D2 complete drivetrain into D1

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climberdiscodave

Member
Jul 5, 2013
24
0
Boise, ID
Hey everyone,

I'm pretty new to Rovers, but I have a lot of experience with custom work on different vehicles including engine swaps, re-wiring complete vehicles, race car builds, etc (my now 2 Rovers are the 35th and 36th vehicles that have been in and out of my possession).

I bought a 2000 D2 about 3-4 months back with just about everything I'd ever want to do to a Disco already done (lockers, 4" lift + Bilstein 7100's, everything rebuilt/replaced, including brakes, driveshafts, etc.) that had a bad crank. I rebuilt it to a 4.6, and then promptly destroyed the roof when it met a small grove of trees (long story). I have now picked up a D1 to swap everything to. What I'm wanting to do is swap EVERYTHING from the D2 into the D1 drivetrain-wise, including complete axle assemblies from brake disc to brake disc, driveshafts, engine, trans, t-case, etc. I know the axle assemblies obviously bolt up differently, and I have no problem cutting and welding new mounts to the frame to use the D2 radius arms and everything else. Besides the mounts, is there anything else I'm going to need to look out for?

Thanks in advance for your help, and I know I'm going to get some mixed opinions on my plan because it seems that the general belief is that most of the D1 drivetrain is better, but if I can swap everything over without having to rebuild stuff, I'd be much happier to just weld in a couple new radius arm mounts and be done with it.

Thanks again,

David
 
Roving Beetle

Roving Beetle

Well-known member
Nov 11, 2007
4,823
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Mount Desert Island, Maine
www.desertboat.com
Will be far easier to use the entire d2 chassis. Just shorten the rear overhang as its the only all that different.

You'll have to fab some mount brackets a hair, not much. Pull the entire wire harness and dash from the d2 and swap it into the d1.

Not worth the effort given a d2 is CHEAP.

Buy a good d2 and swap stuff over/have a donor parts rig. Seriously.

Or get a d2 with a bad motor/trans and swap stuff. Why use a d1 shell? Is there a great reason you want to? Not trying to flame - seriously wondering.
 
KyleT

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
the diffs, springs shocks driveshafts ect can easily be made to fit a D1.

sliders and bumpers shoul also bolt on, but IIRC d2 sliders will be a little too long.

since you want to do all of that work for marginal improvements in axle strength, why not just swap some stronger axles on and link the suspension? the OEM d1 has a better rear suspension design anyway....

and the D1 drivetrain isn't any better, just different points of failure...

transmission and tcase are the same except the D2 has an elec transmission and the D1 is manual valve body, but to make it work you basically need a controller that costs like 2000
 
stu454

stu454

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2004
5,407
61
Atlanta, GA
Clamp you balls in a vise and have a homeless guy crank it down.

Or just find another D2 and swap all of the good parts over to that one.

There's no reason to make this complicated.
 
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climberdiscodave

Member
Jul 5, 2013
24
0
Boise, ID
The reason for the D1 is because they're cheaper, and I already picked one up for next to nothing. I also like the better approach angle of the D1 vs. D2. I want to stick with the D2 parts because it's what I have already and it's all rebuilt, disc to disc on both front and rear axles, with about 10k miles on everything. The engine in my D2 was also rebuilt by me to a 4.6 and has about 2k miles on it. The D1 I picked up has about 190k on it.

So, I may be better off just swapping bodies, trimming the rear of the frame, and fabbing up some body mounts? That actually sounds like it would work quite well. Hmmmm... got some thinking to do. Thanks for the replies and keep 'em coming if you've got any input.
 
KyleT

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
Why not just get a new roof panel for the d2?

I'm not saying the swap can't be done, but why waste the effort, time and money? You would be better off swapping a series body onto it. Making it unique.

D2's with busted motors should be about 500 bucks....

Departure angle on a d2 is no worse than a d1. And if you run a slim bumper and take the hitch off I bet it is better than a d1.

Then there is the electrical nightmare of trying to get everything to work together....
 
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climberdiscodave

Member
Jul 5, 2013
24
0
Boise, ID
I would have also needed to straighten/replace most of the a-pillar, the fender, door, headlight, turn signal. In the end it just wasn't worth salvaging based on the prices of used body parts for D2's. It is definitely cheaper just to buy another vehicle, which in my case was a D1. The cheapest D2 I've seen pop up locally in the past few months was $1500 with a broken driveshaft that put a hole in the transmission. I'm happy with the price I paid for the D1 I picked up and it looks like it'll be pretty easy to swap the bodies.

I took some measurements, and as far as I can see the body should bolt straight on with the possible exception of the rear most body mounts, but even then they look really close and should be a piece of cake to fab up. Wiring is something that I'm not afraid of. I've completely re-wired entire vehicles in a weekend for motor swaps on a few occasions. I've got some time to do this one. Shouldn't take more than a few days to figure out the wiring though.

Other than that, it looks like the D2 track width is a bit wider, which in my book is a good thing, and also gives a tighter turning radius with the radius arms being in the same location in relation to the frame vs. a D1.

Swap starts tomorrow.
 
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Roving Beetle

Roving Beetle

Well-known member
Nov 11, 2007
4,823
0
Mount Desert Island, Maine
www.desertboat.com
Swap the bodies. Swap the wire harness and dash/heater core/auto climate control and all the BCU,TCU etc.

Lots of work but you'll have a disco 1 with the comforts of a d2. Kinda cool. Go for it.

Just use the COMPLETE harness and don't cut corners. The BCU will get really pissed off and you'll FOREVER be chasing issues. Trust me.
 
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Mongo

Mongo

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
5,731
2
59
You will be chasing electrical issues for the life of the truck...but it depends on what you consider "working"
 
KyleT

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
jafir said:
One thing I've always wondered.... I know you can swap a 109 body onto a 110 frame, but can you put a 109 body on a RRC LWB frame as easily?
Click to expand...

there was a series D100 floating around. not sure what it was but it was on a disco 1/rrc swb chassis
 
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climberdiscodave

Member
Jul 5, 2013
24
0
Boise, ID
Buddy said:
Make sure to take pictures.
Click to expand...

I'll have my camera on a tripod and intervalometer. Planning to make a time-lapse video of it.

Picking up some supplies for the swap today, and I'm going to pull the bumpers, rock sliders etc. off both trucks today and start prepping both for the swap.
 
jafir

jafir

Well-known member
May 4, 2011
1,628
0
Northwest Arkansas
Roving Beetle said:
Not at all. Different cross members, outriggers and mounts. Doable yes, easy no way. It's happening right now to my coiler/series hybrid build. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks! That answers that. I know where there is a 109 SW that is a complete pile of rust. I'd like to save it, but used 110 frames don't grow on trees it seems.
 
Mongo

Mongo

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
5,731
2
59
You can get a frame from George at Rovers Down South...

rdsparts.com
504-248-5301

as for this build...I was crazy (or dumb) to do a axle swap and will never do it again, this seems to be..well..stupid
 
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climberdiscodave

Member
Jul 5, 2013
24
0
Boise, ID
I was actually considering a VW TDI swap into a Disco. Every vehicle I've personally owned before my rovers was a VW/Audi, everything from hill-climb prepped 300hp+ Sciroccos and Corrados, to a TDI mk4 Jetta wagon, a '92 Audi S4 (inline 5-turbo) with about 300hp/350tq, aircooled vw's...
 
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