Freelander L-Series Van Project

Hello guys and gals,

Firstly I'm not sure where this thread actually belongs but thought I'd make one if anyone was interested in modding an L-Series and seeing real world benefits of any of changes. I'm open to questions, criticism (be gentle) and any advice

So to my Landy. She's an X reg L-series Van with just over 130K on the most basic of clocks. Completely standard (had 2WD conversion )when I bought her a few months ago but it won't be for long. To start with, all the necessaries were taken care of (belts, brakes…boring stuff) but now I'm gathering momentum. I now know I should have got an auto and one with TCS but….i'll be getting around that soon enough…hopefully

Firstly I bought a K&N panel filter along with EGR blanking kit and decat pipe from Dark Ice Designs (who specialise in L-series tuning). I haven't got round to fitting the EGR kit yet but the rest have been fitted. I've also make the exhaust straight through but will be having a SS back box made up soon enough as she's a bit loud. However its made a mighty difference in every aspect! General power increase, torque, turbo spools up earlier, engine braking is brilliant and I havent noticed a difference in fuel economy either so win win If it was a more modern petrol or diesel with or without a turbo it'd need remapping straight after as it'd mess with the ECU (which people don't seem to understand) but this hasn't phased it at all. Now i've done all that because i've got it booked or a remap on wednesday as i'd like to get the most out of the motor as they weren't expensive nor time consuming mods to do.

I haven't seen anyone (though i'm sure no doubt someone has) give real world descriptions of remapping an L-Series with the befores and afters so will be giving a report once i've had it done

I've got plans to update and up rate pretty much everything i.e bushes, suspension, protection, wheels and tyres, lights, and last but not least….fiddle brakes.

I hope someone gets some light on any changes their considering whether its now or in the future

Hello! Certainly done your homework! You can get sdi injectors to push a bit more fuel through aswell. Have you thought about a Ron box?
You can slightly adjust the pump aswell but it's all abit trial and error. Search on here for hammer mod.

Or search on google and it will bring you a thread up from here. A much more reliable search engine!

Handy to know about the improvements from a decat. I know there are benefits on other vehicles but didn't know of any rear world benifits for a Freelander yet. I have got a side exit exhaust with no backbox but still have cat for mot reasons. Seems like a will be knocking the center out of it now!

Have a search in the Freelander section for a thread about winu's Freelander. He has the most modded and well documented L series on here I think. He has a stainless pipe from the turbo which Somone in here made for him.

thank you muchly i've been recommended the ron box but because of the discounted price of my remap (had 3 cars done by them previously) it seemed daft not to go for it. I'm not after a silly map just something to give more low down grunt and if I'm right in saying the box requires some wiring, though i could be mistaken….which is more probable!

I'll have a look at those cheers! I'd love a side exit but for the time being its not on my list of high priorities, however i will say if you've got a side exit and take the cat out it will be flipping loud i chopped the back box off to leave the hanger for the middle section and it almost rattled my teeth out!

I've had a look at the SDI injectors which certainly wetted my appetite but i think with the extra power an uprated clutch would be needed and certainly don't have the money for it at this moment in time. Especially as i've had my challenger modular steels arrive last week and need to put some nice AT's on them

Be careful with too much power. The gearbox output splines arn't known to be the strongest and have sheared in the past

thanks i'll definitely bear that in mind. its a landy in my eyes it shouldn't have too much but a little help wouldn't go amiss

Just an update on the remapping sides of things. After having it checked over the gent said its not possible to remap it due to the type of ECU, so a RonBox is my next choice. On a better note my insa turbo dakars should be arriving early this week and swiftly fitted my new modulars will be putting photos up including details of change in ride height and general performance.

Did you know insa turbo tyres are re-moulds? Have you had remoulds before
Not good at balancing up. Tend to shake some what at higher speeds.
Although get ones which balance up alright and there shouldn't be a problem.

Van looks good though. Would suit me more a van, just that 10% of the time you need back seats and there not there

Yeah they are remoulds and regards to quality and safety ive researched it thoroughly, the only reason I got them was cost as for the time being they fitted the bill. I love having it as a van, no more lugging ungrateful mates about its got a huge load space which is ideal and I may even sleep in it at oulton park this weekend!

Regarding the tyres the noise is hilarious....I.e. deafening though you can just crank the radio up! They look the part and have lifted the car up ever so slightly so in my eyes its a price to pay which im okay with. Handling hasnt changed from the 15 inch steels I had before but riding over bumps, potholes and more importantly puddles its a massive improvement. As for mpg id of thought itll drop but I dont really care its all about smiles per miles for me . Ill be uploading photos soon!

