good idea, doing it the crazy way!

[finallyrangie]

hello people,

I recently asked if getting a disco as a daily driver was a good idea or crazy, you were all kind enough to put me right and I'm now going to look at a 96 300tdi manual with engine issues ( I never seem to do anything the easy way ), there is apparently a knocking from the front of the engine low down, I'm prepaired for a rebuild as my only option and I'm lucky enough to have some good mates willing to help and a man who can do these things for cash;).

what other things should I be looking for on the car, and if a rebuild is needed what other things would people suggest I get done at the same time, I figured timing belt, head gasket and clutch were no brainers but are there any more 'rover specific' things to do whilst its apart?

as always I'm indepted to you all
thanks in advance

[clubagreenie]

I guess the first question is how many K's on it? But if you're going to rip the engine that far might as well throw rings and bearings at it.

Steering box is easier to do while it's out as well if necessary. Check for leaks at the lower side of the shaft.

[finallyrangie]

240 odd thousand on the clock, the seller admits he's no mechanic ( I know how that feels) but thinks it might be big end bearings, I will be taking a mate with me who knows about such things, I'm a welder.

will the steering box just need checking for leaks or are there any other tests I can do, engins still runs, just knocks if it revs

[Scouse]

Hmm, knock low down at the front.....I wonder if the harmonic damper has come loose on the crankshaft.

If the bolt is not done up super tight after a belt change, the damper/pulley can move on the crankshaft, flogging out the keyway & sometimes damaging the crankshaft too :(.

[BigJon]

Hmm, knock low down at the front.....I wonder if the harmonic damper has come loose on the crankshaft.

If the bolt is not done up super tight after a belt change, the damper/pulley can move on the crankshaft, flogging out the keyway & sometimes damaging the crankshaft too :(.

That was my first thought too.

[loanrangie]

Unless its dirt cheap why go thru the headache of buying a dunger where there are plenty of good vehicles available that dont require a rebuild ?
You say you are no mechanic so save yourself some grief.

[ade]

Unless its dirt cheap why go thru the headache of buying a dunger where there are plenty of good vehicles available that dont require a rebuild ?
You say you are no mechanic so save yourself some grief.

times 2 spend your well earned dollars one a car you can enjoy straight away, not something that requires hard work and tears plus more money straight away

[MR LR]

If it needs an engine rebuild it's worth less than a grand, seriously, good D1's are only about 6k, personally i would look for a good one, mind you i rebuilt mine when i drowned it.

[finallyrangie]

history as far as I know, is that the car was running fine then was put in a barn after the owner got a work car, 8 months later he decided to sell so charged the battery, started it and left it to run for a while, 20 mins later the knock started from the front of the engine, he thinks the usual land rover oil leak might have dropped to much and it suffered. If the thing is only worth a thousand then thats what I will pay tops, don't mind a project, actually the idea of learning the mechanics on the job is one of the reasons for doing it.

I've been looking for a disco for a little while, trying to find a manual 300tdi is not as easy as I thought, there aren't any in Qld at the moment and at least if I do the work I know what I've got when I'm finished.

[MR LR]

I wonder if it's the oil pump then???? Have you looked at the level?

[finallyrangie]

haven't been to see the car yet, hoping to have as much info from the forum as possible before I go, trouble is putting a land rover fan in front of a cheap landy is asking for trouble so trying to get some objectivity before I go!

I've been told over the phone that it idles fine and the knocking noise is heard when it revs, there is no way of even guessing at a cause, trouble is I can't even describe the noise as I've never heard it,

any suggestions on things to look for or try whilst I'm there will be very gratefully recieved, and good and bad on the idea of repair

thanks

[MR LR]

I wonder if it is like a solid knock or maybe a tappetty noise from up top, maybe a sticking valve??? Anything's possible.

[Blknight.aus]

take a good phone with you....

give one of the friendly greasers from here a call when you goto start it up and take a tool box with you see if you can con them into telling you how to go about checking the basics you can probably ident the problem yourself.