is a such a hammer for reliability and capability.
Once back in CO you'll have to tag along with a buddy who has a weapon of a RRC to see in person what that chassis can do. Very very impressive what he can do on 33s.
This is awesome. Great news! Man that's cool. It's good your an LR mechanic and have all this knowledge about these vehicles with hands on ability to do this so easily. I couldn't do it. You saved a D1.
Yeah You can't buy anything in the USA for $750 anymore. That's a monthly grocery bill now. Car prices were high in 2022.
I wish I could collect at least five because you can't buy these kinds of cars in the US anymore. Some people want low MPG cars banned and If you can get these now prob, grandfathered in or, it would be exempted as a collectable.
When I say this to people they disagree .. but most modern cars are boring, no personality, and look alike. They are too perfect .. and too similar. And I think from the same factory. Any D1 or D2 , especially modified ,. gets smiles. I'm sure everyone's noticed it. People point or and say things at gas stations. High end Benz Lexus BMW's all day and people don't bat an eye. $750 you transform it is just good financial sense. Save for money for other things. . Most people I see are trapped in car payments for cars that look the same,.
lol because I've been extremely busy with work unfortunately. Trust me when I get around to really messing with it I'll post pictures. I had to get my 99 D2 all ready for the HCRR this year as I donated it towards the event. A very lucky couple won it and immediately took old faithful out on the trails before heading home from the event which was awesome.
750.00 95 d1:
lol.
