Overheating '02 D2 professionally diagnosed as far as it can go without tearing the engine apart to examine the block inside and out. This was a good runner right up until the moment that it wasn't (not a lot of advance symptoms) and has lots of good parts that I have installed giving it all the love it deserved—and a b-slap every now and then for good measure—new tires and wheels. It's probably worth more for me to use as parts than it would bring in in a sale.

So the question is begged: what to do? I have loved owning a Rover, but I'm also a sensible person—to the point where those two roads diverge.

1. Replace with a low-mileage, good motor.
2. Get a remanufactured short/long block.
3. Buy another low-mileage D2 with a good motor and use my D2 for parts as necessary.
4. Go newer with an LR3 or LR4 and leave these bad block concerns behind.
5. Run! Go buy a Land Cruiser or a JEEP.

Comments, advice, and votes appreciated!

 

I'd go for either a new short block or another D2 to swap things over to

 

Option 1 or 2 if you want to stay in a D2.

Option 3 isn't a great choice as youay end up redoing a lot of work you have already accomplished.

LR3 is a fantastic truck not a bad choice.

As for leaving land Rovers only if you like soul-less trucks

 

I like Option #3, but I'd do it backwards, steal the good engine out of it & use the rest for parts. Knowing all the faults of your current LR is priceless vs starting all over again.

A new rebuilt engine sounds great, but for that kind of $$$$ I'd rather save a bit more and do the Chevy 4.8L conversion and be done with the Buick 215 based Rover V8. You can find good condition 4.8L's pretty cheap.

LR3's are awesome SUV's, but to me they just don't have the classic LR appeal like a RRC/D1/D2/D90/D110. I honestly like the body style of the RRS better, but the LR3 gives you much more room, 3rd row seating, cool glass roof, and dual HVAC. Can't beat the 4.4L and remove that middle resonator and OMG does it sound GREAT.

Option #4 = been there & done that. Mitsubishi Montero Gen I/II were awesome SUV's but here in the US it was very hard to get any kind of aftermarket goodies. Jeep's "used" to have a soul and great following (TJ/LJ days), once the JK/JKU was released it went from good friends/family fun off road weekends to cars & coffee meet ups, now all the Jeep's have like Fast N Furious style body panels (those hideous mean face grills for example), tramp stamp hood decal's with stupid little nick names, and they've got more armorall on them vs dirt/mud.

 

Yep, I would never buy a jeep. The wide range of aftermarket goodies is appealing, but around here... it's Jeeps ... Jeeps everywhere... the typical profile being a short pudgy balding white guy with a goatee. Most have never seen a trail. I like being the only Rover around, it's a badge of pride to keep a D2 in good shape!

 

Yep I love being unique, interesting, and one of a kind as well. It's a sea of Jeep JK/JKU's around here and I've only seen maybe 5 with dirt on them (they were just stock looking Rubicons).

 

And there's a certain level of scrappiness in using a 15+ year old vehicle for off-roading that is cool (to me, anyway), and doing custom mods that aren't just bolt-on aftermarket stuff. Part of the being unique thing, as Best4x4 said. There are some amazingly built Jeeps, 4-runners, and Tacomas out there, and I'm sure they are fantastic in every way, but they're just too pristine for me. Along with RTT's, rotopax, trailers, etc... I dunno it'd make me feel silly.

My vote if you're in it for the long haul and have the cash, you can't go wrong with a Turner reman engine.

I haven't really seen anyone successfully pull off an engine swap or diesel conversion, so I can't really speak to those. If my block was toasted, and I saw thorough documentation and experience of someone doing an engine conversion, then I might consider it. There's a guy here* doing an diesel conversion, and the amount of work and skill involved is mind-boggling, but hats off to him - I'm jealous.

* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAI...W5NQJk8JvjYVwQ

 

If professional diagnosis needed you may not be cut out to be a D2 owner.

 

1 or 3 - I don't trust any of the shops for #2, but then I am a 30yr gearhead mechanical engineer so I prefer to know the details rather than farm them out. I agree with Best 4x4 - buy a good running low mileage truck out of a northern state with a rusted frame (several states will not let them pass inspection) and pull the engine and use the rest for parts.

 

Another option is to tear the engine down, send the block to Q&E, and have top-hats fitted for $1,500, and then rebuild the engine yourself.