| Author |
Message |
    
Bill Gilmore (Mountainjeep)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 11:23 am: | 
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Alright I am new here and I am a Jeep owner so flame away.
But, before you pile on to hard, I am considering selling my well built TJ and aquiring a "family" rig such as a Discovery or a Country. Money IS an object, so I am wondering whats a good place to start. I am definately going pre-owned under $26k. would rather go well under $20k as a starter, lower starting price is good if I have to build this thing up, but I am taking in all ideas here. I want this rig to be able to handle everything my TJ could, so that means fully locked, 33-35" tires, low gearing, some kind of suspension lift?? I don't know crap about whats availible or what does and does not work.
Series I or Series II..advantages and disadvantages for building up?
What about an older (affordable) Country?
Like I said I am a complete Rover neophyte, so stupid questions will be following for sure
Thanks
Bill |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:04 pm: |
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Start with a Series I Discovery (1994-1999). Ideally, I'd go for a 99DI, but you can pick up an older model for a LOT less money. Also, pre-96 has a distibuter and less computerized engine management crap. You could also go for a Classic Range Rover (short wheel base) to build up - pretty much the same thing as the Disco, but the Disco has more room with that bumped-up roofline. The long wheel base (LWB) Classic Rangie is sweet, but that would give less breakover. Series II Disco is about 6 inches longer in the ass, so departure is less.
Then start with the modifications:
Suspension lift to suit your needs (longer/stiffer springs, up to 2" spacers below springs if needed, shocks to match);
HD driveshafts front and rear to suit suspension lift;
HD axles front and rear;
HD CV joints;
HD drive flanges;
Tires sized & treaded to suit your needs;
Lower, HD gearing to suit tires (i.e. 41 x 10 ring & pinion for 33's or 38 x 8 for 35's & up);
Rear locker and front LSD or selectable locker;
HD steering components (and relocate the steering stabilizer to a safe spot rather than behind and under the front axle);
misc. trimming, bumpstops, bushings, etc. You can also get into re-fabbed, HD radius & trailing arms, relocating axles, etc.
To fit those 35's, you really need to beef things up. You'll also get into some body panel hacking with 35's, but it can be done. Where are you located? |
Chad Meyer (Ccdm3)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:07 pm: |
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Bill,
I got my 98 Disco from www.bvlr.com for $18k almost a year ago with less than 40k miles on it. They have a large on line inventory with RR, Discos, and Defenders so it's a good place to look. I got my lift/suspension from www.discountrovers.com for $480. I went with OME HD which gave me about 2 inches of lift. Brush guard and lights came from www.lrx.com. They also have a huge on line listing of classified ads. Another highly reccomended resource is www.expeditionexchange.com. I have yet to purchase from them, but the website is a great tool. My next purchase is going to be new difs. from them. Hope this helps.
Chad |
isaac
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:12 pm: |
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Bill - before others chime in here, let me offer a couple tidbits . . .
a) consider an already built up rover. generally the off-roaded rovers are in far better mechanical condition, and you will save 30% or more in upgrades by buying them installed on the truck. These are hard to sell once they get a lift and some dirt time, despite being much better cared for.
b) the "County" is a trim package offered on Range Rover Classics, which were imported to the us from '87 and produced up until 1995. I myself have a '91 RR, and it's been a great vehicle. Having just come from a Jeep, I would recommend that you buy the newest, most built up "Disco" (Discovery) that you can afford.
c) once you've purchased your rover - don't do a durn thing to it (stock or otherwise) until you've taken it off road at least 3 to 4 times. It will suprise the heck out of you, and many folks IMO dump too much cash into their trucks too fast. Locked on both ends, your new rover will go just about anywhere on 33's that you would care to go. The bottoms of these things are tucked up well, and the aligned diffs work
well to your advantage if you are careful with your lines.
as a combo baby-train off-road platform, the disco/rr can't be beat. also, forget about getting bashed over a jeep vs. LR vs. toyota vs. brand-x mentality. I think most of us had or still have another brand of SUV prior to rover ownership, and are still partial to them. I had an old Scout that I gave up on, and damn if I don't miss it!
cheers, and good luck
isaac / seattle / 91 RRC |
Bill Gilmore (Mountainjeep)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:24 pm: |
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Thanks all!
This is really good stuff.
To answer Bluegill..I am in Denver
I will definately be keeping an eye out for something that is already built up..I completely understand the $$ and maintainence pluses involved there. |
Ho Chung (Ho)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:35 pm: |
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hey mountainjeep,
go over the "photo gallery" here on this site.
i tried to list all the mods that people have done, so you can kinda have an idea what each mod will do to the looks at least.
good luck shopping. |
p m
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 01:07 pm: |
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Bill, for 26 grand you can get yourself a nice and clean stock Disco for your family, and a built rangie to go wheeling. Bluegill's kit included 
peter |
Todd Sanders (Sanderskog)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 01:10 pm: |
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As a starting point/point of reference. I just picked up a '99 D1 with 55K for $16,900. No mods other than what came from the stealer when bought new (brush guard, tail light guards, etc) but I am happy with the price.
