Help Me Modify This Nancy Disco Ii

[akabaa]

Hello forum contributors ,

I need a little help on how to modify my 2002 Discovery for basic off-road use. I have been reading the forum for help but the information I need has been in tid-bits here and there and now I need to put it all together.

The off-roading this Disco will need to be equipped for is the following: I own a small ranch in the Gila Region of New Mexico – to get to my place I need to cross and re-cross a small desert river 5 times – maximum depth of wading is 16-18 inches – anything deeper, the velocity is much too fast and water too muddy to see rearranged boulders to cross in any vehicle sanely. ( I know as my main ranch vehicle is a 91 dodge diesel 4x4 – 7,000 lbs of truck) The angle of approach coming out of the river is very steep and muddy – so I need to get rid of the stock front bumper. Often I go up-river at night so I need lights to see through the water for the differential smashing rocks. That’s it – higher clearance (31 -32 inch tyres), steep angle of approach and vision – perhaps a differential lock would be good for going up the steep muddy banks. I want to keep this simple and clean as possible as I still need to drive this Disco as my daily drive. Maybe I can keep this modification around $6K

Here is where I need the help:

New slim profile front bumper (have my eye on RTE – love their recovery ‘tabs’) – but winch or no winch? ( would need different springs with winch?) – I have never gotten the dodge ‘tank’ stuck in the river but have had trouble getting traction coming up out of the river???

Suspension lift – This is where I really need help please - Will heavy-duty springs (RTE) and OME shocks allow me to put 32 inch tyres on 16 inch wheels??? Do I need lift spacer blocks? Or wheel spacers?? Do in need longer brake line sections for a 2 inch lift??? LR 16 inch wheels cost twice what others cost are they better??

Skid plates and differential guards and rock sliders – I am for all of these any tips???

Lights – Seems easier to install on light bar on top of new bumper. How many? What kind? My nephew says I need them on roof top to see in the inky midnight water. Please help me here???

Differential lock – as much as I really love the home made levers I have seen in the forum – the only time I would need to regularly use it I would be in the middle of a flowing river as locking the differential should only be brief – yes ??? help me out here please. So I think a solenoid is for my use?

Carrying a Highlift jack – will the door that now carries spare tyre hold the additional weight of a highlift??? –

I know this is long – just help briefly where you can - If I have not thought of anything please let me know! Thanks in advance and if any body hunts elk!!! – I know one of the best areas of the country – contact me – I really appreciate all the help I can get.

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by akabaa

New slim profile front bumper (have my eye on RTE – love their recovery ‘tabs’) – but winch or no winch? ( would need different springs with winch?) – I have never gotten the dodge ‘tank’ stuck in the river but have had trouble getting traction coming up out of the river???

RoverTym bumper is great.. it'll give you the option of adding a winch if you think you'd need one.. it is heavy though, so you'd want to do a lift. If you want to save money for the meantime, you can trim the lower part of your stock bumper which will increase your ground clearance.. do a search on here for 'trimming'

Suspension lift – This is where I really need help please - Will heavy-duty springs (RTE) and OME shocks allow me to put 32 inch tyres on 16 inch wheels??? Do I need lift spacer blocks? Or wheel spacers?? Do in need longer brake line sections for a 2 inch lift??? LR 16 inch wheels cost twice what others cost are they better??

Yes, 2" RTE lift + OME shocks will allow you to run 265/75/16 tires.. 16" wheels are very common as a lot of discos came with them stock.. if you have 18"s .. see if you can either trade with someone, or sell those and buy 16s. You dont need to do spacer blocks/wheel spackers/brake lines/etc.. with the 2" lift.

Skid plates and differential guards and rock sliders – I am for all of these any tips???

Skids are always good.. look into QT Diff Guards.. if you get an RTE bumper you can get a front skid plate with it.. and then you'll just need a rear skid.. and rock sliders are also good.. RoverTym sells them also.

Lights – Seems easier to install on light bar on top of new bumper. How many? What kind? My nephew says I need them on roof top to see in the inky midnight water. Please help me here???

There is a lot of info around on this.. I run:
4 Hella 4000s on my roof rack.. Cornerning Beams on the outside, Euro Beams on the inside.. and 2 Hella 4000s Fogs on my front bumper.

Differential lock – as much as I really love the home made levers I have seen in the forum – the only time I would need to regularly use it I would be in the middle of a flowing river as locking the differential should only be brief – yes ??? help me out here please. So I think a solenoid is for my use?

