u/BenderRodriguezz

I’m aware LS swaps can be a controversial topic for the Land Rover community, but this is where I’m at. Asking for advice and to flag things I haven’t considered here, and if you think I’m crazy and underestimating this, please tell me so!

I’m in the USA, and quite close to paying $1000 for a 2004 discovery 2 with an overheating issue that sounds like a cracked block or maybe a slipped liner. Previous owner did a lot to keep the rover v8 running including head gaskets and some cooling system work, but it still overheats at idle fairly quickly. He now thinks it’s a cracked block.

The interior and frame look great. Minimal surface rust on the frame and outriggers, and all the leather is in great shape. Headliner needs some love but that’s all I see wrong with it other than the engine. Being a 2004 it’s got the CDL, and I’m leaning towards keeping the factory transmission to maintain the traction control features.

I found a $1400 lm7 Chevy 1500 engine at LKQ near me with 80,000 miles on it.

I know ACE went out of production with their LS kits at some point, but there still seems to be some other options out there, namely golden rovers. Their kit seems to be $3500, which seems like a lot for what’s mainly an adapter and mounts to pair an engine and vehicle that are only going to cost me $2400 together.

I’m mechanically inclined. Full disclosure, I’m a somewhat autistic 31y/o mechanical engineer and cars have been a special interest of mine for my whole life, but I’ve never actually pulled an engine myself. I work more in the HVAC design / MEP space.

I’ve got a lot of the tools I think I’ll need but am budgeting maybe an extra $1500 for an engine hoist and engine stand and other miscellaneous items. I don’t really know what I don’t know in this area. For example without expecting rust repair and with a conversion kit, I’m not planning on needing a welder. I’ve got some basic welding skills but would have to pick one up and brush up my skills if it’s needed.

I’ve got a couple friends with similar dispositions who are interested in showing up to help occasionally, I’m not really expecting any more than some hands to lift heavy stuff and occasionally drinking some garage beers while looking at it.

I’ve done a good bit of electrical work, one of those friends is an electrician and I did build a 16’ lithium ion powered electric boat complete with a can bus system a few years ago myself. So I think I’ll be able to figure out the electrical puzzles given enough time.

There’s no pressure to get this thing to be a daily anytime soon (or ever really) as I have two other reliable vehicles. Once it’s going I plan to take it to southern Utah and use it as an over-landing / camping rig a few times a year. So it needs to be reliable at some point to take it off grid, just not immediately.

Am I crazy to think I could get this thing running with ~a year of weekend work and a budget of around $7000?
What am I missing here and where am I going to spend money that I’m not considering yet? Where do you put my odds of getting it done vs giving up and reselling at a loss?

TLDR:
Go ahead and roast me for over reaching my abilities, overestimating the benefits and wildly underestimating the costs of LS swapping a disco 2.

Bought a stucco sided house about a year ago, and in the home inspection it was noted that we’re missing weep screed in a few places. Never owned a stucco home or even worked with it before so I’m not positive how big an issue that really is. The stucco continues down onto the foundation and below grade pretty much all the way around the house. House built in ‘94, and we’re in northern Utah, not a ton of rain but we do obviously get some moisture.

I noticed bubbling and delamination in a few places around the perimeter, it forms some soft bubbles that are easy to crack/puncture if you push on them. There’s no basement in the worst area, and I believe behind the problem area is just the CMU perimeter of the foundation.

The only exception is one ~12’ section, where some previous owner scraped off the stucco down low, and installed a cedar 1x to cover up the transition. Also not sure how viable a repair this is long term and if it’s worth upgrading.

Biggest concern right now is the sill plate, worried it could be rotting if it’s had occasional water trapped against it. Taking a few measurements, I think the sill plate sits a few inches above the damaged area, but haven’t opened it up fully yet.

Called out a siding contractor to get an estimate but the guy who looked at it is passing it on internally to somebody more familiar with stucco, he wasn’t super knowledgeable himself.

I am fairly handy, and have worked in residential construction as a PM before (I’m a mechanical engineer) but never in this part of the country and never worked with stucco at all. Is this something I could realistically tackle myself and expect it to hold up long term with some research and advice?

Or, on the other end of the spectrum should I expect to shell out some serious money for a wider stucco (or even foundation?) repair?