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[Rhich]

Here’s this weekends “project”.
As most of you know, or perhaps not I bought my wife a 1996 Disco figuring I could make this a dual purpose vehicle. One would be to provide a means for her to get around even in bad weather (which were rumored to have but I haven’t seen yet) The other is so I can tow around some of my Saabs, which I have a few scattered all over the place and with the new farm am hoping to gather them all in one location.
I bought the Disco, now formally known as Snoopy…. Hence the addition of a few Snoopy decals on the truck (her doing) and the stuffed Snoopy seat belted in the back seat (it must be a female thing)
Anyway….
The truck was purchased three weeks ago and upon the purchase/ drive home I immediately began putting together a “to do” list which thanks to this site and others most of the little odds and ends the truck needed I have found or in the process of there of. The Radio code issue was figured out (Many thanks to RANGEROVERHP). The fog lamps now work, the clock bulb was replaced, the serpentine belt was replaced and on and on.
I am slowly but surely getting the mechanicals done, first and foremost was attempting to remedy a “lifter tick” which after attempting the chemical fix via SeaFoam didn’t correct the problem and it’s been determined that it is in fact mechanical and not just lack of maintenance and neglect.
The SeaFoam came highly recommended both from these forums and the local NAPA dealer, I as a Saab person never heard of the stuff until purchasing the Rover.
I followed the instructions//recommendations but the tick never went away so we proceeded to plan “B” which will be the replacement of rocker arms and new lifters…
Before I dive into unknown territory I decided to post a few questions and find out as much as possible before attempting this undertaking. Although I have an extensive automotive background, including an ASE certification as well as my Saab Tech certification there are always “tips” to be found by people who have much more experience in Rovers then I do.
After the SeaFoam attempt I found that the exhaust system was borderline at best because one slight backfire from the introduction of the SeaFoam caused the outer skin of the muffler to separate from the inner and now I have a “undulating” muffler…. Funny to look at but needs replacement never the less. So first and foremost I got on the phone with my “new” buddy Steve from D.A.P. and get a replacement exhaust which not only was his prices wonderful the exhaust arrived quickly and included everything he felt I would need to make the replacement easy (three cheers to Steve !!!!)
Now that the new exhaust is on at least the Rover can be driven on errands and with the radio working my wife and turn up the volume and at least doesn’t have to listen to the “tick”
During the second week I read up on different lifters and how a few people have used Rhoades lifter instead of replacing them with OEM, so enough said about the Rhoades lifters I ordered a set…
While waiting for the lifters to come I called D.A.P and ordered the necessary gaskets and parts for the project and then continued on with the “to do list”
I got the parts needed to keep her gas tank door closed (many thanks ptschram) I found a dealer brochure (not necessary but sorta adds to the wholeness of ownership)
Found, or at least thought I did, the owners wallet….
I bought a 6HP air compressor to use at the house.
I have a 8HP industrial compressor but not exactly what you would call “mobile” and gathered up tools to have everything ready. First was getting 240V for the compressor to run, this required purchasing a 20’ extension cord with the correct AMP rating, buying the correct ends to go from the new compressor to our drier outlet…which turned out to be almost a whole day project in itself. Got the compressor running and broke in according to the Sears owners manual
Most of the equipment I have but because of our recent move nothing is set up yet and our barn isn’t quite shop material yet so everything I’m doing is getting done outside at our house… (makes me miss my old garage/shop more and more) I am very much out of my element.
Walking from the house to the barn and back to the house four or five times isn’t getting much done either except making me want to build a garage sooner.
I’ve got my mobile work bench set up but a gravel driveway and the mobile bench… well that’s another story.
Got the new lifters soaking in a mixture of Howes Mystery oil and Lucas pure silicone to get the air pockets out, bought new oil, assembly lube, engine degreaser, oil filter, coolant (the environment friendly stuff) new stainless steel hose clamps, parts washer fluid (even though the parts washer is “down the barn”…
Just about everything to do lifters I could think off, forgetting a new thermostat and gasket…….
It’s now Sunday….. still haven’t starting working on the truck and thank God I had a tarp because by 8AM I had to cover everything, turns out the rain we we’re supposed to get late Sunday night decided to come a little early.