Thread: Cast Iron heads for 300TDi?

That would be great but having the possibility of running common rail would make it even better, more power and economy for those not so worried about electrics.

The cam chain would be relatively easy thing to do, you can get sprockets made to measure and run a standard chain like off a Falcon 6 or even a holden but the problem would still be in the stretch.

Cam chains still stretch and they wear sprockets, this is why most industrial and commercial diesels run timing gears not belts or chains.

The other thing is noise, chain can be shut up with fibrous sprocket on the drive but again that gives a weak point and gears can be shut up with helical cutting and oiling which the 300Tdi timing case and Cam and Pump would not be able to take the forces as they are not designed to do so.

You could probably redesign it etc with a cast iron cover with bearing cones built in to remove the side forces from the gears to the case but it would add a huge amount of weight and bulk to the engine that I don't think it would be worth it.

The cast iron head though would be a great but again the weight difference might negate any advantage other than service life.

Cheers Casper

Hi Frank. I have never heard of a cast iron head for a tdi. Maybe there is one . Lets look at why the alloy head fails:

EGTs get to high.
Engine temp get to high
poor servicing.
Head gasket failure.

IMO the alloy head is probably fine, especially the newer ones. Fitting a new cast iron head will not address the EGT's or the engine cooling. It comes down to being under intercooled and undercooled. Having a defender temp gauge is certainly no help either. IMO if a bigger radiator and intercooler were fitted, a better free flowing exhaust. Alot of head problems would be less. I think the newer head gaskets may also be better.

There is a better timing belt available from the UK. It is the one for the 2.8tgv, it is the same length and tooth profile, but a stronger belt. International have there scheduled timing belt change at 120k. The timing gears on the 2.8tgv are alot stronger also.....maybe these fit a 300tdi.

just my thoughts and all could be wrong

If a local company like Yella Terra could justify casting replacement cylinder heads for the the old Holden red,blue and black 6 cylinder engines, surely some enterprising concern could see the higher volume global sales potential for a cast iron replacement for the 200/300 tdi.
Bill.

If you are going to fit an iron head to a Tdi you may as well just drop in a 4BD1T.

The iron head definitely resists a major overheat better, we've cooked our Patrol TD42T twice now, once that would have absolutely destroyed a Tdi and it's still soldiering on as good as new at near 400,000km (touch wood ) without a spanner on the engine.

I have often thought of this and one thing that springs to mind is i thought the Tdi was based on the old style rover 2,25 come 2,5 engines s , If so would a head off one of these old engines fit , Surely someone has one lying around that could be dry fitted

Originally Posted by rangieman

I have often thought of this and one thing that springs to mind is i thought the Tdi was based on the old style rover 2,25 come 2,5 engines s , If so would a head off one of these old engines fit , Surely someone has one lying around that could be dry fitted

I have a couple (heads 2.25) laying about, but even if they could be fitted the 2.25 heads are pre-combustion (indirect injection) chamber heads and I imagine that there would not be the same HP produced by these old type heads. I have sent some emails to some Chinese suppliers of heads whether they could cast a few of their alloy 300tdi heads in cast iron, will let you know the results, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

I have sent some emails to some Chinese suppliers of heads whether they could cast a few of their alloy 300tdi heads in cast iron, will let you know the results, Regards Frank.

Now that'd be interesting Frank.

The reason the TDi went to a timing belt instead of a chain is because a previous Rover engine the 2.25 had a cam chain. It was not normally a problem in Land Rovers, but the same engine was used in black cabs and prolonged idling caused oil pressure related problems, as the oil pressure driven cam chain tensioner would not operate properly at idle. Engine problems ensued and Rover went to a belt as it was not only not dependant on oil pressure, it was quieter.

Early in the TDi's life, a company called Zeus made a gear driven timing conversion, but the hardening on the gears was not always good and you don't see them mentioned these days.

Jeff