The search on the history of my disco!

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garethmob

New Member
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7
Hello guys this is my first post but iv been hanging around for a while reading posts and i thought id join especially as i have found i own a rather rare disco (apparently) its also a 4 speed auto.

i know its odd already as its an import. i believe it was exported from the uk to argentina, imported back around N reg and the engine, well lets say its got a very unique sound with the tappets, but iv known it with the previous owners for 9 years and it always worked perfect and started (ish like they all do) around the first time.

so lets start with what i know.

a few weeks ago i decided to get the timing belt done as i was gonna do one then and the fan belt this week. well split it all down and my mates dad who's got a disco (his job is actually a mechanic at his own garage) and he services alot of discos for a local land rover club so he knows his stuff. we were both looking at the part that was delivered from our local motor factors and the whole system on the truck and they were completely different. even the belt sizes were different. he says he's never seen a landrover with that design before (and he's worked on every model from a series 1 - a modern rangy and freelander) so after googling for images and on the phone with the motor factor describing the part and going through their landy parts database we eventually find the belt kit and it turns out it was from a prototype run landrover did with a few discos and defender 300tdis (90 were made according to their system) i was wondering if any one knew anything about this and can give me a bit of history on the actual reason why so few was made, why they never made full production etc. also apparently my discos different as it came with aircon and front and rear electric sun roofs.....(i don't know if that makes a difference) but it had full leather seats as well (although now its got range rover classic front seats which are far more confortable.) so if any one knows or is able to help point me in the right direction please do :) id love to know as much as i can about the old girl, had an e class merc and a bmw 5 series estate and neither were as fun or as nice to drive as the disco (although i have been told i'm mad to even think that)

Thanks guys
 
Hello guys this is my first post but iv been hanging around for a while reading posts and i thought id join especially as i have found i own a rather rare disco (apparently) its also a 4 speed auto.

i know its odd already as its an import. i believe it was exported from the uk to argentina, imported back around N reg and the engine, well lets say its got a very unique sound with the tappets, but iv known it with the previous owners for 9 years and it always worked perfect and started (ish like they all do) around the first time.

so lets start with what i know.

a few weeks ago i decided to get the timing belt done as i was gonna do one then and the fan belt this week. well split it all down and my mates dad who's got a disco (his job is actually a mechanic at his own garage) and he services alot of discos for a local land rover club so he knows his stuff. we were both looking at the part that was delivered from our local motor factors and the whole system on the truck and they were completely different. even the belt sizes were different. he says he's never seen a landrover with that design before (and he's worked on every model from a series 1 - a modern rangy and freelander) so after googling for images and on the phone with the motor factor describing the part and going through their landy parts database we eventually find the belt kit and it turns out it was from a prototype run landrover did with a few discos and defender 300tdis (90 were made according to their system) i was wondering if any one knew anything about this and can give me a bit of history on the actual reason why so few was made, why they never made full production etc. also apparently my discos different as it came with aircon and front and rear electric sun roofs.....(i don't know if that makes a difference) but it had full leather seats as well (although now its got range rover classic front seats which are far more confortable.) so if any one knows or is able to help point me in the right direction please do :) id love to know as much as i can about the old girl, had an e class merc and a bmw 5 series estate and neither were as fun or as nice to drive as the disco (although i have been told i'm mad to even think that)

Thanks guys

local motor factor isnt likely to stock prototype parts ,what was different compared to std 300tdi
 
well they had only one part which had been sat on a shelf for about 5 years so i guess i was lucky.


where the normal one has one metal bearing to help the belt this one had a double set linked together with a sort of metal triangle. it looked a little like this http://abc2xyz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/cambelt.jpg but there were still differences in the design from what i remember. another thing i remember there was only one alignment hole on one of the cogs, and only 2 screws not the three that my other disco has. it also had a bigger belt than normal too.
 
well it looked similar to the pic with the two bearings but they were in a different shape but still connected by a metal plate. and it defiantly only had two screws as we were a little puzzled on why it didnt have three. there wasnt even a hole for it and when we removed to see if it was tampered/bodged it was blank on the other side. i wish i actually took photos of the system now.
 
Hi is it a Brazilian International Motors 2.8i ? LR sold the rights to manufacture the 300 Tdi to the Brazilians when they started developing the TD5. The Brazilians took the plans and built the ultimate version, all the faults were improved producing an engine which sold in its millions. They have trade restrictions which meant that everything had to be built there so even Ford when importing their Ford Rodeo 4WD truck which had a 6 L V8 in the states were forced to boost their Brazilian content by banging in this engine. The whole of South America is inundated with this engine.
If so you're a lucky boy - they cost best part of £7K from Land Rover conversions - M&D Engineering if you search on the internet you can find a manual for the engine and all spare parts are available from M&D.
the crankcase cover will say International.
 
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