Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Baben's D3 is back :) - the upgrade path
OK, so a couple of you may remember that I sold my D3 to our cousin a while back.
He has since upgraded to a D4, and sold me back the D3
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She has 150,000km on the clock, and still going strong.
Whilst in his care, the compressor and torque converter were replaced, and apart from leaving the sunroof open a few weeks back necessitating a bush-repair from me to get the car into gear, he hasn't beaten her up much at all
The spec so far:
TDV6 SE Cairns Blue
TorqTune Remap (naturally!)
Dual battery system
Rear wheel carrier
Rear ladder
LR RAI (Snorkel)
Dual fuel tank
Warn 9500 winch
Front underbody protection
A-bar
Spiros shocks
EGR's blanked
Cooper STT's in 275/65/18 (now 5 years old, and needing replacement)
Headrest video screens
A couple of things I would like to add:
DRL LED's
De-yellow the headlights
Smoked side indicator lamps (stolen from the Mrs but had to give them back)
Logic7 amp (done thanks City Deep 4x4 scrapyard for the amp and BBS SPY for the info)
Additional speakers for Logic7 (need door cards now, got rear speakers & D-pillar covers from British 4x4)
Cubby fridge (done thanks City Deep 4x4 scrapyard)
Mantec A-bar brackets (done thanks Karl @ BRS Offroad)
Underbody protection for the diff and gearbox
Rock sliders (Marius......)
Plasma rope for the winch (Got Dyneema Bowrope thanks British 4x4)
Roof rack
....and I am sure a bunch of stuff will crop up as we go.
So, as we progress, I will update the list. Any suggestions very much welcome please.
Some pics of the recent stuff going in:
Fridge installation took less than 10 minutes
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Side indicator lenses look awesome, but these I stole off the Mrs' RRS. Need to buy my own
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and the Harmon Kardon Logic 7 amp I bought, still filthy before I cleaned and installed
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Update 18 June 2012
Collected the rear speaker housings plus speakers from British 4x4. Cost about R1k:
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and "unfortunately" British 4x4 just had a Dyneema Bowrope in a nice blue colour. At the price (R2800 incl.) I had to take it:
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She is at LandyWorx for a couple of things:
1) New turbo boost hose - this was the source of a horrid oil leak
2) New driver's door lock - she wasn't locking consistently
3) New front wheel bearings - the right one had a bit of play
so when she comes back, I can start fitting the new stuff.
Still looking for door cards with the 2 speakers (HSE) in black if anyone has any ideas
Update 21 June 2012
OK so nobody had HSE door cards in black, and the dealers started talking R10k for a set, so i decided to make my own. Somewhere on the forum I saw a post indicating this had been done, which gave me the courage to get started on the door cards with a saw
So, first off I get the following bits from British 4x4:
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I think they felt sorry for me seeing as I was buying front wheel hubs from them that morning so I can't mention the price I paid except to say that they are awesome!
Remember I already installed the HK Logic7 amp, BBS SPY (Colin) helped me with the pinout for the speakers and his writeup inspired me. So I installed the rears:
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Which were relatively easy. The wiring to the amp forward was still to come
The wiring for the rear audio controls is already there on my SE, so those were just plug and play. The rear doors do not have the wiring, so I need to take a trip back to British and get 2 rear door looms off the HSE that is standing there. The cables go all the way up to the door connector ad then stop
But anyway, that will be a job for another day
Next step was to remove the front door cards, and cut holes for the speaker covers and speakers that British had supplied:
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But luckily there is a circle outline as a guide.
I then plastic welded 3 tabs for mounting the speaker. These I just snapped off the inside of the door card. Must be there for this reason
Then I welded the speaker covers in:
Not pretty on the inside, but they are stuck on tight:
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Here is the finished product prior to cleaning. You can see the dust from the yard on the treble speaker:
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All that was left to do was the wiring. Took me about 3 hours to wire up the fronts rears and centre. There wasn't that much of an issue, but I removed all the trims on the floor on the sides of the door so that I could run the wires in the proper channels.
