As a few of you may know, I have a 01 disco2 SE7 that I have come to love, bought it for under 400, drove it across the country, and am slowly repairing/upgrading it little by little (led map lights, missing cup holders, simple stuff). I want this thing to look like it rolled off the factory floor, not for resale purposes, but because I really enjoy it. Yesterday I went to my local wrecking yard looking for an old pick up truck, I was considering building a old school class-X trophy truck. When the owner mentioned my rover and how he had one just like it, maybe a little older, out back. I asked if it was for sale he said sure 900 and he showed it to me. Its either a 2003 or 2004 SE in immaculate condition. He said it had a spun bearing and thats why he had it, but the interior looked like it had never been touched. The exterior was easily a 9.5/10 from the tire cover to the headlights, it was in amazing shape. My question is should I buy it? Fix it up and keep it for when we go on long trips? Its a killer deal if you ask me, and I've wanted matching discoverys since I was a little girl. And even though 900 is a great price, he said if I gave him cash, he'd go lower! He has the title, its clean, all I know is that I really lucked out on my discovery and this would be a big chance on another. I'm in BF nowhere east VA, and my new mechanic doesn't work on land rovers. Thoughts?

 

For 900, id buy it. I bought a parts 04 for 1k with a confirmed ruined engine. If its really just a spun bearing then it may not even be that much work getting it going again. I know that its possible to replace all the bearings without even removing the engine. You could try that, but even if that didn't work then you get the crank cleaned up and throw some oversize bearings in her. Sounds like it would make a good second ride. Plus, if its an 04 then it will have CDL. The only thing is you mentioned a mechanic that will not touch them. Will you be working on it yourself or be trying to find someone else? They're pretty easy to work on, its what I learned on. I'd do it myself if I were in your position. Could get expensive if you don't.

 

that's a good buy all day long, depending on what you do with the engine. you could have another Rover V8 crate motor shipped to you with a warranty to cover however long if you have a decent savings account to pull from. If not, there are LR wreckers/recyclers, not to mention forum members here that will also ship a low-mileage engine directly to your door, with a minimal warranty but at an affordable cost. Its more of a gamble but only 10-20 percent the cost of a new/rebuilt unit. You would have to make certain everything else like hubs, axles, trans, tbox, etc is OK because if not, you don't stand to gain much from the deal.

 

She doesn't know how to rebuild an engine and her mechanic doesn't work on LR. she would have to source another motor

 

I have an 03 D2 I paid 500.00 for. The 4.6L cranks and runs, but the coolant has gone into the oil. I changed the oil to keep it from getting nasty inside, and I depressurized the coolant system. I crank it only to move it out of my shop and back in. I could fix it, but I'd rather just keep it for parts. Body is good with just one dent under a tail light, interior is clean, and everything minus a RF window motor works. Nice having my own Pick N Pull haha.

 

Given your mechanic situation, I would not go for it. Mechanics who do not know Rovers make things worse. Find a Rover mechanic and look for an engine swap.

I would be interested in buying it, but I do all my own work on the Rovers.

 

If you decide not to do this, would you be willing to let one of us other forum members take a shot at it. I'd be interested in finding a project like that. Pull the motor and build a bullet proof bottom end with worked over heads. Take my time doing it, and have another Rover at my disposal if the one I'm driving goes south. I have an F250 and a trailer, and 550 feet of paved driveway to park it in.


I could probably make eastern VA and back hame in a day.

 

NO NOT NOBODY NO HOW! I am going to get it. I appreciate all the input, and if anyone wants to come on over and help me pull the motor, that'd be great. I have all the beer you'd ever want, and a very comfortable couch.

I am going to attempt to replace the bearings first, but realistically it would make more sense to just pull the whole motor, rebuild it, reuse the same valve cover gaskets, (they shouldn't ever be changed) better old pump, stronger head gaskets, all the good stuff. I'd like to keep this one and have a matching one for my fiancé and I.

 

Good for you! Do it. And at worst $900 for a parts truck isn't the worst thing to ever happen.

 

Worst case scenario, I pull the motor out of my 01 D2, and install it into the 04. I'll be driving the CJ2A for a little bit if I go that route. But hopefully I don't have to. Is there any one around here who wants to go exploring in Eastern VA?