Land Rover lift time!!! Edit: Now with scary fast/beautiful Chevelle

"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
08/17/2015 at 15:22 • Filed to: None

Lifted the Disco II, drove a “butt-dyno 500+ HP” early model, hand restomodded Chevelle. (The car far exceeds my talent level so I didn’t get crazy at all, meaning maybe half throttle in second gear only)

Disco photo dump: 3” Terrafirma lift has netted me actually 4+” but will settle soon:

Take out her tired old legs:

The new springs literally look no bigger than their older counterparts., we were worried. Anyone fancy some 13 year old springs and shocks?

I hand compressed these around 11:30AM and they still had not released by 8PM!!!!

Fronts on!!

Front steering rod on!

Shiny Shiny!!

Front Reassembled:

Holy crap this was such a big looking gap. Definitely need slightly bigger tires now \the struggle is real

No pics or rear work because time crunch was real, but completed shots are here:

The gap is monstrous!!!

Much more clearance even on 255/65/16

And then back in her home with her little brother/sister (wife and I are divided on the gender of the FoST)

That’s all. I will get some photos of the Chevelle for documenting purposes.

>>>>>>>>So this is most assuredly the scariest, fastest and most impressively well restored car I have ever ridden in and also been given the honor to drive. Again, the car far exceeds my talent and I took it easy even though my buddy goaded me to give it a little more<<<<<<<<

DISCUSSION (36)

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:27

Anyone fancy some 13 year old springs and shocks?

No thanks, i already have 6 30 year old British springs

HammerheadFistpunch > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:28

Looking great! I remember getting my springs on and being flabergasted by the gap, it will settle and you will get used to it and eventually you will even think...hmm, is that enough?

EL_ULY > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:29

damn dude fuckin badass!

Skamanda > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:30

Kinja'd!!!

Whoops!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:32

nice man!

What tires you going with? Really enjoying our Cooper AT/3’s so far

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > HammerheadFistpunch
08/17/2015 at 15:33

I’m curious on how much my springs will settle because i am LOVING the height so damned much right now. May invest in a set of full spring spacers for that extra little bump considering the +/-300lbs that will be added to the rig in the form of sliders, bumpers, roof rack, RTT, fridge, dual battery, and winch. I also need to find another set of wheels to buy bigger tires for. Do you think it’s worth hunting for a set of 18’ LR wheels to put something larger on? Or just go ahead and buy the steelies or TF Dakar wheels and get new tires (TF and steelies would be 16-17”)

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
08/17/2015 at 15:34

True story, I am going to try and sell the original springs on CL

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Skamanda
08/17/2015 at 15:35

Yeah but this old girl was born to be used and not just sit pretty in a mall parking lot

HammerheadFistpunch > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:35

My springs settled quite a bit, but I would expect 1/2-3/4 of an inch in a year. what is the spring rate? did you get the strong springs for added weight? if not, just keep these until you build it up and then sell them on a forum and get new springs. Springs are relatively cheap and WAY better than spacer. I would personally go with black steelies for durability, repairability and badassery myself.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/17/2015 at 15:36

I’m really happy with the General Grabber AT2’s but I may consider something else. The key point to remember is that this is an Overland rig, and not some “coal-rolling, spacer-block lift” bro-truck or mud-truck.

The lift is primarily to compensate for added weight of expedition gear.

Skamanda > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:41

For at least 18 minutes, until something fails! :D

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > HammerheadFistpunch
08/17/2015 at 15:41

These are the Terrafirma heavy duty springs so I am hoping to not have too much sag later on. When you lifted your Bruiser, did your ride quality improve? ....mine did probably because way shot shocks.

Also, TF wheels for your viewing pleasure: (same price as steelies, though)

Kinja'd!!!

End goal

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:41

Oh I’m aware. I sincerely hope our Commander isn’t viewed as a bro truck or something.

I like the Grabbers, they were a touch expensive though and I like General in...general...haha. I have Generals on my Milan Daily Driver.

http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Sport-Ut…

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Skamanda
08/17/2015 at 15:43

Kinja'd!!!

All clear right now, but look at that impending doom number....oh and yeah I somehow manage to get 300+ miles per tank after a large amount of work this summer.

Timing chain says high lol

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/17/2015 at 15:44

The generals typically will get you a lot further on down the road than comparative Coopers and BFG

HammerheadFistpunch > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:44

oh man, my ride was night and day with the lift. HUGE improvement.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > HammerheadFistpunch
08/17/2015 at 15:45

No I will be doing the U-joint rear driveshaft in a couple weeks after some family travel weekends, but my NVH has gone down at least 60%

HammerheadFistpunch > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 15:47

I’ve got the GRRRRS something fierce right now, Im thinking the rear driveline slip yoke is toast and its due for a rebuilt, I also need to repack the wheel bearings (well, 3 more of them). And maybe my wheels are out of balance. Getting the driveshaft and wheels done this week.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > HammerheadFistpunch
08/17/2015 at 15:51

Nice!!!