2002 Discovery's are not equipped with a CDL enabled transfer case.. you'll need to source either a new or used transfer case from a 99/00/01[first part of the year only] or 2004 with a CDL 'nipple' on it.. then do the swap.. then you'll hvae the ability to add either a lever, a D1 linkage, a 2004 D2 solenoid based linkage or any other option.

Carrying a Highlift jack – will the door that now carries spare tyre hold the additional weight of a highlift??? –

A lot of people say that the weight of it will put unwanted stress on the hinges.. on top of that, keeping your hilift jack outside will cause it to rust and fail VERY fast unless you constantly oil/wd40 it.


Hopefully that gives you some good direction.. I must have the Christmas Spirit today to type all that out

[akabaa]

Thanks a million I can take it from here

[CaptainRuss]

Originally Posted by rmuller

Hopefully that gives you some good direction.. I must have the Christmas Spirit today to type all that out

Nice job, Chatty Cathy! Impressive to get more than a concise sentence or two out of you. Either you have a) a lot of coffee in you; b) nothing to do at work; or c) you found out that your new rear bumper is ready today.

[Thor]

5" lift from RTE.

[mnmike]

post pics of progress and when your done!!

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by CaptainRuss

Nice job, Chatty Cathy! Impressive to get more than a concise sentence or two out of you. Either you have a) a lot of coffee in you; b) nothing to do at work; or c) you found out that your new rear bumper is ready today.

or d) didn't drink (much) last night so didn't have a hangover AND I did find out the new rear bumper is ready!

[Rovin4life]

Your wading depth on a standard Discovery Two is 19.7 inches.

If you want to go higher then buy a Snorkel

Why waste money on a lift. you loose always going high.



Also too you can buy offroad tires in 18 inches. Michelin Synchros are the best. Nitto grapler are ok but not thick enough sidewall.

With a steep and muddy terrain I would recommend putting on a diff guard and the Two bumpers mentioned.

But before you buy all the goodies. Test drive the Discovery in its native environment. The one it was built for.


You might find yourself pleasantly surprised that the Discovery Two lacks very little.

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by Rovin4life

If you want to go higher then buy a Snorkel

Why waste money on a lift. you loose always going high.

Absolutely agree on the snorkel... should be one of the first mods.. the stock airtake vent is located right above the driver side front wheel... water gets thrown into it easy and you'll start frying mass air flow sensors, if not an engine.

As for lift.. what do you lose by going high? 2" lift will gain you clearance for larger tires, which will get your diff higher off the ground.. will also lift the body up higher, increasing your maximum wading depth.. and give you more articulation if you drop a tire down into a rut. With a 2" lift, there is generally no worry about driveline angles changing such as the driveshafts.

[Choqiees]

for "basic" off-road use...I think a stock DII will do just fine...you'll be surprised.

I'd say get the recovery gears first.

[SCSL]

Originally Posted by Choqiees

for "basic" off-road use...I think a stock DII will do just fine...you'll be surprised.

I'd say get the recovery gears first.

I agree. Except that front air-dam... I've seen so many ripped apart on the trail... If a front bumper is on the upgrades list, I would suggest at least cutting out the bottom corners of the air dam for the time being. If one was planning on leaving a DII relatively stock, even temporarily, I would suggest the following for mild wheeling:

- 20" tow strap (a legit one, not the kind w/ built-in hooks) Many supporting vendors for this type of gear.
- Tow hitch/receiver shackle, plus an extra shackle, pair of work gloves
- Hi-Lift jack and base (home made base is fine, but drill a hole either way and tie about a 5' piece of rope thru it so you don't lose it in mud) plus a Hi-Lift winching kit
- breaker bar & socket for lug nuts
- stock size BFG A/T tires, or siped BFG M/Ts
- tool bag with all the expected tools plus a metric & standard socket set
- spares bag with assorted fuses, a spare rotoflex, electrical tape, duct tape, motor mounts, block of wood approx 2"x8" or thereabouts, tire repair kit
- fluids box with motor oil, gear oil, atf, coolant, brake fluid, etc

Sounds like a lot but it's not really.
Your first upgrade, after tires, should be xfer case. Not only will a center-locking diff provide obvious benefits off-road, it will help you greatly in the event of trail damages such as a blown driveshaft, u-joint, roto, axle (unlikely in stock config), etc.

I would also strongly suggest rock sliders as you first "armor" upgrade. I've always suggest sliders & diff guards before bumpers. (Hopefully not too far before..)