Thread: HS 2.8L TGV - any opinions ?

Ha, a broadside. Very healthy.

I'm coming back with all guns blazing.

I'm not sure 2k of work on the existing motor is overvaluing if you want more power ? If I leave it as it is probably just need the timing belt done. The motor is really ok according to the mechanic. He's the one who's happy to buy it for 2k so he should know. Apparently transmission and drivetrain are fine. Found bits of metal in the front diff yesterday while he was fitting a trulok so that's a bit of extra expense.

I've spoken with MD Engineering today and having another conversation this afternoon, I've spoken to my mechanic, who is a Scot, and utterly defiant, and Ill attempt to address all your points thoroughly in the next post. Mind you, I didn't know they were a problem until you raised them. Thanks.

Not saying I'll win the debate mind you ...

As far as Customs, Tax, some things are not flexible, some are, not going into that on a forum.
All Comments are entirely valid but we believe there are ways around these issues that are not going to cost the earth.

Yes, it's a sort of labour of love. Why not ? Apart from reading the newspapers and getting depressed about Greece and the world in general (articles in Uk paper today about a possible future attack on Iran's nuclear facilities), I'm not doing much else. It's going to be home for the next 4 years, on and off. If it was a vehicle to park in the drive and do weekenders, that would be a different matter.

Perhaps it is a bit of a gamble. I still have to satisfy myself 85% that we can get around these problems and stay within the budget. It's not as simple as I first thought and that's why I subscribed to this forum and why I'm valueing your inputs. In the end, I can just keep the original motor if it all looks completely stupid.

By the way, someone should archive and publish all the very humorous retorts and comments on the site and call it the Aulro Book of Wisdom. I'd buy it ...

Anyway, watch this space ..... More Newbie naivety coming up soon ....

Chris

John,

I understand Customs is 5 % on total value of import, which INCLUDES shipping costs oddly, not 15%, but I'll check.

GST is on the value of goods imported - but that depends on the invoice ..... Know what I mean ?

Alright, back again - I'm hoping I can cover most of the points raised recently :

I've got my computer back and I got the Shipping costs wrong so that adds another $600 roughly.

Uninformed - MD Engineering say their 2.8 as delivered today is a true 'drop-in'. Nothing needed from the previous motor apart from air-conditioning parts. No customising needed, everything provided.

Exhaust headers in the kit. In their opinion the original exhaust is fine - if you want more go at higher revs move up to a 2.5". If I go with this motor I'll start with the standard and go from there. I think so anyway.

The 'large' Radiator is only slightly bigger than standard - it is a 4 core rather than 3 core. The Larger Intercooler which runs along the bottom - full frontal. They claim it is possible to fit with the air-conditioning components. Mechanic says he doesn't have any worries and no big problem to move the grill forward. But he says Winch could be a problem with this set-up. I'm thinking now about a Rear Winch - does that sound mad ? or maybe a centrally located winch? I saw a reference to that somewhere in one of the forums. Any opinions ? i think some Unimogs locate them in the centre.

About moving the motor back - as I think you suggested previously ? MD say it can only be moved back 1" or so because of the rear turbo outlet. I think I have that right.

$2k for fitting is what I've been quoted. I've been with the same mechanic for 4 years now and when he says 2k he really means 2k. Oh yeah, and a little bit because he forgot this, a bit more for that and the other and Gee, we didn't expect that, so it's only fair to add that. Yup, as I was saying ….. 2k. Sort of. Not far off.

Pibby - I would pay for the motor in Sterling (which really suits me and could be a clincher) so no bank transfer charges etc. I posted about the Customs/GST before so won't repeat. And this is all clean healthy fun so I'm not about to start accounting for time. Beats drinking and darts anyway. About the TD5, I think I'll plead no contest. Rightly or wrongly I decided to stick with totally non-electronic. And I appreciate your last line - thanks.

