D2 One Ton Axle Swap Series

donniefitz2

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2020
138
56
Scottsdale, AZ
fitzventure.com
Not sure if this has been mentioned here, but there's a YT channel, Dirt Lifestyle, and he's been doing a really interesting project swapping one ton axles into a D2. I've been following it for some time now and it's pretty great. His videos are very well produced and the guy know his stuff.

Here's a link to the playlist for the project:
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
I've been watching his channel before he even bought the Rover! He definitely knows his stuff! I eventually want to go this route, although I will probably use Chevy/Dodge passenger side drop axles vs cutting up a super duty axle.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
That's beyond any off-road requirement I would need. I'd just get some HD CV's and rear axles from GBR, 4.10 rings and lockers. This guy needs his own fab shop with a small crew of top grade fabricators like Grease Monkey, or what ever that show is.
Did anyone see the roof rack he made for his D2? I emailed him and asked if he would make another or start fabing them. He said he's got too many projects right now.
He's so full of energy, with so many projects, I hope he doesn't burn out.
 

donniefitz2

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2020
138
56
Scottsdale, AZ
fitzventure.com
That's beyond any off-road requirement I would need. I'd just get some HD CV's and rear axles from GBR, 4.10 rings and lockers. This guy needs his own fab shop with a small crew of top grade fabricators like Grease Monkey, or what ever that show is.
Did anyone see the roof rack he made for his D2? I emailed him and asked if he would make another or start fabing them. He said he's got too many projects right now.
He's so full of energy, with so many projects, I hope he doesn't burn out.
I agree that going that far on a D2 by using 1 ton axles is pretty extreme. One could easily keep the Land Rover axles, beef them up and spend a lot less time and money.

But, it makes for great YouTube content and I think that was probably his motivation. Either way, glad he did because it's very interesting.
 

HiSPL

Well-known member
Aug 28, 2016
76
3
College Station , TX
Yeah pretty sure he did this just for youtube. Online, if a truck isn't on tons, is it really a truck?

But seriously I found this guy when he was on Bleepin Jeep doing a diesel conversion and I kept following him. I don't watch BJ anymore, but this dude know his stuff forwards and backwards.
 

logan_gibson

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2016
258
47
Alabama
Yeah pretty sure he did this just for youtube. Online, if a truck isn't on tons, is it really a truck?

But seriously I found this guy when he was on Bleepin Jeep doing a diesel conversion and I kept following him. I don't watch BJ anymore, but this dude know his stuff forwards and backwards.
Waiting for him to toss a VW diesel swap in the D2 now that the axles are done lol.
 

HiSPL

Well-known member
Aug 28, 2016
76
3
College Station , TX
Waiting for him to toss a VW diesel swap in the D2 now that the axles are done lol.
I would love to see that as that's what I have planned when the 3.9 gives out.

My plan is the BHM from the 04-05 Passat. It's already a North-South mounted engine. And with just a basic tune it can meet or exceed the HP and torque numbers of the Rover V8 using all stock parts.

Best of all the transmissions they used in those cars is made of the finest soft french cheese, so there are plenty of well-maintained engines in the junkyards for cheap.
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
A built D2 axle is about as strong as a stock D44. His truck is heavy, as is mine. Pushing 7k lbs fully loaded! Add 37s and actually wheel it and you will still break something. Plus I dont think Ashcroft warranties their hd axles past a 35" tire.? I already spent the money and have hd shafts and lockers. With 35s I feel its ok, I don't beat on it too hard
Any larger tire and a D60 starts making sense.
 

logan_gibson

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2016
258
47
Alabama
I'd go with an OM606 and ditch all the electrickery associated with the engines.
He has already done it in two other builds, so it would make sense with his channel to continue it. The OM606 is nice, but a VW TDI hasn't been done in a disco to my knowledge.
 
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HiSPL

Well-known member
Aug 28, 2016
76
3
College Station , TX
The VW TDi ecu has been all figured out. So instead of an electrical hindrance it's actually now quite useful for a swapped drivetrain. That little motor can make some big HP/Torque numbers and will still return better MPG than the OM606.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
Annnnnd he lost me.
I get the overland table thought, but he now has ZERO visibility out the back. The Max Trax could have gone on the stock(actually not stock) ladder, since he said he doesn't need it anyway. And the tire could have been moved down. I understand what he's saying about departure angle, but in reality, on an overland "rig", its not going to be an issue. Not to mention lifting a 130lb wheel/tire that high will be fun.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
And
-using self tappers to hold the latch handle on !?
- The other side of the latch secured to the body!? You could see the vertical part move when he latched it.
- He should have built the carrier "crawler style". Miles of washboard road at 40mph will take its toll, just like rock crawling at 1mph. It looks neat, but you could see the tire bouncing back/forth just when closing the carrier.

Beginning to think Nate's last name is Bottorf!!!
 
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fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
His goal is to get you to watch a video, not to build anything correctly
It's like watching a car accident in slow motion.
Video 2 is up now and it's really starting to get that Jeep feel. Aluminum quarter panel skins just for that Jeep look. The amount that spare tire moves front/back is crazy.
And he bags on the guy that criticizes his traction mats placement as being passive aggressive (as he demonstrates he has no idea what the term means).