Disco Isn't Dead (Yet)

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 01/03/2018 at 18:08 • Filed to: None

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After completing the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! without incident and taking the time to confer with my stakeholders (George and Taylor) I have somewhat reluctantly decided to proceed with the work on the Discovery.

I mentioned in an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that my Land Rover has had a coolant leak since the day I bought it, but I never thought much of it. After running out of coolant, I finally decided to track down the leak. The news was worst than expected: head gaskets. Both of them.

Not an uncommon problem on a Discovery, but I’ve always been taught to fear a blown head. (heyo)

Shortly thereafter I got pre-code P0734, gear 4 ratio mismatch. I currently have two sympathetic restorations in the works and really can’t justify a third, so a failing transmission would likely have been the final nail in this thing’s coffin. Luckily, turns out on Land Rover’s P0734 (usually) means a problem with the MAF, not the transmission.

No, that doesn’t make any sense to me either.

Either way, that is enough hope, false or otherwise, to get me to proceed with the repairs. Plus someone bought me a garage heater for Christmas so... here we are.

So far the list to do is:

Intake gaskets

Valve cover gaskets

Head gaskets, obv

Remachine head

Oil separater

Coils

Wires

Plugs

Throttle heater

(maybe) Coil relocation kit

(maybe) switch from stretch bolts to studs

I also might just go ahead and buy new heads as they’re not particularly expensive.

HammerheadFistpunch > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:14

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best of luck. Im looking at the same job and im certainly not taking it on. Trying to decide to sell or fix.

benjrblant > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:16

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Long live (the) disco!

Svend > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:21

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TahoeSTi > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:28

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How much is an LS swap?

adamftw > TahoeSTi 01/03/2018 at 18:40

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Getting all the electrical to work is more work than the physical swap.

adamftw > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:40

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Good luck! I should have fixed mine.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 01/03/2018 at 18:43

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Yeah, I don’t envy your choice. I didn’t mention my Disco on your post because, luckily, the Disco isn’t my only car and I have the space and time to do the job.

I do have a lot of good memories associated with the car, it fits my “I am a ridiculous car person” thing, and since I am doing the work myself the cost isn’t so bad. Will probably be out $1,000 in parts all told, but that includes a lot of “while you’re there” stuff.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > TahoeSTi 01/03/2018 at 18:44

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But kidding aside I don’t like engine swaps. I think it takes away the character of the vehicle. Nothing against the people that do them or the end products, which can be AWESOME, but just not for me.

HammerheadFistpunch > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:46

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I looked at the same, and it would have been about the same price in parts, but truthfully I know Im not up to the job myself. I don’t have the time to commit unless I sequestered myself away for a few days with help. I just know how long it would take me and its not acceptable to me.

TahoeSTi > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:47

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I hear you but think of the reliability.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > TahoeSTi 01/03/2018 at 18:49

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Around $10000 which includes the price of crate engine. There is a lot of fuckery that needs to happen with the ECUs in order to get them to accept the LS.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 18:51

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Be very careful when putting studs in, torque them to much and you fuck your block up. Ask me how I know...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 01/03/2018 at 19:30

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Good for you for being honest with yourself. It is a skill I am just now learning.

Luckily the head on a Disco doesn’t look like an overly hard job. I’m budgeting 3 weekends and hoping to get it done in 2.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 01/03/2018 at 19:33

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Oof. Still worth the switch or should I stick with stretch bolts? I haven’t done the research yet, but someone suggested the upgrade.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 01/03/2018 at 21:46

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Oh man... That said... https://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/d/nice-land-cruiser/6439740002.html

HammerheadFistpunch > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/03/2018 at 21:48

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That they don’t list mileage but tell you how long they last is telling

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 01/03/2018 at 21:58

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True. That said I didn’t think they came that cheap in that condition.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/04/2018 at 09:52

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If done right they’re great and you’ll never have to worry about them again, however if you’re not going to keep the disco forever you’ll probably be able to get away with stretch bolts.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 01/04/2018 at 10:29

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After reading a shocking long debate on the matter, I’ve reached the conclusion that both have significant downsides. But the takeaway was the LR branded head bolts were/ are terrible, but the aftermarket ones are acceptable. Further, for a garage mechanic that has never done anything like this before, like myself, the stretch bolts are far more forgiving.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/04/2018 at 10:32

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“sympathetic” =)

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/04/2018 at 10:54

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Took me a really long time to decide if you were pointing out an error or not... still not sure. My spelling and accidental use of homonyms are legendary.

Either way, provided you more prodding at the term, “sympathetic restoration” is the best term I’ve heard to describe a car that makes no financial or logical sense to restore/ repair, but you do it anyway either to do right by the car or for sentimental reasons. Sadly the Alfa and the Saab both fall squarely in this category.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 01/04/2018 at 11:33

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Sorry! Just love that word tied to restorations of beloved cars. Something only a Jalop/Opponaut could understand. Akin to spending ten grand on medical treatments for a 15 year old dog. These are not rational actions.

I’m guessing my M3 will take some significant reinvestment in the next few years, and at this point, I’m very willing to spend the dollars necessary to keep her healthy and ready for action (track day at MSR-Cresson coming up in late March, and another AR backroadtrip shortly after that).