Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Landrover, Range Rover, Jeep or whatever - off-road or not, this is the one.

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CHR15E
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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by CHR15E » Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:21 pm

Aren't they for identification on the sand?
Chris
19 Vauxhall Astra 1.6T SRi Nav Estate
08 Vauxhall Astra 2.0T Design Twintop
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Previously owned 57 800s 2000-2012
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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:14 pm

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.
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Fri Dec 12, 2014 5:55 pm

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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Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Fri Dec 12, 2014 5:58 pm

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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Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Sat Jul 18, 2015 8:16 pm

Well, I've sold this. It was hopeless on sand and so it just had to go.

No regrets
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by vito » Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:50 pm

Bloomin' eck after all that work ............. :shock:
Gaz (or Gary if we're being formal)

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:10 am

No point keeping it if it's crap!
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by SJG » Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:54 am

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?
Simon

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:17 pm

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.
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by CHR15E » Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:29 pm

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.
Chris
19 Vauxhall Astra 1.6T SRi Nav Estate
08 Vauxhall Astra 2.0T Design Twintop
02 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7 V8 HO

Previously owned 57 800s 2000-2012
Relapse of 1 in 2021 Now Sold

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by vito » Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:27 pm

How do Rangeys do over there, petrol or diesel ?
Gaz (or Gary if we're being formal)

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Re: Voyage of Discovery: 2003 A Solihull Odysey

Post by Richard Moss » Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:49 pm

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? :)
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT

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