Diesel into 101 ambulance ?

[tankradio2]

Hello all - just wanted to throw this one over to the brains trust,

As much as I love my 101 Ambulance 'Thirsty Kirsty' I have been toying with the idea of fitting some sort of diesel engine. I used it as a daily driver, well every other day really, and she's starting to feel just a little 'tired'

I believe there is another 101 ambo here in Perth fitted with a Perkin 'phaser' engine.

Does anyone know of any Japanese Isuzu/Nissan diesels or Landrover Tdi's that can be successfully fitted with a minimum of modification.

In all other respects I want to keep the vehicle as an Ambulance with an aircon as the only visible change to it's military appearance.

I use the vehicle to do a fair amount of on road towing and eventually want to travel around Australia next year. Top speed is less important than economy and lugging ability. Just to complicate things I often go serious off roading in remote parts of WA.

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated..

Cheers

Phill
REMLR 118

[101 Ron]

Stick with a rover V8 as I feel it makes the vehicle.
LP Gas is the go.
I think a 4.6 litre motor is perfect for a bit of zip.
The TDI 300 just fits and there is information on doing this some where, I have also heard the TDI is not too happy about pulling the 101 around at speed due to the constant wind drag of the 101.
Gearing with a Diesel is no problem as one of say 4 littres would have the torque to use higher ratio diffs.
I question If the weight increase with standard steering and brakes is worth the effort as is the increase in noise(sitting beside the motor).
A 4.6 rover 8 will work easier than the 3.5 and on gas would be the same cost to run as a diesel.
A diesel takes alot of effort to fit in a 101 as the width between the engine mounts is narrow, gear shift changed etc.
The motor I would choose is the Isuzu motor as used in the Perentie Landrovers as it already used with the correct gearbox on that vehicle
(if it fits)
Also remember the 101 has a special short bell housing and tail shaft lenghts front and rear is critical and it is not a good idea to move the transmission forwards or rearwards.
To me the rover eight is a good donk and is a good match with the rest of the vehicle from a drivers point of view to weight balance and the fact the body is cut out in a way to allow most work to done in situ with this motor.
Just remember the 3.5 motor is the smallest one of the V8s and LP gas is not a problem to them.
LPG tank placement has been worked out to perfection on 101 blood boxes over seas.
Ron

[101 Ron]

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/YAyVSVI_OWTKdzUjycUn5rEUqbFvsXRsiKZN_4FCohzPkEJgGf HC3JHTmtunXezi1ZMRc70Kles18VK3KR3pI_uh/LRW%20300tdi%20Article/lrw%20page%201.jpg



http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/YAyVScAKsmrKdzUjZQ9dXlwa48bXQcgzIyekN3jJqTDRjvg4YO Vx3ps2wMHrwIKn0LX3cof0WnRZvK23u930lMPr/LRW%20300tdi%20Article/lrw%20page%202.jpg


The above may not work as it is from a private site but is about a 101 blood box TDI 300 conversion ..... the machine is called tigger.

[OZ101]

Hi Phil.... Did I read right, have you put aircon in your 101 Ambulance, if so can you give me some info on how you did it, type etc.

Thanks

adam

[Sprint]

what about using a 4BD1T?

[101 Ron]

British 4WD still may have the Nissan diesel 101 for sale ?

[101RRS]

what about using a 4BD1T?

It is too heavy for a 101.

Garry

[cooee]

hi phil:D
i thought about putting diesel in my 101 went into costs i think like ron said you better to go gas the cost of buying diesel you spend 6000 easy to set it up
plus with isuzui lot of extra weight on front end
if i had to repower mine i go fuel inject motor v8 and put 400 ltr gas tanks which give me range of 1600 km
so hope this some help:)i
cheers cooee

[tankradio2]

Thankyou for all the feedback. That private site featuring the 101 conversion doesn't come up. I haven't put aircon on 'Thirsty Kirsty' yet but it certainly is near top of the list - engine cabin temperature, even when trundling down the road, is unacceptably high despite after market insulation.

The reason I am not contemplating gas conversion is the initial cost and the problem of where to place the tank (s) as the inside of the Ambulance body is NOT a safe or practical option in my opinion - I live in there when I'm travelling. Outside I have long range fuel tanks (very well hidden - can't even tell) which give me an extremely good range.

For the time being I will stick with the factory 3.5 petrol V8. I have another short block 3.5 which I believe is bored and has a mildly warmed camshaft - ex Triumph race car apparently. The best solution is to recondition the second motor and have it on standby until the current one gets too 'tired'.