Forgot to mention about the balancing. You're most certainly right though they did a great job and havent noticed any whobble through the steering wheel.

Those tires look good mate
How noisy are they?

I've got an L series that I want to start doing a few bits to.
Where did you get the decat pipe?

Dark ice designs for the pipe

Let me/us know how you get on with sleeping in the back. Your making me want to remove my rear seats here. Right pain when you give mates a lift and there ungreatfull.

Bit of ply wood on the floor in mine and it wouldn't be far from being a van

i'll be honest with you….the tyres are bloody horrendous when it comes to the noise level but if you've got a view on things like me, its hilarious when your crawling forward you can feel the treads contacting and as soon as you go above 15mph its like a helicopters taking off! BUT! they look the business and since putting them on people have been looking and staring at it the steering is effected and if you hit a sharp bump hard enough it does rattle the steering wheel a bit but you can't have it all good. With regards to off road performance I'm not quite sure as 1. she's FWD still and 2. i haven't really tried it properly though I'm off to Oulton Park to watch the BTCC so if the weather thats predicted comes our way, i'll get a rough idea quick enough. I will say though that with the tyres and new rims, its added a bit more unsprung weight and it has a slightly larger circumference i.e. its a bit harder to get up to speed though the clutch hasn't changed characteristics when moving off. If you want a good idea as to what different tyre sizes imply with speedo changes and appearances, 4x4tyres.co.uk have a useful tool at the bottom of the page which lets you compare your tyres and rim size from your original to your desired. My tyres and rims have increased my speed reading by 3mph so when the speedo says 30mph I'm actually doing 33mph….though i went through a speed sign at 31mph and it said i was doing 28mph before i changed them over…so your guess is as good as mine

For sleeping in I've just trial fitted some sofa seat cushions and all the necessary gubbins and seems to be alright now i can kick back with some tunes and cider! I should add i'm 6 foot 7 and don't think it'd give me any grief. I believe if i took the vans floor out it would reveal the seat mounts but as i hate lugging weighty meaty objects about, i have no desire to investigate

Like he said^ the decat pipe, k and n panel filter and erg blanking kit was from Dark Ice Designs. the pipe is a quality product though I'm yet to fit the blanking kit.

I'm going to be calling my insurance company tomorrow to let them know of the changes with the wheels so will let you know if it makes a difference or not (if it was ever on your mind).

Costs me £25 every call to my insurance. Even for a quick chat about the weather. Usually ends in so sir how would you like to pay today.

Any chance of pictures. I need some ideas and inspiration for camping in mine.

25 quid…..hell fire! i'll get some for you tomorrow if this works (fingers crossed) i'll be getting some proper sofa foam and trimming it to the contours of the rear strut towers and what not and then get my mum to trim it in something useful and fabric related. I'm half tempted to take the floor out and customise the cage so the passenger side can fold down enabling me to actually stretch my lanky ass legs fully. have you got the compartment under the boot floor?

Yeah I have, although as long I make the ply easily to get out I can then still access the fish bowl compartment. Only have a jack and jump leads kinda stuff in there. I'm only 5'6 so should be a little easier to sleep in.

Will have a look tomorrow about it all on my day off.


Have you sourced a propshaft and vcu yet?

that'd be ideal to get the best of both worlds. well mines got water in it so i haven't got anything in there at this moment in time ah you'll fit like a glove!!

Unfortunately not as I've discovered my IRD needs changing as it makes a hell of a noise when coming off the throttle in reverse though ill be getting a second hand prop and IRD at the same time hopefully.

Whether or not you guys are interested but when i was at Oulton Park this weekend the field i stayed in was typically water logged, boggy and muddy. Even though its only 2wd not once did i get stuck nor did i lose control either under braking or acceleration. The tyres are amazing and i mean amazing! I had to bury my foot in th carpet to get it to spin and when i tested the braking out at about 20mph it stopped without any fuss.

as its had the prop removed, that typically means the vcu is stuffed. get a prop on it to check and then a vcu. also check the vcu bearings.

It will handle much better then, it was designed to run as a 4wd afterall.

i took the prop and vcu off because it was stuffed which as a consequence (which i didn't realise at the time) has knackered the IRD it made some serious knocking noises when turning a tight corner so i knew the vcu was buggered. I've got a friend who was driving a T5 4motion when the transfer box blew up and jammed the driveline up locking all four wheels. he somewhat sh*t himself which also scares me because if it does collapse 1. value my life and 2. i can't afford for it to damage the gearbox etc.

i did notice it didn't handle as well when i took the prop off so i can't wait to get it back up and running again