Hey everyone! I'm someone in the market for a D2 since I have always liked them whenever I've had one in for a headgasket job, the ride, seating position, interior design and general layout along with the impressive versatility. It would replace my current "work truck" aka a 300k+ mile WJ Jeep 4.0 that I have gotten totally tired of living with and constantly fixing lol! Stupid thing in the last 130k miles has had a new engine (reason I got the car for free), alternatior, two AC compressors and the entire system, heater core, front axle rebuild, rear axle replacement, brake lines, 3 sets of brakes, 4 sets of shocks, 3 blower motor resistors, 3 O2 sensors etc you get the point, it is a collection of parts that somehow everything works on but requires constant care.

I figured if I am going to have something that I would have to babysit a lot I would rather have a D2 since they ride far better, have really cool interiors, gets slightly more MPG, has a V8 like the rest of my cars, can actually tow a decent amount so I wouldn't have to use one of my nice cars for that, and is just holistically a nicer vehicle that I actually like a lot. I'm a mechanic with my own shop by accident (started as a hobby, made too much money doing it so I decided to never use my degree or finish a professional one) so I am more than able to deal with anything these throw my way and from the 4 I've worked on they don't seem to have recurring issues?

Anyway I figured I would join here so I can get better info from enthusiast owners as well as fish around for a truck in good shape cosmetically/interior wise with a blown engine or something. The more mechanically broken the better the deal is my thought

 

Sounds like a perfect match to me !!

 

Saw your location and realized you are probably not to far from the guy at Dark Crow Designs in Ohio. He specializes in Land Rover mods and whatnot, might be a good resource for you? Look into Dark Crow Designs Off Road Equipment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DarkCrowDesigns/
My advice would be to spend the extra to get one from a non-rustbelt area if possible These things are fun to tinker on and modify, great "bones" as they say. Good luck on your search!

 

You're in a great location for gaining serious land rover knowledge, here and being in Ohio. The Ohio land rover group is awesome, have gone to two events and had a blast. Me...if l was starting over in the Dll acquisition process...l'd go for an 01. Have an 04 and smashed (wife hit deer) 03 that l may repair again (just replaced front bumper after sliding in a ditch). But, l've had some health issues that may change that mindset. Anyhow, the 4.0 was a much better engine (in my opinion). Drove the living daylights out of my 01, already had locking center diff (just needed shift mechanism).

My 01 in the UP of Michigan.



The rover family now...well...before the deer incident.






Do your due diligence, while searching for a Dll. Take it for a long test drive and check everything twice. Frame rust issues are a concern in the northern states.

Good luck, in your endeavor to find one.

 

damn. that '04 in white looks good.