Motor change over

[Leigh 110]

Hi all, seeking some answers, as I'm sure this has been done before. I have a defender 110 ute that i bought as a parts only vehicle, and have found that I need a ute for business reasons, so I want to get it back on the road. It is a 1993 build, and has a 308 holden engine. I want to take it back to diesel and fit the 200TDI or 300tdi. The previous owner advised me that he had fitted a marks adaptor and a gearbox from a range rover. It still has the original radiator, and original chassis engine mounts. This vehicle from factory was a 200TDi, keeping in mind that i want to rego this vehicle in Victoria, should i fit a 200tdi or 300tdi, looking at eBAY, there are several discovery diesels available, will the 300tdi& gbox out of a disco fit in my 110???
any comments/ assistance would be great.
Thanks

[jimr1]

Hi , if I was going down this path , I would go for the 300tdi It was an improvement on the 200 , there is no difference between disco and land rover engines . What ever you choose they will drop in . You will need to look at exhaust , hoses , fuel line , throttle , and air cleaner , so if It's coming off a disco grab them bit's as well . good luck . Jim ..

[jimr1]

Sorry re read your post the disco gearbox should be an R380 , and will fit , not sure about gear lever , I think It's shorter , the disco transfer box has different gearing , as It's set up for smaller wheels , It will work but the speedo will be out

[redrovertdi]

200 & 300 have different engine mount positions so you will have to adapt for what ever you end up with, presume the original mounts have been moved/modified for the 308 anyway. The r380 out of a disco will have the gear lever basically in the center seat but im sure you can modify the shape of the lever[mate did with his county to 300tdi]to work.
Personally i prefer the 300 but if the original mounts were still in place a 200 would drop back in and be easy.
If you go the 300 you can purchase an engine mount kit that comes with the template so every thing is in the right place first time-try ebay.uk.
Richard

[87County]

200 & 300 have different engine mount positions so you will have to adapt for what ever you end up with, presume the original mounts have been moved/modified for the 308 anyway. The r380 out of a disco will have the gear lever basically in the center seat but im sure you can modify the shape of the lever[mate did with his county to 300tdi]to work.
Personally i prefer the 300 but if the original mounts were still in place a 200 would drop back in and be easy.
If you go the 300 you can purchase an engine mount kit that comes with the template so every thing is in the right place first time-try ebay.uk.
Richard

Everything redrover says AND if you get a 300tdi auto D1 donor vehicle you could have the benefits of the ZF auto transmission - then you'd have a very useful vehicle.

[chopper]

With the manual g/box disco gear lever is at the rear not the front like the defender and it wont fit without a bit of chopping of the seat box and that could affect rego. as for the taller gearing in the standard disco t/c ratios it wont make any difference to the already useless defender speedo as it is driven from the final output gear ( tailshaft speed )

[steveG]

If its still got the original mounts in it, then it would be easier to fit a 200tdi back in, as it would be original fitment and you'd have no engineering considerations.

What is the rest of the vehicle like? I'm guessing if it was bought as a parts car then possibly not too flash. Being for work, would you not be better to flog what you've got and pick up a solid 300tdi 110/130 ute and save a heap of hassle?

Steve

[Pickles2]

What's wrong with a 308?....."There's nothing like a V8"!
Pickles.

[Dougal]

You'll likely not find a defender 200Tdi. This leaves the 300Tdi or a Perenties isuzu as the remaining options.

[Leigh 110]

Thanks for all the replies & info, can anyone advise if there will be issues with RWC in Vic by fitting a 300tdi? I also have a 4BD1 perentie, but will leave that as playtoy, couldn't bring myself to pulling apart. Looked at the rest of 110 ute today, no rust in chassis, some bits of rust on firewall- bonnet hinge area (easy fix), main issue is motor swap, was thinking of a 200tdi & bellhousing swap back to original, and getting 200tdi rebuilt??? any suggestions on mods to do while rebuilding, so that I can keep original chassis mounts???
Thanks for all input

[isuzurover]

...can anyone advise if there will be issues with RWC in Vic by fitting a 300tdi? ...