Then I enabled the correct amp type with my Faultmate (thanks Colin )
And Voila! The sound is really a huge improvement over the hi-line. Not sure if the teenagers will agree that the bass is now sufficient, but if not I have another trick up my sleeve....
After all this I couldn't sleep, so I decided to install the Dyneema rope and an ally fairlead on the winch. My neighbors are awesome. Not one of them complained (yet) about me winching in the rope at 2:30am
Will take some pics of the winch setup later
Update 26 June 2012
Here is the winch with the Dyneema rope:
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And today I eventually got that single-exit exhaust fitted, thanks to Johnny at de Graaf underbody
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reason for this? Primarily so I can use that damn airjack without using a bung. The original zorst was pretty banged-up, especially under the diff. We removed the cat, and installed only one large free flow muffler in the centre of the vehicle. There are no rear boxes at all, yet the sound is fairly stock with maybe a slight deep growl at low revs.
Update 29 July 2012
OK, so she went thru to Centurion Automotive Clinique to get a proper valet and have all the little dents removed:
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hmm. there's an empty space on the right where a compressor should be....
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and then we decided to do the wheels too
(edit 30 July 2012- new pics)
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Comments?
The Mrs loves it, so thats good enough for me
Now just to decide what treatment the headlights need. Definitely de-tango, but not sure about the DRL options
Edit October 2012
Once I received my VHF license, I could install the radio. Its a Kenwood TK7302, nice entry-level unit. I got her programmed up with the ORRA set of frequencies, and stuck under the steering with velcro cos I can't find a space for it anywhere else.
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Installed the antenna on a custom-made bracket
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Edit 5 November 2012
At last my rear view cameras arrived. I had already installed a switch to swop between RR and LR software, as well as a diode to ensure max brightness as per wiggs' and others detailed information available on this forum (thanks guys!) plu the coaxial cable to the nav screen, so the installation only took me half the weekend....
Now I have a great rear view. Pity the spare wheel robs a bit of the right hand view, but its a huge improvement.
This is the view when reverse is selected
here is what it looks like from the rear:
Nice.
Blue intercooler pipes are on the way More pics to come when they are installed
EDIT 5 December
Intercooler pipes fitted
Unfortunately you can only see the top one, but yes its blue
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Fitted a new alternator too. She just died in a very smelly way yesterday. The whole job took 2 hours, and a 13 spanner
Fitted a fuel gauge and nice switch to the auxillary tank
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and sometime around June I fitted an iCom 208H radio after I passed my HAREC exam. radio is under the dash where the clutch pedal would be in a manual and the remote head is just above the mirror. Connector for the microphone can be see in the above pics, just left of the dashboard.
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EDIT 13 November 2013
A couple of weeks back, I decided to take the plunge and de-tango the headlights. I had ordered some silver lamps already, so it was fairly quick to "bake" the lights in the oven and open up and remove the orange stuff.
I think it looks allright. Still probably going to paint the chrome part inside one day, just not decided whether it should be blue or black.
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Oh, and sometime in the past few months I changed the grille to a much more open type that I bought off ebay. Had this painted black, and I think it works fine with the front end, or at least to me its not terribly obvious. it flows very well according to my tests.
Not done yet by a long shot.....
Last edited by Baben on 13th Nov 2013 5:17 pm. Edited 18 times in total
14th Jun 2012 11:06 am
Nico G4-2
Member Since: 11 Nov 2008
Location: Pretoria
Posts: 128
Hi Anthony
Maybe - permanent lift with Rods and bigger MT tyres ?
If you get plasma rope - I also want some in orange
Tx
NicoNico
'91 BYB - Big Yellow Bus: Ex-CT Tdi Disco
'05 BOV - Big Orange Van: TDV6 D3 G4 - Hit a COW the animal kind
'11 BBB - Big Black Bus: D4 HSE 5.0 V8 - busy with MODS
'16 KIA SEDONA - 11 SEATS
SWAMBO ... Small black number - RCZ
15th Jun 2012 7:42 am
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1319
Nice see D3 is best!£! So your cousin has just bedded in the spiros, how they hold up? :whistle:If there is still extra weight capasity(incuilding normal load) ad proper front and rear protection, speak to Mariusjnr he was importing some American bumpers and what about a proper roofrack from Prospeed?
