Thread: d1 v8 94 convert to 300 tdi

May I ask why?

What's wrong with the 110?
If it's not too bad, then sell it off & you'll be able to buy two Tdi Disco's for the money.

I was thinking to do the exact same thing so I asked an expert in the UK who's done a few conversions.

Here's the reply as a direct cut and paste from the email.

"It's not the worst conversion, especially as they were also built with Tdi's from the factory, so defender stuff that won't fit can be replaced with off the shelf parts.

Anyways, there's a few ways it could be done, one is buy an adapter kit to fit the Tdi to the V8 bellhousing, fit a Tdi box, or try a Tdi bellhousing on the V8 box and sort the other issues that will arise.
If the Defender has an LT77 its likely a long stick box with a short bellhousing and of no use in a disco. If its a long bellhousing R380 its possible the disco lever will bolt on. In theory it should, but I've never tried it.

Input shafts are different for V8 and Tdi (V8 has a smaller spigot, no idea about length) whilst the Tdi bellhousing are shorter than the V8 ones.
Not sure if you'd get away with the Tdi bellhousing and a custom made spigot bearing as I've never tried it, but you might get away with it if input shafts are the same length.

There is an off the shelf kit to bolt the engine straight to the box.

You'll need to cut the old engine mounts off and replace with some to suit the Tdi, along with a set of power steering pipes to suit a Disco, depending on how the engines fitted in the defender you might find what's there will already suit, same with water pipework, although the heater hoses are moulded and would be as easy bought new.
Radiator and Intercooler assembly should fit no issue, some bracket fabrication required though.
Defender turbo pipes should fit, but they are different in detail to disco ones.

Fuel tanks are the same asides the V8 has a pump in the tank unit and the diesel doesn't, a Tdi tank unit is a straight swap in.

The V8 throttle cable should work the Tdi fine (just a bit of length to lose) whilst it doesn't take a genius to suss the wiring, you should even have the glow plug light on the dash and a connection in the loom for it.

Can't remember if the clutch slave is on the opposite side for v8/Tdi, but just a question of making a pipe to suit.
Any standard 300 Tdi Disco exhaust system will fit as they're basically the same from the centre box back,

The only other thing worth mentioning is run a new fuel pipe up to the lift pump and take the petrol filter out of the line. Lift pumps don't much like sucking through them.

There's probably a few other things, but no insurmountable issues"

I hope this helps? I decided not to go ahead with it though.

Here's the company who make the adapter plate. http://engine-conversion.com/content/view/12/26/

As said why bother
Defender 300tdi $12,000 to $15,000 depending on condition and toys may be more.
Disco 300tdi $4,000 to $8,000

Sell both the defender and disco V8 and buy a Disco 2 Td5 and keep the change.