... 200tdi & bellhousing swap back to original, and getting 200tdi rebuilt??? ...

Are you sure yours was a 200? 1993 should have been a 300 already...

I don't see why there would be issues. Newer engine of the same capacity. Don't tell the inspector and they won't know. Just say you have converted back to the original engine type.

Surely new chassis engine mounts have been welded on to fit the V8?

The hard part is finding a 200Tdi (even though they are the better motor). 200 heads are no longer available, however a 300 head will fit. There are reports of slight injector misalignment if you fit a 300 head to a 200, however this may be incorrect.

Personally I would find a 4BD1T, then you have the advantage of one set of spares for both vehicles.

[Judo]

AFAIK 1994 was the last 200tdi. 1995 was 300tdi.

[Didge]

My 300Tdi was built in May 95.
Seen this one? http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php?p=2163079#post2163079
:)
Not cheap but rebuilt and then again a rebuilt g/box will be about $2K.

[Leigh 110]

Are you sure yours was a 200? 1993 should have been a 300 already...

I don't see why there would be issues. Newer engine of the same capacity. Don't tell the inspector and they won't know. Just say you have converted back to the original engine type.

Surely new chassis engine mounts have been welded on to fit the V8?

The hard part is finding a 200Tdi (even though they are the better motor). 200 heads are no longer available, however a 300 head will fit. There are reports of slight injector misalignment if you fit a 300 head to a 200, however this may be incorrect.

Personally I would find a 4BD1T, then you have the advantage of one set of spares for both vehicles.

Thanks, the engine number on previous regerstartion paperwork shows s12L, being a 200tdi manual. I have sourced a low kms 200tdi/ complete gearbox, radiator, hoses, piping, manifolds, wiring out of defender, but it doesnt have AC or power steering, so brackets wont be there, anyone advise where they can be sourced?

Thanks

[Leigh 110]

Surely new chassis engine mounts have been welded on to fit the V8?


Personally I would find a 4BD1T, then you have the advantage of one set of spares for both vehicles.[/QUOTE]

no chassis has not been modified, I believe marks adaptors supplied brackets to fit to original land rover mounts.

I would really like to fit a 4BDI or turbo, but RWC would be an issue.

[steveG]

no chassis has not been modified, I believe marks adaptors supplied brackets to fit to original land rover mounts.

I would really like to fit a 4BDI or turbo, but RWC would be an issue.

Being a '93 model (ie pre '95), you wouldn't have any major drama's with fitting a 4BD1/T. Yes you'd have to get it engineered, but its a very straightforward conversion if you use original LR parts. Engineering cost varies a bit but I'd expect $600-$1000 based on what it cost me when I did my County a few years ago.
Yes, its going to be more work that just bolting in a 200tdi, but you'd end up with a MUCH better engine.

Since you've got a Perentie, you're familiar with the 4bd1 torque. Have you driven a turbo'd 4bd1? I'm guessing not, or there is no way you'd consider fitting a gutless 200tdi ;)
If you've never driven a 200/300tdi, I'd strongly suggest you drive one before making any decision.

Steve

[Didge]

Yes, drive a 200/300 first - mine accelerates at the speed of dark, hates cold mornings and needs a cuppa and a muffin to even think about moving after being woken from a slumber :)

[steveG]

Yes, drive a 200/300 first - mine accelerates at the speed of dark, hates cold mornings and needs a cuppa and a muffin to even think about moving after being woken from a slumber :)

You've got a good one then Didge ;)

[isuzurover]

Yes, drive a 200/300 first - mine accelerates at the speed of dark, hates cold mornings and needs a cuppa and a muffin to even think about moving after being woken from a slumber :)

Sounds like mine too.

[Didge]

I think if you put the isuzu motor in, make sure it's turbo'd. Speak to Mark (isuzutoo-eh) - he has one and it's not very fast on the hwy. I was following him once and on a slight, but quite long hill I was having to back off a lot (to stay behind him) as the hill took it's toll on the 4bd1
I did ask why we were slowing down and was met with the simple reply - we're on a hill :) - (are they all like that?)

