Coming up to a dillema D1 or D2

forcefed44

forcefed44

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2013
71
0
The Cape VA, and NJ
I have had a handful of Land Rover rigs over my tenure and thought I would settle with 2 but ended up buying a LR3 which I really like; this isn't my question. I have my '95 Coniston D1 3.9 Lucas that I occasionally wheel but mainly use for SAR duty, alot of floods and mud use. It is lifted via Ryan back in the day 3" RTE and HD steering and 32s, Low miles 122K, runs phenominal, no overheat. Frame is 100% solid and been sprayed when I bought it 6 years ago. Problem is, the body is rusting in it's usual places, starting now on front floors, and Sunroof leaks in the rear as the front was fixed.

I am up for a change: I want a white D1 or D2. I know some D1 pigs from 96-99 can be emissions and ECU nightmare. I have some come through the shop. As for the D2's, unless the 4.6 is optimal in reliability, what is there to look at with the 4.0s 2000-04 besides creature comforts and the ability to find rims? I have the CDL sets on the shelf to convert it.

I ask you guys because you've been here before and met some of you. I know D1 springs will mount the D2s with a little parts. Otherwise, I would swap everything over to a newer D1 if that is the best.
 
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discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,733
1,024
Northern Illinois
Disco1. Get one with GEMS engine management. You can't keep coolant in a Disco2. Maybe temporarily, but never permanently. Look at the little girly wheel bearings on a Disco2.
 
kade

kade

Well-known member
Oct 15, 2013
235
7
Upstate, SC
D1. Miss my 94 like crazy. It was the most trouble free of the 4 rovers I've had. Had RRC, D1, o4 D2, and now a P38. The D1 had Togo though due to high miles and trail scars.
 
Tugela

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,763
564
Seattle
forcefed44 said:
I know some D1 pigs from 96-99 can be emissions and ECU nightmare.
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On what information do you base this conclusion? The D1 GEMS system is simpler by far than the D2 Bosch system, yet offers advantages over the 14CUX management system it replaced. I find the GEMS system from 96-99 to be the best balance of reliability, usability, and serviceability.

As for the D2's, unless the 4.6 is optimal in reliability
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The 4.6 is well documented as being highly problematic. Some people think the 4.6 is desirable, but I never understood the attraction to an engine with such a track record of failure. Do a search here for slipped sleeve if you want a sample.

The D1-D2 debate has been worn out. Ultimately they are both Rovers, so just buy the one that will bring you the most satisfaction when you get behind the wheel.
 
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Paul Grant

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2004
3,180
0
CT
Get a '94 or '95 from the southwest where the body rust won't be an issue. While it might not have been the most powerful, the 3.9L/14CUX was the best V8 Rover configuration ever offered in terms of reliability. GEMS can be a nightmare. I wouldn't wish a 13-18 year old Bosch motor on my worst enemy.
 
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discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,733
1,024
Northern Illinois
Paul Grant said:
Get a '94 or '95 from the southwest where the body rust won't be an issue. While it might not have been the most powerful, the 3.9L/14CUX was the best V8 Rover configuration ever offered in terms of reliability. GEMS can be a nightmare. I wouldn't wish a 13-18 year old Bosch motor on my worst enemy.
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Don't do this. He's right about the location. but you don't want to own a Land Rover without swivel balls or one with a distributor. So that puts you in the '96 to "99 trucks.They made both Disco 1 and that other thing in 99 so look for the LJ as the 3rd and 4th digit in the vin. Preferably the '99 in the SD trim level. Biggest thing you gain from the SD is no sunroofs and that's a huge deal for me. I prefer no holes in my roofs.

Another thing you have to think about with the southwest trucks is the interior trim parts kinda get clapped out from baking in the sun. The upper sections of the door panels gets dark like somebody cooked cookies too long.The early trucks had that dash peeling problem that seems to be all fixed by the 98 or 99 trucks.

I have a great truck I'm about to get started on this month. My kid trashed a 99 SD that I had for abut 6 years.So I got this truck for him to drive his last year of high school. It's from northern California. It has all the door panel issues and interior issues I would have expected from a 96 that's been in the desert all its life. But the thing has no rust.It has all the SafariGard shit(bumpers and rock sliders) and the stage 2 suspension with Fox remote reservoir shocks.Air lockers front and rear. Three hella lights and a Warn winch. Now its sitting on 33" mudders, but I also bought from the same guy a set of steel 15" Procomp rock crawler wheels.I'm not sure what tire I'm gonna put on those yet. I'm open to sugestions but keep it clean canus.

We got the truck in march and I wouldn't let the kid drive it till the roads were clear of the salt and muck. Then after he drove it for a few months I put it in my garage and switched the insurance to just being stored. I'm thinking about getting a second truck to put all the safariGard shit on and change this one up quite a bit. It's so clean it should be in a damn museum.
 
forcefed44

forcefed44

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2013
71
0
The Cape VA, and NJ
Thanks for all the information.. I may just repair the rust on my D1.. It's a Lucas 3.9 and never ever gave me any problems. I did find a really clean D1 southern truck, not white but really clean and it being another '95. We will see.
 
Tugela

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,763
564
Seattle
rovercanus said:
Remember, the Defender fags are saying the same thing about the D1.
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That may be true, but I'll be sipping tea from my thermos as I zoom past those slow TDI bricks, cruising up Blewett Pass at 4,000 feet in third gear. My 4.Slow is nothing to get excited about, but it is at least more practical than a diesel for much of the driving I do.

That being said, when I go back to South Africa I drive a diesel Defender and enjoy it.
 
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discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,733
1,024
Northern Illinois
rovercanus said:
You're cute. Remember, the Defender fags are saying the same thing about the D1.
And you really are over stating D2 issues.
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I'm sure Defender guys do look down on Disco1 trucks. It's got the same drivetrain, it holds twice as much fuel, its way more comfortable and it costs a fraction of what a defender costs. Let them say what they will. I'm keeping my Defender money in a mutual fund for now.

We do overstate the problems with the D2. But that's just cause we hate them so much. It was a bad time when BMW owned Land Rover. Kind of like staying with your creepy uncle while your parents are working.
 
forcefed44

forcefed44

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2013
71
0
The Cape VA, and NJ
discostew said:
I'm sure Defender guys do look down on Disco1 trucks. It's got the same drivetrain, it holds twice as much fuel, its way more comfortable and it costs a fraction of what a defender costs. Let them say what they will. I'm keeping my Defender money in a mutual fund for now.

We do overstate the problems with the D2. But that's just cause we hate them so much. It was a bad time when BMW owned Land Rover. Kind of like staying with your creepy uncle while your parents are working.
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Jesus.... What a way to paint a picture.. LOL
 
ERover82

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,921
459
Darien Gap
Most Defenders here are V8. D1 is the poor/cheap man's Defender. I'd trade a bit of comfort any time for added utility and configurability of the body.
 
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