97 Discovery XD:
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...89b4a2ecc.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...8f7b5aad6.jpeg

Brought home the LR I’ve always wanted since I got out of High School!!!

She is not perfect by any means, but she’s mine!!

I haven’t had a lot of time to mess with it since bringing it home Sunday afternoon, but this evening I did fix the rack lights, install some D2 Headlight assemblies, and I added 2 PIAA’s to the brush guard that I will wire into the OEM fog light wiring.

I also found the engine tick = a loose spark plug on #5 that I actually saw the wire rotating as the plug vibrated back & forth.... Had to repair the wire (will replace) and tighten the plug (will replace) and no more ticking!

She has stage 2/3 cancer on the rockers/floor, but I’m going to just enjoy it and fix it when I can.

Oh boy. I love these type finds. Congrats, keep us posted, more photos! How many miles?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...02739c6a2.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...dd829d28f.jpeg

Feast your eyes on the original window sticker!! She’s #125

It has 165k on it, a decent pile of service records (HG’s were done under warranty at 42k lol), and the misc comments/notes I found made me laugh.

I spent all my extra $$$ on it, so anything I do will be with stuff I have in my shop (D2 cup holders, 95 RRC Analog clock, D2 rearview mirror, and a few other misc parts). She needs a tune up badly, new fuel filter, new IAC (it does nothing & I had to manually set it to get it to idle around 1k vs 1.6k), and I’ve got a lot of light bulbs to replace.

Sad how the roads up north can eat a vehicle!!

Pretty darn cool. Looking forward to following along.

Brian.

Good to see you snagged it. I caught my new SUV to lol

Yeah neat little vehicle for sure.

You didn't pick that up in Illinois, did you?

Texas, but it was originally from up north (explains the rustic appearance underneath). Sold in Shawnee Mission, KS originally, and I’ve got service receipts from Iowa as well.

Interior is very clean for it’s age and all original, body panels are straight, safarigard F/R diff guards, HD Steering skid, 2inch HD OME Lift, custom limb risers, and I’m 99% sure it’s got an older D.A.P OEM looking brush guard, but it’s much more HD with big recovery shackle mounts on it (OEM LR D1 brush guard didn’t have that from what I remember).

Now that the ticking is gone in runs quiet. Certainly needs a tune up, and a full mechanical inspection, but it appears mechanically/electrically sound.

So Army did you grab what I think you grabbed?

I like the "unique nomenclatur" option

Messed around with it a bit last night. Swapped out the IAC with a known good one off of a 96 Jeep ZJ, and it’s better for sure. Will need the adaptive settings reset though.

Took it for a drive & minus the exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold/Y pipe connection it sounded great. Got up to 65MPH and it just cruises along. Fixed the stereo, which had a broken wire & now it sounds pretty good with the Polk Audio speakers. Inspected the saggy drivers seat to find the bottom blown out lol. Someone tried using some thick rubber straps, but they broke... I’ll fix it properly when I get a chance.

I keep finding rust so the body truly does need a donor transplant, but as a dedicated trail truck I could care less. The water will just drain out that much faster.

I’m gonna fix all the misc stuff to make it road legal, and take it off roading as much as possible. Then when the time comes XD #125 will get a new body/frame. I have absolutely no plans on letting XD #125 go!

So jelly

I messed around with it today & I was told by the previous owner the AC hasn’t worked for the last 6 years. I figured I’d tinker with that as AC is kind of important in SETX. I started with the basic stuff, R134A present in the system, fuses good, then I never had 12v at the compressor. The blower switch was SUPER flaky so I went ahead and pulled the center dash bezel. I used the rear AC slider out of a D2 rear air switch, then I slapped in the D2 rear A/C on/off button as well. I went to test it & my blower now worked on all 4 speeds, and the AC kicked on!!! Of coarse the idle went nuts trying to deal with it (still messing with that), but that AC is ICE cold!!!!! All because of a dead switch....

While I was at it I installed my 95 RRC Analog clock, and I removed the broken cubby on the opposite side & installed the 6 multi-switch pack from a D2. I’ve got 3 blank plates so I just need 3 more. Then I’ll have a spot for future switches.

I then grabbed some truck liner & sprayed the wheel wells & rocker areas.

