New to rovers, always have appreciated them but never took the plunge...thats likely about to change:

I have an opportunity to buy a 2002 Disco 2 that has a bad motor and a salvage title 2003 Disco 2 that has blown head gaskets. I realize the 02 is a 4.0 and the 03 is a 4.6...They are both auto trans. My question is this: I can buy the 03 (salvage title) as a parts vehicle VERY cheap. Interior is mint, electrical components mint, the works....

I was thinking about having the 03 heads re-done and dropping the motor in the 2002, but will that match up to the 2002 tranny? Or would I be better suited to replace the 2002 motor...not sure if the 2002 tranny works though. I'm also contemplating swapping the 2003 motor and trans into the 2002 if thats whats necessary. That's my first dilemma

2nd question: Will all the interior and electrical components match up where i can pull parts off the 2003 and put them in the 2002? Seats, wiring components, audio, relays, fuses, etc

 

the motors are the same physical size, the only difference is the stroke.
The 03 transmission is slightly stronger than the 02 and It is slightly longer. But you could use either one.
most hard parts from the 03 will fit on the 02, you could also install the 03 lights in the 02 front end for that updated look.
wiring harnesses being the most unlikely to work.

 

Of course the 03 is missing a headlight lol....

So in theory if I was paying $2600 for both of them out the door, I'd be in good shape considering the tranny job alone is worth that.

More than anything I didnt want to have an 03 parts rover that wasn't good for anything other than little stuff

 

axles, drive shaft, suspension components, etc...all that will math 2002-2003

 

yes; axles, differentials, suspension parts, interior pieces will interchange, for the most part the drive shafts also the 03 is 3/4 shorter than the 02. All you ECU are programmed together so you will want to take them, in case you ever have to change one out. The transfer case will interchange as neither have a CDL.

 

Cool, sounds like it may be worth jumpin in...I've got calls into the mechanic to see about the swap and the heads

 

Or, you could take a little more time finding a good truck already put together for that much or not much more money. Save yourself all the trouble.

 

you said "call the mechanic." Is he doing most of the work? It only makes sense to do all of this if you are doing everything yourself. Once you start paying a mechanic to work on a Land Rover, your idea of saving money and having a good deal going here just went over the cliff because that is going to cost as much the 2 trucks. Do it yourself or buy a complete vehicle, especially since the "mechanic" doesn't know anything about the compatibility between the year models you are looking at. Sounds like trouble