My D3 Project

[gstuart]

now started on replacing my front struts, drop links , bushes for my front anti roll bar and silicone intercooler hoses

so far , got the drivers side strut in , top bolts are tight for access, got one silicone hose on

also been filling in the areas behind inner wheel arch’s etc with dinotrol , rest of my chassis, inside and out has been cleaned and treated with dinotrol , blimey that stuff is a pig getting it off ur hands , lol

entire chassis is solid , but these chassis are a dramatic improvement and not seen any reports of any welding req

 

[gstuart]

well that’s it so far and still plenty to do, just wished to share my progress and hope it may be useful to others

just taking my time and sounds sad but really enjoying working on the disco and learning lots along the way

 

[gstuart]

next mod is to fit a 12s socket to make it easier to plug in a ctek charger and run 12 volt power off when camping , saving me having to mess around lifting the bonnet up etc ,

bought the items separate as i wasn’t going to pay silly money just for the one lead

also bought some conduit / heat shrink , used some 27 amp 12 volt cable that i had left over

also bought some stainless steel bolts so i then knew they wouldn’t rust , as i didn’t wish to use the screws that came with the socket ,

plus bought a 12s to ctek converter plug

also will sort out the mess someone has previously done on the 12n & 12s loom inside the landy

waiting for some new pins for the connectors and also bought a spade splitter in order i can put the existing loom back as it should, will remove the 12n socket and bodge up completely, so if in future will be easy to buy the correct loom and simply plug it in

got an inline 15 amp fuse

this is where i’m at so far

thks and hope it may be of interest or help in the future

 

[gstuart]

Well a bit of an update

Now started on my rear upper wishbone replacements , 5 x hours struggling to get the bolts off, still got the other one to cut off, grrrrrr, what a bloody pig

Got all new wishbone arms with the bushes already fitted , also some meyle heavy duty drop links, all new brake hoses, suspension bolts and meyle top hub bearing

When I undone the top brake pipe the bloody thing slightly twisted so not happy leaving it, will cut it out, reflare and install a new section in there

Blanked the brake pipe off for now, saving the system from emptying , but know if the abs empties will have to use a diagnostic machine to open it to allow me to bleed it, bought the gap iid a while ago and thk god it does that

Why oh why do we punish ourselves with all this work, lmao

To think I’ve had quotes over 2k for this job , all in I think I’ve spent £500 for everything

Ordered a 240 volt recip saw so I can then chomp my way through that last bolt , air saw will take too long

Also got a hub bearing extractor tool , so will see how that top hub knuckle bearing comes out

 

[gstuart]

Hi

Finally fitted the lower gauge panel , also got a second hand upper glove box and fitted an aux fuse box

Wired it via a relay so when the ign live is removed it will kill the power to the fuse box, that’s for all my acc, ie dashcam etc

That fuse box will be powered from my aux battery

Also ran the wire from my dual battery gauge to the upper glove box ready for when I remove the old one

Plugged the cheap volt meter back in temporary and can see its not far off from the other gauges , also plugged my iPad in to test the usb

Don’t think it looks too bad and this makes sense,

Thks as always for ur feedback and most appreciated

 

[DarrenH]

thats pretty neat .

neater than our stuck out ash tray !

 

[gstuart]

thats pretty neat .

neater than our stuck out ash tray !

Many thks, took me ages to try and work it out inc what gauges I thought would be the most useful

Got to fit the fuse box next that I’ve pre made up

Thks again

 

[Guitar Mick]

Like that, looks like it has always been there

 

[gstuart]

Like that, looks like it has always been there

Many thks , appreciate the feed back as I wasn’t sure , didn’t want it to look like a dogs dinner

Disco now all cleaned as well

 

[gstuart]

@Big Sandy

Apologises troubling u , would u be so kind to take out the double cleaning pictures above please, it won’t let me do it, keeps coming up thread error

Hope u don’t mind me asking , thks so much

Edit , just let me edit them panic over , sorry about that , lol

 

[gstuart]

Have debated about removing the front bonnet letters , have done the boot but can’t make my mind up about the bonnet

Thks as always

 

[Big Sandy]

Have debated about removing the front bonnet letters , have done the boot but can’t make my mind up about the bonnet

Thks as always

Be different if you did, you don't see many without.

Its looking good and shiny... We likes it shiny!

 

[gstuart]

Be different if you did, you don't see many without.

Its looking good and shiny... We likes it shiny!

Many thks, plus thought it will be easier to clean without the badges on the bonnet , wouldn’t clean it all the times but would like to at least keep it in good nick, haven’t seen any without the letters yet

Heard a good tip to remove the letters is use dental floss

I’ll finish off the trim in the week and post another shiny pic up, lol

Funny enough when I had my series landies that just got jet washed and that was it

Think the tailgate looks better without the badges

 

[Big Sandy]

Yup, I agree, it looks better.

Coffee or tea in that mug?

Dental floss! Who'd have thought it!

 

[gstuart]

Yup, I agree, it looks better.

Coffee or tea in that mug?

Thks and always nice getting feedback if it looked ok or like a dogs dinner, lol

Blimey you’ve got a sharp eye, had tea in there

Just looked on ebay at bonnet letter removers, most were around £6-7 , bought roll of dental floss for £1.50 , perfect

Got the dreaded MOT weds the 3rd July , gulp

 

[Big Sandy]

Got the dreaded MOT weds the 3rd July , gulp

Fingers crossed for you. Though having seen the work you have done I can't imagine you'll have any problems.

 

[gstuart]

Fingers crossed for you. Though having seen the work you have done I can't imagine you'll have any problems.

Many thks, don’t know if u remember my last mot

Sent it to the dealers and the rear door lock failed whilst on the ramp, instant fail

Indeed and thks as I’ve put a lot of work into this over the last year , owned it now 3 x years and just starting to come together

 

[gstuart]

Hi

So Disco passed its mot which was please about , advisories on front brake hoses so ordered some new ones

Also made up a test rig to find the leak in my aircon, set it up so can test it either by vacuum or pressure

Didn’t want to spend out £100 or so in a vacuum pump that I doubt I would ever use again, then realised I had my oil extraction kit, so rigged that up , can either use my T max tyre compressor the large 50x litre one

Plus can also use it for my air suspension if I need to find a leak

Took me ages to work everything out, also installed isolating valves in order I can isolate different sections

Tested the rig as I needed to make sure 100% there were no leaks , left it on a vacuum test of 15inMG

Hope everyone hasn’t nodded off or gone screaming for the hills with boredom, lol

See what U think pls

 

[gstuart]

Just thought as indeed I know I should use nitrogen to find leaks but will only be to find the leaks can then pull a vacuum to remove any moist air

Alas not 100% it’s going to work but thought I might as well give it a go

Also got a new condensor to fit but wish to find all the leaks first before I start removing the old condensor

Got new stainless steel bolts and O rings

 

[gstuart]