the more i read in this forum the more i find that most of the info here tends to be series 2 related. i was wondering if someone could clarify the differences as it relates to the interchangability between the two models. for instance the bodies may be the same but different engines, supention, electronics?

 

The only things common between the DI and the DII are the engine block and the LR emblem.
The DII is wider and longer, they have the same wheel base but the DII has a wider stance.
The DI, Range Rover Classic and the North American Spec (NAS) Defender are the same truck underneath.
The DII and the P-38 Range Rover (late '90's-early 2000's) are the same truck underneath.
Rims from a DI will not fit a DII, accessories from a DI and a DII are not interchangable, so a DII brush gaurd will not fit a DI.
DI's are very simple and have few electronics so any idiot can work on them so you wont see alot of questions on them because they are so wasy to work on, and most parts are dirt cheap.
DII's have alot of electronics and they are British electonics and they are not the most reliable.
Also the majority of the DII's were made while LR was owned by Ford and Ford did not care about the brand, they didnt care about quality or image, LR was the unwanted step child to Ford.

 

DI's ROCK!!

 

so my assumtion was correct that the d1 would be easier as far as electronic gremlins. also is the d1 3.9 more reliable as far as the head gaskets are concerned?

 

D2's drive over Rocks!!!!

 

are the 94s and 95s different from the other years of d1s?

 

Here is the thing with the headgaskets...the combustion temps on a Rover engine are extremly high, higher than a normal car therefore premium gas is required as it has a lower temp when burned BUT it has more energy per gallon than regular.
So, if you run regular gas you will shorten the life of your head gaskets because the excessive heat will destroy them.
Now on to part 2...DII's come from the factory with DexCool coolant in the cooling system.
They do this because DexCool is enviromentally "friendly", if spilled on the ground it wont kill fish, frogs, etc.
They get sick, and you still dont want to drink it, but if you get in a accident and bust your radiator open where is all of that coolant going to go?
The ditch, then the stream, then the river, then the lake.
If all you sell are large gas guzzling SUV's then the EPA says that you must do something to help offset the low MPG (which is bad for the enviroment) so they use DexCool.
If you jsut want to sell gas guzzling SUV's then fine but we will fined and then you pass that onto your customer which then raises the price of your product and then the customer buys something else because your price is to high.
Here is the bad, DexCool is corrosive IF it is not properlly maintained, so when it if left alone it turns to acid and eats gaskets, not just head gaskets but throttle body heater plate gaskets as well.
SO if you run regular gas and DexCool you are guarentted to have to replace your head gaskets.
If you have DexCool and want to run DexCool then change it every 2 years, just a drain and fill is fine.
If you dont want to run DexCool then do a complete cooling system flush with distilled water and use any aluminum safe antifreeze.

 

1989-1995 use a distribitor and from 1996-on they use elctronic ignition.
1996 was the first year for the 4.0 engine.

 

while we are on the subject of coolent i took my rover off road for the first time today ,awesome, i was gentle seeing that i just got it and dont want to break something before i can give it the once over. but after about an hour or so pulling out on the main road again i noticed i was about to overheat. i pulled it right over and noticed a hissing, it was hissing coolent out the crack between the intake and right head. i assume the leak is a symtom and not the cause of overheating. any imput where should i start looking

 

If their *** isn't dragging in the dirt because of an SLS problem a D2 will drive over rocks.