Disco Advise

[James Brittain]

Hi guys,

Im pretty new to the forum.

Ive got experience with landrovers, but over in england, not in Oz.

Im currently looking at a 97 300tdi Disco. Its very clean and bog standard.

Its done 125,000 K's, however its just started to blow its head gasket. In your opinions if i repair the head gasket will the engine be as good as new, or should i just walk away?

Its a very nice truck, im just worried that if i repair it, thats not the last i'll see of the problem. So what should i do? Anyone's experiences with a blown head gasket would be much appreciated. Ive been told that pretty much all tdi's in Oz let there head gasket go at about 150.000. Is this true?

Any help would be great

Thanks.

James.

[Loanrangie]

Depends on how the gasket blew, if it overheated in a big way then a new head will be required, they are cheaper over there so if the rest of the car is good a new head and associated parts should have back to good as new. Factor in a new timing belt while its apart also.

[James Brittain]

Thanks for that loanrangie.

Im living in perth now so the car is an australian disco. It didn't overheat from what i know. I looked at the car and drove it and thought it was a bit underpowered. I had a proffesional land rover specialist look at it and he has detected that it is just starting to blow the gasket. I was wondering whether the car was still worth pursuing or whether to leave it alone? And if its a common trait?

Also if i want to fit bigger tyres with a lift and cutting the wheel arches, is there anyone that does wheel arch kits apart from the plastic/glassfibre LRA ones. I like the look of the ones ive seen that leave a more circular shaped arch. They look a bit like series 2 flares? Any advise would help.

Thanks.

[ISUZUROVER]

Hi James - welcome to Perth (seems everyone is moving here these days - myself included...).

There were a number of 300Tdi's around that vintage which had head problems (the metal of the head was too soft). Happened to a mate of mine with a 97 110 - the head started weeping coolant, and when pulled down he found the metal was soft and it needed a new head ($2000). According to Dave Ashcroft, this problem is only due to overheating, but I think it was more likely a bad batch of heads around that time.

[James Brittain]

Thanks Ben.

Thats a bit of a concern about the head.

Im looking for a truck that i can use offroad but also as a daily driver. Dont want anything but a tdi, beat up, or with high K's and this fell right into the good category. I will ask about the head issue.

[ISUZUROVER]

James - the head may be fine but just letting you know of possible issues.

If you could live with a 110, consider the special OZ county - made with a 3.9L 4Cyl ISUZU truck diesel. practically unstoppable. Interiors on most of them are getting a bit long in the tooth now - made from 1984-1989.

[James Brittain]

Thanks Isuzurover.

I'd prefer a 100 wheel base, but the 3.9 isuzu engine does sound interesting. what are they like? Many around?

[ISUZUROVER]

The isuzu engined countys were basically V8-spec countys shipped from the UK in kit form without engines or bellhousings. The rest was made in australia (engine, bellhousing, air-con, etc...). So from 1984-1986 they had a 4spd LT95 and from 1986-1989 the 5spd LT85 (V8/santana box) and LT230.

The engine is an ISUZU 4BD1 - 3.9L 4cyl na (also available in turbo spec) - a few people on here have turbocharged theirs. Normally fitted to 5-8 tonne isuzu trucks. Stock county spec is 99Bhp and heaps of torque, from almost at idle. They are DI engines, so can be a bit noisy and agricultural, but often do a million km between rebuilds in trucks.

The numbers are a bit sketchy - someone told me only 700 5-speed models were sold, but I find that a bit hard to believe. They come up every so often for sale. You are welcome to come and have a look at mine if you want (definitely not for sale though).

[James Brittain]

Thanks Ben.

I'll let you know if im interested in having a look at your defender.

So as far as buying a tdi with a blown head gasket, you guys reckon thats okay? I understand it depends very much on how it was done. I think this one is just starting to blow and hasn't overheated.

[ISUZUROVER]

Thanks Ben.

I'll let you know if im interested in having a look at your defender.

So as far as buying a tdi with a blown head gasket, you guys reckon thats okay? I understand it depends very much on how it was done. I think this one is just starting to blow and hasn't overheated.

