V8 110 to 200tdi conversion

[gutshot]

hi

i just bought a 1980 V8 110 and want to know what would be involved with putting in a 200tdi engine and gearbox, are there any kits around? i want the economy, also i tried the search but have found nothing, am i in the wrong section?

[justinc]

With the availability of 300tdi and r380 gearbox you would be best to go that route. 200tdi conversion is quite involved.

Jc

[Anita]

hi

i just bought a 1980 V8 110 and want to know what would be involved with putting in a 200tdi engine and gearbox, are there any kits around? i want the economy, also i tried the search
but have found nothing, am i in the wrong section?

My personal joy is an ex V8 now 200tdi Range Rover.
The engine has definitely more torque low down and is almost indestructible.
Some folks have done 800,000 in them I have seen it myself

Just about everything is easier to fix than a 300tdi.
Mine has only 450.000 and I outperform easily all the Isuzu and Nissans round here.

The lt 77 gearbox is simpler and lasts longer than the r380 if the top pinion in the lt230 is drilled

I have done at least 15 conversions of Range Rovers and 5 Defenders to 200tdi.
As I assume yours is a RHD you wont have to struggle with the exhaust to close to the steering coloumn as we do.

It is really quite straightforward.
For engine mounts I can take a pic of mine next time I lie under it. Can't post it here the feature is beyond me.

You need to make a downpipe which is a bit corkscrew shaped. You will see why, it is to get inside from the turbo.
You need to buy these things with the engine.
Intercooler, big fat round air filter, and fuel filter support.
Get at least 7m of fuel hose.

[Anita]

Forgit to say.. get a new timing kit and head gasket.
I have changed that every time before fitting the engine

[justinc]

Hi Anita yes the 200 is i feel a better engine however the availability here is pretty poor. There is also a big problem with getting some large new parts like cylinder heads etc. I've personally thought the 200 is a better engine but I'd rather work on a 300.... 😮☺. We seem to have a shortage of good used 200tdi anything in this country 😯.

My very first v8 to diesel conversion was way back in the 1990's, a 200tdi into a 1987 rangie. A great looking result and surprisingly easy . Half the fuel consumption and better at climbing hills once the fuel pump etc was tweaked😎.

Jc

[Phil B]

Have you considered a 4bd1T conversion?
Engines are available from ex military stocks ATM

Sent from my Lenovo TB3-710F using AULRO mobile app

[gutshot]

i have considered the 4bd1t option but i have the opportunity to buy a cheap 200tdi rust bucket. and its a stage 1 v8 1980 model, with a 4 speed gearbox

[123rover50]

Hi Anita yes the 200 is i feel a better engine however the availability here is pretty poor. There is also a big problem with getting some large new parts like cylinder heads etc. I've personally thought the 200 is a better engine but I'd rather work on a 300.... 😮☺. We seem to have a shortage of good used 200tdi anything in this country 😯.

My very first v8 to diesel conversion was way back in the 1990's, a 200tdi into a 1987 rangie. A great looking result and surprisingly easy . Half the fuel consumption and better at climbing hills once the fuel pump etc was tweaked😎.

Jc

I read on a US site that 300 heads fit the 200.
Came up researching why my 200 timing belt walked off the cogs.

Keith

[justinc]

I read on a US site that 300 heads fit the 200.
Came up researching why my 200 timing belt walked off the cogs.

Keith

Yes I've heard that too however I've not yet tried the theory☺

[manic]

I read on a US site that 300 heads fit the 200.
Came up researching why my 200 timing belt walked off the cogs.

Keith

Yes but you would need a complete 300tdi head with all the attachments, injectors etc. AND the pot in the piston is aligned to injectors, so ideally you would also use 300tdi pistons.

Still not found anyone who has actually done it. I quite like the idea of a " 250tdi "

[Anita]

I have seen one bad 200tdi head in 15 years and thst was down to owner's total ignorance of temperature gauges.
I have seen 34 bad 300tdi heads during the same time.

200 tdi engines.. I import them from France or Spain. Enough old Discos around.

I wait till I have 5 in a spot.. then pay a lot of transport and an arm and a leg to customs.
It is worth it.
I will be going to Europe in May or so and try to buy a Defender 200tdi pickup or tilt. And a 130 300tdi. The rest of the container and the loadbeds are for engines and gearboxes.

