2003 Disco 2 opportunity, should I grab or run away?
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
Maybe ask if they are willing to let you do a compression or leak-down test. Look over the condition of the spark plugs and wires. Could even get a cheap borescope and peer in each cylinder. Sounds like you have someone who knows what to look for.
Cyl 3 and 5 are next to each other, but 2 is on the right bank, so could be an ignition problem. According to Forum experience, if head gaskets fail, it is typically at the ends where the water jacket passages are, although it could also be between cylinders or out the side. Guess it depends on what you want to do with the truck, if you like to tinker and want to take it off-road, or if you want a show vehicle. On the other hand, my mechanic says the interior condition gives a pretty good idea about how the engine and drive train were cared for. Do you know how long this owner has had it? How long has it been parked? Any maintenance records? How much more are you willing to put into it (time and money)? By the way, the binnacles on my trucks are floppy too, brittle plastic, but all that steel underneath...solid.
Cyl 3 and 5 are next to each other, but 2 is on the right bank, so could be an ignition problem. According to Forum experience, if head gaskets fail, it is typically at the ends where the water jacket passages are, although it could also be between cylinders or out the side. Guess it depends on what you want to do with the truck, if you like to tinker and want to take it off-road, or if you want a show vehicle. On the other hand, my mechanic says the interior condition gives a pretty good idea about how the engine and drive train were cared for. Do you know how long this owner has had it? How long has it been parked? Any maintenance records? How much more are you willing to put into it (time and money)? By the way, the binnacles on my trucks are floppy too, brittle plastic, but all that steel underneath...solid.
From what I can see/tell its been parked a while, the windshield was caked in grime (take a v long time for that to happen here), tires were all low pressure too.
I do also know the owner is a mechanic himself and was keen to swap the car for a Desert Eagle (car was up for $2500 or trades) - seemed very eager to sell the truck to me, no maint records at all, if you guys all said go for it I would have done a carfax report next.
Also the truck has clearly been knocked around - the front bumper is smashed in, the rear corners are broken too - it has definatley not been well cared for, the passenger front door card is hanging on by a single connector and the power wires, and the rubber weather strip that goes up against the glass is missing, the sun visors are broken, the seat controls are loose and dont work on the passenger side, partially work on the drivers side, the 3rd row seats were deleted, the 2nd row seat - the fold latch's are broken off...
I want to restore the car to a daily driver - was going to respray, replace all the broken bumpers etc.
I think that this car is not it, and is in the VIN avoid range (which i just learned about today).
Thank you again for the advice!
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
I love british cars (im british) and I have restored this over the last 18 months... and wanted to bring a Disco up to the same level.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 481
Likes: 175
From: Top secret government location
This was an 800 dollar purchase I got for parts. Our 99 needed a fuel tank, headlight upgrade and clean interior.
I purchase any sub 800 disco that comes up within a 2 hour drive. A little further if I can get fresh seafood and cold beer near by
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 481
Likes: 175
From: Top secret government location
Obviously I'm going to tear down to verify a dowel alignment issue but, this 03 is in the dreaded stay away vin range. This crack doesn't build confidence. Event at 800 I would have walked away if it was for the mint interior and the fuel tank I needed for the 99
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