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I was home from a hard day at work and cruising thru CL for LR stuff. I came across what looked like a familiar Gold 95 D1 for sale in Austin, TX (Lakeway to be precise). I remember seeing the CL ad around the first of the year and then it vanished almost instantly. Well fast forward to about a week and a half ago and BOOM it popped up again. I instantly thought man that D1 has once again turned into a "Village Bicycle" & everyone just wants a ride lol. Well I spent a lot of time looking over the pics, and the very odd but detailed description with "AS IS" & "PROJECT" vehicle all in it. So I text the guy and it took a while for a reply back. When I sent a picture of my 97 XD and basically said LR's are in my blood he responded. I asked a few questions and then I agreed to come up and look at it over the weekend. Well almost immediately people I know in Houston were like oh that Gold D1 is a SCAM/FRAUD deal... No way is it real, they never got replies, and yada yada yada. So I text him for a VIN # and he sent it over. Still kinda wondering myself I got up early on Saturday and headed that way. I figured even if it was a scam I'd enjoy the drive and seeing my old stomping grounds. I arrived at the address he gave me & it was in the middle of an intersection basically in a VERY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ neighborhood in Lakeway, TX. He then called me once I'd text I was there, and he told me the security entrance to my right was where I needed to turn. My name was on the guest list and the guards at the gate allowed me to pass once I gave the address. It was a very private gated community with it's own private golf coarse. I turned onto his street and there was the 95 Gold D1 looking back at me. It was NOT a SCAM/FRAUD or Hoax!!!!!
The owner was extremely nice explained the situation and he basically said everyone that replied were virtual tire kickers and he wasn't going to reply to my text as I was out of town, but he said as I was putting my phone down it buzzed and I saw a pic of your 97 XD and said to myself oh this guy is actually serious. It's a 100% TX truck with absolutely not a spec of rust on the body or frame!!!!! It's also been garage kept, and the interior/exterior is immaculate! I looked it over, he had all the original owners manuals, service receipts (some descriptions were hilarious!!). I handed him his $$$$ of $2950.00 and I drove it up to my friends at Austin Roverworks. It drove like a new car, and I had only stopped right outside his gate to fill it up before hitting the road.
Well upon arriving at the shop I heard it knocking. Now this engine/D1 ran excellent!!! I mean plenty of power, not missing, or stumbling nada zip nothing. I'd love to think it's in the top end of the engine, but most likely it's a slipped liner clacking away. When I looked at the service records the shops/dealerships noted the engine knocked 10K earlier and in 09-2012.... So whatever it is hasn't killed it!! The oil pressure was good and he was using 15/40w Rotella.
Honestly once the engine issue is solved all it needs is a set of new tires, a fuel vent line replaced, and it's good to go!!! If I have to slap in another engine I'll either do a 4.2L out of a RRC or maybe look into an LS swap as a 95 is very basic setup vs later models. It was like transforming back to 95 no doubt.
I've got a set of RRC Great Divide Rims, I might get the centers painted black like the XD or I might just paint these wheels like the XD (Same wheel). Then I'd like to install some dark tint, slap on some D2 99-02 headlights, and "maybe" a hood black out on the hood. I don't want to make it look like a mall crawler, but I do want to update it a bit. The OEM Stereo was still there and the first thing I did was hit the WB Button lol. I missed that they took that out of the later models to be honest! I also "might" lift it 2inches, but probably not. It's got brand new TF shocks F/R with a TF steering stabilizer.
I'll be heading up to see my buddies on Dec 2nd at Austin Roverworks. Gonna get the LR3 looked at first, it's having a rear diff calibration fault. Then I'm going to dive into the 95. I've got a box of D1 parts I'm gonna take up there with me, and of coarse I'm going to dive into the engine/cooling/fluids on the 95. Would LOVE to get the 95 all good to go in a few days, but if it needs more serious work it's at the best place it could be!
Would be really nice if the knock/loud tick was just a Cam Thrust washer issue. Worse case scenario is of coarse a slipped sleeve, but I'm trying to be optimistic lol.
Oooops I did it again.....
Congrats.