Here is some inspiration, lovely blue bull colour:
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic80143.htmlA few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
15th Jun 2012 7:53 am
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Nico, I have maximum lift done with the Faultmate already, but i will get some rods from DiscoEast and give them a try.
Tyres, I will probably just use the 19" MTR's I have lying in the garage once the STT's are completely done-in. The STT's have one more trip left in them for sure.
I am chatting to some guys about the plasma rope - will inform once I get some advice
D4JWW, the Spiros shocks are still awesome! yes the Prospeed rack looks great.
15th Jun 2012 11:07 am
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Updated - see original post
19th Jun 2012 12:29 am
mariusjnr
Member Since: 20 Dec 2009
Location: Gauteng
Posts: 200
Rocksliders
Hi Anthony
We are now just waiting for quotes on the laser cutting and bending of the rocksliders we will be able to send out pricing when we return from the Zambia Bike trip forst week in July.
The first set on my vehicle had to prove itself (and believe me they did take serious some punishment as per the pictures below) before we were willing to do the once off production run for the few guys interested.
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2012 Discovery 4 SDV6 SE 50mm Suspension Lift, Front Runner RR, Drawers, Tuffstuff Underbody Armour.
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE 50mm Suspension lift, 33" BFG MT, Rocksliders, Bashplate. 250 000km Sold
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 S, Snorkel, TorqueTune Remap, Club 250 000km, Sold
2002 Discovery 2 TD5, Roof rack, Club 250 000km, Drowned
19th Jun 2012 5:32 am
KOOS BEST
Member Since: 14 Feb 2010
Location: Mtunzini
Posts: 122
Nice Anthony , treasure her!!!!
20th Jun 2012 6:36 pm
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Can't wait for Marius to come back and bring my rock-spiders I mean rock-sliders
More updates above- fitted the treble speakers, rears and centre
21st Jun 2012 7:01 am
Nico G4-2
Member Since: 11 Nov 2008
Location: Pretoria
Posts: 128
@ Anthony
Was at TopGear in Dbn this week-end and East Coast Radio add: (song) "Barney's Back , Barney's Back ... " add for Friday's game with John Smit vs Sharks .. .so when I look at this thread can't help to the same tune..
"Baben's Back, Baven's Back..."
I am very interested in your upgrades
@ Marius
I also want the sliders (This rock spider needs some rock sliders )
What's up with our US Bullbars ? I also want spare wheel bracket on back bumber ... just not sure on teh design type etc...
Anthony at some point you had plans or knew of plans for 1 that could work with top flap of rear opening ... Hinged on the RR I still think this is killer idea ... Marius what you say ...
NicoNico
'91 BYB - Big Yellow Bus: Ex-CT Tdi Disco
'05 BOV - Big Orange Van: TDV6 D3 G4 - Hit a COW the animal kind
'11 BBB - Big Black Bus: D4 HSE 5.0 V8 - busy with MODS
'16 KIA SEDONA - 11 SEATS
SWAMBO ... Small black number - RCZ
21st Jun 2012 3:34 pm
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Thanks for the encouragement nico
Yes there was a lot of talk about that top-hinged wheel carrier, but it was all talk. Great idea though!
21st Jun 2012 8:32 pm
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1319
On upgrade, the Donar HSE at British hasn't got rear aircon/climate control, there's a upgrade I'll watch with great interest!!!A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
21st Jun 2012 8:54 pm
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
I doubt if I would bother with the rear aircon. The kids should just keep quiet till they can buy their own car
23rd Jun 2012 3:55 am
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
more pics of the winch added
26th Jun 2012 6:20 pm
TiaanS
Member Since: 25 May 2007
Location: Pretoria
Posts: 200
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1319
Baben wrote:
more pics of the winch added
Have you change the air intake pipe from IC to intake manifold for silicone upgrade one?A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
so I can't mention the price I paid except to say that they are awesome!
)
I mean rock-sliders 
