Wisconsin Overland

So with the new modified rig, I am looking for a place to play! Looked on the web and found this killer place up north

http://www.northwoodsoverland.com/trails_descript.htm

The place is willing to do a private group with ten or more reservations so I went on Land Rovers only forum to see if I could generate some interest. Check out the trails up there! It would be cool to get a group of rovers together for a weekend of fun.
My wife thinks its weird to want to hang out with a bunch of stranger with rovers. Anyway looks like a really cool place. My next project will be finding the air leak on our P38 Range Rover I just put new air springs in and I suspect that the air line going into the bladder a leaking a bit. I'll get some snoop leak detecter this week and see whats up.

The proper job!

Well, it is Saturday morning and I am having a cup of coffee after a long night of diaper changing and swaddling. However I feel pretty damn good as I look out my window and see big orange looking like a real land rover. Thurdays job was quick and easy without difficulty on the rear right corner, I spent about an hour getting the front right ready for a .5 mile job to Corky's. I had to install the brakes in order to do this. It was very comical once I arrived these guys had really liked my tire cutting technique let me tell you.. I took all of 5 seconds with their air ratchet to free the hub nut and I had it back to my driveway and off in a few minutes with a pully puller and some elbow grease. After fitting the Hub did the brakes again this time with the ceramic caliper paint applied. I torqued all the tire nuts did a walk around and headed out on the town, The .5 mile drive proved that the lift and suspension felt amazing, but I needed to drive a bit for the brakes so I headed for a empty lot by the Home depot for some time in the dirt. The Super Gaz equipment felt stiff and truck like on the road, but really felt killer off the road drove about a half mile at various speeds then took a back road through some fields, This suspension is the proper job and I highly recommend for its value and performance. Total cost, 500.00 For the kit, 120 for the spacers, 150 for brakes and 155 for the Hub. I also spent locally 150 for the tire change, 20.00 for a socket, 20.00 for two 8" C Clamps, 20.00 for caliper paint, so just under 1200 buck roughly and I got the proper job. I suddenly have forgotten all the sweat equity in just one glance at big orange she looks great! Stiff road feel and smooth off road action and with the lift from tires and springs/spacers much more capable. Boston is eager to go for a ride I am anticipating he will no longer be digging his claws into the dog guard to hold on back there!
Now have to find the source of that engine ticking?

Super Gaz kit is looking good

Managed to get the left rear brakes and suspension in yesterday and will be going for the right side this morning. My new hub should be here via UPS this afternoon. Tried taking up on that hub nut again to no avail. I am considering going down the street and seeing if the guys at Corky's Garage can get it of for me. my air ratchet just seems to massage it and not do #$%^. The rear spring went fast however the shocks upper mount was a pain to get the bolt back in the rubber bushings are really tight. I used a wood dowel and a mallet to tap it in. This kit has really impressed me so far. I measured from my running boards pre project and had 11" to the ground I now measure 14.5" that would be 1" spacers, 1.6" for the springs, the rest from the tires overall it looks great and clears in all wheel wells. I am anxious to try it off road soon after the #$%^$& hub job. Wanted to show how the rears springs compare as well as my shoring method the Rover has remained really stable through the process.

Discovery II Update

I have been plugging away a bit everyday, with the baby and all, sorry for the delay. I Managed to find a new front hub at a salvage yard in MN called Pams via ebay. They will have it here tomorrow for a 155.00 now I am not looking forward to trying again to get the old hub free. So far I have gotten the shocks and springs on both front sides. The spring compressors I used worked really well they were from Advanced Auto and cost 20.00 worth there weight! The Toddco spacers are simple to put in, and really am not sure if a Higher spacer would be the deal after 1", it would be next to impossible to put anything in higher anyway without a hoist, I was at the limit with my floor jacks as it was. I was using a jack to push the arm down in order to get the springs in fully compressed with the spacers, watch your fingers!!!! Overall, combined the height achieved with the Super Gaz kit and spacers makes me totally happy. While I am here I am doing brakes as well. I bought a set of rotors and lookheed pads from Atlantic British for all wheels. Also got some ceramic caliper paint to help protect against salt corrosion. Notice the piles of wood I have been using for shoring up the jack stands and jacks this has been critical for safety and increasing the jack height. Today, I will go for the rear springs this should be easier as I will not have to deal with the shock inside the spring itself. So far Boston our Lab has been happy with the results although he really is anticipating his first ride in the back with the new suspension.

Saturday Spanners

Ok, Had great weather all day so after a couple cups of coffee my new son had to have a look at the progress he agreed as to the sawzall approach as well.

So I got out my cordless sawzall (lighter) and the ole milwaukee for back up, cut around the five spokes leaving a bevel so the rim would come off easily. It took about 5-8 minutes to cut through each spoke with a wood blade as the density of aluminum is about the same as wood as far as machining. Once the rim was removed I was able to cut the stud with a metal blade and lots of oil took about 15 minutes. I am currently on the hunt for a new hub. Found a salvage yard in Cedarburg, suprise! via ebay that may have a 2000 disco around so will see. Until then do not plan on any long drives with four studs.

I spent about 1.5 hours getting the springs out as well as the shock. I used Powerblaster penetrating lube to free up the hardware. Amazing stuff! I had purchased a set of spring compressers, and would recommend there use much easier than any other method. Here are a few photos to show the difference in springs and shocks, not much on the shocks other than feel a bit more substantial over stock also the springs are not that much higher when relaxed. I am waiting on the UPS man for my Toddco spacers, Monday afternoon! Until then I will do the brake pads and rotors while there. First time on that one so will be going to rangerovers.net as they have a nice discription of the process. My 99 P38 range Rover has the same drive train engine etc. Hope you are enjoying this so far. It really has been an education for me.

Pricks at Tire shops!

Sorry I have been away from the net for a bit, between baby and other items, So to start I made arrangements to have the tires switched from my Range Rover Classic to my Disco Rims. after dropping off the Disco and the rims and tires 6 hours later the shop guy calls me and says he refuses to switch the tires because they are not stock sizes listed in his $#@$%%I computer. Total waste off my time. Any way found a guy a few miles away that said no problem. I started by bringing on tire from each truck at a time all was going well until the last tire on the disco and the last bolt. The pricks at the tire place several years back never put any anti seieze on the nuts then proceded to torque the tire nuts t0 &*^$&%*in 4000ibs!! Now I am in a pickle....... How the hell do I get the rim off? I managed to get the hub nut spinning with the bolt so now I have no way of freeing the rim...

I tried drillling and tapping the hub stud and counter rotatating with a bolt the bolt snapped... %$$#%..

So, now I am planning on getting out my sawzall and cutting the rim off! I can get another via ebay for about a hundred bucks. The photos show progress thus far as well as the bastard bolt. Boston our Lab and my supervisor thinks the sawzall is the only option, although he has informed me that he is unwilling to watch!

Big Orange suspension overhaul

So Here she is, our 2000 Discovery II in kinversand orange, 109,000 miles with safety devices roof rack and ladder, Land Rover original Brush Guard and side steps. G4 Light guards on rear.

The stock springs and dampers are shot. It rides like crap and seems super low to me when I look at other disco's. So My plan is to add 1" Toddco spacers and the spring kit from Atlantic British. I also will be adding new tires a set of 265 75 R16's BFG AT/Ko tires. this combined with lift and springs should give me about three inches over stock. Tires on Wednesday and as soon as the spacers get here will do the suspension. I included the photos of the front and rear drivers side tires for future referance. it will be interesting to see how this pans out.