Disco 1 instead of my Series 2 109 ?

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RustHater

RustHater

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Yeovil, Somerset
Hi, Joined this forum as I think I'm getting too old to keep on with my Series 2 but still want a competent (and comfortable) vehicle to join my Series friends on trips to Wales where the lanes are a challenge to anything much less than a standard Series/Defender. Often I'm on side slopes too, which is one reason why I'd rather not put a lift kit on a Disco. Past ownership includes RRC both V8 and 300tdi, Series 88 and 109, and Santana tipper. All pretty standard.

Disco appeals as I want live axles, auto, aircon and reasonable fuel efficiency. Questions to the wise then...
1. How little can I do to a Disco 1 to keep up with a Defender? Will Landy size tyres (7.50 x 16 or 235 x 85) fit without mods?
2. Are the Japanese import Disco 1s a good bet?
3. Was the 2 litre petrol MPI engine any good, or is the fuel economy little better than a diesel?

Thanks in anticipation!
 
Rust rust and rust, way more serious than the series and 90/110 models.
Dont think them tyres will fit with no mods.
Japs might be okay, but prices daft.
MPi rare, think some guy recently had a hell of a job finding parts, might have been an ecu Iirc?

A 300 edc auto with a chip is a pretty nice car to drive.
As live axle, tyres last forever 50k is no unusual.

Guess hardest bit will be finding one that is not shagged/rotted out.
 
lynall said:
Rust rust and rust, way more serious than the series and 90/110 models.
Dont think them tyres will fit with no mods.
Japs might be okay, but prices daft.
MPi rare, think some guy recently had a hell of a job finding parts, might have been an ecu Iirc?

A 300 edc auto with a chip is a pretty nice car to drive.
As live axle, tyres last forever 50k is no unusual.

Guess hardest bit will be finding one that is not shagged/rotted out.
Click to expand...
Thanks. 2.0 MPI sounds a bad bet, probably pointless as I'd prefer auto. Rust is the worry, my 1986 RRC had lots and I fear these may be similar. Thinking Disco 1 as worried that Disco 2 may be less reliable off road due to more electrics and the TD5 with ECU .... but am I wrong? Do they rust less?
 
RustHater said:
1. How little can I do to a Disco 1 to keep up with a Defender? Will Landy size tyres (7.50 x 16 or 235 x 85) fit without mods?
Click to expand...

what does 'keep up with' mean:confused:


Kyjmbsh.jpg

I have a 1986 Ninety and a pair of 200tdi / 3 door Disco1's....

my take on things....

Disco1 has 100" wheelbase - middleground between the 90 & 110 of the average defendero_O

Disco1 has same chassis / mecanicals as RR so same as Landies from ~1984 onwards:)

Disco1 has comfort, defenders dont:D defender bodies flex / twist slightly so can leak where doors fit - Disco1's generally are more solid (& dont allow the rain in around corners:eek:)

can put modified defender body on Disco1 chassis / mecanicals if you want a 100";)

Rich.
 
Disco 1 s rust in the body, see sills and rear floor.
Disco 2s rust in the rear chassis.
I have both and prefer the 300tdi as it is easier to fix and not much difference in performance with a performance exhaust.
The electronics on a TD5 are a total pain in the rear.
 
Tax & mot on a disco unless youve got a late 109 cheaper to insure, I have a heavily modded 109
& its still 120 quid to insure. I do love a D1 think im regretting selling mine ah well,- there are a couple
of nice ones on ebay for around 5k but your going to pay a few grand to get a good one now.
 
vin
Zed. said:
what does 'keep up with' mean:confused:


Kyjmbsh.jpg

I have a 1986 Ninety and a pair of 200tdi / 3 door Disco1's....

my take on things....

Disco1 has 100" wheelbase - middleground between the 90 & 110 of the average defendero_O

Disco1 has same chassis / mecanicals as RR so same as Landies from ~1984 onwards:)

Disco1 has comfort, defenders dont:D defender bodies flex / twist slightly so can leak where doors fit - Disco1's generally are more solid (& dont allow the rain in around corners:eek:)

can put modified defender body on Disco1 chassis / mecanicals if you want a 100";)

Rich.
Click to expand...
Thanks Rich. By keep up, I mean that the basic Landies have better angles of approach and departure, which on some of the lanes in Wales are used fully. Some muddy lanes I use on Salisbury Plain, our diffs dig in a bit. A standard Disco 1 is, in theory, less good on these 3 counts. Having once tipped a 110 on its side, very slowly indeed, I am nervous of having much lift in a Disco suspension. If its possible to fit tyres like the 7'50 R 16 with no lift, reckon I could be happy!

To keep my other half coming along on trips, more comfort than my 1959 S2 is needed. It will help a lot if I can have air con, power steering, auto and less noise and draughts .... so a Disco appeals. If people advise that a standard Disco, perhaps with slightly taller wheels, will not be put to shame by a standard 'Defender' type Landy when on fairly tough lanes then I am likely to go for it. There are few cheapish live front axle 4x4s to choose from.

The standard F&R bumpers look a bit limiting, especially the front one with plastic air dam. The rear tow bar usually fitted looks like a plough! Looks to severely hamper rear departure angle. But, I suspect these things can be sorted fairly cheaply with used parts?

