To restore or not to restore

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Jersey Doonhamer

New Member
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1
Location
Jersey
Hello all,

I have a 1995, 5 door Disco 1 V8 manual, non sunroof with 60k miles on it.
It has been used on the beach a couple of times then left to stand for a year or so before I got it, it will need sills and boot done and a lot of rust knocked off the chassis, bodywork is very straight.

Question is with it being manual and non - sunroof would it be worth restoring to a good standard due to it being relatively rare? I feel Disco 1 prices have bottomed out now and will start appreciating for the more interesting versions so do I go for a nut and bolt or quick weld up and abuse?

What's your thoughts.
 
As above :) We run two D1's - they are our "forever" cars .... got so sick of modern sh*t with electrical carp going on that we're keeping these on the road.... and restoring ( and maintaining ), them as we go...;)

Be aware that D1 chassis' do rust too :(, and that, potentially, the rust you can't see will be the biggest problem ....

I did a full sill on mine with proper panels - what a faff - use box section and be done with it ... plenty of info on here too :)
 
A good unmolested D1 is a rare slight!

They are starting to appreciate and with it being a manual V8 makes it rather rare.. :)
 
Jersey Doonhamer said:
Hello all,

I have a 1995, 5 door Disco 1 V8 manual, non sunroof with 60k miles on it.
It has been used on the beach a couple of times then left to stand for a year or so before I got it, it will need sills and boot done and a lot of rust knocked off the chassis, bodywork is very straight.

Question is with it being manual and non - sunroof would it be worth restoring to a good standard due to it being relatively rare? I feel Disco 1 prices have bottomed out now and will start appreciating for the more interesting versions so do I go for a nut and bolt or quick weld up and abuse?

What's your thoughts.
Click to expand...

Whats it worth to you? If its 'just a car' and your not too fussed about it theres no point. If you want to restore to gain cash when you sell - you won't break even lol. If you really like it and it means more than just money and you have the time. Strip it down and build it to last :cool:. If you just patch for each mot it will eventually just die. If you have a look at mine and Chris's build threads you will see just how much the rust digs into them! We are both in the middle of full resto.
 
Jersey Doonhamer said:
Hello all,

I have a 1995, 5 door Disco 1 V8 manual, non sunroof with 60k miles on it.
It has been used on the beach a couple of times then left to stand for a year or so before I got it, it will need sills and boot done and a lot of rust knocked off the chassis, bodywork is very straight.

Question is with it being manual and non - sunroof would it be worth restoring to a good standard due to it being relatively rare? I feel Disco 1 prices have bottomed out now and will start appreciating for the more interesting versions so do I go for a nut and bolt or quick weld up and abuse?

What's your thoughts.
Click to expand...

Rebuild it.

It will never be worth an incredible amount of money unless it has some sort of provenance but they are getting a lot less common these days.

It's a lot of work but if you're blessed with time and somewhere to strip it down for repair then go for it, it's a lot of fun and you get to bond with an inanimate object LOL

Sill kits are readily available as are boot floors, wheel arches, wheel tubs, boot floor side panels etc,. None of it is expensive as individual parts but the costs mount up, I've got £500 worth of sheet panels sitting in the corner of my living room waiting to be welded in, then there is another £200 in paints, rust preventatives and sealers there too.

Keep us posted on where you go with it.
 
dieseldog69 said:
Rebuild it.

It will never be worth an incredible amount of money unless it has some sort of provenance but they are getting a lot less common these days.

It's a lot of work but if you're blessed with time and somewhere to strip it down for repair then go for it, it's a lot of fun and you get to bond with an inanimate object LOL

Sill kits are readily available as are boot floors, wheel arches, wheel tubs, boot floor side panels etc,. None of it is expensive as individual parts but the costs mount up, I've got £500 worth of sheet panels sitting in the corner of my living room waiting to be welded in, then there is another £200 in paints, rust preventatives and sealers there too.

