Thread: More engine replacement Q's

I tow with a 300Tdi disco and 89 EFI 3.5 RR. The rangie performs significantly better up hills and consumes only 2lt/100km more (based on 1.3t camper trailer over the same 800k trip). Factor in the price differential btn petrol and diesel and there's nothin in it. As others have said, unloaded the disco is s%&t loads better in terms of economy.

Originally Posted by stooge

Just looking at options. I will change the cam etc as JC suggested and then ill see. At the moment it feels tired, like ive got the handbrake slightly on, especially when taking off on a hill.

33's is a big tyre to run on standard gearing,im running 31's, considering upgrading to 32's but concerned about the effect on ratios especially fifth gear... need to make a decision soon tread getting low??
cheers brett

4.11 cwps or Nissan/Toyota diff swap::eek

Originally Posted by Taz

I tow with a 300Tdi disco and 89 EFI 3.5 RR. The rangie performs significantly better up hills and consumes only 2lt/100km more (based on 1.3t camper trailer over the same 800k trip). Factor in the price differential btn petrol and diesel and there's nothin in it. As others have said, unloaded the disco is s%&t loads better in terms of economy.

Well, that only shows that my ratios are out and I need some engine tuning as i think I would struggle uphills at the moment. To give an example, I was following Shorty (D1 V8 towing a camper trailer) and I was probably only marginally better off uphills and I wasnt towing anything! Also, I drove my old mans 3.5 EFI (Chucaro) and I could definetely feel the difference in performance, although he was only running 32's.

I dont think you would get much for your 3.5 engine with or without the gas system.

Have you towed the said camper with your disco? The reason I ask is that I am not sure the conversion you are talking about will solve your problem. Most people I have spoken to say that towing with the 200tdi is quite painful and slow on hills. The TD5 engines appear to be much better but would not yet be a cheap conversion.

Running 33's would certainly warrant fitting 4.11 CWP and so I expect this will make more of a performance difference than sprucing up the engine or changing to a 3.9. A gear ratio change will set you back roughly $1200. You could probably get a 3.9 for similiar money.

Originally Posted by smally4.6

33's is a big tyre to run on standard gearing,im running 31's, considering upgrading to 32's but concerned about the effect on ratios especially fifth gear... need to make a decision soon tread getting low??
cheers brett

My Rangie 1988 3.5 FI manual is fitted with Maxxis 235x85x16 (32") and towing a 1 ton trailer performed in speed better than my old 1998 Tdi300 manual.
fuel is different history, the Disco about 12 to 13 lts x 100 km the Rangie 16 lts + depending the quality of the fuel
If I have to tow anything taller than my trailer (caravan) I will not go over 31" (245x75x16)
Why not have 2 sets of tyres for different applications? would be cheaper
Cheers