Looking at Discovery 2's...what should I be prepared for??

[superbuickguy]

No, A DII has a 100" wheelbase, not 110". The DII suspension is significantly different from a "numbered LR". The power train is also electronically controlled as well so it's not a simple monkey body swap to make it into a military spec 110. Again, although it is still a lot of work, it would be better to start with an early DI or RRC if a hybrid is what you want.

In the end It would be much cheaper (and better) to import a 110 than to try to turn a DII into a 110.




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Interesting, yet for some reason the 2000 D2 I'm putting a 300 TDI in doesn't have any electronics for the suspension (or air). It must not have gotten your memo? It does have ABS, but even that's not terribly difficult to remove. When I say "same suspension" I mean, same track arms, same axles, same transfer case. Wheelbase is changeable... I suppose I could add a few boxes and rust, then I'd have the typical 110 frame but honestly, I'd rather have the open frame, no rust and $20,000 still in my wallet.

 

[pugslyyy]

Interesting, yet for some reason the 2000 D2 I'm putting a 300 TDI in doesn't have any electronics for the suspension (or air). It must not have gotten your memo? It does have ABS, but even that's not terribly difficult to remove. When I say "same suspension" I mean, same track arms, same axles, same transfer case. Wheelbase is changeable... I suppose I could add a few boxes and rust, then I'd have the typical 110 frame but honestly, I'd rather have the open frame, no rust and $20,000 still in my wallet.

Rear air springs were an option, whether you had it or not depended on how it was kitted out / trim level.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I owned a 2001 Disco II for almost three years. Bought it super clean and problem free and fell totally in love with the thing. It was one of my favorite ever vehicles, I spent a whole bunch of time and money modding it. About a year in, I started getting issues. It started with the driveshaft, which I fixed. Then I got new tires, and the air suspension failed. Fixed that and added a lift. Then my headliner started sagging. Put a roof rack on, and the oil started leaking. Fixed that. Then I put a bumper on it and the head gasket blew. Many, many dollars later, I had a truck that I didn't trust to take me 20 miles. It was a very attractive, very expensive paperweight. I drove it two weeks after the head gasket got fixed, and it started leaking coolant from somewhere else. A week later I sold it for $500 less than I bought it for.

I'll put it this way... I'm on my second Nissan.

 

[lzpup]

Had A D2, not sure what year. Bought it at 60k miles, had it about 2 years. It ate brakes for breakfast lunch and dinner. Sounds like I got off easy.

 

[roverandom]

Interesting, yet for some reason the 2000 D2 I'm putting a 300 TDI in doesn't have any electronics for the suspension (or air). It must not have gotten your memo? It does have ABS, but even that's not terribly difficult to remove. When I say "same suspension" I mean, same track arms, same axles, same transfer case. Wheelbase is changeable... I suppose I could add a few boxes and rust, then I'd have the typical 110 frame but honestly, I'd rather have the open frame, no rust and $20,000 still in my wallet.

For those that didn't "get the memo" here is why converting a DII into a 110 is a questionable undertaking.

Ok, so an early 300TDI is mechanical. Big deal. All later 300TDI's has electronic components and all NA DII's are gas powered with an automatic gearbox, they have a ton of electronic controls. Then you have the dash instrument panel, warning lights, traction control and security issues to work around.

You are not allowed by law to remove or render inoperative an ABS system so it will be difficult getting a vehicle modified in such a way to pass an inspection.

Next up is the 'almost the same but in reality totally different' suspension. Yes, you have radius arms but even a cursory look underneath a 110 would reveal that they are significantly different. For a start there is a watts linkage in the mix. And that's leaving aside options like rear air and ACE.

Chassis, yes the wheelbase can be changed but having personally been there and done that I can tell you it is way more involved to do correctly than just to dismiss as a minor detail.
.
Save 20G's................if you say so

I can buy a left hand drive, 200/300TDI, LR 110 county five door, licensed and insured, in Canada for around $30-40K. If you can turn an unloved DII into a vehicle of the same standard and specification as that and save $20K then I wish you well.

A factory built 110 will also be worth a lot more than a homemade unit that is basically worth nothing.




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[da10A]

Found a pic of my D2. As said, too bad that dream was realized and became a nightmare, but darn did I love this truck. If it wouldn't have been for the ever so famous LR lack of reliability, I am sure I'd still own it... No you're not dreaming, it is coniston green. Only a handfull of D2 were this color. They were special orders and never were on the color option list.

 

[superbuickguy]

For those that didn't "get the memo" here is why converting a DII into a 110 is a questionable undertaking.

Ok, so an early 300TDI is mechanical. Big deal. All later 300TDI's has electronic components and all NA DII's are gas powered with an automatic gearbox, they have a ton of electronic controls. Then you have the dash instrument panel, warning lights, traction control and security issues to work around.

You are not allowed by law to remove or render inoperative an ABS system so it will be difficult getting a vehicle modified in such a way to pass an inspection.

Next up is the 'almost the same but in reality totally different' suspension. Yes, you have radius arms but even a cursory look underneath a 110 would reveal that they are significantly different. For a start there is a watts linkage in the mix. And that's leaving aside options like rear air and ACE.

Chassis, yes the wheelbase can be changed but having personally been there and done that I can tell you it is way more involved to do correctly than just to dismiss as a minor detail.
.
Save 20G's................if you say so

I can buy a left hand drive, 200/300TDI, LR 110 county five door, licensed and insured, in Canada for around $30-40K. If you can turn an unloved DII into a vehicle of the same standard and specification as that and save $20K then I wish you well.

A factory built 110 will also be worth a lot more than a homemade unit that is basically worth nothing.




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I always wonder how to react to people like you. On this end of the internet you sound like a jerk. OTOH, perhaps you're just trying to be helpful and your language skills just aren't up to snuff? dunno.
the "memo" that was being talked about - was about the air suspension....

