I bought another one... 1996 SD

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
Drove 2600 miles round trip from eastern New Mexico to Grass Valley, CA and back to get it. NO RUST (well, actually a little hidden under the alpine window seals)

The scenery of the drive back along 395 really helped after the torture of I-10 and I-5...

I learned the CHP is very serious about that 55 MPH limit for vehicles towing trailers, even empty ones. Written warning was given and the experience made me decide to take 395 back, which was an amazing drive. So, I owe some thanks to CHP Trooper Marzano.

My tow vehicle is a GMC Canyon with 2.8 liter diesel. It was amazing how well it handled the climbs with all that weight. There was a spot in Lake Tahoe where it took everything it had but it didn’t waver.

It was kind of chance that I bought it. My current full time residence is in St. Louis but I have been off work recovering from neck/back surgery. I was feeling so good only 3 weeks out I was planning to head to Iowa to buy another D1 from a gentleman who is also a forum member here. I made preliminary plans to head to Iowa and then went to see my surgeon for a 4 week check up. Well, I decided after that visit it wasn’t a good idea and cancelled that trip.

So, my wife decided since I was stuck at home recovering from surgery that I could handle all the typical Mom duties. As a result, she decided to take my truck with some fragile stuff to our home in New Mexico as we are moving there in August.

She got half way and started having issues with my truck’s battery going dead. She jump started it twice and refused to take it to a shop, bull headed she is... but she made it to NM. In fairness to her bullheadedness, she had a bad experience years ago with a dealer as well as an independent shop along with $3000 of our money while out of town, and now refuses to let an unknown shop fix anything until I can be involved. So, i got in her car and headed to New Mexico. We traded cars and her and my son returned to St. Louis leaving me to deal with a shop to get it fixed. I did a ton of web forum research which led me to a suspected loose wire in the engine bay fuse panel. One 10 mm nut tightened and problem solved.

The drive down was a little uncomfortable but much less worse than the discomfort I had experienced for almost 20 years before surgery. I had previously seen this D1 on Facebook marketplace. So, against “recommendations“ and 700 miles closer to it than St. Louis I decided to do it. Toward the end of the journey I more understood why “recommendations“ suggested not making the trip to Iowa... muscle relaxers and naproxen were greatly appreciated when I could take them.

7B48E486-B221-4454-8253-A8428A84D0ED.jpeg53503D57-73C6-493F-BA38-75DB23007BCE.jpeg
 
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Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Drove 2600 miles round trip from eastern New Mexico to Grass Valley, CA and back to get it. NO RUST (well, actually a little along the bottom hidden under the alpine window seals)

The scenery of the drive back along 395 really helped after the torture of I-10 and I-5...

I learned the CHP is very serious about that 55 MPH limit for vehicles towing trailers, even empty ones. Written warning was given and the experience made me decide to take 395 back, which was an amazing drive. So, I owe some thanks to CHP Trooper Marzano.

My tow vehicle is a GMC Canyon with 2.8 liter diesel. It was amazing how well it handled the climbs with all that weight. There was a spot in Lake Tahoe where it took everything it had but it didn’t waver.

It was kind of chance that I bought it. My current full time residence is in St. Louis but I have been off work recovering from neck/back surgery. I was feeling so good only 3 weeks out I was planning to head to Iowa to buy another D1 from a gentleman who is also a forum member here. I made preluminary plans to head to Iowa and then went to see my surgeon for a 4 week check up. Well, I decided after that visit it wasn’t a good idea and cancelled that trip.

So, my wife decided since I was stuck at home recovering from surgery that I could handle all the typical Mom duties. As a result, she decided to take my truck with some fragile stuff to our home in New Mexico as we are moving there in August.

She got half way and started having issues with my truck’s battery going dead. She jump started it twice and refused to take it to a shop, bull headed she is... but she made it to NM. In fairness to her bullheadedness, she had a bad experience years ago with a dealer as well as an independent shop along with $3000 of our money while out of town, and now refuses to let an unknown shop fix anything until I can be involved. So, i got in her car and headed to New Mexico. We traded cars and her and my son returned to St. Louis leaving me to deal with a shop to get it fixed. I did a ton of web forum research which led me to a suspected loose wire in the engine bay fuse panel. One 10 mm nut tightened and problem solved.

The drive down was a little uncomfortable but much less worse than the discomfort I had experienced for almost 20 years before surgery. I had previously seen this D1 on Facebook marketplace. So, against “recommendations“ and 700 miles closer to it than St. Louis I decided to do it. Toward the end of the journey I more understood why “recommendations“ suggested not making the trip to Iowa... muscle relaxers and naproxen were greatly appreciated when I could take them.

