a fuel efficient Series 3 ??? a dream??

I learnt to drive in an old IIA with a 186 redline in it. I averaged 15l/100km in it, including extended hwy work.

The engine was a stock 186 with Yella Terra heads & 350 holley carb. Driveline wise, stock gearbox and I had a high ratio t/c gearset put in by a mob in Toowoomba, buggered if I can remember the name of the place though. That made a huge difference and meant that at 100 you were pulling 3000rpm. Driveability was much improved.

I then added LPG to it and that returned 18L/100km. Provided the engine was given regular runs on petrol it was kept happy.

I'll back the conversion to one of the rover diesels as the 200tdi fitted sans turbo or the normal diesel 2.2 as originally fitted if you still have the original box on should be a drop in once you deconvert it from the holden..

the 200tdi is a bit more pricey on parts but a lot more effecient on fuel if looked after and the parts for the stock 2.25 diesel cost peanuts. As an example I can rebuild all 4 injectors for the 2.25 for the general cost of one injector for the 200tdi. As a bonus both these diesels tolerate a wide fuel range from essentially sweet light crude (not quite but bloody close once they get warmed up) through to AVTUR and that includes some of the crudest biodiesel you'll ever see.

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Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

I'll back the conversion to one of the rover diesels as the 200tdi fitted sans turbo or the normal diesel 2.2 as originally fitted if you still have the original box on should be a drop in once you deconvert it from the holden..

the 200tdi is a bit more pricey on parts but a lot more effecient on fuel if looked after and the parts for the stock 2.25 diesel cost peanuts. As an example I can rebuild all 4 injectors for the 2.25 for the general cost of one injector for the 200tdi. As a bonus both these diesels tolerate a wide fuel range from essentially sweet light crude (not quite but bloody close once they get warmed up) through to AVTUR and that includes some of the crudest biodiesel you'll ever see.

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Please tell me where these cheap parts are I have five diesel engines

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Originally Posted by Dougal

The best little diesel for efficiency (least fuel burnt to create a kilowatt hour of shaft power) is the VW 1.9 tdi.
They have efficiency better than most full size trucks, at best point they beat an Isuzu 4BD1T by almost 10%.

And Jimfoo on pirate has fitted one to his series, so it has been done.

The 2.5tdi's would be your next choice. Stay away from any indirect injection diesels, they're around 20% less efficient than direct injection tdi's.
Isuzu did a 1.7l non turbo diesel in honda civics in europe. Not sure where you'd find one though and a turbo would certainly be worth the extra.

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Is that the 1.9 tdi in the current golfs?

An installation of this motor in the Passat "bluemotion". This car is returning a combined consumption of 55.4 MPG. That's 5.1 l/100. For a car nearly the size of a falcon that's pretty impressive. See the bluemotion here.

EDIT: I got carried away with my rant. I've only seen it in FWD installations... it wouldn't be easy to get into a N/S series let alone the cost of one!

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Originally Posted by Leo109

The Pommie magazines have often referred to fitting the Perkins Prima 2.0L turbo-diesel (from a UK-market Morris/Austin Maestro or similar) to Series vehicles with satisfactory results (especially in 88s) but I don't suppose they would be easy to find around here.

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This is in fact the same basic engine as the L series diesel out of the Freelander - a pretty bullet proof engine and as you said a common mod for the a series landy in the UK. I have never seen one of these engines for sale in Australia but I suppose they are out there.

A 200 TDI is probably easier to do but bits are hard to find but the L series would probably give a bit better performance - though it does have a computer it is very much self contained and very reliable.

Garry

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Originally Posted by lro11

Please tell me where these cheap parts are I have five diesel engines

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what parts do you need.

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Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Is that the 1.9 tdi in the current golfs?

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Basically yes, but you'd be looking for one of the older mechanical injection versions.
If you get one with an electronic injector pump you can probably retrofit a mechanical pump, but if you get a pump deus or commonrail you'll be in for a challenge.:D

To add to the list of options, the 4JB1T (2.8TD) is a good engine, and is very common in australia as it was fitted to heaps of rodeos and jackaroos. However, you would have to be very easy on the loud pedal to save the gearbox (same as if running a 200Tdi - with turbo).

This company has kits for the 4JB1 and perkins prima 2.0.
Land Rover conversions - M&D Engineering

EDIT - however it seems there are NA versions of the 4JB1 - probably from forklifts etc...

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Originally Posted by rangieman

Nissan cabstar 3.3 ltr 4cyl diesel motor and 5 speed gear box , if you can find one ,

I have a mate that has 2 series with these motors and gear box combination,s fitted and a couple of spare motors and gearbox,s which he will not part with for love or money

They are a great combination for the series landy and a torque monster to boot
And very economical:D

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I had this in a SIII, it was the worst engineered conversion I've ever seen. Some run really well, most are just that bit out of alignbment that t/cases scream and gearboxes break. The problem is a heavy cast iron box suspended between a torquey diesel and a firmly mounted t/case. The adaptors were all alloy with no helicoils or anything and as the motor flexed with acceleration, it stressed and eventually broke the bolts. It also stuffed the mating surfaces and the t/case howelled as well as dropped lots of oil. The motor was great, the adaptors were less than precisely manufactured.

I think your best option for long term ownership would be to get a 300Tdi disco that's been damaged and use the entire transmission, even converting to coil springs on the SII. Using a 200Tdi will limit your options later if you need to repair or replace the R380 Gearbox.

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Originally Posted by Dougal

Basically yes, but you'd be looking for one of the older mechanical injection versions.
If you get one with an electronic injector pump you can probably retrofit a mechanical pump, but if you get a pump deus or commonrail you'll be in for a challenge.:D

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Correct me if I am wrong, but AFAIK there are no mechanical injection versions of the 1.9TDI engine. The VP37 1.9TDI was introduced in 93/94 and used until 98 in various forms until the PD engines (pump-nozzle) replaced it. All VP37 engines had the Bosch VE injector pump (same as the 200/300 Tdi), however they also ALL had an ecu to control solenoid valve(s) in the pump. It is probably not too difficult to get a fully mechanical bosch VE pump built to the same spec though... But an added complexity, and may also mean that the fuel consumption isn't as good. It is probably simple to wire in the ECU though.

I drove a few of these engines when I was in Germany, both the VP and the later PD engines. They run very nicely, and are a great engine for a small car. But I wonder how they would go pulling a heavy LR - should be great on the highway, but not sure about low down torque/offroad.

At one time we had a 1.4TDI polo for a few weeks (PD engine - 70 odd KW). We could sit on the french autobahns at 130 all day (speed limit) and still only do about 4L /100 km.