Preparing a disco to travel.

As promised, you can read up on our set up here.
https://www.foragingforvegantreats.c...the-Land-Rover

Couple of additions:
I also ditched the lock nuts in favour of regular ones.
I just made a heat shield to go between turbo and aux battery.
Did a lot of surface rust cleaning and respraying of bullbar and rear bar and completely disassembled the rear doors to repair the frame rust.

No matter how much you do, it will never be ‘done’ so just go!

I thought xyz switch was doing something funky and needed the cable tensioning, but now I get no gear display on dash, or illumination of sport lamp when I hit the button, although all gears are working as normal. Suspect a damaged loom wire somewhere.... might need a trip to Kingston.

Having travelled over 150,000 k's in out back Australia as well as unknown multitude of k's in the high country in a series 1 Discovery and having observed many other Disco's, and sorry to put a dampener on your expectations, but the first thing I would do is replace the diesel engine with a V8 petrol.

No doubt this will generate a response:)))

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rossan

Having travelled over 150,000 k's in out back Australia as well as unknown multitude of k's in the high country in a series 1 Discovery and having observed many other Disco's, and sorry to put a dampener on your expectations, but the first thing I would do is replace the diesel engine with a V8 petrol.

No doubt this will generate a response:)))

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wow and on your very first post.....your game...or incognito [wink11]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rossan

Having travelled over 150,000 k's in out back Australia as well as unknown multitude of k's in the high country in a series 1 Discovery and having observed many other Disco's, and sorry to put a dampener on your expectations, but the first thing I would do is replace the diesel engine with a V8 petrol.

No doubt this will generate a response:)))

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I think AdrianS may have a very different view to yourself. Very interesting point of view.

Cheers Ean

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScotchRocks

As promised, you can read up on our set up here.
https://www.foragingforvegantreats.c...the-Land-Rover

Couple of additions:
I also ditched the lock nuts in favour of regular ones.
I just made a heat shield to go between turbo and aux battery.
Did a lot of surface rust cleaning and respraying of bullbar and rear bar and completely disassembled the rear doors to repair the frame rust.

No matter how much you do, it will never be ‘done’ so just go!

I thought xyz switch was doing something funky and needed the cable tensioning, but now I get no gear display on dash, or illumination of sport lamp when I hit the button, although all gears are working as normal. Suspect a damaged loom wire somewhere.... might need a trip to Kingston.

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Wow what an incredibly detailed write up...
Full of character.. I was impressed right until, at the end, I realised it was all in Gary, no van.... I'm amazed...

I take a lot from your blog but mostly inspiration to carry things that I feel are necessary, but to others may not be... ........Like a diesel engine....

I will refer to it more than once in the 10 months of remaining prep time..


Everyone has contributed so many great ideas and tremendous, priceless knowledge,

Thank you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rossan

Having travelled over 150,000 k's in out back Australia as well as unknown multitude of k's in the high country in a series 1 Discovery and having observed many other Disco's, and sorry to put a dampener on your expectations, but the first thing I would do is replace the diesel engine with a V8 petrol.

No doubt this will generate a response:)))

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Having travelled somewhere between 200-400K klms around Aus .. in a V8 RRC .. I'd say the opposite is true(so I did just that with my 300 Tdi).

Love the V8 and all, but for around Aus travel, you won't be going too far, and there's no reason to think reliability will be any more or less an issue.

Hi, just as a suggestion, ensure that the original plastic water pump plugs have been replaced with the brass ones, also that all debris has been cleared from around lower water tank of radiator. I also fitted Maxis tyres which I have found to be great. Good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rossan

.....the first thing I would do is replace the diesel engine with a V8 petrol.

No doubt this will generate a response:)))

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Well I s'pose that with a V8 there'll be no chance of Deep Vein Throbosis - you need to stop a lot and get out and refuel which involves a bit of a walk around..[wink11]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SteveFitz

I have the same 2001 TD5 manual (but with SLS - and that's a whole extra reliability conversation).
From what I see above very little discussion re manual trans in Disco.
Check the clutch - very few last to 200K.
And while doing this replace the dual mass flywheel - if it hasn't gone yet, it will at this age towing a van (heavily loaded?) in heat.
You probably will pay through the nose in Oz - buy on line ex Ashcrofts in the UK - great door to door service and if you keep under $1000 will be GST free. (and you can change ratios...)

I also had issue with heat in the transfer case (resulting from low oil levels - wasn't checked at service!!!!!) - I bought a (it was a "Global Roamer" part) large , finned transfer cover that doubles oil capacity. Also added a temp gauge (non electric) for piece of mind. You can find it on web. Can buy local, or direct ex Canada.

Also whilst appreciating you have a weight issue...
I would consider a roof rack when leaving van and going over night with family. A decent alloy unit may keep the weight down.
Check out water bladders - they can be emptied when not required, but with Disc flat back floor, can be filled,put on floor and still keep weight down low.

When considering CDL activators - buy a decent quality unit (ex D2A) - all of the others are a compromise. I have the original AMV unit and it is unreliable.

Also check the condition of intercooler hoses - mine delaminated - go silicon. If you are cashed up look up a larger intercooler - makes a heap of difference to performance and lowers EGTs.
On EGTs - I put in an accurate turbo pressure gauge - if you keep off max boost, you wont have EGT issues.
Carry a spare turbo modulator - and carry a length of appropriate rubber hose.

The list continues...

Cheers, Steve

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Great advice Steve.
Glad someone mentioned the clutch. I was feeling the inclination to do it as I would like to do the rear main seal.
I will follow your advice and replace the lot.

I've found a basket on eBay, that im happy with, for under $400..

Please excuse my ignorance wrt UOM on this Disco, 190k miles or km's? If the first then it is brand new and if the latter, it is just nicely run in! If ± 256k km's then I am almost sure that all the standard issue Disco problems have already been taken care off and you should have a good vehicle for your purposes.

My only 2c worth will be to have the vehicle checked out by a credible person ( note - emphasis on person, and if a workshop you need to know that such a competent person looked at your vehicle). I would actually do this before starting with many replacements and cosmetic add-ons.
All posts, excluding those referring to V8's, are sound but to my mind relate to an almost complete rebuild of the van. (I consider V8's off topic for OP's question)

A word of advice, don't bother carrying spares that you cant fit yourself ie having done so before and are comfortable fixing things in unfriendly environments. A simple serpentine belt or thermostat replacement comes to mind. Totally different scenario to replace the thermostat from underneath compared to removing the rad fan for access.

I would not be comfortable with a performance chip on such a trip ( an approved remap would be my choice) but will continuously monitor temperatures (EGR, coolant and oil) to be able to take early corrective action.

A Rave manual and Nanocom or similar should be a must. Always good to provide good details of problems if you need to summons help from afar.

I know yor situation is different, with kids to consider, but I spend more time researching the route than preparing my Disco, now on 357 000km's. - excluding a few on a lowbed[bighmmm]

Enjoy your trip

gotto from ZA