I can tell you that my alighment is so way the fuck off it’s actually hilarious. I can’t even see my speedo when driving straight. I think that the new driveshaft ought to solve some driveline vibration but I don’t expect too much (also received some confusing parts with the Driveshaft-could have actually received my CDL gear and bushings but not sure) since the old girl is full time 4x4 and moderately heavy with far more torque than HP. But now I have a friend whose knowledge could go the lengths of doing an engine swap. (thinking small displacement diesel or ecoboost - in a Disco - whaaaaaat??)

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/17/2015 at 15:55

My buddy has those Cooper’s, and he loved their grip and general usefulness but has barely gotten 25k miles out of them.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 16:01

YIKES

I hope ours last longer than 25k.

I believe my dad’s gotten longer than that on his Silverado with the Cooper AT/3’s, though he’s very “on-road”

This was before I installed them so you can get a real-world look at the tread.

http://overland.kinja.com/project-icebox…

DirtyBird > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/17/2015 at 21:55

that chevelle is purdy

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > DirtyBird
08/17/2015 at 22:44

And it is genuinely the coolest car I have ever seen. Hand restored, down to hand stitching the leather for the door panels. My buddy, “its my zen, man.” Truly a work of art.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/18/2015 at 00:06

That looks great! Nice job!

For some reason I thought your disco was gold, probably because so many are. That blue is one of my favorite colors on those (that and dark metallic orange (kemper sand they call it)). But if I’m not mistaken you have a D2A with D2B headlights... Fantastic upgrade.

I used to know a guy who had a D2B in that same color with a lift, steel bumpers, roof rack, high lift jack, swing away carrier, sliders, and black steelies. Super cool and looked badass. I highly recommend the black steelies.

Have you already upgraded your front driveline? Do you have any engine mods planned?

DirtyBird > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/18/2015 at 09:20

you should do a feature on it, with tons more pictures

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/18/2015 at 09:21

Tom woods front driveshaft (prop-shaft in Anglo-speak) I really want to either get more power out of the anemic engine or more efficiency, but sadly there is not a whole lot that you can do with a bastard Ford/Buick/BMW 4.6l. (At least not to my knowledge). And no this is a D2 Series 2 (2003), Obviously I could be mistaken I will leave that to the internet fact-checkers.

The steelies are around about the same price as the Dakar wheels and other nice looking Kahn wheels. I am making no snap decisions as I am not a typical American who has 30k in credit card debt because “I want” surpasses “I need”.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > DirtyBird
08/18/2015 at 09:23

I might do that. Keep in mind, not my car. And it’s the object of my new found friends affection (well, besides his dogs)

DirtyBird > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/18/2015 at 09:24

just tell him you want to take some cool pictures of it for him ( and also us )

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > DirtyBird
08/18/2015 at 09:27

I do have professional camera equipment (in a passed life I was able to use it very well, but alas I care very little for it now)

DirtyBird > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/18/2015 at 09:40

im sure you could still use it, especially if theres some car pron involved

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/19/2015 at 00:03

Oh ok, I don’t know what made me think it was earlier than that. Maybe the roof rails because 03’s (yours is 03 right?) are small square tubing like the early ones but 04’s are larger round tubing. Nice taste in driveshafts, those Tom Woods shafts are excellent pieces.

I’ve built a few rover V8’s for power. You can modify them to be 5.0/5.2 litres, but that is expensive.

You can do a cam and lifters, talk to Woody, is super knowledgeable and has other options not listed on their site: http://www.thewedgeshopstore.com/rover-v8-perfo…

You can do a software tune (we dynoed one to see if it made a difference, 20whp gain, no joke!), talk to Oliver: http://www.speedtuningusa.com

You can have a machine shop install bigger valves in the heads and do a port & polish job. Ceramic coated headers for better scavenging. Magnaflow high flow cats.

Or, if you’re really feeling adventurous, try to find the 340hp TVR 5.4L variant.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2015 at 09:25

Holy shit, can the 4WD actually handle that much power? That is scary in a tall skinny off-roader. I really stayed with the Rover because the last-gen solid front axle 6-cylinder Landcruiser felt absolutely gutless under all that weight.

And yeah it’s an 03 with the terrible tiny roof rails. Since I need to try and find a larger set of wheels I may do some junkyarding and see if I can find a donor 04 for some exterior trim pieces. Or I could always fire up the Craigslist machine and buy a non-runner.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/19/2015 at 09:41

Looking awesome man.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/19/2015 at 10:19

Thanks bloody, looking at going to some rover events next year, hopefully

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/19/2015 at 16:40

Honestly I don’t know. I’d be most worried about front diff, trans, and drivelines. But those fail on occasion normally (not terribly often at all though). Cams and tunes are fine though and make a noticeable difference, especially together (when I had my P38 a cam alone even increased my fuel economy on the highway by about 2mpg).

If anything from an 04 I suggest a transfer case with CDL, if you don’t already have it. Very useful. Unfortunately, most 03’s can’t be retrofitted without replacing the whole case or front output housing.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/19/2015 at 17:23

So I have read and researched...