You have Deep Dish wheels.

 

....and I think it’s not an LSE, those are 98’s only. The front seats would be the answer. No Boosts, chrome bumpers or color matched external plastics. It doesn’t really matter as long as it motivates.

 

Agree it doesn't matter but now I'm curious. Obviously the "LSE" graphics could have been added, but the wheels could have been swapped out as well. What else was included in the LSE? Is it just a cosmetic package? And what's different about the front seats? Mine are leather but other than that pretty nondescript.

Actually in googling this, just ran across this link: https://www.imcdb.org/v003541.html Looks like the 97's were different than 98.
"This is actually a 1997 LSE. Note the Cream leather seats with darker tan piping. This was not available on the 96 Discovery's nor was there an LSE Model. In 97 LSE Models were not bumper color keyed, nor were the interior side panels two toned, like in the 98 (for some odd reason), and chrome plating of portions of the bumper were not used. Best year for the LSE I think is definitely the 98 year."

 

Yes, just cosmetics unfortunately. It's the only thing that distinguishes one model from the other. Interesting Google find and that post notes exactly what we didn't see. You have something that is fairly uncommon as models go. If it where me I would bring it back just because, already have a good start, it has 12 years of no use on it's ticker.

 

Oh my goal is definitely to bring it back. I'm not too hung up on the "rarity" of it as the cosmetics are pretty much shot at this point anyway. But I picked up some 5 mile take-off Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT's for a good price, and I'll at least feel a little better at 60MPH and hopefully OK on a dirt road or who knows, maybe even something a little more challenging. Went with stock tire size because that's what I could find for cheap--hopefully that won't hold me back too much.

Fluids next, including brake. This is going slower than I expected but I should have some time to work on it now.

 

re fluids.... don't forget the front, center, and rear diffs in that process.

somewhat related and often over-looked....fuel filter.