3.9 V8 mod costs and difficulty

Just in the process of buying my first 4x4, a 1998 Disco 1 3.9 V8. Hoping to collect it next weekend. It looks in excellent condition and seems pretty standard other than side steps, and has really low mileage. Although it looks good as it is, it wasn't really my intention to buy a really good original example, but more a 'used' looking, slightly modified animal, something with maybe chequer plate bonnet and snorkel with maybe a suspension lift too. But thats not what I've got, I've got the good base to start from and do what I want.

I want to use the Disco for towing a trailer with a lightweight car on it on odd occasions, but other than that it is just going to be used for fun drives out, and if I get it made suitable then for going to a local 4x4 place to play, as it is a 2nd car and not my everyday mode of transport.

What are the 'essential' mods on a V8 Disco 1? How easy or hard are they to do by yourself (I am quite happy to get my hands dirty and get stuck in having rebuilt a couple of bikes and currently building a kit car, but I am by no means a mechanic)? And what are the likely costs of the mods?

Things I am thinking of myself that I would like more info on are:

• Snorkel kit (believe this model has ABS) which I understand makes a difference on the kits
• Suspension lift - this looks to be the most complicated
• Bigger wheels and tyres
• Chequer plate door bottoms and bonnet
• Large roofrack suitable for sitting / laying on
• Acess ladder on rear door
• Bullbars
• Light rail

The Mods will be easy enough to sort out with very basic skills.
You will need a very good trolley jack and some heavy duty axel stands.
As for costs well that will depend on your budget as the options are hugh regaurding suspension and wheels and tyres.

well in just over a year iv spent 2k, no ide where but i have lol

Mods are easy enough, just depends what yu want, what you will find is you will get good with a grinder and welder if not already so, for your list

Snorkel kit (believe this model has ABS) which I understand makes a difference on the kits -
yes makes a difference, but how deep you going cos v8s dont like water withought being prepared 1st


Suspension lift - this looks to be the most complicated £200+
can be done on your own, make sure you soak everything for a couple weeks before hand in wd40.but remember no matter how high you lift you still only have clearance of your diffs

Bigger wheels and tyres £100-1000
depending how big you go, you will need camel cut on arches or new flexi arches and cut more metal.

Chequer plate door bottoms and bonnet
why the bonnet? its too flimsy unlike defenders, door bottoms are easy enough kits about £70

Large roofrack suitable for sitting / laying on
if your good with a welder make one, i did

Acess ladder on rear door rivnuts into top and bottom of door, job done, about £20-30 for ladder

Bullbars
think these it on bumper mounts, (no idea iv not got em)


Light rail
bolts striaght to roof gutter, wirings the hardest, i made my roof rack and light bar in one.

Cheers Paulmitchell1984.

The main reason for the mods I suppose is for the aesthetics, but also to allow me some additional flexibility for what I can use it for. Maybe take it doing a bit of green laning, take it for camping weekends etc.

The snorkel idea was mainly for the aesthetic but to have as a safety margin should I find myself in the position of having to drive through water. I had read about the V8 being a little porous so wasn't planning on going mad with the water.

Suspension lift; mainly for the look, but also thought it would help with a little green laning.

Bigger wheels; any idea on a link to a thread about what is possible with standard suspension and arches, and what is needed to be done to go bigger than that?

Chequer plate to bonnet was merely for the look and to tie in with chequer plate down the sides. Are you saying that the Disco bonnet is still too flimsy to stand upon even if chequer plated?

Large roofrack; can't do welding unfortunately so will have to buy one. Idea was to use it to lay out on or sit on when going to watch motorsports and things like that.

Access ladder; sounds easy enough

Light rail; how are these usually wired up? To an independent switch?

I think as you have never had a disco before and a V8 at that you should wait, then decide if the some of the stuff u suggest is viable.
First the bonnet is heavy to start with and if you think you can take a V8 through water so deep that you believe because raised air-intake is fitted it will be OK, plus your forgetting the water that will enter into the cab, then is

discool said:

I think as you have never had a disco before and a V8 at that you should wait, then decide if the some of the stuff u suggest is viable.
First the bonnet is heavy to start with and if you think you can take a V8 through water so deep that you believe because raised air-intake is fitted it will be OK, plus your forgetting the water that will enter into the cab, then is

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I appreciate the issues with the V8's and water, but like I said, the snorkel was more just for the look thats all. I don't plan on really taking it through water where it is going to be high enough to come in the cab, but you never know what with all the flooding etc when that one time might come.