It may be OK - just be aware it could cost anywhere up to about $2500 in parts (+ labour) if it is one of the ones with a soft head. If it was cheap enough - i.e. price was reduced sufficiently due to that issue - then it wouldn't really worry me.

My mate's 110 had never overheated, but did have slightly increased boost and fuelling and had been on a few desert trips.

[James Brittain]

Yeah i think im going to offer on it at a reduced price to factor in the repair and at the same tim eim going to keep my fingers crossed there isn't further damage to the head which hasn't been found yet. Then its start with teh modifying. Im having a probelm finding wheel arch flares apart from those square shaped ones your see on rangies all the time. I know tahy do a disco one to the same effect, but i prefer teh rounded wheel arch shape, just not sure where people haev sourced such flares. Any idea? Plus i would have to get someone to do it for me as i have no tools here.

[Loanrangie]

A new head is 250 pounds ex uk so even with freight etc its not too bad, i am thinking about bringing a couple in 1 as a spare and a couple to sell, i work for a freight forwarder so i can get space easily from just about anywhere.

[DL]

Hi James,

Discovery Auto in Perth do round flares. Don't know how big you can go with tyres. They have a website.

DL

[James Brittain]

Well ive gone and done it and bought the disco.

First thing will be to fix the head and other niggling problems and then start with the modyfying.

Thinking of a 2 inch OME lift and some bigger boots, but i dont want to cut the guards too much and i think the flares available are very expensive.

If i go for some BFG mud terrains, what sort of size do people think i will get away with? I understand every truck is very much to its own. Are 235/85 about my limit?

Also, for terrain surrounding Perth, what sort of tyre pattern do people recommend? I like driving challenging terrain but at the same time i dont wont to push this truck to much and ding and dent it. I havn't explored offroad in this area before and i wasn't sure what sortof terrain is commonly encountered.

[TuffRR]

235/85/16 is easily doable with 2" suspension lift and a camel cut on the rear guards.

If you want something a little wider, 265/75/16 also fit but in my experience require a little more trimming and folding of the lip in the rear wheel wells.

[ISUZUROVER]

Also, for terrain surrounding Perth, what sort of tyre pattern do people recommend? I like driving challenging terrain but at the same time i dont wont to push this truck to much and ding and dent it. I havn't explored offroad in this area before and i wasn't sure what sortof terrain is commonly encountered.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php?p=468141

Since I am fairly new to perth, I would be happy to head out somewhere sometime if you are keen James. Most people seem not to do much 4x4ing during the summer months to escape the worst of the heat and dust.

[James Brittain]

Hey Ben,

Yeha i'd be up for going out 4wd. For quit a while the car wont be to capable though as it will have standard suspension and road biased 205's on it.

But i'd be up for doing a few tame tracks.

Back in England i used to compete in winch challenges in a kitted 90, so i think quite alot will be tame with disco.

[ISUZUROVER]

I am in a somewhat similar situation, my 110 has 235/85 AT's and is fairly stock as I used it more for touring trips. My IIA with a locker, 33" MTRs and other good bits is still in Brisbane.

[lexi]

Ben
It`s interesting then because I always assumed that 200 TDI Gemini engine was the first DI diesel fitted to a fourby and certainly to a Landy. Is the 4bd1 the first then?
Alex

[ISUZUROVER]

Ben
It`s interesting then because I always assumed that 200 TDI Gemini engine was the first DI diesel fitted to a fourby and certainly to a Landy. Is the 4bd1 the first then?
Alex

Yep - LR OZ beat the rest of the world to it - back in 1982!!! Series 3 Stage 1's were available with the 4BD1 diesel in stead of the V8.

Btw - I went and drove "the powerlines" yesterday. Managed to drive everything I tried without a problem (which included 99% of all the optional bits - gave a one or two a miss because I was on my own). All with the tyres still on 45psi!!! There are a few places you might rub the rear of a disco, but that is probably all.

I also had to recover a yorkshireman in a locked Pajero. He ended up sideways on a hill. He later almost ripped his rear bumper off following me through one of the optional sections.