The Overfinch Discovery legend is true

[arollingstone]

As much as I like your project, I can't help but think you would have been better off restoring the disco. Considering there's one on eBay at this very moment going for 25k, you could even end up with something quite valuable :/

[hman]

thats what I thought, then again what its priced at and what its sold at are two different things.

[Vanya]

vjj said:

Finally ascertained that the engine is in fact an L98 Camaro/Corvette engine that stopped being fitted to new cars in 1986 - it was superseded by the LS1

I could be wrong here, and this is not intended as pedantic, but from the dark fog that is my memory I thought the L98 saw production in Camaros and Corvettes etc into the early 90's, then replaced or an alternate option was the LT4 around 94/96, which was then replaced by the LS1 after that.

Maybe it helps, maybe it's bks, in any case maybe useful info for you if it is the case.

[100SRV]

C Lee Farquar said:

I have one of those transfer boxes mated to what I think is a 700 R4. It came with an L98 small block and Corvette heads. I haven't dared put it in anything as I assume the parts are all obsolete. It's also very long.

Hi Lee,
from your comment it sounds like it wouldn't be a good fit in my Bowler what with the powertrain being 10" further back...very tempted by a Borg Warner viscous transfer box though, are they available with 1.2:1 ratio?

100SRV

[vjj]

Hi Guys further to some points

The L98 did continue until 1992 in camaros and corvettes although development stopped in 86/87.

I have today driven the Discovery for the first time since we did all the work - took a bit of time to get the timing right and I was a bit anal about the camshaft running-in routine (much to my landrover man's amusement) but boy is it a hoot to drive.

It is very fast - quicker than the Overfinch 630R Anniversary P38 Range Rover I nearly bought last year from walton Motors for 15k.

I haven't given it the full beans yet, obviously, but the plan is to hoon around in it for 500 miles or so then take it over to Dart Corvette for some fresh oil and a tune-up.Looking forward to then.

One thing I would say, concerning the sacrificing of this car for my project, is that the Disco will always be the also-ran in comparison to the Range Rover and for this reason is not really worth the effort to restore to concourse condition.
As for the chap asking £25,000 for the other Overfinch Disco....................concourse or not he will never get more than 15k

Edited by vjj on Wednesday 19th September 22:19

[C Lee Farquar]

Presumably you'll get some money back from what's left of the Disco... but at the sort of figures you're talking an LS3 is not a million pounds away and that would give you something quite special.

[eliot]

LS3 would be really nice. Had one in the VRX8, very impressive.
One day rodney....

[vjj]

C Lee Farquar said:

Presumably you'll get some money back from what's left of the Disco... but at the sort of figures you're talking an LS3 is not a million pounds away and that would give you something quite special.

The reason I bought the discovery is that it was a FULL overfinch conversion - so I have the chevy-adapted engine mounts, the uprated brake calipers, the engine, the (recently rebuilt) beefed-up Ashcroft auto gearbox, the bellhousing, the suspension,the stronger discovery diffs, the higher ratio transfer box, and a few other things besides - all of which will more or less bolt straight into the defender chassis.

If I had spent a fortune on an LS3 engine I would have had to source all of this on top.

So, as you can see, there was always a method in my madness.

I am sure that the Master Monster-Builder himself(Eliot) would agree that it is the right way to go.

As my Defender is also having a new Richards chassis,galvanised bulkhead, full V8 50th Anniversary internal/external rollcage, new exmoor interior with forward-facing rear seats, new doors and conversion back to station wagon, stainless hinges and a full respray in Keswick green, I think it will be something special in any case.

Edited by vjj on Thursday 28th June 07:37

[eliot]

100SRV said:

Is that with ballast too or the basic Dakar structure?

Ballast? I'm not that fat! - but was sat in it when i was on the weighbridge!

[vjj]

C Lee Farquar said:

I have one of those transfer boxes mated to what I think is a 700 R4. It came with an L98 small block and Corvette heads. I haven't dared put it in anything as I assume the parts are all obsolete. It's also very long.

Sounds suspiciously like this drivetrain has come out of an Overfinch RR Classic!

[C Lee Farquar]

Yes, we rebuilt the engine as a 383. Dynoed at @ 380hp, 440 lb/ft. From memory we used a Comp Cam 4x4 Xtreme cam. Speced and short engine built by Peter Knight. Since changed to an LS which is so much nicer in every respect. But I can see the attraction of having all the bits, that's always where the money goes. (As long as you are able to use them!)

