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With some fantastic help from Mr. Sands, I completed the swap of a 2004 Transfer Case, ECU, and CDL Linkage to my Disco 2002. Luckily, my mechanic had some knowledge on Discovery trucks, so I didn't end up with a paperweight.
Here are the photos. The ECU beeps three times when I shift to the left to lock the Center Diff. The car seems to ride smoother and my gearshift now registers in PARK every time. While they were changing the TC, I also got a leaky seal replaced on the transmission.
The real blessing, IMO, is these parts all came from the same donor 2004 Disco II. God rest her soul.
It's very exciting to have the CDL in the 2002 body. I almost bought a 2004 for it, but I hate the third row seats and the 04 headlights are trying too hard to be a Range Rover. LOL.
But the reality is, my car is fixed and operating great. I didn't want to deal with a new 2004 and go through all the unexpected problems I might get.
Yep everyone goes absolutely nuts over 04's due to the CDL, but an earlier D2 with CDL installed is like a dirty little secret. Most people will assume oh he doesn't have a CDL and won't be able to do this bit of the trail. Then you walk up it with ease lol. It was a very straight forward install adding the 03-04 SLABS Unit, and the linkages from an 04. One I paid 300.00 for, but the second unit was 18.00 complete from a local LKQ salvage yard so I split the difference.
Yeah, CDL is a great addition. Especially, if your TC is working also. Add a good set of tires and between the three...it's one formidable beast. Then add some experience/confidence behind the steering wheel...and you'll be really pleased. My first time out with my 01 was a learning experience, for sure. Once my confidence level grew and my faith in it's abilities increased and it kept leaving every mudhole and hill in its wake...it just impressed me more and more.
Yep I really really enjoy driving a D2 off road with working ABS/TC/HDC, using Manual Mode to keep it in the gear I want, and then using HDC on the steep bits. Then top all that off with a working CDL and it's a very impressive system!
When I went to the 2018 Hill Country Rover Rally I took my 02 Kalahari. Now where I live is very flat so all my setup/configuration was from what I remembered the Hill Country to be when off roading. Steep decents, rocky limestone ledges, tight creek beds, and good hill climbs. It had been years since I'd wheeled out there and that was in a D1, and then my 2 TJ Rubicon Jeep's. So I really didn't know what to expect from the D2. I knew she had a J-Lo sized booty so I had to be careful with that. Once we got out on the trail I quickly ended up in the hardcore group (only D2 in the group) and I kept up with a highly modified D90, and several modified D1's. My rear bumper did drag on a few steep bits, but where they struggled on the downhill sections or getting traction my D2 took it with ease. When we got back to the main Pavilion they were shocked how my D2 was able to keep up.
The 2019 event I took my 97 D1 I had worked so hard to go from sitting on a ranch to driving 6.5hr, wheeling, and then 6.5hr back, but I had installed some Pro Comp shocks which were 1inch longer than expected so most of the off roading involved me having both my rear coil springs popping out and dragging on the rear tires. What wheeling I did do I will say this the D1 is very very capable with a much smaller booty, but the D2 takes that very capable system and updates it not to LR3/LR4 craziness but it takes the very good mechanical part of it with just enough electronics with the ABS/TC/HDC and Manual Mode to make it that much better then you slap on the CDL from an 04 and you are basically unstoppable at that point.
The LR3's I saw out at both events did very well, but I did see one pop a bag on a technical part of the trail and it dragged it's front end all over the place just to get back to the main Pavilion. With coils you'll never have to worry about that lol.
CDL Swap to a Disco 2002
