Viggen
Just here...
I dont think that a D1 or D2 will ever approach the level that the Series are at or will be. The history, mystique, tradition and owner passion is not on the same level at all. I have looked through the LROi and see a lot of off road goodies being produced in the aftermarket but that does not show everything else that goes into making a truck like the D1 or D2 actually work. I dont know about you but I have never seen an announcement for a new power seat switch with contacts that wont fail or an alarm ECU that is moisture resistant or a window lift ecu with improved solder points in those rags. I do see axle shafts and sway bar systems. Unfortunately, those wont keep my truck functioning fully.
The problem with the aftermarket is that there has to be a demand and right now, the demand for aftermarket off road goods for the D1/ D2 is nowhere near the demand for regular, replacement parts and it never will be. The "average" user is the user that all parts companies, on the OEM scale, look for. The soccer mom that uses her truck to get to the mall and back. Thats where the money is. The money is not in people like us who build up the trucks and drive them on trails. We are not even worth their time. To disregard the "average" is flawed. Owning, working on and with, old British cars I can tell you that switches, relays, starters, generators, fuse boxes, bullet connectors, caps, rotors, condensers, etc... are the important pieces. Not uprated axle shafts or big bumpers. The money is in replacement parts and that is what is needed to easily keep our trucks on the road. Manufacturers in Taiwan have stepped up to reproduce, rather shabbily, the basics needed to keep those British sports cars on the road because there is a demand. There is a demand from people of all ages as the appeal is universal with MGs, Triumphs, and AH's. A Land Rover is not a universally appealing brand making it a niche market.
Range Rover production began in 1979 and ended in 1995. Discoveries, both 1 and 2, started in 1994 and ended in 2004. Already, there are things that arent readily available new and the Rangie has been in existence for far longer than the Discos have. Werent you against a factory style install of the 300tdi because of the EPA never approving it, making it illegal? Now you are okay with an equally EPA illegal Isuzu diesel swap? Youre using an engine from a vehicle in a completely different class and you are voiding your OBD system. I guess your views have changed in the last couple of months. That wont float in most of New England and an ever increasing amount of the East Coast.
Im lucky enough to have an OBD1 truck where emissions inspections are still done with the sniffer wand. That makes a repower a much better option as I can swap a motor in and with the right cats and settings, make it pass (unless its an '85 or older making it exempt). Like Teri said, find that 1994 truck and tuck it away with a few parts trucks, if you can find one worth tucking away. OBD2 trucks, in areas with emissions inspections, and the word is that they are spreading already, MUST have a functioning OBD2 system to pass (unless you use what Rob posted up). Rob, tell me about that simulator. How does it work exactly? Is it programmable so the readout on O2 and NOx will come out as within levels? Thats damn cool.
Ill keep driving them until I am rationally unable to keep it on the road. I am not interested in having to buy up parts vehicles. I am not interested in spending my spare time experimenting with parts off of other vehicles and modifying them to work and I am not an "average" owner. This thread is very doom and gloom but within a decade or so, I can see some scenarios like these becoming the reality.
