I figured out how much better it would be to have a cdl off road in my recently purchased disco 2 but I've been reading up on the cdl option and from what i understand is the 03 do not have it. to have the option do you need to buy an 04 transfer case and swap it out to have the cdl??? very new to the rover but eager to learn

 

Yep that's it pretty much, you need a CDL equipped transfer case and a CDL shifter and cables. Did the swap on mine and glad it's there if I need it. The CDL shifter is hardest to find, only '04's were equipped with it. There's also an aftermarket CDL shifter available (Ashcroft) or you can use a modified shifter from a D1. The CDL transfer case was factory installed in D2's from 99-sometime in '01, then deleted for 02-03 and back again for '04, although none had the shifter to use it aside from the '04's.


You can swap the front portion of your transfer case out with the front section from a CDL equipped case to gain CDL functionality, or just swap the entire case.

 

so any cdl equiped transfer case will work?
can you get the shift linkage from a 04 disco?
how much did it cost you to do the swap?
Thanks for your input and time

 

Yes the shifter from an '04 Disco will work fine. There are some minor differences between the sensors and wiring harnesses on the earlier and later transfer cases but either will work as I understand it. I used everything from an '04. Try and get the harness with the case if you buy one, your '03 harness doesn't have the connectors for the CDL detection switches on an '04 case.


I bought mine from a local guy parting out an '04. Paid $200 for everything. The shifter I got was pretty rusty, I was able to get it working though and sold it alone for $200, then bought a better condition shifter from a member here. The cases sell pretty cheap usually, the shifter is what everyone wants. New aftermarket Ashcroft shifters are around $500 I believe. Used 04 shifters go from $200-400 depending on condition. D1 CDL shifters seem to be pretty cheap, closer to $100, although I hear they are more trouble to modify/install and not quite as smooth. Labor is hard to say, I did my own work so not sure what a shop would charge, I would guess at least $500 and up easily..

Here's some discussion about the different shifter options. Elsewhere on here there are some threads about swapping the transfer case (or just the front output portion of the case too)
https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...tial%5D-59305/

 

2003CDLInstall - LAND ROVER CLUB V.I.


That article will explain your options really well.