Long story short over the years I've established some Rover connections in town. Even after two years of Non-Rover ownership I still have a few friends that know me.....

Recently I received a free 2003 D2. I got a call on location...just for giggles I asked how much he wanted...and I got the answer to "just take it". Tired of looking at it. Crrrrrraaaaaappp...So here I am...back to owning a Rover not sure I want.

It's Epsom Green. Kinda weird equipment. It's got SD wheels and no sunroofs (huge plus in my book) a factory foam grill guard, black front bumper, but inside it's got all the wood trim every where. It's like an SD with and HSE interior. Very light tan leather. All in very good shape. It's been sitting for 5+ years after the owner discovered it had a cylinder tap. He parked it and that was it. Since then someone stole the cats and fuel. And broke a window. The paint has faded clear coat obviously. Tires were brand new when he parked it but are crap now.

I always swore if I owned another Rover it would receive a LS swap. 90% of my Rover woes were a result of the wretched Rover V8. Now that I've owned my Xterra for two years I see what true reliability means. I barely even look at the temp gauge. I never worry what's gonna happen when I turn the key. The truck is 110% reliable and solid. Just no soul. I found a company that offers a D2 LS conversion kit. It makes the LS electricals play nice with the Rover BCM. Factory like fit and performance. A stock 5.3 with 280-300hp is all I'd want. Reliable. Not breaking anything and bullet proof. Parts readily available.

I don't know what to do with this turd wagon. Part of me wants to build it. Part of me is tempted to part it out to fund more Nissan parts. Ideas?

 

Since you got it for free...and you don’t really neeeed it, pay it forward to me and I will take it it Winter Romp! WooHoo!

Sell it and use the money wisely. Or pass it on. It will be a money pit.

 

Welcome back, got to ride in a LS swapped D2 and it was pretty damn nice just sayin

 

Be a shame to part it out, if frame is good. I say, build it.

Brian.

 

Looks very clean to me for "Free". Paint and interior bits are nothing. It's all about the frame/body, and mechanical stuff. Slap a TrailHead 4x4 LS 4.8L or 5.3L into it, and wheel it!

 

Frame is 100% solid. Not a spec of rust anywhere. It's a excellent place to start for a build...as far as selling it...the only catch is I'll have to jump through hoops to get a title at this point. So that makes things a bit complicated. If I go through the lengthy steps to get a title...it almost seems like a lot of work for a truck to just give away or sell for a few hundred.

 

LS swap for sure and wheel it. For the cost of maybe $6k you could have the disco you always wanted with the power and reliability of an aluminum block 5.3L. Seems like a great plan to me!

 

I would definitely do the LS swap if I was you. What company provide the kit to do the swap?

 

Whatever you decide you just picked up a project, not the one I'd want for free but who am I but a reliable Jeep WJ owner........... I wouldn't waste a good 327/6L80E on a DII. A Defender yes, a DII ah no.

 

Having seen a ls swapped Disco 2 in the wild I would go for it