European trip disco

AlbertDefender90 · Feb 12, 2014

Hi all,

A couple of friends and I have just bought a disco 1 300tdi today with the hopes of cleaning it up and taking it round Europe this summer after finishing uni. I'll get some piccies up shortly. Haven't picked it up yet and as far as we know the chassis is good and just needs some attention to the sills. As I am a defender man really any advise on what to look out for problem wise would be welcome.

Thanks

Albert

AlbertDefender90 · Feb 12, 2014

As you can see she's not a bad example and with a little tlc she'll look well. Major concerns at the moment are the welding of the sills, cleaning the interior as it's covered in mould, sorting out a sticky handbrake and throttle cable and then just give her a good service.

discool · Feb 12, 2014

Looks nice, bless her, but a D1 is no different to a Defender mechanically, what to look for ..water ingress.

A few LRs in the background in the pics. Where are was it?

AlbertDefender90 · Feb 12, 2014

discool said:
A D1 is no different to a Defender mechanically.

Yeah not fussed mechanically, just all the additional bodywork I'm not really used to. I'm sure we'll get on just fine with it.

AlbertDefender90 · Feb 12, 2014

discool said:
Looks nice, bless her, but a D1 is no different to a Defender mechanically, what to look for ..water ingress.

Apart from the mold there doesn't seem to be much water ingress at all especially considering its been sat out in a field for a while in all this weather although there is some duct tape remains on the roof.

AlbertDefender90 · Feb 12, 2014

discool said:
Looks nice, bless her, but a D1 is no different to a Defender mechanically, what to look for ..water ingress.

A few LRs in the background in the pics. Where are was it?

Just the place where we are getting it from near Leominster

AlbertDefender90 · Mar 4, 2014

Just a couple of pics showing it after a full service, clean and polish followed by a little green laning

Brian S · Mar 4, 2014

I've never seen a fuel filter so rusty! Has it ever been serviced?

zan79 · Mar 4, 2014

AlbertDefender90 said:
Apart from the mold there doesn't seem to be much water ingress at all especially considering its been sat out in a field for a while in all this weather although there is some duct tape remains on the roof.

why would there be duct tape on the roof?

unless the sunroofs are leaking, i'd have a good look under all the carpets, you may find some nasty surprises

. And, yeah, that fuel filter has seen better days.

AlbertDefender90 · Mar 4, 2014

After standing there wasn't much water inside and under the carpets was alright. The diesel engined pressure washer proved the seals otherwise and forced a lot of water in so we've let it dry out and new sunroof seals are on the list. All the filters and oils have been changed and the sill have been repaired so she's good to go for the mot now

zan79 · Mar 4, 2014

AlbertDefender90 said:
After standing there wasn't much water inside and under the carpets was alright. The diesel engined pressure washer proved the seals otherwise and forced a lot of water in so we've let it dry out and new sunroof seals are on the list. All the filters and oils have been changed and the sill have been repaired so she's good to go for the mot now

In that case, well done and good luck

My disco has been standing out the back for the last 18months. Really need to start getting it back up together now the little one is a year old, it was a little difficult working on it whilst pregnant, huge bump in the way and all that

AlbertDefender90 · Apr 16, 2014

Little progress update, got it all serviced, cleaned, t cut and waxed. Done the brakes and got it taxed and mot.

AlbertDefender90 · Apr 16, 2014

Took it out for a test run to make sure the brakes were ok, thought we'd give it a tweek on the pump as it was a little sluggish, first tweek did almost nothing, second tweek and it went really well with little smoke. Coming to the end of the test run the engine cut when going gently downhill. First thoughts were that I'd buggered it with the fueling. Came to try and start it and the engine hardly turned over, nothing. Added jump leads and it turned over fine but again nothing. Towed it home and looked up the various issues including electrical faults and a broken timing belt. Dreading the latter we turned over the engine whilst checking the valves through the filler cap and nothing moved. Removing the rocker cover found this and a lot of bent push rods

So time for a new timing belt and various other bits. Really didn't need that after all the effort to get it good

700Quid · Apr 16, 2014

AlbertDefender90 said:
Took it out for a test run to make sure the brakes were ok, thought we'd give it a tweek on the pump as it was a little sluggish, first tweek did almost nothing, second tweek and it went really well with little smoke. Coming to the end of the test run the engine cut when going gently downhill. First thoughts were that I'd buggered it with the fueling. Came to try and start it and the engine hardly turned over, nothing. Added jump leads and it turned over fine but again nothing. Towed it home and looked up the various issues including electrical faults and a broken timing belt. Dreading the latter we turned over the engine whilst checking the valves through the filler cap and nothing moved. Removing the rocker cover found this and a lot of bent push rods

So time for a new timing belt and various other bits. Really didn't need that after all the effort to get it good

Ops

.... best of luck mate. Always a fear with any car with a belt. Just changed mine as I didn't know....

AlbertDefender90 · Apr 16, 2014

The annoying thing is it's got timing belt changed 120000 on the front and it's only done 129000 now. So it's either a ****part issue or someone's been writing crap on the car. At least it's done it near where it's kept rather than over in Europe

700Quid · Apr 17, 2014

AlbertDefender90 said:
The annoying thing is it's got timing belt changed 120000 on the front and it's only done 129000 now. So it's either a ****part issue or someone's been writing crap on the car. At least it's done it near where it's kept rather than over in Europe

You'll see once you get it off. Unless its been contaminated by something even ****part shouldn't break after 9k!!? I'll be interested to see some pics when you get it apart... As you say on the bright side. Better here than there and at least when you change it you know a proper job has been done.

G223 · Apr 19, 2014

RE europe trip, run it lots and sort as many faults as possible, check fluids often n see for leaks and such, wearable items checked and any nearing end of life get them changed..... I did none of these until 3 weeks before our boat from Rosslare to Cherbourg... I ended up replacing the sills and 1/2 the floor before we went, didn't have time or money to do much else but change the oil, also went with a known to be leaking p gasket

well over 3 weeks and 4500 miles our trip to the alps and back we suffered about a 500ml coke bottle of water a day a collapsed drivers seat fixed by tent guy lines and a randomly going off alarm on our way from campsite to shop fixed by pulling out the plug. Not bad for a 18 year old car

and most of all have fun, breaking down is a adventure too

Fadams9 · Apr 19, 2014

Ouch! Cam belt issues are never good!
Its worthwhile making sure the right tensioner and pulleys have been used. Make sure you use the newer type with a flange on the side of the crank pulley. I had a load of hassle getting the right bits for mine. Do a search or two on here and all will be clear. Give me a shout if you need a hand.
Fraser

AlbertDefender90 · Apr 19, 2014

Cheers for the advice, I think we're getting the correct kit but I'll double check. Hopefully all will be revealed when we get the timing cover off. We're also taking the opportunity to do the clutch as well. Better safe than sorry. If we do have any issues then I'm sure six engineering students, a tool box and a certain amount of ingenuity and bodging will get us by

Albert

Philip0603 · Apr 19, 2014

I know it sounds trivial, but ensure A/C works, you will need it in south France & Spain. I have been to S France & S Germany in mine. The engine is bullet proof (when cam belt sorted) just needs maintenance, same with drive line, I would recommend road biased tyres if you have the choice. Remember to take Hi Viz vests one for each passenger and breathalysers for France. If going to Spain, should any driver wear glasses, you will need to carry a spare pair. Other than that Keep off the motorways the French have aires (rest stops) on the main routes as well as the payage. Take loads of photo's and enjoy.

European trip disco

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