Garry - as I said before, if I want more power out of my present motor I don't think 2k is unreasonable . Just doing the timing belt is roughly 600 I think. Mechanically I have a lot to learn and wouldn't try doing this kind of stuff myself yet. My mechanic says the motor is fine and is happy to pay 2k for it. Although it was a builder's vehicle and looks rough he reckons it's been well maintained. Gearbox/Transfer case are fine. Not knowing much about Landrovers I actually bought this particular vehicle because I liked and trusted the owner as soon as I met him. That was a gamble but seems to have worked ok. After all, he's a Landrover owner ….. right ?
He was actually very sad to see it go - owned it from new. And because I've got long legs and suffered back problems in the past I wanted the bigger cab.

Yes, there are sure to be expenses I haven't reckoned on but I think I've got a realistic budget. If I sold the car after all of the intended work I wouldn't get my money back. But so what ? I'm not going to sell it. Ever. So there.
Can someone point me to the raspberry icon ?

... Er, when the wife finds out - all offers considered.

Thanks everyone for the correction to my blunder about duty rate.

Hokoman, if you do change your mind and keep the 300Tdi, you should plan to do more to it than change the timing belt.

If you do a head gasket while on your trip it could cost $$$$ and a lot of time - don't ask me how I know The km on your engine indicates it could blow the head gasket any time soon.

Same with coolant system leaks - it is very worthwhile fitting a low coolant alarm and renew all hoses. The water pump is mounted high on the 300Tdi and variants such as 2.8 - it doesn't take much coolant loss to ruin the engine.

Originally Posted by Hokoman

John,

I understand Customs is 5 % on total value of import, which INCLUDES shipping costs oddly, not 15%, but I'll check.

GST is on the value of goods imported - but that depends on the invoice ..... Know what I mean ?

No, duty is calculated on FOB ITOT converted to AUD then x 5%, then you add freight/ insurance plus any other origin charges then add GST to that figure.

Originally Posted by Bush65

If you do a head gasket while on your trip it could cost $$$$ and a lot of time - don't ask me how I know The km on your engine indicates it could blow the head gasket any time soon.

Same with coolant system leaks - it is very worthwhile fitting a low coolant alarm and renew all hoses. The water pump is mounted high on the 300Tdi and variants such as 2.8 - it doesn't take much coolant loss to ruin the engine.

Wise advice from John as always. Fortunately when my head gasket failed I was only about 50 km from home...

Originally Posted by Bush65

Thanks everyone for the correction to my blunder about duty rate.

Same with coolant system leaks - it is very worthwhile fitting a low coolant alarm and renew all hoses. The water pump is mounted high on the 300Tdi and variants such as 2.8 - it doesn't take much coolant loss to ruin the engine.

agreed, I copied and saved Uninformed's advice from an earlier post :

.......must do's no matter what:

new aftermarket temp gauge, aftermarket EGT gauge, free flowing exhuast.*

You may find your 2.8 running a bit hot in a unladen def with stock rad and intercooler no matter how good a condition they are in. You can get a lower cracking thermostat and get some cooling happening in the engine bay buy cutting some breathe holes in the guards.......

I must look into this exhaust business And point taken re head gasket. I'm thinking if I go ahead with the 2.8 whether to include a spare head gasket.

My mate in Melbourne spoke to KLR in Sydney for me about the Isuzu replacement. This is what he came back with :

"Had a talk with Brad at KLR.* He did say that the best option is the 2.8 for two reasons first is the rego problem which *you would not have to declare but down the track could have problems with, & second there is a lot of modifications to fit the engine which means not many parts are standard, not even the radiator hoses, so problems especially if you're out of the country, no problems with the 2.8 - most spares from the 300 fit. * The cost would work out to be the same for both motors the 2.8 is easy to fit but more expensive to purchase - Izusu is much less but many more $ to fit."

Originally Posted by rick130

Arthur, some Tdi's just do big ends.

JC reckons there was a batch, appears to be the last six months of '98 that destroy big ends and cranks.

I had my shells let go and luckily didn't do the crank too and AFAIK no water had ever entered the engine.
I suspect high oil temps had something to do with it too, I don't trust the oil cooler is big enough.
Journal bearing failure modes (bloody 300Tdi's...)

Rick,

I thought I saw mention of '96 batch doing big ends too - or am I getting confused with your post re 98 ?
I have a ' 96 130 with 270k and the bottom end needs to be checked, head gasket done, and timing belt, by me if I keep it or by my mechanic who will buy it if I go the 2.8 Tgv route.
Thx