Perhaps the spec you talk is Canadian? They sent plenty of 5 speed, NA(???), gas D2s to the states, I looked at two before I decided to go with better condition and buy an automatic.

I also looked at two D2 300 tdis before I started my conversion (and stupidly didn't take lots of pictures), and in both cases, the vehicle sold within a week of listing - and in talking to the second guy, he had several in the wings if the buyer backed out (including me).

 

[Howski]

They sent plenty of 5 speed, NA(???), gas D2s to the states, I looked at two before I decided to go with better condition and buy an automatic.

This is incorrect. 5-speeds (manual transmission) were not available to the North American market in the Disco 2 (they were available in the Disco 1). Several have made the conversion but it was never a factory configuration

 

[superbuickguy]

This is incorrect. 5-speeds (manual transmission) were not available to the North American market in the Disco 2 (they were available in the Disco 1). Several have made the conversion but it was never a factory configuration

hmmm... so when I sell my D2 with the 5 speed I can charge a premium (lol, I never sell, I drive them to dust)... I can't imagine the 300 TDI or the TD5 without a manual transmission - it'd lose races against fully loaded dump trucks.

 

[A.J.M]

My friend has a silver last of the line 04 TD5 auto ES premium.
It's got all the kit and looks pretty smart.

It would lose in a drag race to a N/A diesel powered wheel barrow!

Never knew the stateside ones were so troublesome!

 

[roverandom]

I always wonder how to react to people like you. On this end of the internet you sound like a jerk. OTOH, perhaps you're just trying to be helpful and your language skills just aren't up to snuff? dunno.
the "memo" that was being talked about - was about the air suspension....

Perhaps the spec you talk is Canadian? They sent plenty of 5 speed, NA(???), gas D2s to the states, I looked at two before I decided to go with better condition and buy an automatic.

I also looked at two D2 300 tdis before I started my conversion (and stupidly didn't take lots of pictures), and in both cases, the vehicle sold within a week of listing - and in talking to the second guy, he had several in the wings if the buyer backed out (including me).

The Land Rover Discovery II was only available in the North American market with a Rover V8 and a ZF automatic transmission.

The Land Rover Discovery II was never available with a 300TDI.

Please understand that North America (NA) market also includes Canada (as far as Land Rover are concerned) and not just the United States of America.

Hope that is clear enough?

It is not my intension to come across as a jerk or to provoke confrontation. I am merely disagreeing. If you do not appreciate having your posts questioned by others then may I suggest you double check the information they contain is accurate.

One day someone may read this thread and either think you can find plenty of factory 300TDI, five speed DII's in North America or that converting a DII into a utility/military spec 110 is 'monkey' easy.



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[superbuickguy]

The Land Rover Discovery II was only available in the North American market with a Rover V8 and a ZF automatic transmission.

The Land Rover Discovery II was never available with a 300TDI.

Please understand that North America (NA) market also includes Canada (as far as Land Rover are concerned) and not just the United States of America.

Hope that is clear enough?

It is not my intension to come across as a jerk or to provoke confrontation. I am merely disagreeing. If you do not appreciate having your posts questioned by others then may I suggest you double check the information they contain is accurate.

One day someone may read this thread and either think you can find plenty of factory 300TDI, five speed DII's in North America or that converting a DII into a utility/military spec 110 is 'monkey' easy.



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actually, no

Canadian spec is different from US spec. In Canada, you can get a diesel discovery. For that very reason, you can convert a gas D2 to a diesel, 5 speed D2 and not run afoul of the Feds or most states (California and NY excepted). Name just one Fed who can tell the difference between a d1 and a d2. Or even better, name anyone outside of Roverland who can tell the difference between a TD5, 200 TDI or 300 TDI. We do "get away" with having Diesel D2s on the road because we can demonstrate compliance - it's as simple as them. What's slightly ironic is that you couldn't import them to Canada (even though, it's Canadian regulations which allow a 2000 Land Rover Discovery diesel to be smog exempt here in the States).

If someone thinks it's easy, then neither you nor I can protect them from themselves. I post the other stuff I do in my signature (which, a simple google search will find) - if that doesn't give them the idea that I'm both pretty smart and pretty good at this auto modification stuff; then there's even less I can do for them. However, most seem to think if I can do it, it's easy because I make it look easy - those, I laugh at.... a lot.

As for monkeys.... there's nothing I can do for them, they've utterly convinced themselves it's impossible.

 

[roverandom]

I think you are mistaken.

There were no separate Canadian market diesel powered DI's or DII's available up here.

Any factory Diesel Land Rover in Canada is either a conversion, grey market import or an Ex MOD unit.

Our import rules do differ however. We are able to import vehicles that are a minimum of 15 years old. So we are able to import early ROW TD5 units. In the USA I believe your minimum is 25 years.

I believe that US federal inspectors are quite aware of the differences between a DI and a DII as all you need is the VIN#....and they are all about the VIN#.

I never said a diesel conversion or turning a DII into a 110 couldn't be done. Ive performed Land Rover engine swaps in the past too. I just think it's not worth the effort and expense these days considering the fact you can now import factory diesel Land Rovers even in the USA for a somewhat reasonable cost. The days of the $80k stock Defender are over.

Anyway, I wish you all the best for your project. I'm sure you will get it figured out and end up with a cool DII.




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[A.J.M]

15 years to import diesels to Canada?
Does that mean in 5 years time you could import tdv6 lr3 models?
Or for now, import td5 engined D2 models?

 

[roverandom]

Yes. The first TD5's started in the 1998 model year in the UK IIRC. So pre 2000 Defenders and DII's and even BMW diesel engined P38 RR's are eligible for import to Canada.


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