Brazil and Malaysia are also options. Malaysia should be fine for you.
Too complicated from here.

[justinc]

It still isn't economically viable to fix them here especially if you have to import engines that are already up to 25years old. The rest of the vehicle is usually as bad as the engine at that point in its life. We got very few 200tdi compared to 300tdi here so the numbers are against us supply vs demand. Our policies here are such that the old vehicles are slowly being weeded out and off the road. A reasonable 4bd1 county is worth good money but there are few reasonable 200tdi defenders about. Rust was chronic in the doors and chassis crossmembers with the majority. There are a lot more disco 200tdi available however they don't fit neatly into the defender engine bay like the defender derivative does. And consequently the lack of any good lt77 to suit the defender makes it even less attractive. I 100% agree they are a great engine but just not a practical exercise in this country unless you have a good supply of bits or a complete donor vehicle.

Jc

[manic]

Rotten 200tdi defenders? I thought we are talking engine conversion. If you have a 200tdi motor to put in, I would still consider it even in Auz. Steve Parker do conversion kits for disco TDI into "defender" and Ashcroft have a short bell housing for the r380. Pretty sure if you mount the 200 TDI further forward in the 300 position you can use standard R380. So LT77 availability doesn't really factor. No new heads is a worry though.

My 200tdi conversion is on short r380 and positioned back over/behind the axle in 200tdi position . This leaves plenty of space in front of engine for access and good weight distribution for handling. I had a head go and had to source a replacement from the UK (turner's), which was a bit of a pain. I have been meaning to rebuild this engine but it just keeps going on, now over half a million miles and still pulls like train. When I do I'll consider the "250" TDI idea or maybe just keep a spare head on shelf.

When it comes to choosing 200 or 300 for a conversion. Price up your options and take the cheaper one.

[justinc]

Rotten 200tdi defenders? I thought we are talking engine conversion. If you have a 200tdi motor to put in, I would still consider it even in Auz. Steve Parker do conversion kits for disco TDI into "defender" and Ashcroft have a short bell housing for the r380. Pretty sure if you mount the 200 TDI further forward in the 300 position you can use standard R380. So LT77 availability doesn't really factor. No new heads is a worry though.

My 200tdi conversion is on short r380 and positioned back over/behind the axle in 200tdi position . This leaves plenty of space in front of engine for access and good weight distribution for handling. I had a head go and had to source a replacement from the UK (turner's), which was a bit of a pain. I have been meaning to rebuild this engine but it just keeps going on, now over half a million miles and still pulls like train. When I do I'll consider the "250" TDI idea or maybe just keep a spare head on shelf.

When it comes to choosing 200 or 300 for a conversion. Price up your options and take the cheaper one.

Sorry to get OT however i was just explaining the situation down here as regards the availability of 200tdi bits. Yes they are a great engine but parts ARE a problem in Aust.

Jc

[Anita]

My 200tdi conversion is on short r380 and positioned back over/behind the axle in 200tdi position . This leaves plenty of space in front of engine for access and good weight distribution for handling. I had a head go and had to source a replacement from the UK (turner's), which was a bit of a pain. I have been meaning to rebuild this engine but it just keeps going on, now over half a million miles and still pulls like train. When I do I'll consider the "250" TDI idea or maybe just keep a spare head on shelf.

When it comes to choosing 200 or 300 for a conversion. Price up your options and take the cheaper one.[/QUOTE]

I use the disco engines, far easier to get.
And my personal Range Rover 2 door is a 1983 which received the disco bell housing and I bought a new primary shaft and overhauled the old v8 LT 77.
it is an early D box and runs fine.

I would not for any money swap it for a Td5 and all the electronic engines that are about :D

Yes in the Defender you have to muck around a bit but for a RHD it is much easier than for a LHD which is the only thing I have done.

You cut a Disco Downpipe twice diagonally and make a bit of a corkscrew.
then you also turn the turbo one bolt.
Job done.

Of course it is worth it. A newish td5 is worth 12 million here that is about 24,000 USD.
A 300 tdi can be bought in Europe for 8000 USD, transport of 2 Defenders is 4000 euro and 2500 import tax, 1700 for a 200 tdi which goes for less.
here is sells for the same money as the td5. Guess why.

A v8 LR here goes for 4-8000 USD.