Thread: Another 200 TDI Conversion

Change of plan, I'm still thinking about this idea but I've decided a cheaper and easier way. I was thinking of a 2.25 TDI. A 2.25 diesel engine with a turbo, intercooler and a straight through exhaust. I've read about changing a petrol engine to a diesel but it's not recommended. Obviously I'd need to wind up the injector pump but not too high that I melt pistons, I'd like to now how to do this and what's safe. Any advice welcome.

In the absence of series owners:

Before the 200tdi, the standard UK LR diesel, referred to as the 2.5TD, used the older injection system and, for a time, had a turbo strapped to it. And earlier than that, the series diesel was the same block as a petrol with a different crank/rods/pistons/head. ( I've never read that it's not recommended - but I can understand just finding a series diesel engine and doing a swap.)

The problem is that the 2.5 didn't really make it out here - it was about the same time the army geared up with the izuzu.

If you can get a hold of an series 2.25 diesel ( or the different bits), you can strap a turbo on it and it should survive. Someone else once pointed out that you can run a turbo without a compensator on the IP - but it will blow black smoke at various points. It's just a case of increasing fuel load.

for a farm truck - perhaps consider cutting down a diesel disco - they come up reasonably cheap sometimes.

Originally Posted by Series3 GT

Change of plan, I'm still thinking about this idea but I've decided a cheaper and easier way. I was thinking of a 2.25 TDI. A 2.25 diesel engine with a turbo, intercooler and a straight through exhaust. I've read about changing a petrol engine to a diesel but it's not recommended. Obviously I'd need to wind up the injector pump but not too high that I melt pistons, I'd like to now how to do this and what's safe. Any advice welcome.

There are plenty of threads if you search.

2.25Ds have 23:1 compression, so between that and the pre-combustion chambers, are not the best candidates for a T. Sure it has been done, but that doesn't mean it is a good idea.

If it will be used as a farm truck the 2.25na will be fine.

My 2.25D with extractors and pump mods could beat 2.25Ps up hills. However it is now out for a rebuild. It lasted 12 years but only ~125000km before getting very breathy...

i don't know about cheaper

but the easiest way to end up with a turbo'd engine in your Series is to fit one that was already designed to have a turbo

i've already built two utilising the 200tdi engine, one is a complete bitsa the second is my '65 109 (Big Ears) the 109 is a little trickier to fit the 200tdi into but not much and there's three or four ways to do it (turbo clashes with the chassis)

i'm now on my third conversion, fitting a 200tdi into a '59 88"

everyone (most folks) seems to consider the 200tdi to have too rough a power delivery for the Series gearbox but no one appears to remember the gearboxes are generally 30+ years old, only had my 109 on the road 12 months and the gearbox is as sweet as a nut still, it does very little offroading but it still is a workhorse towing up to 2 tons (ish) when needed and used daily, i'm careful and gentle applying the power in this motor as it's also my show car and i don't really want to be breaking the gearbox

i've had two cheap, noisy worn gearboxes die in my bitsa and i'm on my third £5 gearbox that was hopping out of second when i fitted it but that has been used and abused for the last three years

I would like a 200 TDI but they are a bit rare to find. I'm still not sure if I should stick with the petrol or to run a diesel engine. The 2.25 Diesel isn't that easy to find either, I think a 2.25 diesel is the easiest way of having a diesel but I'm not gaining any torque and losing a fair amount of power over the petrol. Izuzurover said that the 2.25 isn't the best candidate for a turbo but Langy said it could survive with a turbo strapped to it. How much difference would a turbo, intercooler and straight through exhaust make. How hard is it to find a turbo that could fit and how much would it cost? So many questions, how much can you find a 200 TDI for now?

i've no idea of the cost of a 200tdi engine over there (i'm in England)

there has been 2.25 diesels fitted with turbo's over here, there used to be a conversion kit but i doubt it would be available except secondhand nowadays

i'll try to see if i can find any information and/or pictures to try and give you some ideas

Not sure what the original 2.25 diesels are like, do they go ok. I reckon my idea of a 2.25 TDI could be good if it will work.

Originally Posted by Series3 GT

Not sure what the original 2.25 diesels are like, do they go ok. I reckon my idea of a 2.25 TDI could be good if it will work.

For starters it wouldn't be a 2.25TDI. The DI part stands for direct injection. Unless you fit a 200tdi or 300tdi head and pistons as I am planning to do, it will only be a 2.25TD. (OR DT in LR speak - as per the 2.5DT).

My 2.25D went better over in WA than on the east coast, as it is so flat! It also went well on the soft beach sand thanks to low weight and wide, 33" tyres.