View attachment 61057View attachment 61056
We have its twin:
DA598D6E-E403-4695-B66D-0CE9A4AC91E2.jpeg4A82F8E2-4E62-4EA8-A579-F99D38E75FBB.jpeg
 
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mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Cool purchase. I am pretty sure they had been trying to sell this red one for years. I used to live in Nevada City and always scoured Craigslist for Land Rovers out there.
 
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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
What a beautiful D1! I am sooo envious. And, IIRC, this truck has been very well cared for.
And US 395 is my favorite byway, close to 89 and 191.
 
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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
Yep, it’s the one that was for sale on Facebook marketplace. I bought it from a guy that only has had it a few months. He is a good guy and didn‘t exaggerate its condition at all. But, no history was available. I don’t think it is the one you are thinking of... the interior is well worn and sun damaged, but not the dash, thankfully.. I was driving back from the MVD office when the seat diaphragm gave up. I immediately became about 2 inches shorter. I just happen to have collected just about everything to make the interior quite nice. I have been looking for the right one to use it all with.

I have been digging into it a little today. Seller stated it had an overheating problem and the AC and electric fans didn’t work. I drove it around quite a bit and it never got over half on the gauge, never actually got to half, with the AC on and working, electric fans doing what they are supposed to do. The temp gauge did drop out a few times but popped right back after 10-15 seconds.

It actually runs very well. I have a complete low mileage 5 speed setup ready to go in but the auto shifts so well it almost seems wrong to swap it. The body is super solid. This is the first one I found that is better than expected.

Also, in time I plan to make it look as nice as it’s Red Rover twin. That is one really nice looking D1!
 
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Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Yep, it’s the one that was for sale on Facebook marketplace. I bought it from a guy that only has had it a few months. He is a good guy and didn‘t exaggerate its condition at all. But, no history was available. I don’t think it is the one you are thinking of... the interior is well worn and sun damaged, but not the dash, thankfully.. I was driving back from the MVD office when the seat diaphragm gave up. I immediately became about 2 inches shorter. I just happen to have collected just about everything to make the interior quite nice. I have been looking for the right one to use it all with.

I have been digging into it a little today. Seller stated it had an overheating problem and the AC and electric fans didn’t work. I drove it around quite a bit and it never got over half on the gauge, never actually got to half, with the AC on and working, electric fans doing what they are supposed to do. The temp gauge did drop out a few times but popped right back after 10-15 seconds.

It actually runs very well. I have a complete low mileage 5 speed setup ready to go in but the auto shifts so well it almost seems wrong to swap it. The body is super solid. This is the first one I found that is better than expected.

Also, in time I plan to make it look as nice as it’s Red Rover twin. That is one really nice looking D1!
Thanks for the compliment. Your approach was similar to mine. Find one with as rust free body as possible and repair whatever mechanical issues crop up. My wife also wanted red though which added time to my search as not many red SD examples out there in stock form. Know there are + and - to an auto box yet always felt for an all round use Rover better than a manual.
Best of luck!
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
I have been digging into it a little today. Seller stated it had an overheating problem and the AC and electric fans didn’t work. I drove it around quite a bit and it never got over half on the gauge, never actually got to half, with the AC on and working, electric fans doing what they are supposed to do. The temp gauge did drop out a few times but popped right back after 10-15 seconds.

Check the radiator flow for a blockage. That area, Grass Valley/Nevada City/Penn Valley was pretty hilly with some spots having really steep grades. It’s possible that the radiator is blocked and needs to be replaced, but would only show under lots of load while driving around there. I had this issue with my brother’s old Grand Cherokee when I lived out there. No issues normally, but summer months driving back up from the valley it would show slightly higher temps than normal.
 
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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
Check the radiator flow for a blockage. That area, Grass Valley/Nevada City/Penn Valley was pretty hilly with some spots having really steep grades. It’s possible that the radiator is blocked and needs to be replaced, but would only show under lots of load while driving around there. I had this issue with my brother’s old Grand Cherokee when I lived out there. No issues normally, but summer months driving back up from the valley it would show slightly higher temps than normal.
Makes sense. He already put a new fan clutch in. I just happen to have a spare radiator I will swap in.
 
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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
Check the radiator flow for a blockage. That area, Grass Valley/Nevada City/Penn Valley was pretty hilly with some spots having really steep grades. It’s possible that the radiator is blocked and needs to be replaced, but would only show under lots of load while driving around there. I had this issue with my brother’s old Grand Cherokee when I lived out there. No issues normally, but summer months driving back up from the valley it would show slightly higher temps than normal.
You were correct. It took me just over a year to get back to the project but a new radiator 100% solved the problem. Thanks for the tip.