Keep us posted on where you go with it.
Click to expand...
You make it sound so glamarous lol. We need pictures of all this work that's about to take place too! Did you go buzzweld products?
Op - all will be biased here to an extent. You will find all the info and knowledge both in members and others build threads on here. It's a filthy job and will p!ss you off at times. Just don't put a time limit on it and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy cutting your hands and arms and emptying your beer fund, play golf instead
 
resto_d1 said:
You make it sound so glamarous lol. We need pictures of all this work that's about to take place too! Did you go buzzweld products?
Op - all will be biased here to an extent. You will find all the info and knowledge both in members and others build threads on here. It's a filthy job and will p!ss you off at times. Just don't put a time limit on it and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy cutting your hands and arms and emptying your beer fund, play golf instead
Click to expand...

I'm minus a camera lead at the minute but when I find it I will show you what I have been up to.

I'm going to use the BuzzWeld rust encapsulating primer on anything rusty and then I got the Bilt Hamber Epoxy Mastic to go over that and then Corroless black chassis paint over that with Dinitrol over the top of that, I think it will last, just gotta drain my diesel tank out and remove it ready for fitting everything up and painting, thinking about using BuzzWelds thermal lizzard skin stuff before the Dinitrol but by golly is it expensive!!!
 
That's a nice plan for sure. I am using the bonda primer stuff then epoxy mastic bh over the top. Was going to go buzzweld also but liked the look of bonda on chris build. The bh epoxy mastic seems to be lovely and tough when dry. Don't worry when you mix and it seems like water. Don't get it on you either haha. I didn't know if to overcoat it. Was just gunna use some basic spray over the top from work
 
do it properly! so it will last - im not suggesting pro finish show pony - just get every bit of rust out and treat the new stuff with cavity wax etc and just keep it - these old rockets will survive anything and the lack of electronics is a HUGE bonus. i know a toyota dealer who is so dismayed at the complexity and fussiness of the modern, ultr-high pressure diesels and their lack of tolerance. one tiny bit of dirty fuel or water and they throw in the towel. useless. and the cost of their new injectors is insane. keep the old girls running and do the world a favour and yourself too. KISS is the best philosophy for 4wds.
 
Don't take appreciating prices into account when deciding. You need to decide if you want a good D1 to keep for yourself as a vehicle that is no longer available to buy new. A proper restoration job will cost considerably more in labour and parts cost than the end re-sale value. You need to enjoy restoration work otherwise you will break your heart trying to get the job done. There will always be masses more work to do than you initially think.
 
sidewayspete said:
do it properly! so it will last - im not suggesting pro finish show pony - just get every bit of rust out and treat the new stuff with cavity wax etc and just keep it - these old rockets will survive anything and the lack of electronics is a HUGE bonus. i know a toyota dealer who is so dismayed at the complexity and fussiness of the modern, ultr-high pressure diesels and their lack of tolerance. one tiny bit of dirty fuel or water and they throw in the towel. useless. and the cost of their new injectors is insane. keep the old girls running and do the world a favour and yourself too. KISS is the best philosophy for 4wds.
Click to expand...

Amen! I've had my fill of electronics. KISS is the best philosophy full stop !

( we know someone who had a M@zda 6 as a Company car - it broke :rolleyes: ... and could not be fixed :eek: ..... new car required o_O laugh? you bet we did :D

Interceptorxj said:
Don't take appreciating prices into account when deciding. You need to decide if you want a good D1 to keep for yourself as a vehicle that is no longer available to buy new. A proper restoration job will cost considerably more in labour and parts cost than the end re-sale value. You need to enjoy restoration work otherwise you will break your heart trying to get the job done. There will always be masses more work to do than you initially think.
Click to expand...

+1. Only thing I'd add is to make you get it on agreed value insurance .... because there is nothing more certain than "mr average ins co" will want to right it off for next to nothing as soon as they possibly can :mad::mad::mad:
 
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