Thread: 88 Rangie with VM motor, to buy or not to buy?

Shame cause I am very happy with mine fuel is comparable with my Old boys td5 power no I agree.

I see alot of I know a guy who dated a gal that's father owned one in this thread.

Not converting anything in mine.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Just to set the record straight, after a considerable search.
VM 2.4
112BHP@ 4200
183 Ft/lbs@ 2400
24MPG
200Tdi/300Td1
111BHP @ 4500
195Ft/lbs@ 1800
28MPG

VM 2.5 ( jeep Cherokee and 90 onwardsRRC)
119BHP
209 Ft/lbs
28MPG
I don't know what changes were made to the 2.5VM and whether with a new long 2.5 the fuel economy would be better with existing 2.4 hardware, but there is basically a "Bees Dick" between 2.4 VM and 200/300 Tdi except better fuel economy form 200/300 Tdi.

My question is whether it is worth buying a probably very old 300Tdi with all the hassle of conversion, or getting a fully remanufactured as new VM 2.5???? after all it seems the VM the poster is looking at has been going for 25 years or so.

Regards Philip A

The difference in fuel economy (24 vs 28 mpg = ~15% difference) is roughly the difference in efficiency between a td and tdi engine. The best idi engines (Isuzu) managed to get within 5% of the direct injection version, but most idi engines are 20% less efficient.

This inefficiency means it requires more fuel and generates more heat to deliver the same crank power. If a VM is producing the same power as a tdi, then it's running about 15% more fuel, from there it can either be running ~15% richer on the same boost, which results in even higher EGT or it can run more boost to keep the EGT down but similar A/F ratios.

Overheating becomes a big problem with tuned up idi engines. They put a lot more heat into the heads and cooling system than direct injection engines. They also have a pocket machined into the head for the pre-combustion chambers and this weakens the heads considerably compared to a direct injection engine.
These two factors (more heat and weaker head) is the cause of the reliability problems on all idi engines.

Sure a healthy VM (the 121hp version) could keep up with a stock TD5 or tdi. But it'll use more fuel and generate more heat doing it.
Start tuning the tdi or TD5 and VM and it all gets quite unfair quite quickly. Idi engines need high compression to start properly and this limits their boost, their cooling systems limit fuel and you start running out of tuning options quickly.

4wd and car makers worldwide abandoned idi years ago. Toyota (typically) is the only one still making one (the 1HZ) and only for african markets which see terrible fuel.

Hi there.
I have done the conversion in my classic from 3.9 to 200tdi. i looked around and found a rolled d1. the easiest way to do conversion is to do a complete body swap. ie rangie body on to disco chassis you also end up with the added bonus of 24 spline axles and dont have to weld up any mounts,also you can get to some of those hard to reach places to treat rust whilst body is off.
only downside is you need to have mates with hoists.
i am in cairns if you want to catch up and talk about this or see how it all fits.
cheers jake

You are dead right, VM Motori. I ripped the V8 out of my 1985 County and put in a VM, its now done over 300,000 k with no problems at all, I just got back (4 days ago) from a 23,000 k trip right round the north, didnt miss a beat! I have owned two VM's in PNG in a sawmill, where they worked 10 hours a day at full screaming revs for over 15 YEARS. This last trip, on hard top and dirt, with a GVM of over three tonnes and 5 on board I got 8.5 klm per litre (11.8 lts/100klm) sitting on 90-100kph. I can only assume that ALL the VM detractors are 'merely reporting" and have never owned one themselves (NOT what one would call un-biassed witness)