Well, after much deliberation and prodding by friends and family members I'm getting around to doing something about that disco in my driveway. I really seriously did think about selling it.

But selling it would mean that I would have to find a different vehicle to serve the same purpose. I was thinking about the Jeep Cherokee from the same era but after closely comparing the two, well, there is really no comparison. Jeeps out, I thought about Ford explorers, they fit the price point but after being in one I just couldn't stand how it drove. Obviously Toyota LC'ers are out of the price range, and even an older 80 series would probably have a million miles on it, and it gets about the same MPG as the disco. Also checked out 4runners from the time period as well but they all either had insane milage and were expensive or low miles and were STUPID expensive. That left the small selection of trucks that fit into that price point or usefulness range. In terms of stock offroad capability, the disco basically was the pinnacle and I knew that average trucks just did not compare. For trucks the Ford Ranger, Mazda B series were temping, but with a pretty small cab, and not really all that much useful bed space without a cap, not withstanding the fact one would have to put like groceries into the bed just to get them home, those were out. The bigger trucks by ford/dodge/chevy just didn't make sense to me and got about the same MPG as the disco (except for the big diesels) and most of them were trashed by either being work trucks or having massive miles.

All of that kind of brought me back in one big circle. I wanted a fairly capable in stock form SUV that was big enough to fit all of the stuff needed for a big trip and would be able to get you there and back without worrying too excessively about it breaking down. It was also the feeling of driving it too. I have only put like 250km on it since I bought it but its an addicting feeling of power that comes from that seating position. Also coupled with many hours of camel trophy vids and watching people offroad their Discos reminded me what I wanted for those two years now, and now I have one in my driveway I just have to make it run.

SO I decided, I gotta call this Rover mechanic and get the ball rolling, find out what the hell the process is with parts and the like. I have a sneaky feeling its not going to be I can take it to him and he's going to find them. I just need this car to get the safety certificate so I can register it and it can be driven(legally). The fixes that it needs to pass that will be the first priority, and then the big ones after like the radiator. I'm probably going to get the guy to do (with me hopefully watching) the brakes, but the plugs/wires/filters/fluids I'm going to do myself. Figure its a good way to get started. Thanks for all your patience guys, will report back.

 

Good luck, take lots of pics.

 

Now you know why I keep a mini fridge under the porch!

 

Yeah man take the opportunity to learn from the Rover tech. I'm considering doing the same if someone will take me on around here. It's a golden opportunity.

 

There's hope for you yet.

Remember that a car is never a investment, it is always a debt, either you want it or you don't, simple as that.

 

Glad you decided to gut it out. It is a wonderful learning experience. The more you do to it, the more you will learn. Don't rush blindly ahead. Sounds like you will do fine with it taking it basically a system at a time.

You may want to prepare for each task by printing out the material from the RAVE and various other on-line how-to write-ups. I worked for several years in the Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Asssurance fields in the defense and aerospace industries.

I have a few binders where I printed out most of the RAVE and related materials for my 97 DI. I know a lot of people just use their laptop or go back and forth to a computer screen, I prefer to print it out. You can go thru all the steps ahead of time, make sure you have everything needed. I often mark mine up with tool sizes and such as the RAVE does not include any of that. Having the printed material will keep your laptop a lot cleaner and safer as well.

I also use the completed paper work as a record of what I have done, sort of like a maintenance log on the vehicle. I purchased a 73 Mustang from the second owner, It came with a binder from the original owner, also a NASA Technician, that included every item that had ever been done on that Mustang. It was so complete, the guy7 even recorded things like carb adjustments, (1/4 turn ccw on the idle screw) dated and the results.

Having that to refer to while you are doing the work can be very helpful. Also take plenty of before, during and after photos of any complex work. That can be used during re-assembly to make sure you are doing it right.

Buy good quality hand tools when you do buy and they will last you a long time. Buy junk and it will just break and possibly injure youreself or damage something.

Clean all the surfaces really good before you try to take something apart.

Buy lots of PB Blaster and spray stuff well in advance of trying to take it apart. Use the spray often and liberally. Also get yourself the heavy duty larger sizes of wrenches and breaker bars. Remember when you are trying to loosen something, use a longer lever arm instead of trying to force something or use the wrong tool.

Never expect a simple easy task to be done quickly, as you will often start one thing only to find that more needs to be taken care of. Example, I thought I needed a new starter. I lifted the fuel lines out of their clamps to get to the starter bolts only to find that my fuel lines were so corroded that merely moving them resulted in several links requiring complete replacement of the fuel lines from the gask tank to the fuel rail in the engine compartment.

Have fun with your new Discovery.

 

Really enjoying this thread,

BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have u guys heard of e-bay ?
Saw a dsico ignition switch on there for $60,
I pulled mine apart and got it going OK, like anything landrover u got to learn
to fix it yourself, one day out in the bush you will appreciate the skills and knowledge you have gained.

regards
OZl

 

It can also be that the key is severely worn.

I took all the trim off of mine, got a ney key blank and had it cut by Wes at a 6th generation hardware store. I lubed the inside of the switch really well and finese it gently. It works fine. A little graphite powder goes a long way with smoothing it out.

Sing Kumba Ya now. All will be fine once you embrace it. Wax on Wax off. Be one with your Rover GrassHopper.

 

Newbies and others, my motto is pull everything apart, its how we learn
My ignition switch fine now, give anything a try, worse case u replace it anyway
And by then u will understand the car more and more,
One day when ur stranded somewhere u will have the experience
To get out of trouble

Oz

 

That is very true. You are in an area where you need to be resourceful and do as much as you can. Most kids in the US grew up in a throw away society. When their stuff quit they merely went to the nearest store, bought new stuff and threw out the older things. As such they learned very little about a whole lot.