[Blknight.aus]

I just happen to be holding onto a tdi300 out of a defender for v8 Ian.

Its still up for grabs.

[steveG]

I think if you put the isuzu motor in, make sure it's turbo'd. Speak to Mark (isuzutoo-eh) - he has one and it's not very fast on the hwy. I was following him once and on a slight, but quite long hill I was having to back off a lot (to stay behind him) as the hill took it's toll on the 4bd1
I did ask why we were slowing down and was met with the simple reply - we're on a hill :) - (are they all like that?)

Absolutely.
Its night and day between NA and turbo'd 4bd1's.
I've quoted this a few times, but turboing mine made the difference between 40kmh in 2nd up my test hill, and being able to pull 70kmh in 3rd. That's only a couple of turns on the fuel screw, and they're capable of much much more with better turbo and an intercooler.

Steve

[Leigh 110]

Roadworthy laws are quite strict in vic now, the legislation has changed. I only need this unit as my scrap metal ute, i have other toys to play with..... a near new Q7 with 4.2 quad turbo, perentie, old jag, and my own mechanical business, i need a cheap ute... I will finish and get this 110 with a good low km 200 tdi on the road cheaper than purchasing a low km 4BD1,let alone turbo also I'm a bit of a pureist, I like originality, I could have chucked a chev motor in my old jag, instead I rebuilt & blue printed the 4.2...... thanks for everyone's input, just after info regarding brackets for power steering, a/c.
Thanks

[steveG]

Roadworthy laws are quite strict in vic now, the legislation has changed. I only need this unit as my scrap metal ute, i have other toys to play with..... a near new Q7 with 4.2 quad turbo, perentie, old jag, and my own mechanical business, i need a cheap ute... I will finish and get this 110 with a good low km 200 tdi on the road cheaper than purchasing a low km 4BD1,let alone turbo also I'm a bit of a pureist, I like originality, I could have chucked a chev motor in my old jag, instead I rebuilt & blue printed the 4.2...... thanks for everyone's input, just after info regarding brackets for power steering, a/c.
Thanks

From memory, the A/C bracket is just a fabricated construction, welded up from from 3 pieces of plate. A flat plate, and 2 plates with "ears" that the compressor bolts to. If you put up a wanted ad its pretty likely that someone will have one lying around, but would be easy to get made if you can't find one.
I don't recall what the PAS pump brackets looked like.

Steve

[Dougal]

a near new Q7 with 4.2 quad turbo

Only 2 VNT turbos on a V8 tdi Q7.;)

[redrovertdi]

Roadworthy laws are quite strict in vic now, the legislation has changed. I only need this unit as my scrap metal ute, i have other toys to play with..... a near new Q7 with 4.2 quad turbo, perentie, old jag, and my own mechanical business, i need a cheap ute... I will finish and get this 110 with a good low km 200 tdi on the road cheaper than purchasing a low km 4BD1,let alone turbo also I'm a bit of a pureist, I like originality, I could have chucked a chev motor in my old jag, instead I rebuilt & blue printed the 4.2...... thanks for everyone's input, just after info regarding brackets for power steering, a/c.
Thanks


My jag kept the 4.2 as well

[isuzutoo-eh]

I think if you put the isuzu motor in, make sure it's turbo'd. Speak to Mark (isuzutoo-eh) - he has one and it's not very fast on the hwy. I was following him once and on a slight, but quite long hill I was having to back off a lot (to stay behind him) as the hill took it's toll on the 4bd1
I did ask why we were slowing down and was met with the simple reply - we're on a hill :) - (are they all like that?)

Funny you should mention that...

My County is slow and ponderous. My Perentie is a rocketship! My mechanic mate drove it on the weekend, reckons it pulls up the hills better than his gas injected 300tdi 110. I can hold taller gears and higher speeds on steep hills around here, and it is quieter to boot! (It is a '94 engine block in the FFR mind you).


So don't take my County as a typical naturally exasperating 4BD1...