Avoid floods, if not then try not to be one of the 4x4 drivers that thought they can go any where in the recent floods, and had to use the resources of the essential services, they were reported as "idiots".

The bottom line is: enjoy your V8.

Checkerplate-why? Bullbars add weight to steering and dont really offer much protection. Snorkle will need lots of additional things to be of use. Classic kev has a water resistant v8 have a search. Invest in wd40 and dampstart. The rest seems good but try it stock first. Itll surprise you

as above you will be suprised what a stock disco will do..do a P&P or few green lanes and go from there, do the mods you need, not the mods you think you need lol.

if you google spot light wiring then you shal find diagrams and the like, they usually run 2 lamps to 1 relay to a seperate switch that is used as on/off/on, on their own, off, on with main beam (dont wire them direct to main beam as its mot fail)

il try find the working link to tyre sizes when im free

The standard Discovery is a very capable vehicle and modifications can make it worse as well as better if you are not careful.

The biggest thing to consider is when you are towing. Adding suspension height is great for the looks and does give chassis clearance but plays havoc with towing, especially if you use softer off road springs.

Adding weight to the vehicle high up by fitting a roof rack also makes the C of G rise when coupled with a suspension lift. Add in factors when the roof rack is loaded up and you can have a very wollowy vehicle.

If you just want a vehicle that you can use on the local green lanes and not be embarrassed with on pay and play days, plus can tow and take you camping, I would strongly recommend that the investment is in tyres and equipment and leave the suspension lift alone. This coming from someone who has spent a long time modifying my disco and living with it every day as my main drive.

Standard or 1.2" HD springs are good

GreenHornet said:

The standard Discovery is a very capable vehicle and modifications can make it worse as well as better if you are not careful.

The biggest thing to consider is when you are towing. Adding suspension height is great for the looks and does give chassis clearance but plays havoc with towing, especially if you use softer off road springs.

Adding weight to the vehicle high up by fitting a roof rack also makes the C of G rise when coupled with a suspension lift. Add in factors when the roof rack is loaded up and you can have a very wollowy vehicle.

If you just want a vehicle that you can use on the local green lanes and not be embarrassed with on pay and play days, plus can tow and take you camping, I would strongly recommend that the investment is in tyres and equipment and leave the suspension lift alone. This coming from someone who has spent a long time modifying my disco and living with it every day as my main drive.

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Thanks for your insight. That's all making good logical sense, and it's good to get advice from someone with first hand experience.

Just need to figure out then what wheels and tyres I can be looking for on ebay

If you want to make an impact go for 245/75/16 on predator alloys. There are some deals to be had at the moment in LRO magazine this month. The tyres I would recommend insa's as my friends have them and they are very capable.

The size 245/75/16 should only require a Camel Cut on the rear arch trailing edge and a trios the front bumper plastic. Named camel cut as it is what the camel trophy Landies had done.

The next mod on the list would be Limited Sip Diffs or lockers. They would make the motor go further than many modded ones.

Got myself a 6 lamp light bar and fitted it today. Here are the results. I think it looks much better with this on.

Very nice mate i did suspension on mine as a novice, took me a day. i went for just standard height but HD lifted car up about 2" as old ones were so old ha pretty simple job, can give any advice/ help you need

Got my new wheels and tyres today. Ended up with 16x8 black modular wheels with Insa Turbo Ranger 235/70/16 on. But after getting the car lifted up to do the wheel swap, it pointed out that the current shocks and springs are shot and the car is actually riding a couple of inches lower that it should be as even with the 235/70/16 tyres on the modulars, the tyres are rubbing on the front mudflaps when turning tight.

So I then went and purchased a set of Terrafirma shocks, and new springs, with the rears being the "police spec" ones which I am told are progressive and will take more weight and hard wear as they are HD. I also bought a full set of front and rear Ferodo brake pads as the guy fitting the wheels also checked the brake pads and discs for me and said that although the discs looked pretty new, the pads were well worn. So while I have the wheels off to fit the new suspension I may as well replace all the brake pads and give the calipers a clean up.

So bencorkill, whats the advice you can give me on fitting new shocks and springs?