[eliot]

C Lee Farquar said:

I have one of those transfer boxes mated to what I think is a 700 R4. It came with an L98 small block and Corvette heads. I haven't dared put it in anything as I assume the parts are all obsolete. It's also very long.

700R4 on a LT230 is long - it needs to be, to clear the trans sump:


You have to cut into the lower part of the rear floor:


To keep the handbrake in the same location I just extended it forwards:


I had a schuler FF box on an early 4 door range-rover (one of the first conversions) - the chain inside the transfer box became stretched and noisy and as you say, parts were impossible to find even 15 years ago.

[vjj]

Eliot

Any tips on cooling for when I eventually put the small block into the defender? I have it running in the discovery now, with an uprated oil coooler and braided steel lines, with the standard Disco V8 radiator with twin kenlowes - the heat it throws out is phenominal.

I plan the following for the defender

Ali Rad(4-core)

Twin Kenlowes

Oil cooler with braided steel pipework

Ceramic Headers(following your recommendations on MEZ I managed to source a pair of K5 Blazer headers, same type as yours, ceramic-coated at the factory - cost a small fortune to import(I have not fitted them to the Discovery as the Overfinch ones are serviceable).

If you have any other advice that would be great

Victor(Griffman)

Edited by vjj on Thursday 28th June 20:34

[Vanya]

vjj said:

I haven't given it the full beans yet, obviously, but the plan is to hoon around in it for 500 miles or so then take it over to Dart Corvette for some fresh oil and a tune-up.Looking forward to then.

VJJ, do you already have a relationship with DART?

[eliot]

I run a standard range rover classic radiator but recored with an extra row added (the original end tanks had the holes for the row, just soldered over).
Someone more experienced on LR radiators may be able to identify or explan what radiator it was originally. I dont think i even needed to do that - but i did anyway because a friend with a chevy in a RR did the same thing.

Never had any overheating problems - even with oil cooler, trans cooler and chargcooler radiators placed in front of it and also water cooled turbos. But then again the original RR radiator is massive to begin with.

I dont run the trans fluid through the radiator - which may contribute to keeping the water temp down - because the trans temp does rise when giving it lots of grief.

[vjj]

Vanya said:

vjj said:

I haven't given it the full beans yet, obviously, but the plan is to hoon around in it for 500 miles or so then take it over to Dart Corvette for some fresh oil and a tune-up.Looking forward to then.

VJJ, do you already have a relationship with DART?

Sort of.................I have sourced a few bits from them and engaged in a bit of banter but nothing emotional.

Why????????????????????????????????????????????

[vjj]

eliot said:

I run a standard range rover classic radiator but recored with an extra row added (the original end tanks had the holes for the row, just soldered over).
Someone more experienced on LR radiators may be able to identify or explan what radiator it was originally. I dont think i even needed to do that - but i did anyway because a friend with a chevy in a RR did the same thing.

Never had any overheating problems - even with oil cooler, trans cooler and chargcooler radiators placed in front of it and also water cooled turbos. But then again the original RR radiator is massive to begin with.

I dont run the trans fluid through the radiator - which may contribute to keeping the water temp down - because the trans temp does rise when giving it lots of grief.

Eliot - thanks for the info - we'll have to meet up for a beer one day.

I have ben told that I cannot install a RR or Disco Rad into the Defender - the opening is too narrow I believe - so although I have a recently rebuilt 4-core Defender V8 unit in there at the moment(originally 3-core) I am going to have an Aluminium one made - just to be safe.

Griffman

[Vanya]

vjj said:

Sort of.................I have sourced a few bits from them and engaged in a bit of banter but nothing emotional.

Why????????????????????????????????????????????

I would perhaps ask if they can be recommended on www.corvetteclub.org.uk/

If you want.

Best of luck.

[C Lee Farquar]

Here's my box with Schuler transfer box.



VJJ, a friend of mine has fitted a big block Chevy to a 110 and it's currently at Allisport having a rad fabricated. May be worth speaking to them if you don't have anything organised.

[vjj]

Thanks Steve

- will definitely do so as it is something I need to put in motion

Victor