Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
Need help deciding on my project ideas for a Monster Disco3
Good afternoon everyone!
I've been browsing through the Forum aswell as other websites but I can't seem to find the answers as quick as I need. So maybe you guys can help us out and maybe make it viable to make this project come true.
First of all let me introduce myself, I'm Marks the owner of a chiptuning company in Brazil, and as a marketing project we give away one modified vehicle evey year to our customers. In 2017 it was a Chevrolet S10:
,
then in 2018 (not yet given away) it's a custom F250:
Click image to enlarge
and now we are thinking of giving away a custom Discovery 3 in an "Expedition" style customization.
The thing is, we have some doubts that we need to address prior to making our mind if we really will give away a Discovery. Below are our questions, if you can help we would GREATLY appreciate it:
1- Is the 4.4L V8 engine reliable? We would purchase a 2005 or 2006 version D3 with ~70.000 miles. We hear in Brazil that the 2.7L diesel is not so reliable, and the V6 would be too weak to our project, so we were thinking of the V8 instead.
2- Does this car have some really weak spots that we should consider? (Like gearbox that breaks a lot, or some other major fault that would not be recommended for a show vehicle?)
3- We would want to lift it and fit 35" tyres. Yes, we know 32's are usually the biggest for a every day vehicle, and 33's are also possible, but we would like to know if 35's would fit with some "cutting plastic away" only or if there is some other limitation we don't know about.
4- We researched the plug&play lifts aswell as the fixed bars, and our question is: if we ride on the "super extended mode" too long (in order for the 35's not to rub too much), does the vehicle has enough handling to ride at ~70mph if we want to, or is it just totally crazy and it breaks powertrain parts?
5- Do you know of any fender flares that are bigger than the original and plug &play for the model?
6- I've seen some kits that replace the air suspension for coil springs. When replaced, is there any kit that leaves the vehicle standard at offroad height?
If we want to be honest, we would like to do something like this (we know it's an RC model D3, and we know it shows with rigid axles, but you get the point):
I think you get what we want to do, and If the suspension lift works for running at ~70mph without any issues, I think we can manage to run 35's and make this project not so expensive.
If you have any thoughts, please let us know, we will greatly appreciate it! Cheers from Brazil!
Last edited by markusrd on 30th Oct 2018 8:14 pm. Edited 1 time in total
30th Oct 2018 6:10 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
What about lifting the body on the chassis, as std there are spacers/mounts anywya, so cant be to hard to fit lonnger spacers/mounts?
I am sure i have seen other lifted makes/models do this same trick, that way you can keep all the running gear at the right angles, yet get the look you are after.
30th Oct 2018 6:45 pm
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
lynalldiscovery wrote:
What about lifting the body on the chassis, as std there are spacers/mounts anywya, so cant be to hard to fit lonnger spacers/mounts?
I am sure i have seen other lifted makes/models do this same trick, that way you can keep all the running gear at the right angles, yet get the look you are after.
That's what we also thought, however we couldn't find any indication of someone who had already done a body lift on one of those... Do you have any links?
30th Oct 2018 7:20 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
No sorry I dont, but I would bet a cold beer the Americans will have either done it or have kits off the shelf.
30th Oct 2018 8:58 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6568
The V8 is considered very reliable.
30th Oct 2018 9:22 pm
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
lynalldiscovery wrote:
No sorry I dont, but I would bet a cold beer the Americans will have either done it or have kits off the shelf.
My fear is exactly that... I had an employee who worked at Land Rover, and he says it should be possible. HOWEVER, I simply cannot find ANY project online, not even in America. Wonder if there is something important that renders the project impossible.
I might take you on that bet, a cold one would be fine right now... hahaha
30th Oct 2018 9:54 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
My 4.4 V8 is on 155,000 miles with no drive-train or engine problems what so ever, I have had to replace suspension compressor and other suspension components.==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
30th Oct 2018 10:20 pm
Stumog
Member Since: 24 Mar 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 171
There was a build of a RR sport on 37s on expedition portal i think
30th Oct 2018 10:43 pm
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
Stumog wrote:
There was a build of a RR sport on 37s on expedition portal i think
I saw that, my only fear remains not being able to do a Bodylift on the Disco3, that would wreck the project...
31st Oct 2018 8:52 pm
indy4x
Member Since: 24 Nov 2017
Location: Pontypool
Posts: 193
If you look underneath a D3 it should give you a good idea if it's possible. Have done a few bodylifts on lesser vehicles and usually it's pipes n wires need tweaking or extending. Biggest challenge is likely to be the lower steering link, if it has UJ's on each end you're halfway there, would probably just need extending
31st Oct 2018 11:11 pm
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
Has anyone seen a larger fender flare for the Discovery 3? That is also bugging me, we might need a bigger one and just can't find it
1st Nov 2018 4:50 am
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
Just to give you an update of the current situation:
We still don't know if we are going for a 35" and lift the body, or if we will settle for 33's and 2" suspension lift.
What we have purchased and decided so far is:
- Bought new 18" VW Amarok Wheels to use either 33 or 35" tires
- Bought 2" lift kit Air to Coil conversion from Atlantic British (will remove air suspension)
- Bought the front and rear lights protector covers for an offroad look.
Will keep you posted with pictures as things come along. We still havn't found any larger wheel arches, thinking of a solution for it
23rd Nov 2018 9:24 pm
markusrd
Member Since: 30 Oct 2018
Location: Ponta Porã
Posts: 8
So after some months of reseraching and building, we ended up this a beautiful Yellow Disco 3, which we will give away this December to our clients.
Some of the mods include:
18" Amarok WHeels with wheel spacers
32" Maxxis Tires
Air Suspension recplacement for regular suspension + 2" Suspension Lift
Custom Made Rear Spare Tire mount
Stage 1 Remap with ~20hp gains
Special Yellow/Black Paiting and company decals
Land Rover headlights/taillights covers
Straight Exhaust (sounds great)
For those of you who wants to see it in action, our official 2019 video will be uploaded in the coming weeks, so you may follow us on Instagram (@strikebrasil) or Youtube (youtu.be/thestrikebrasil)
1st Oct 2019 10:00 pm
Lee Trinder
Member Since: 12 Aug 2018
Location: Henley in arden
Posts: 515
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