Modifications, Upgrades, & Repairs

[01001010]

FINALLY got the lift installed!

Ended up with Land Rover HD Springs and OME Shocks (N115/N44)

Because the majority of my tools are still in Miami, I had to to the lift with what I came up with, buy some additional tools..and STILL have to improvise.

Front was simply, a Pain In The Arse!!! I have a small floor jack so it didnt get the truck up high enough, so I ended up having to put the axle really low to the ground, stretch my ABS and Brake lines to their limit and still have to compress the spring.

Same goes with the rear. I did think the rear was going to be easier, but then I realized that the top bushing still have to be put onto the shock. After trying to do it with my hands for about 10 minutes and not getting anywhere, I knew I had to try something else.

Got the spring compressor, removed the bottom jaw, passed the bolt with its top jaw through the bushing and the opening on the shock and replaced the bottom jaw on the compressor...tightended that up and SHAZAAM!!, bushing went right in.

Had to load as much as I could into the cargo area and deflate my tires down to 12 to get out of the garage.

eneded up with about 1.5 lift at the front and a 16th over 2" at the rear.

NO MORE LEAN!

[01001010]

Here's a picture...

[Badger1]

Looks good!

Are you still running f/r swaybars? Don't run 'em on mine, and doing the lift went pretty easy, even without spring compressors. Actually had a rougher time with the rears.

Now....when are you going to drive a couple hours north and wheel in Kentuck?

[01001010]

Badger,

Still running the sway bars, but before I get any real flexing done, I still need to replace my brake lines with the RTE S/S lines. During the lift install I noticed how short they really are!

As for wheelin in KY, now that I dont have to sped a day driving out of FL and am hours away from any other Eastern state, I think I'll be going on many more wheelin trips!

[01001010]

Im thinking about doing something which I had not placed in my To-Do list in teh first place...

Rhino-Lining the cargo area, installing some tie downs (<in the list), and building a cargo management system of some kind.

So far, one of the nicest and most functional set-ups I've seen is DiscoNomad's on his 04 DII...






Also, the washer fluid bottle has developed a bad leak in it and will not hold fluid for more than a few minutes. While I repalce and relocate the bottle, I'll add the second battery tray for my proposed Dual Batter set-up in the washer fluid bottle's place.

[Buddy Lee]

Yeah he does have a nice setup but for what he spend on his rear stowage drawers you could buy another rover for. I think the drawers run between $1,300 and $1,800. I don't know about you but I would rather spend $100 at home depot and dust off my power tools and spend the rest on some other Mods.

I plan to build something for the rear after I get a garage and get my tools out of storage. I've not really worked it out yet. But I'm thinking couple of drawers for storage, high-lift mount on top and 1 or 2 compartments to house and AC Inverter and small Air compressor and maybe some other things. I've also thought about building in some sort of pull out table to use for putting a camp stove on or using it as a field work bench.

[rmuller]

I thought about building a rear cargo area, but when I go on wheelin' trips I like sleeping in the back of the truck... cargo setup would be nice to keep everything organized, but as Jarek found out with his, it puts you real high up so you have very little head room... what I did was put most of my equipment in Pelicans on the roof rack... then everything inside my truck was in a bin or bag.. food bin, camping supplies bin, clothing duffel, cooler, etc.. everything night to setup bed just stacked everything up into a corner, setup an aero bed and still had enough room to crawl in there, get changed and get into bed..

[Buddy Lee]

Originally Posted by rmuller

everything night to setup bed just stacked everything up into a corner, setup an aero bed and still had enough room to crawl in there, get changed and get into bed..

you're either really short or there is something drastically different about your DII and my DI. Because even with the seat folded forward I don't have but maybe 4-4.5 feet there. That leaves me about 2 foot short of being able to sleep. I do have a tent that I can throw on top if I really need to and my full size Aero Bed inflates in the roof rack just enough to sandwich the tent in. Looks funky as hell but it works.

Here in NC we don't have much occasion to camp on the trail not enough wilderness. So mostly it's camping for a weekend and then it's easier to just set up on the ground. If I lived someplace where I could do week long expeditions I might have different needs but then i would still go with a roof tent. But that's all just personal preference I like to stretch out when I sleep and short of a 110 that's just not going to happen inside a rover for me. I have also thought about buying a TentCot though if I ever have a need for setting up and taking down quickly.

[01001010]

Ryan, one of the items on my Purchase List is a Hannibal Rack (I'm actually trying to pick up the line of products)...and then I've got second dibbs on a Standard size tent being sold over on Dweb.

As for the cargo drawers...LOL..are you crazy! I'm not buyin anything made...I'm buildin it from scratch. Should be a fun project.

One thing I would like to do...instead of building around the rear trim panels, I would like to replace them and build cubbies/pockets/compartments that are incorporated into the cargo system I build.

I'll make another thread for this and maybe post some rough draft sketches.

[01001010]

I've been doing some research and I'm starting to think that it may not be worth the effort to build the complex cargo management system I had in mind. (which I have sketches of now)

With the "Safety First" mindset, I think it is safer to have everything in cases, securely tied down. Also, should I ever need to get to the fuel pump while out in the field, having the drawer system in place wouldnt be very convenient.

I think I'll just stick to rhino lining the cargo area and maybe making some replacement side panels to cover up an on-board air system, power conveter, and second battery (or both?)

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by Buddy Lee

you're either really short or there is something drastically different about your DII and my DI. Because even with the seat folded forward I don't have but maybe 4-4.5 feet there.

I'm 5'8" ... I took out my rear seats and push the passenger seat up a few inches and have room to spare... plus the D2 is 6" longer then the D1

[01001010]

A few new things were shown to me by our fellow member Denny that need changin...

Motor mounts, trans and TC mounts and the A-arm bushing.

I'm thinkin about servicing my Transmission so that's the next big step for me.

[01001010]

Incase you didnt see my "Drivetrain Vibrations" thread, I spent lots of time looking everywhere BUT my U-joints. By the time I serviced them, it was too late and the foward-most U-joint gave out. I was told that I got lucky, because if the joint to the TC would have gone, the shaft would have done a lot more damage. It only made a little knick on the oil pan since I IMMIDIATELY let off the gas and pulled over when it went.

Lesson: if there aren't any obvious origins for drivetrain vibrations that can be easily diagnosed (ie. wheel bearings, flex coupler, alignment) chances are your U-joints are in need of service or replacement.

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow to any extended amount of time to pass after the vibrations begin. GET THEM SERVICED or REPLACED!

So I have a temporary shaft on now since I found this to be a great oportunity to make a repair-slash-upgrade... GBR Double Cardon shaft on the way

[Capt. Ron]

You should call on your Atlanta (area) brethren for some assistance. I know someone has the tools, advice and/or a hand to lend. While your tools are away. But it looks good. BTW, you don't happen to have a personalized license plate do you? fins2L or something?

[01001010]

Capt..the U-joint situation happened last Sat...called Luke over at The Shop, he said he had a bay open, I then called AAA and got towed over there. Everything worked fantastic! Thank God for Luke and his shop! I thank Denny for letting me know about him and for giving me his number...GREAT guy and the guys from SOLAROS are an awesome bunch! (atleast so the ones I've met so far)

As for the personalized plate....negative...I do have a UK plate with my screen name on it on my dash (while I find a place to mount it)