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Rover800.Info • Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey - Page 2
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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:21 pm
by CHR15E
Aren't they for identification on the sand?

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:14 pm
by Richard Moss
They're flag poles. The idea is that once you've crested a dune, the flag can still be seen by the guy following you and it helps him to know where you've gone. We do carry VHF walkie-talkies though.

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 5:55 pm
by Richard Moss
Overdue for an update, photos below.

Jobs done:
Locking centre differential lever fitted so I can now lock the diff without burning my arm on the exhaust!
Auxiliary 12v socket fitted in the centre console so that Sophie can watch DVDs en-route
Left rear door latch and central locking mechanism replaced - so I can now unlock all 4 door.
Exhaust pipe leak fixed - it was due to a missing manifold-downpipe gasket and a broken stud.
Both engine mounts replaced (one had sheered and the other was 3/4 gone)
Flag mount fitted to spare wheel carrier
Genuine Landrover side steps fitted (freebie from someone on the LR UAE Facebook group!)
1" lift kit purchased (not yet fitted) to restore ground clearance lost to the side steps
Roof access ladder fitted to rear door
Steering guard fitted - now removed because it clashed with..
....the 8,500lb Rugged Ridge winch which I've just put in today (just need to trim a little off the bumper to access the clutch lever).
Front shocks replaced with standard items - uprated ones will follow in due course

First, it turned out that it DID have a lockable centre diff - despite the fact that as a 2003 model it shouldn't have. So I just bought a second hand Discovery 1 diff lock linkage and fitted that. Now I have MUCH better off traction :)

Second, a check of the engine number revealed that it is fitted with a 4.6L engine not the expected 4.0L one - a pleasant surprise.I decided to tackle the "chuffing" exhaust manifolds and found that each manifold to downpipe flange had a missing/broken stud and on one side there was no gasket, either. A simple fix and whilst at it I did an ugly but sound repair to the cracked downpipe flange on the left hand side. All quiet on the Eastern front now

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Whilst under there I found that both engine mounts were broken so genuine Landrover ones were fitted. I have to say that both the exhaust and mount jobs were much easier than expected, the benefit of having plenty of space, I guess. Old engine mount on the left, new on the right

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A rear door ladder has been added - to aid access to the (yet to be fitted) roof bar extensions

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A small suspension lift was added by fitting spacers under the spring seats - this was to restore the ground clearance lost when I fitted the side steps. The steps were genuine Landrover ones that I was given - over £500 worth at new prices.

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Britpart steering guard. Huge, strong and rather heavy. This has now been partly removed to allow the winch to be fitted.
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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 5:58 pm
by Richard Moss
Another job was fitting a front winch. I didn't want to fit a heavy (and expensive) metal "winch" bumper, so went for a winch plate under the bumper. It's a "rugged Ridge 8,500lb winch which I picked up at an attractive price from Icon 4x in Dubai. Fitting was fairly straightforward: the mounting plate needed a little "adjustment" with an angle grinder in order to get it to fit around the steering guard brackets but it fits nicely below the main bumper bar and in front of the radiator and aircon condensor. A little bumper trimming was required, not a problem as the bottom of the bumper was already broken, and it now looks neater anyway. The steering guard plate has been removed because it clashes with the winch mount - it will need to be trimmed to fit.

the control box is mounted on a bracket in front of the aircon cooling fan - but the box is mostly in front of the fan motor body and should not significantly reduce the airflow. The remote control plugs in on the front of the box and the plug is accessed through the slats in the grille.

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 8:16 pm
by Richard Moss
Well, I've sold this. It was hopeless on sand and so it just had to go.

No regrets

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:50 pm
by vito
Bloomin' eck after all that work ............. :shock:

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:10 am
by Richard Moss
No point keeping it if it's crap!

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:54 am
by SJG
Richard Moss wrote:Well, I've sold this. It was hopeless on sand and so it just had to go.

No regrets
Why was it so bad Richard, and what is better?

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:17 pm
by Richard Moss
Simon Hubbard wrote:Why was it so bad Richard, and what is better?
It was too heavy and very underpowered. As a result it really couldn't get up sandy slopes without bogging down.

I've replaced it with a 2000 Nissan Patrol SWB 4.5L - which is much better than the Discovery. Neither can beat my 1995 Jeep Cherokee manual, though.

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:29 pm
by CHR15E
I like the old boxy Patrols. Guessing at that age it's a newer shape?

Joe rates his Pajero highly, any of them over there? No idea on sandy slopes though? He rated the Jeeps ability but they don't seem as strong or reliable for the abuse Joe gives them as the Pajero.

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:27 pm
by vito
How do Rangeys do over there, petrol or diesel ?

Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:49 pm
by Richard Moss
Pajeros are reasonably popular amongst expats and do OK on sand - especially with the 3.8L engine rather than the 3.5. Range Rovers are almost never seen offroad unless they are Range Rover Classics. Diesels? What are they? :)