I also installed some D2 bahama beige cup holders, and secured the rear Hella work lamp/backup lamp.

I’m very happy with 9.95 coolant reservoir from Rock Auto! Beats the heck out of the old one I pulled out.

Thread needs more pics. Cool stuff.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...071bb22fc.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...86c831497.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...a44d1a8a4.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...2d698f431.jpeg

Next up today (after an easter egg hunt at a friends) I’ll wire up the D2 rearview mirror. I snagged 3 blank D2 switch plates from the junk yard today (need 1 more) I have a HDC switch in place covering the hole at the moment, and it’s a latching switch so it might stay.

I also discovered a horrible wiring job up above the front dome lamp. It looks like someone half @ss installed a CB & just got the 12v from the dome lamp circuit. I removed that mess!

The switch blanks from the D2 cluster surround? I have a few of those if you want them :wave:

The switch blanks I need are for the 6 switch pack mounted on the center bezel where HDC, emergency flashers, rear defrost, front defrost, SLS, and the fuel door (03-04) are. On a D1 it’s a tiny cubby pocket, and on the XD it was trashed so in it’s place I installed the D2 6 switch bezel. That way I can add additional switches later. I did pretty good and scored 5 out of 6 lol. The HDC switch is latching so I might leave it.

I know the wood HVAC control doesn’t match a thing on an XD, but it sure beats what it came with!!!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...27d9a9225.jpeg

Today I finally tracked down 2 Hella 500’s I’ve had for probably 8 years in storage. Installed them onto the roof rack (Hella Harness was already setup for 4 lights). Lubed all the door latches & now they open flawlessly.

Next up I really need to fix the idle, replace the alternator (P38 120amp unit), replace the shocks (thinking Pro Comp ES9000’s), and it should be good to go after that. So far though all the upgrades/mods/repairs have cost me nothing.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...5af2de3a8.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...a15e569ab.jpeg

Looking good

I like that you have double cruise control. Cool option.

The previous owner used a C/C Switch for the roof lights. I have a spare driving light switch, but I need the proper pigtail for it. None of those switches worked when I first got it, all the wires were up in the dash lol.

I think I’m going to try something different on the front suspension. Instead of using the OEM style front shock I’ll switch to a D2 front tower and just run D1 rear shocks on the front. I’ll verify the shock length first, but I’ve never been a fan of the front shock design on a RRC/D1. If I go with Pro Comp shocks I can get them in a lot of different length. Also my front D1 towers are pretty rusty and I have a good set of D2 towers in my parts bin.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...03e8baa87.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...b1efcc725.jpeg

Had time to remove the old driver side exhaust manifold, and what was left of the gaskets. I had a spare 04 exhaust manifold ready to go, so I installed it with all new gaskets, and I used the D2 exhaust manifold bolts vs that crap that was on there. Drivers side is now whisper quiet and I’ll attack the passenger side next when I have some more free time.

I see a sledgehammer there. ?

Naturally. When in doubt, air hammer

Had to tap the socket onto a few rusty bolts on the exhaust manifold. Finished the passenger side as well today. Nice & quiet now.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/landrov...d88e1e86d.jpeg


I installed some perfect condition spare bumpers I had off my 98 LSE. Yes they are chrome & yes I am using them. To any XD perfectionist I am sorry, but the stock bumpers on my XD were completely trashed F/R and IMHO looked far worse vs perfect chrome ones. I honestly have always liked the chrome bumpers on a well kept LSE or RRC. The LSE front bumper had it's center plastic piece (XD unit didn't have one), so I cleaned it up, then used a heat gun on it to bring back a nice black color vs faded grey. I did the same thing to the rear bumper end caps and they look much better vs faded grey.

I'm saving up for the Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks as we speak. So far I haven't dumped any extra $$$ into this XD. Everything I've done has been with stuff I have in my shop or from my parts D2. I'm going with a pair of 3inch Rear Shocks (going to use them in the front with D2 shock towers), and a 2inch pair of Rear Shocks in the rear. That should give me the same amount of travel, but I can switch over to D2 shock towers and eliminate those bushings that always fail up top on the D90/RRC/D1 style front shocks.

I did order a set of new rear bumper lights from Lucky8 (lets see if that order can get messed up...) the original units were cracked and the right side unit was blown to bits from the bumper being crushed badly on that corner.

