Thread: HS 2.8L TGV - any opinions ?

Gee, I love this forum. I have also been day dreaming about a 2.8 tgv for ages but the high cost from M&D puts me off. Has anyone considered importing a used motor from South America? They seem to use the motor in quite a few things, including Ford Rangers. They even have an internet Ford Ranger forum. Unfortunately, I don't read Spanish or Portuguese.

Bilbo, we've had a few visitors on the forum from Argentina and I think Brazil who have fitted HS2.8's in the past.

Really common in wreckers over there.

There is an MWM agent in Sydney, but they handle gensets, etc from memory but could probably get spares, and there was a crowd in NZ importing the 2.8 from Brazil and doing a kit, I'll try and dig a link up.

[edit]Found the Kiwi mob.

http://www.forward-specialties.co.nz/
http://www.forward-specialties.co.nz/engine.htm

Might be worth dropping a line as across the Tasman is a lot closer than 1/2 way round the world.

Originally Posted by uninformed

While a larger exhaust may help hp at higher rpm, its not about that. It's about letting the turbo spool up quicker so you get torque happening quicker. It is very notivable going from a stock LR exhaust to a 3 inch mandrel bent system with 1 muffler on a tdi. Given that the turbo on the 2.8 can produce up to 20 psi, imo its a good idea. It will also help reduce egt's.

If the new intercooler is to be front mount why not put in a full width radiator.

Engine could be moved back to the 200tdi postion with some smart fabrication...if you think that is to hard, forget a center mount winch....

Thanks Uninformed, I understand now, I'll do some proper Research on the exhaust. I've been so tied up over the other potential problems and balancing the costs etc. I haven't even spoken to Gordon the mechanic about the exhaust. I'll double check this but I think MD were against the 3" for some reason. As far as moving the engine back I guess we'll have to take it as it comes. But if it happens I'll document the whole process with pics in case anyone else wants to go down this route.
I'm thinking the exhaust system as you are describing would be pretty costly ?
Any recommendations for Exhaust places to start with ?
As for the centrally located winch ..... Yes, well. Would be good though.

As far as Im aware, the MD 4 core radiator will be as good as a full length but I'll check on that too.
Many thanks again for your great input. Very appreciative to all of you indeed. I've learned heaps in the past week.

Bilbo, good idea to explore the Sth American forums. Just be aware you will still probably need stuff for an easy fit and unless you solve these problems yourself, it might be easier to just get from MD in the UK. I've got a mate who speaks fluent Spanish so I'll see if I can get hold of him.

Originally Posted by Hokoman

...
I'm thinking the exhaust system as you are describing would be pretty costly ?
...

My 3" Mandrel bent exhaust cost $500, including a custom dump pipe.

Serg (uninformed) has a fancy stainless one, but it does the same job.

In a turbo diesel you want to minimise pressure drop after the turbo to maximise performance (both spool up and peak power) - that means a large exhaust.

Serg was kind enough to give me a drive of his 2.8 when I was last in Brisbane. It goes very well, however the low down torque is not a patch on the 4BD1T.

Originally Posted by rick130

Hokoman, there's enough evidence that it's a good precaution on any 2/300tdi to at least check the big ends between 250-300,000km.

It's easy enough to drop the caps and look and a number of expert's with a lot of experience with 300Tdi's recommend it.

Hi All

That's good advice, if you get yourself a set of standard big end bearings and then check the ones in the motor, if there is any doubt as to their condition, you can then change them.
(do take note that the bearings that you pull out, are the same size as you have for the new ones and not the undersized ones for a reground crank. )

On the point of the oil cooler not being effective, first check the oil cooler thermostat ( part number ERC5923 ), as some will stick, like from crud build up.

Cheers Arthur

FWIW (and this is the third time I've tried this, interwebby troubles with AULRO this AM) i agree with isuzurover/Ben and Serg.

Some upgrading crowds fear that a large exhaust will allow the turbo to overspeed, resulting in catastrophic results.

I've never experienced this, nor am I aware of this happening in a Landy with a stock Garrett turbo.

I agree that 3" is overkill for a 300Tdi, 2.5" is probably fine (stock exhaust is 60mm with mandrel bends and straight through muffler and resonator) and IMO 2.75" would be ideal, but at the time that i fabricated my exhaust 3" aluminised tube and mandrel bends were a bucket load cheaper than 2.75".

Upside of a large exhaust.

As Serg mentioned, lower EGT's (my maximum readings dropped by around 23-25*) and much quicker/earlier spool up on a standard turbo.

The ability to rev out in the gears was the largest noticable improvement.
Before the large pipe 75-80km/h was the maximum road speed I could pull in third gear (255/85 tyres)
The engine would just stop revving.

After building the new system I hit nearly 100km/h in third up a long hill on my first test run.
I've never replicated that, you'd have to be sensory deprived to do it, but 90km/h is easy if and when required, although changing earlier and using the torque in fourth is just as effective.
My point being that the stock 130 system must create excessive backpressure, and with a turbocharger, backpressure is your enemy.

Downside.

It's damned noisy unless you have an effective muffler and resonator (and a resonator is a must otherwise the cabin becomes a resonating chamber)

Arthur, the only way to know whether the oil cooler is up to snuff or not is check oil temps.
I've never installed an oil temp gauge, but interestingly the first evidence of a big end knock came when hammering up mountain pass here with EGT's and water temp pegged. (about 4-500m climb in a couple of km)

The noise didn't disappear until 2/3 the way down the other side, long after water temps had subsided and I was running Delvac 1 at the time, which IIRC had a VI of over 150, ie. it would thin much less at oil temps above 100* than regular HD diesel oil.

I have placed a thermocouple on the back side of the oil filter and insulated it and seen a temp of 106* cruising down the highway.

Good point re the t/stat.
I've checked mine and all was fine at the time

Originally Posted by isuzurover

My 3" Mandrel bent exhaust cost $500, including a custom dump pipe.

Serg (uninformed) has a fancy stainless one, but it does the same job.

In a turbo diesel you want to minimise pressure drop after the turbo to maximise performance (both spool up and peak power) - that means a large exhaust.

Serg was kind enough to give me a drive of his 2.8 when I was last in Brisbane. It goes very well, however the low down torque is not a patch on the 4BD1T.

Mine is actually mild steel and cost me $1100 the first time and a few hundred when they modded it and made some S/Steel stuff for my intake when the 2.8 went in.....the muffler is one of those "vortex" law of physic changing type.....there is some proof that they actually work. Dont ask me how, but I have seen dyno sheets from a Nissan 3.0 that had a system and was tested straight through, no muffler, with a 1 sports type muffler and with the vortex (so the only thing changing was the muffler, not the whole system. Same car used and tuned to suit. The vortex produced the most torque....

I went with Tipan xp, not becasue of the vortex, but becasue they were at the time, three doors down from my mechanic and were happy to work with him checking egts etc. There workmanship is very good also. I was also quoted "about $1000" by another muffler mob.

$500 is a very good price and im sure it is a good system as Ben is no fool.

Shop around for muffler. No matter what size you go for, I would recommend mandrel bends other wise to me the flow wont be as smooth and will be the eqvivelant of a smaller dia.

I havent driven an Isuzu, but I didnt think it would have near the torque of a well sorted Isuzu.

cheers,
Serg