Advice is appreciated.
 
RustHater said:
vin

Thanks Rich. By keep up, I mean that the basic Landies have better angles of approach and departure, which on some of the lanes in Wales are used fully. Some muddy lanes I use on Salisbury Plain, our diffs dig in a bit. A standard Disco 1 is, in theory, less good on these 3 counts. Having once tipped a 110 on its side, very slowly indeed, I am nervous of having much lift in a Disco suspension. If its possible to fit tyres like the 7'50 R 16 with no lift, reckon I could be happy!

To keep my other half coming along on trips, more comfort than my 1959 S2 is needed. It will help a lot if I can have air con, power steering, auto and less noise and draughts .... so a Disco appeals. If people advise that a standard Disco, perhaps with slightly taller wheels, will not be put to shame by a standard 'Defender' type Landy when on fairly tough lanes then I am likely to go for it. There are few cheapish live front axle 4x4s to choose from.

The standard F&R bumpers look a bit limiting, especially the front one with plastic air dam. The rear tow bar usually fitted looks like a plough! Looks to severely hamper rear departure angle. But, I suspect these things can be sorted fairly cheaply with used parts?

Advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...

plenty of D1's offroading, probably account for half of their rarity (excluding the 200tdi donors for other Landies:()

if towbars are an issue then they can be removed;)

Rich.
 
kevstar said:
Tax & mot on a disco unless youve got a late 109 cheaper to insure, I have a heavily modded 109
& its still 120 quid to insure. I do love a D1 think im regretting selling mine ah well,- there are a couple
of nice ones on ebay for around 5k but your going to pay a few grand to get a good one now.
Click to expand...

My 109 is 1959, but a Bitsa. Bulkhead is original, not much else. 200tdi, high ratio diffs, 5 speed LT77 with a Disco transfer case modified to selectable 2/4 wd. Various other mods but standard suspension. But, we are now in our mid 60's, partner refuses to drive it. We can't talk above 20 MPH (well maybe 30 MPH). Longer trips are an endurance. On the welsh lanes its a pleasure. More comfort is what we now want ... but I worry that the Disco 1 might be as much of a rust liability as the RRC. Thought I'd had 3 of those, realise there were 4. Rust was an issue with them
 
D1 and D2 both going up in value fast.
Both are capable.
Both are repairable.
Both have rust issues.
D2 rust can be permantly fixed if you are prepared to spend.

TDI300 Autos, rumours that some of the EDC parts are NLA, but supposed to be workarounds.
Difficult to find now, decent ones are appreciating and becoming a classis car.

D2 requires keeping on top of a bit more than a D1, best to keep certain spares with you.
Air suspension does allow more clearance. ACE does allow more cross axling. TC does work. TD5 is a beast.
They will be the next classic LR.

3 best LR engines are 200, 300, and TD5. Order unimportant.
 
RustHater said:
My 109 is 1959, but a Bitsa. Bulkhead is original, not much else. 200tdi, high ratio diffs, 5 speed LT77 with a Disco transfer case modified to selectable 2/4 wd. Various other mods but standard suspension. But, we are now in our mid 60's, partner refuses to drive it. We can't talk above 20 MPH (well maybe 30 MPH). Longer trips are an endurance. On the welsh lanes its a pleasure. More comfort is what we now want ... but I worry that the Disco 1 might be as much of a rust liability as the RRC. Thought I'd had 3 of those, realise there were 4. Rust was an issue with them
Click to expand...
Divorce, soundproofing mat, keep the Series, no worries! :)
 
I own a 300tdi D1 Auto EDC Jap Import and I have to say she is lovely. A bit tricky when comes to changing injectors as found out as there's a wire connected to one of them which threw me a bit.
Anyway a miner detail.
She's been off the road for a couple of years or is it 3? NOOOOOO!! due to a late baby arrival but as life begins to get easier I have managed with a new fuel sender fitted and a new battery plus investment in a jump pack to get her running again.
After failing it's MOT due to sills shot with rust etc and being quoted £3000!! from a rather arrogant and expensive Landy garage in the Mid Sussex area (Gumtree 4X4) I've now got my own welder and am slowing learning on boxes of off cut metal from ebay.
Anyway as mentioned if you can find one they are great on fuel considering and as a daily driver as mine was and will be again. Plus if just fancy a bit of comfort you can't go wrong, my D1 is still with it's original unmarked seats the most comfortable long journey truck I've got. Better than our FL2 I reckon.
It was good to hear that they are appreciating now. Such a rare sight too.
When I see a chopped and raised example my heart aches!!
Keep it original , Keep it simple!
Good luck in your search
 
I think main issue with edc is number 4 injector is nla, same issue on some volvo penta engines, I am guessing the car will still run with a duff injector sensor?
 
Having both a D2 TD5 and a D1 300tdi.
They do both have rust issues but both can be sorted, as i have had to do.
When working the TD5 is great but diagnosing problems is a pain in the rear, as is happening to me yet again at the mo.
300tdi is really reliable. i'm old skool and prefer mechanics to electronics.
 
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