I'm pretty happy with the decision to keep it as original as possible afterall.:)

Thanks once again to all the members whom offered advice.

Cheers

Phill

[101RRS]

Phil,

Are you a member of the 101 club in the UK - a recent article in their 6 Stud magazine is about putting a 200TDI in a 101 ambo and it seems to have worked well with the engine pulling OK once it got onto boost - there is an adaptor that mates the 200TDI to the LT95.

Gas tanks inside a vehicle is not an issue - many new fittings in cars and other vehicles have them inside. If you were concerned about a gas leak then just install a gas detector inside to give you warning and piece of mind.

Cheers

Garry

[Jimmy]

Thankyou for all the feedback. That private site featuring the 101 conversion doesn't come up. I haven't put aircon on 'Thirsty Kirsty' yet but it certainly is near top of the list - engine cabin temperature, even when trundling down the road, is unacceptably high despite after market insulation.

The reason I am not contemplating gas conversion is the initial cost and the problem of where to place the tank (s) as the inside of the Ambulance body is NOT a safe or practical option in my opinion - I live in there when I'm travelling. Outside I have long range fuel tanks (very well hidden - can't even tell) which give me an extremely good range.

For the time being I will stick with the factory 3.5 petrol V8. I have another short block 3.5 which I believe is bored and has a mildly warmed camshaft - ex Triumph race car apparently. The best solution is to recondition the second motor and have it on standby until the current one gets too 'tired'.

I'm pretty happy with the decision to keep it as original as possible afterall.:)

Thanks once again to all the members whom offered advice.

Cheers

Phill

FYI - I read somewhere about solar air-con systems - don't know where, how, what or who - but it would help reduce fuel costs (during the day at least).

Jim

[tankradio2]

Sadly I am not a member nof the UK 101 club, would like to be but just can't justify the high cost of memberships for a lot of clubs I am interested in (all my money seems to go into 'Thirsty Kirsty's fuel tanks !)

The article about the TDI conversion sounds very interesting and I will endeavour to get a copy of it sometime soon.

Also the solar aircon sounds like it might be a good thing. Will do some 'surfing on the net about that one.

Thanks again for the leads

Cheers

Phill

[101 Ron]

Try this
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/673.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/674.jpg
This is off a 101 site called forward control list.
The site is free, but the security is very high and it takes a while to join.
The information is in the files section.

[tankradio2]

Thanks very much for the article - it has really got me thinking.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Cheers

Phill

[abaddonxi]

Wonder how a 200/300tdi would go if you put it in and put on a turbo that spooled up just a little quicker?

Cheers
Simon

[101RRS]

Not sure this is readable here - if not sent me a PM with an email address and I will send it.

This is out of the 101 Club Magazine - 6 Stud.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/TDIMod1.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/TDIMod2.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/TDIMod3.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/TDIMod4.jpg

Cheers

Garry

[101 Ron]

Both these conversions used the standard four speed gearbox.
They have to, as the later five speed transmissions would be too long.
I know my TDI 300 Defender 130 likes the turbo and like it should ,as the motor is only 2.5 litres and has no torque off boost.
I wonder how these vehicles drive with one less gear and a motor expected to work in a vehicle which can take a load.
I know the Defender relys a bit on the five speed R380 being quick in the gear changes so the tubro doesnt loose too much boost during the gear change.
The LT95 transmission is alot slower.
The TDIs are very noisey and driving them sitting beside the motor would be interesting.
Not my cup of tea.
The 101 I drove recently which was lenghten in the chassis and could take the R380 gearbox and transfercase with the 4 litre rover motor was different in the fact the five speed has a very short gearshift throw and allowed the quicker gear changes to the normal 101.
I personally think the TDIs dont have what it takes.( in the 101)
In this country the Isuzu diesel is advailible as a bolt up to the LT95 four speed and that motor has the bottom end punch due to its capacity to be flexible enough to work well in the 101, just like the old 3.5 litre V8 has good torque spread over a wide range of engine speeds.
The fact ts that the Prentie 6x6 australian army landies move good size loads with the transmission which is almost the same as the standard 101.
The question is would the Isuzu fit in a 101 engine bay.
Andrew Johnsons 101 with the 3 litre Nissan diesel which he has for sale would be interesting to drive and inspect.
I still think the Rover V8 makes the 101, just like the difference in driving a series three to a series three stage one V8.
Gas conversions are cheaper with no engineering problems with the feds.

[tankradio2]

Thanks to all contibutors - serious food for thought.

At this point I think the 300 TDI sounds like what i should be looking at. Will be keeping an eye on the for sale classifieds and wreckers over the coming months.

Cheers

Phill