thats not what I meant exactly...

Your intentions are to modify the vehicle to do more then what Rover intended it to do out of the factory gate...thats different.

I am sure Rover could make an extreme off road vehicle and sell it to the masses but there arent many that would buy it, let alone the hefty price tag...

If the rover is still stock (besides the radio) then IMO the parts should be put back on, not only for use but for value, pedigree...

I realize many swap parts, add aftermarket to their vehicles, change things out...these same people pay thousands in the future to put their Rover back into the factory original status it once was before they threw all the parts away.

If your intending to sell one day the extra parts also can add a few hundred bucks to the price tag as well.

Just stating my opinion...

 

- So then, in YOUR opinion, why did Land Rover make the cooling system so crappy?

- Are you calling our vehicles "INCORRECT" if we strive to improve their performance off-road??? HAHA! I have very similar off road add-ons to the Trek Disco in the picture below that is sitting in front of a dealership, is that Disco "INCORRECT" also?

 

So then what was the point of your original post? I very obviously removed these parts in order to install accessories which modify my vehicle to do more than what Rover intended, but are also accessories that Rover used for the TREK and G4 Challenges, and are very similar to accessories used by Rover for the Camel Trophy. I didn't just remove these things on a whim. Plus, I intend to keep my Rover for a long time, so I could care less about resale value.

I understand your point of view...just don't understand why it was interjected into this particular thread.

 

I dont think the cooling system is so crappy...

My water pump is working, my thermostat is working, I dont leak coolant and nothing goes into the combustion chamber. I run at under 200 degrees...
Now I see pics posted here of a neglected cooling system, or pictures of a clogged thermostat, clogged radiators...
The cooling system might require a little bit more of a watchful eye or little bit of extra maintenance, but is it really that bad? If your proactive in your Rovers repairs will you really see that many issues?

How about years ago when you had to set points every few weeks? Does that mean that system is crappy?

That is not a factory disco. There's aftermarket parts on it etc. It can be built correctly to do what you want...yes but not what Rover intended, its what you intended...

The basis for my post...
With the years and types of cars I have helped restore, work on, pass through the garage...I have seen many people regret throwing parts away...I would have to rebuy them off of places like ebay, swap meets like Hershey and Carlisle where I have to pay top dollar for a carb, or some long disposed of part.

Just this week, I had that same bar off my Rover. It was rusted, I was able to sandblast it, prime and paint it and put it back on. Now had my bar been really gone, I could easily see myself offering you $25-$50-$100 for it...then again, not everyone sells old parts...I do and I reap the benefits.

 

so your intention is to restore cars to their original beauty. cool.

my ford escort i drive to work every day will stay stock. just as it was 14 years ago when my grandfather bought it.

my rover will never go back to stock. it will never be sold for 100 grand at a fancy car show for it's showroom floor paint job. so yeah i don't need the plastic air dam that makes oil changes a pain in my ***, i don't need the dexcool that rover sent it off the lot with, heck i don't need the rear seats, the carpet, the front driveshaft that explodes or the a/c drain that drips on the xyz and causes trucks to limp home....

yes some are improvements to go off-road. some are common sense that need to be done because rover didn't do everything correctly, even if i wish they had... when your driveshaft blows a hole in your transmission and next summer when your truck goes into limp because of an a/c drain drip you will get my point.

 

You sir are a purist to the fullest extent of the definition. If you think that Land Rover (or any car manufacturer for that matter) "intends" for their vehicles to roll off the assembly line and remain 100% bone stock because they feel they have reached a pinnacle in engineering, you are either naive, or are missing the common sense part of your brain.

That truck pictured above was commissioned and built by Land Rover Special Vehicles and the aftermarket parts were designed specifically for and endorsed by Land Rover to be fitted the TREK vehicles.....so are you saying that they built and picked out aftermarket parts so that the vehicle could do things that they did not intend?

Another point, why was there a Land Rover installation instruction booklet with my Warn winch tray?

 

And I'm sorry, I'm not holding on to my 2002 Land Rover Discovery crossbar in hopes that in 50 years I can sell it for $150 at a swap meet to a collector.

 

A purist I am not...

I have many years restoring vehicles and making modifications to them my list of abilities is pretty vast...

I just know, that one day, as it always happens...someone says I should have kept that part on there, or someone pays an extreme amount for some part that was normally swapped out...

I've already said I understand its your vehicle and you can do what you want...but in my case, my experiences, I'd rather put it back on, keep it, or sell it on ebay, not just throw it out.

IMO means "in my opinion" and this is a forum where opinions are something that seems to come across everyone's plate every day or so. I am not meaning to ruffle any feathers...but if I am not supposed to offer my opinion then please tell me what the purpose of this forum is?