Installed some Sylvania Red/Orange 194 LED's into the side marker lights F/R, 6418 Sylvania LED's for the rear license plate lights, and some Sylvania 1156 LED's for the reverse lights. I also had a spare H3 LED laying around that I installed into the rear Hella Work Lamp (wired in with the reverse lights). Nice little Y2K update to the D1.

I noticed the windshield wipers were kinda funky. They worked, but they never returned to the home position. I went out to the 03 D2 parts truck I have & pulled it’s motor. D2’s have the exact same setup although the wiring harness is different. Figured it would be wise to use the D2 harness as you can find them at junk yards a lot more often vs D1’s these days. So I spliced in the D2 harness, and installed the D2 motor onto my existing wiper arm assembly (D2’s was extremely rusty). Applied some RTV to the opening & re-installed everything. Now I have perfect working wipers that return to the home position!

I’ve fixed SO many small things that have been neglected or forgotten about. I made a list on Rock Auto for tune up items, and a few cheap parts to have as spares.

Got my order from Lucky8 in today. It was nicely packaged and the lights were in their original boxes for a change. Installed them in the rear bumper and now all my parking lights are fully operational.

I had to order a set of new shock tower retainers. I couldn’t remove the front shocks without a sawzall, then I removed the coil springs after I broke off all the studs on the OEM shock tower retainers.

Yesterday evening I installed the new shock tower retainers, so once the new shocks come in the install should be quick & painless (all the rusty crap is gone).

A friend of mine is telling me to slap on a set of D2 rear springs in the front for a little more lift vs the OME HD’s I currently have. The D2 rear springs are progressive springs & I’m not sure they’ll give me any lift. Think I’m going to keep the coils the way they are. New shocks will be here next Tuesday (would already have them, but the P/N I ordered = apparently don’t exist). Got that sorted and we’ll see how it goes Tuesday evening.

I’ll also have a LR Master Tech friend of mine stopping by over the weekend with a T4 and we’re going to work on the idle.

Took a nice pic of it yesterday out by the pond.

LR buddy stopped by to reset my adaptions, but his scanner kept dropping communications with my D1. I’ve got to check all the grounds I guess. It kept giving him a low system voltage fault although my Alternator is doing 13.5-13.7v. Idle is still all over the place. For kicks I disconnected the VSS today and with the AC on it’s fine. Turn the AC off & it idles at 1.5k, give it any throttle and it will try to die... Getting very tired of that issue!! When the AC is on it runs smooth as silk & sounds great. AC off and it sounds like a POS & runs like one too.

Today I’m removing the rear shocks (sawzall again), removed F/R sway bars (bushings are completely gone, brackets are pushed up & beat all to hell) it’s a trail truck so I don’t need them, removed rear brake dust shields (bent & rusty), removed rear frame hooks (bent & rusty), also removed front diff harmonic balancer mount as the bracket is bent badly & the weight is gone. Also installed D2 rear springs on the front of the D1 and it leveled it out nicely and I gained 3/4 of an inch on the front (free upgrade).

I should have the shocks in on Tuesday evening after I pick them up from 4WP in Beaumont.

I had the same idle problems this time last year. It was a tear in the intake hose

resetting the adaptive values made it ok for about 15 minutes

Well the new suspension setup is installed & I’m happy with the results. I’m running OEM D2 coil springs in the front, D2 front shock towers, with 2.5inch extra travel Pro Comp ES9000 RRC/D1 rear shocks F/R. Had a little fun with the front bushings/sleeves, but I got that taken care of.

I also disconnected the VSS and took it for a 15 mile test drive. The ride is excellent, and with the VSS unplugged it didn’t surge. I’ll be looking into a replacement VSS next. Really the only stuff left that needs addressing is a tune up, fluid change, bend the steering rod back (where the steering stabilizer mounts it got hung up on the trail & bent up), replace the steering stabilizer, and call it done.

Looking good!

Thanks with the VSS unplugged it runs great!

Wooooo!!

Yep pretty happy with the old XD Rust bucket! Runs really good with the VSS disconnected. A friend with a LR shop is gonna grab me a good used unit. I've taken a few more test runs in it and she's just as happy as can be on the road.