UK source for part

[ray_gerber]

I need help from my fellow Disco owners in the UK. I have a 1994 Discovery Series I with a manual transmission, which is fairly rare in the U.S. and is complicating my efforts to refurbish some parts. Specifically I am looking for an original equipment shift knob for both the transmission and the CDL as at present I have a pair of wood knobs that were put on by the previous owner. While amusing because they are so ugly I am really growing tired of the knobs and I am looking for a good source for replacements. In the U.S. these items are few and far between and with a list price from Land Rover at $71.00 USD I figured it would be worthwhile to explore the UK options first.
Thanks-
Ray

[Sandy M.]

What colour of knob would your like, I assume you would prefer BLACK, - and do you require the gaiters as well?

[ray_gerber]

Sandy,
Yes I would prefer black for the knob and while the gaitor I have is in good condition, the plastic piece at the bottom that attaches it to the center console is not, so if they come as one item then I need it as well.
Thanks for your reply.
r-
Ray

[Sandy M.]

Ray, I will make a few enquiries and let you know of the price and availability, I take it that you will require knobs for the main and transfer 'boxes?

Sandy.

[ray_gerber]

Sandy,
I appreciate the inquiries. Yes, I'm looking for both knobs-the one to what I think you all call the gearbox (we would call it the transmission) and the one that specifices 4hi, 4 low, or 4 hi with the CDL engaged and 4 low with the CDL engaged.
I'm also going to be going to the Mid Atlantic Rally put on by the Rover Owners of Virginia this weekend and I am going to look at some Defenders to see if the knobs they have would be interchangable-as they are much cheaper here than the Disco's version. While I understand the acutal height of the shifters are different between vehicles I am not convinced that this plays into the size of the knob significantly so I may go with them too.

I also want to apologize to everyone reading this thread and wondering why anyone would worry about something as asinine as the color of their shift knobs. :)
r-
Ray

[si_guru]

Look here on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2435147960&category=31348

Steve

[Sandy M.]

Ray, the ones for sale on the above ebay link may be a good buy, however they do not have the gaiters, and looking at the gear shift pattern on the main 'box knob, that is the pattern for the later R380 'box, when I believe your Disco will have the earlier LT77 {the reverse gear positions are in opposite sides of the shift gate}
I phoned around several suppliers today, however everyone I spoke to wanted to know the chassis No of the car, so that they could get the correct colour match, as, there is a subtle difference between the colours depending on the year of manufacture, ie some are "Black" and some are "Ash Grey" {nearly black}.

Can I suggest you e-mail the following with your enquiry;
John Craddock, Tel - 01543 577207,
generalATjohncraddockltd.co.uk

Famous Four Products Ltd, Tel - 01507 609444,
famousfour.co.uk

[Sandy M.]

Hello Ray, have you had any luck with your shopping quest?

Sandy.

[ray_gerber]

Sandy,
At present I am waiting for a defender knob to show up. I looked at a few Defenders this weekend at the Mid Atlantic Rally here in Virginia as they are few and far between on the roads here, and it would appear that the knob will work on my shifter, and it was much cheaper from a discount rovers place I use all the time then trying to go the O.E. route for a Disco. I appreciate the link to the auction, sadly the seller never responded to my email regarding shipment to the states (He said he would post only in the UK so I wrote to ask him to bend that rule for me but to no avail)

I'll post the results of this swap in a few days whenever the knob shows up.

BTW I'm pretty sure I have an R380 vice LT77 (reverse is to the back and right on my truck) and so far I have only seen the knobs for the LT77, although I haven't tried Craddock or Famous Four. It was a painful return to work after a long weekend of playing with the truck and I haven't had time to look around as much as I would normally.

I invite everyone to look at the gallery on Discoweb.org regarding MAR 03 (there is a link off the main page at www.discoweb.org) I posted some of the pictures I took at the event and you can see many more of how we're doing on this side of the Atlantic. There should also be coverage in the Dec issue of LRM, but likely only in the "North American" edition-which I don't know if they promulgate to the domestic UK audience.

Sandy-once again I appreciate the help and I'll let you know what comes of the trial.
r-
Ray