Thread: 97 130 Defender Engine / Upgrade Options?

Tune the 300tdi with a bigger intercooler and "maybe " a turbo upgrade, definately do the auto swap zf4hp22[done in a day if your keen] and change the transfer for the disco item at the same time for relaxed highway miles-did all that on mine- i do around 1000ks a week as its my work vehicle. If its a roughy its going to look a lot worse in stinking hot black and will be even worse with welded up vents--dont do it!

Convert to an auto and spend thousands and thousands of dollars all because a manual is too hard to tour in?

Where did we all go soft?

I'm so confused !

Originally Posted by Disco4_tech

Convert to an auto and spend thousands and thousands of dollars all because a manual is too hard to tour in?

Where did we all go soft?

I'm so confused !

Am I the only one who sees some irony here.

Originally Posted by LowRanger

Why???? In a hot climate,would anyone want to paint a vehicle black.Never mind a 4WD and especially a Defender

Haha i did think of that, and black cars are an absolute pain. But its one of things that i've always wanted. A black defender!

Originally Posted by strangy

So Pics
You have seen my 130 rebuild coming along. I have a few pics coming soon on my efforts to ensure a dry cab. With the time and space you cant beat the ease of repairing, prepping and painting with the thing in pieces.

Keep the vents, fit new seals.

Id use that 300tdi till it stopped before changing engines.

I'll get some up asap. Yes i saw your thread, amazing job you are doing! And i will strip the thing right down and start up a new build thread when i get working.

Keeping the vents does sound like a good idea now i guess! Will source some new seals and try sikaflex all the other possible areas of water flow

Originally Posted by redrovertdi

Tune the 300tdi with a bigger intercooler and "maybe " a turbo upgrade, definately do the auto swap zf4hp22[done in a day if your keen] and change the transfer for the disco item at the same time for relaxed highway miles-did all that on mine- i do around 1000ks a week as its my work vehicle. If its a roughy its going to look a lot worse in stinking hot black and will be even worse with welded up vents--dont do it!

Sounds like a good idea, i've been trying to source an auto box from a 300tdi and it seems rather difficult. I found one bloke on gumtree with a disco 1 with a blown head gasket. 300,000km on the clock and he wanted $1,000 for the box alone. I have seen written off cars with less km's go for $500-600 in the auctions. So its a matter of waiting or pickup the TD5 disco auto going in the auctions this week! haha.

Originally Posted by Disco4_tech

Convert to an auto and spend thousands and thousands of dollars all because a manual is too hard to tour in?

Where did we all go soft?

I'm so confused !

Well i'm on a students budget! Not going to be thousands and thousands, that's for sure! haha. Will wait for a write off at the right price

If you decide to ditch the vents, I would opt for Urethane. It will seal and bond the flaps permanently but also give you the opportunity to re instate them if you change your mind.

I bought a disco 1 autobox and transfer for $200 a couple of years ago, never ended up using it so stuck it on ebay 6 month later and got $350 for it.. they are out there cheap just gota wait for someone whos not greedy!

New (to you) defender and you want to spend thousands swapping the gearbox to auto and then painting it black?

I suggest you keep those thousands for the surprises the previous owner was trying to hide from you. Get the clutch fixed, install boost and EGT gauges and go from there.

Originally Posted by chewy7

Keeping the vents does sound like a good idea now i guess!

Yes, that way with the black point job, it will only be unbearably hot inside during a Brisbane summer when you first get in.

After you have driven for half an hour or so with the vents wide open, the temperature will merely be uncomfortable rather than intolerable.