I think trying to avoid needing to use either AAA or sat phone are her biggest issues

I'm trying to highball everything to get an idea and I'm getting a total somewhere in the ballpark of $5500 including a full HG job, front & rear main seal, water pump, thermostat, all new hoses, timing chain, new belts, rotoflex, GBR driveshaft, installing new wires & plugs, 2" lift/tires, alignment and misc front end parts/replacements.....

Anyone by chance have any idea of what it might run to replace the crankshaft, lifters and pushrods?

 

DIY or by a shop...
Shop is going to be expensive because you are doing a complete engine rebuild, that's plenty labor hours.
Remember the bearings and camshaft as well - and the camshaft bearings.

 

reason enough right here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrsY0xnIIBg

 

just buy a new vehicle and keep yours...

 

I think the other question that might help your situation is "what car would you buy as the replacement." My wife and I have thought about getting something new (when the Discovery frustrations mount...) every once in a while. But, every time we look we can't seem to find anything that we like as much as our Discovery. I'm shocked to find that even "less worthy" vehicles like Honda Pilot, Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder price out at over $40K when equipped on par with Discovery. After looking at the price tags and less-than-exciting test drives, we're always happy to climb back into our 7-year-old Discovery and drive home.

RedAustinIX (Ed)

 

It is going to cost you big time to rebuild the engine maybe just do the head gaskets, machine the heads, do a valve job, front cover/timing chain. Skip rebuilding the bottom end, maybe replace the pushrods if they are worn. Use your best judgment though what does your engine look like? Is there greasy oil caked on everywhere? Are you losing coolant? If not skip the engine work and concentrate on putting in good fluids and replacing worn parts. Also Skip the rear main. It is still going to cost you big money if you don't DIY.

 

Too bad you aren't doing the work yourself. I could do an entire engine rebuild, including crank rebalanced, flat top liners, and valve job, new lifters, plus all new bearings, seals, and gaskets. Changing all the fluids to synthetic, 2" lift and probably 5 new shoes for around $5500 - $6000. I also have 18" wheels so my shoes are expensive.

 

Tim - We've got an extra bedroom, when can you start? I would love to tackle this job on my own, but acquiring the tools, and learning as I go would make this a long tedious job I'm sure, and working for a small company I don't have the flexibility to be able to take that amount of time off....I have to use my vacation days wisely, like for taking road trips

Lipadj46 - I'd like to think my engine is in pretty good shape considering age/mileage, according to the PO it's been babied since they bought it as a certified pre-owned. I've swapped all the fluids for synthetics. I don't have any cooling issues (knock on wood). The only thing I've noticed was on a hot day running errands around town, some coolant seeped out of the "t" screw on the upper radiator hose.

Bundu - I figured....I'll probably skip the bottom end work since I can't do the labor and I'll look into the top end...HG, valve job, front cover, timing chain, belts, hoses, water pump, thermostat, plugs, wires....

I've got some oil leaks, but my oil level doesn't drop at all between OIC's , no coolant in oil.

 

I live in a cookie-cutter neighborhood so no room, my FJ40 has taken all of the extra garage space

2005+ Xterra Off-Road or 2010 4Runner Trail are the only "replacements" I would consider.....my reason to keep the Disco is we'd be spending the $5K-$6K as a down-payment anyways, and then on top of that we'll have a monthly payment to deal with.....and I agree completely with the "less-than-exciting test drives"....there's no replacement for a Disco.

 

Why are you worried about doing all of that at your mileage?
Belts, hoses, tstat, water pump, wires & plugs make sense - all easy DIY projects.
If nothing else is broke then don't fix it.
Edit... just read your OP, I get the picture.