97 D1 beast

CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
I have been on here before. Sadly my 97 Willow passed away about a year and a half ago. She was a trusty steed.

In looking for a stock replacement to swap parts over to I came across this one with a blown engine. Originally built by member LLesra. He knocked it out of the park. Motor was the only thing left that was good in my old one so it really worked out well.

Build list as purchased
RTE radius arms
RTE trailing links
RTE stainless tie rod and steering link
RTE gas tank skid plate
RTE rear upper shock mounts
RTE 3" coils with 1" spacers
RTE front bumper w/ Warn 9.5XP
Rovertracks adj panhard arm
1 ton rear axle
Bilstien remote res 7100's
1.4 Defender transfer case
Safety devices roof rack w/ Hi-Lift
Flexi Flares

Bits I have added
Rear axle disc brake conversion
CBiDrive frame mounted sliders
CBiDrive rear bumper
TerraFirma wheel spacers
Milestar 315/75/16 Patagonia M/T's
Refreshed 4.0

Items on order
Defender front brake conversion
Brake booster
Diff shave kit

Wish list
GBR 4.7's front and rear w/ ARB lockers

Can't wait to play20191220_114701.jpg
 
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CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
He did a hell of a job on this. And for 3k I definitely hit the jackpot.

I got it from someone who had let it go and had no urge to work on it. It had almost no brakes, the blown engine, 14yr old unbalanced tires and a mad death wobble.

I will keep building this for a long time to come. Got a GEMS 4.6 on the stand and a 300 crank in a bag. Waiting for a set of 300 aluminum heads to pop up for sale. Engine project won't start till after I get all the bugs worked out of this.
 
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bgbrox

Well-known member
Dec 25, 2016
63
8
Golden, CO
Looks awesome. How is the 1.4 tcase paired with the 4.0? I'm only on 265/75/16 and but that tcase is on my wish list. I'm also in Colorado and want to be able to climb i70 at a reasonable pace.
 

CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
I believe that it is the same transfer case just with a different high range gearset. I had to refurb the diff lock linkage and did not notice anything different.

I do know that with the 35's on it accelerates better that my last one did on 33's. And that is with the same engine. Haven't hit Floyd Hill on I-70 yet to see how it does. Until I get the brakes figured out I am to afraid to come down either side at highway speeds.
 
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Jimmy

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2006
740
64
Aurora, CO
I too run a 1.4 transfer case, along with stock 3.54 ring and pinion gears, and have 255/85s. When I did the math years ago, the 1.4 high range, 3.54s, and 265/75s put everything back to stock performance (if I'm remembering correctly). Mine being a manual, many times I wish I had a little more gear in high range. Though, I've never done the math to see if a 1.6 high range gear would be too much (still need to cruise on the highways).
 
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CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
With the 35's my speedo reads dead on with my GPS at 65. On my old setup with 33's it was about 5mph off. I know that the 4.7 gears will slow me down but it will be bombproof in the mtns.
 

CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
Well that didn't last long. Drunk driver turned head on into me. Got to drive it for about 4 months and got two trips into the mountains. Front bumper is apparently stronger than the frame because it is still perfectly straight, the frame not so much. Picked up this gem to swap all the parts to. Big project starting, need to swap engine, trans, transfer case, all suspension, rear axle, bumpers,, rock sliders, skid plates, exhaust, and stereo.disco no3.jpg
 
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Jimmy

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2006
740
64
Aurora, CO
Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I lost a beloved vehicle after four months too in the same way; my driver wasn't drunk but young and dumb and turned in front of me as I shot through a country intersection at 50 mph. I too bought another one and began swapping. It's a labor of love.
 

CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
No insurance. Thankfully I found one a couple hrs away for $1800. They are getting harder and harder to find. I will find out what restitution will be on Tuesday. Prosecutor is submitting it at $12,800. All that means though is I will get a $10 check every month for the next 15yrs.
 

nickhand

Well-known member
Jan 18, 2018
47
14
Oklahoma
No insurance. Thankfully I found one a couple hrs away for $1800. They are getting harder and harder to find. I will find out what restitution will be on Tuesday. Prosecutor is submitting it at $12,800. All that means though is I will get a $10 check every month for the next 15yrs.
No insurance and drunk. Sounds like my neigbour hood. Hopefully you and any passengers didn't get hurt. It's a big project swapping everything, need a big warm place to work
 

CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
The females BMW will get kicked out of the garage for a while. Sucks that when I got this running I put my SRT4 up on stands and pulled out all of the suspension for an overhaul of it. Have to get that finished up first. Still hope to have this truck ready by June'ish.