Todd |
CEJB
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 01:16 pm: |
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I'd start in Co by joining the Solihull Society your local Land Rover Club and hanging out with those guys and Bill Burke too for a while and learn what you like and don't like
Chris Browne |
Bill Gilmore (Mountainjeep)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 02:49 pm: |
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Okay reality check time...I crunched some more numbers. I could buy a nice new rig for $26k, but I need to build it up, so I have reigned in my previous cost estimates, well, alot.
Can go two ways...try and find a built rig for Under $17,000
Or find a clean older stockie for around $10,000 and add $7k worth of mods.
Is this do-able, or am I dreaming |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 02:54 pm: |
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Bill - Check your email. Tom |
Mel A. (Krawlrovr)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 03:51 pm: |
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Bill,
What kind of off-roading do you do? We can help you out a lot better with that info. If you want a bas-ass Disco that will be close to unstoppable I�d do the following:
-1994-1995 Discovery in "good" condition $8000-$10000
-Rovertym 3 inch springs-$275
-Old Man Emu shocks (N73F/N76R)-$68ea
-Rovertym corrected radius arms/trailing links-$500
-33 inch tires of your choice-$500-700
-Ashcroft 4.11 gearing-$670 for both sets
-Ashcroft heavy duty rear axle-$300
-Rear Detroit locker-$430
-New front driveshaft-$400
-Rovertym rock sliders-$595
-Aftermarket front bumper w/ winch mount-$500-$700
-A 8000-9000lb winch-$800-$1000
-Front and rear diff protectors-$150 for both
Well that's just all the essentials, which comes out to about $15000. The other $2000 can be used for recovery gear, replacement parts, problems, stereo, etc. |
chrisvonc
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 03:51 pm: |
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I'll sell you mine.. but not for $17k though.
Chris von C |
Buddy
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 03:59 pm: |
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Add a rear bumper and shipping charges for a couple grand more on Mel's estimate.
Don't forget install charges unless you are so inclined. Maybe just for the lockers/gears. Everything else is totally doable by anyone with the right tools. |
Bill Gilmore (Mountainjeep)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 04:25 pm: |
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I live in Colorado and play at Carnage Canyon, Holy Cross, and other such "black diamond" trails non a regular basis. My currrent rig, 1997 TJ, sports:
4" pro comp suspension lift
1" MORE body lift system
JKS quicker disconnects
4.88 gears
tru-trac rear open front diffs
warn 8000 winch
safari snorkel
RE HD lower control arm mounts
and a lot of other stuff I cant recall at the moment
so to answer your quewstion about my wheelin habits..I tend to try just about anything. In fact I just competed in my first rock crawlin event in Kremmling, Colorado and was quite pleased with my performance (although I was way down in the standings)
Once again thanks for everyones input, I forgot how much fun building a new rig can be :-) |
Moe (Moe)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 04:41 pm: |
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I feel the best advice is to buy a built (and pampered) rig for about $17+k and then you will have plenty left over to bring it up to your specs. |
Ho Chung (Ho)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 04:54 pm: |
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just don't get one with the damn saudi grill.
unless, of course, you dig those things. |
isaac
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 05:24 pm: |
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* YAWN *
so many parts, so little driving.
it has always amazes me to see what lengths some folks will go to "upgrade" a $100/15-minute replacement part that "WILL NEVER BREAK!"
. . . and then after $1,500 it does anyway. |
Jeff
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 09:46 pm: |
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Bill
Here is an option. I have a friend who is building two RRs, one started off as the project and the other one went from parts vehicle to second project. Both have BMW diesels and redone interiors.
I think the one that will be for sale is a Hunter and early '90s. If you want something fun and capable this might be a good idea, especially considering your price range. He probably wants around $20K and said he would be willing to add accessories or mods (tires, bumper...) for a small price on top of cost.
If anyone is seriously interested send me an email and I can put you in touch with him. |
John Averett
| | Posted on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 12:29 pm: |
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Tom, Just curious are you trying to sell your disco again. Let me know some details. |
brian friend
| | Posted on Friday, July 26, 2002 - 10:52 pm: |
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Bill,
I have a 97 se7 and I take the kids all the time. Couple of things you should do first (that I didn't do) are sliders and diff gaurds. The land rover is so capable that you will be able to get through stuff that you shouldn't be able to but as you are impressed with the capability you might be disapointed with body damage. I live in colo springs , with 265/70 and a rear locker Iron Chest tore my truck up. Just my opinion but if you see my truck you will understand. Shoot me an e-mail if you want to hit the hills.
[email protected] |
Clif Ashley (Cta586)
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 12:58 am: |
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Jeff, both of the Rangies are mine. I am taking them! Haha |
hendrik
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 02:46 am: |
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Jeff,
which BMW engines are being used ? |
John Kruger (Johnnyk)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 10:25 pm: |
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Check out my gallery here on the site, it lists most of my mods. I commute 70 miles roundtrip daily and just got back from a 2500+ mile trip into northern Manitoba. There are alot of opinions on this site about where to start and whom to purchase it from. I do agree with the suggestion of purchasing a built up rig, you will get something with the capabilities you want without the hassle of figuring out what to do next. Then as you get to know the vehicle, you can modify it to your driving style....
Just my $.02
John Kruger
www.teampb.com |
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