Hey Fellas:


My '03 disco bit the dust. Tranny blew up on me last week. Also, I'm due for an HG and I have a antifreeze leak. Disco has 96k for miles and I am the 2nd owner. I'm not a mechanic, so my local trustworthy mechanic is going to do all repairs he's die-hard landy guy (Gareth, European Garage in Newbury, MA). So what to do....So here's the scoop:


Thinking of dropping a brand new 6 cyl engine instead of doing an HG. I don't know why a 6cyl, other than I want better gas mileage. So, I don't know if this is possible, but just curious. Also, a new tranny will go in.


I'll be in it for about $10k, I think. My mechanic says about $2,500 for a new tranny (3 yr, 36k warranty) and a new engine for about $5k. Labor for everything else. The Disco is in overall very good shape...just the guts are coming out. Frame, well, there is rust.


What to do....sell it for scrap metal ($300) or put the money into it? IF I put the money into my disco, can I get 200k for miles out of the engine? Of course, treating the engine nicely will help. I'm a tennis dad, so no off-roading. I want a new engine because I don't want another HG job.


Any advice?

 

or tranny from a parts truck
pop the hood do the head gaskets
6-800 done

 

If your Mechanic say's 10k, I bet you will end up paying him 12k, because U will need more parts and pieces (new radiator, new trans radiator, this and that) unless you R really in love with the truck and have extra money does not seem logical, after U do all that the truck will be worth half of what u spend. And there is no guarantee U can keep it running another 150 or 200k miles, without another major expense. You can buy a very nice 04-D2 with rebuilt engine for much much less than what u want to spend to fix this. (and it will have CDL standard). And some money in your pocket.. And if I bought another truck and have extra space I would keep the 03 for spare parts rather than giving it away for $300. Honestly I don't think your mechanic is giving you the right advice!

 

well lets start with your in ma. and have an 03 so you still have to pass emission, so #1 reason to "six" the six,.
the other reason to skip the six (unless you're talking diesel) is the reason the mileages so bad is you have little 250 cu in motor pushing a 5k lbs. truck, so if anything its poor mileage is a result of being under powered.

there is a fellow selling working drive train in the for sale section, 4.6 , tranny and tire for $ 1500+ shipping.
have your mechanic replace the head gaskets, oil pump, timing chain, on the new motor before it is installed for no more than $2500.00.
you will be into the truck for less 4k and will get another 100k out of it.
the other option is head gaskets should run you around $2k and a used tranny is $$450. + install, you look ay less than $3k.
you can ship those tires down to me on the south shore as a finders fee.

 

Frame rust? Seems insane to spend much at all on it. Buy a new one from the south and call it a day.

 

As much as I would love to just tell everyone to go crazy and fix anything that goes wrong in their rover, it seems like a poor decision in your case considering the frame rust. Browse Florida, Georgia, Texas Craigslist and find one with a freshly rebuilt engine in good shape. Have it shipped up and keep yours for parts.

My '03 came out of Florida and I had to do head gaskets, but its nice to not have rust to deal with.

Or if there isn't too much rust, just have the frame stripped and powder coated and install the 4.6 + tranny drowssap is talking about.

 

What to do....sell it for scrap metal ($300) me me