My first Disco!

[SOFpirate]

I finally did it! I went full retard. Picked up my first Disco on a trade. I lucked out and traded somebody my 97 Dodge Ram for it. Wow.

It's a 95 model, loaded. Jump seats, leather all that jazz. 185,500 on the clock.

What really grabbed me about it that I jumped all over it for was that it was meticulously maintained, and was one of the few models that has the 3.9L in it. It's got new head gaskets, water pump, belts, hoses, fluids, radiator ... the works.

So ... just assume I'm asking all the new guy questions, enlighten me.

 

[sedat]

all 94/95s had a 3.9. what color did you get?
R380 or autobox?

 

[SOFpirate]

Oh ok. It's that lovely Land Rover green color. And it's an automatic transmission if that's what you're getting at. So far I love it. Drives like a dream.

 

[sedat]

My first one was a 95' SE in epsom green.

 

[SOFpirate]

Awesome. I'll be coming to you for a lot of questions then. I know for a fact that the 4.0 is a motor that you have to keep a keen eye on, but from what I understand, the 3.9 is a decent one, right? Even then, I'm going to keep a close eye on everything, but is there anything in particular I should keep in the front of my mind with this motor?

 

[proper4wd]

My last Discovery was a '95 Coniston Green. It's the best color.
The 3.9L is a good engine especially in the serpentine belt configuration in the '95s. Just always keep an eye on the temp gauge. One or two "thermal events" will create the snowball effect of problems. Make sure the radiator is in good shape.

 

[sedat]

yeah the 4.0s are alright, I don't usually waste time with em unless the owner *really* wants to pour money into keeping it. 3.9s are pretty decent. at some point might want to replace the timing chain and gears as they are nylon and fail. Grab the buick 300 set and drop in, double roller and its all cast parts.

Catch up on your PM: fluids/filters, hoses if they're awful, repack your wheel bearings, check the U joints. that'll go a long way.

 

[SOFpirate]

Ok cool. The truck has got all new running gear underneath it and is pretty good driving. The steering wheel is a little off center, a HUGE pet peeve of mine, gotta fix that. It looks more blue/gray now in some decent sunlight. I owe you guys pictures of it. Also, the exhaust is loose and rattles around going down the road. So far, though ... it's more than what I was expecting.

 

[evilfij]

Replace the fan clutch before spring. $40 at rock auto.

If it is leaking from what looks like the rear main, replace the cross seals and seal the oil pan with right stuff.

There are a million little things that go wrong, but they go wrong in all of them and they are easy enough to fix. Keep the fluids full and she will treat you well.

 

[Green96D1]

Keep the fluids full and she will treat you well.

Agree

 

[SOFpirate]

Awesome! Thanks guys for all the help so far. Plenty of questions keep popping into my head. I was crawling around underneath it yesterday and noticed a little surprise to the tune of a full Old Man Emu suspension setup. Stock height, and by the feel of it, it's brand new, and I'm a fan. I've had just about every other suspension system on plenty of other trucks in different setups and this is by far the best.

Next performance question. I know Rovers are world renowned for their unmatched T-case and transmission strength, but what about the axles? I just came out of a Jeep (dirty four letter word) and a set of Dana 30/35's ... so obviously axle strength is a big deal to me.

 

[sedat]

axles arent all that strong.
heavy with the go pedal? drop $ into em until you stop moving the failure point around.
The biggest thing that gets em is shock loading the axles, so if the wheels are spinning get off it!

I've yet to break stock axles, I'm running 33's and have on several rovers now.

 

[Colin Hughes]

I went through three vacuum advances on my 95 3.9. With two of them, it was only noticed while on a trail attempting obstacles and required a couple of extra winch pulls through things I would normally not have had problems with. Had 440,000 kms on the truck and never needed head gaskets. Oil changes every 5000k religiously is the key to a happy life.