200 Tdi Engine Prices Gone Mad... Anyone Fitted a Comparable Alternative?

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RiffRaffRevival

Member
Posts
69
Location
Monmouthshire, UK
With a requirement to tow a mid-size family caravan, my trusty old 2.5 n/a is going to have to make way for something a little more suitable in the engine department. Having been away from LR's for a few years and with prices of decent 200 Tdi units now requiring organ donation, I'm going to have to look elsewhere!

Has anyone fitted a comparable alternative successfully and with relative ease? I've read through endless threads in relation to Cummings units, GM V8's, Isuzu 3.1 powerplants, etc but can't seem to find any definitive recommendations - with all roads leading back to the Tdi - I know, I know, it's a great engine, but £750-£1250 for an old Disco unit on eBay... really!?

There must be a challenger out there somewhere that can replicate the power and reliability of the Tdi, without the requirement to perform chassis modifications and major structural surgery... in addition to losing a kidney - Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8, Rangie 2.5 DSE, anyone able to help...?

Thanks in advance.
 
Several on ebay for 500 quid, the thing is any other engine and I mean ANY other engine will end up costing you more as it will take more time/effort/special parts to fit.
Defender 200 engines are roughly double the cost of the disco unit
 
disco units can be brought around 500 pound on the likes of facebook, like most you take a chance, there has been the odd few 200tdis popping up for around a grand for the whole truck however you can get a 300tdi disco rotten for as little as 400 and have everything you need there to take off one and use in some way on the other. You can use a r380 gearbox from a disco and use the Ashcroft adapter and I think that may require your gearbox's top housing to work but it will work.
 
IamRobbie said:
disco units can be brought around 500 pound on the likes of facebook, like most you take a chance, there has been the odd few 200tdis popping up for around a grand for the whole truck however you can get a 300tdi disco rotten for as little as 400 and have everything you need there to take off one and use in some way on the other. You can use a r380 gearbox from a disco and use the Ashcroft adapter and I think that may require your gearbox's top housing to work but it will work.
Click to expand...

Ian don't buy the Ashcroft adapter they are £60 look on *bay £31
 
Seconding all the above. It's cost me £410 to mate my Jag engine to a Landy box so far - and that's not including anything for mounts, hoses, linkages, exhaust etc..
 
boguing said:
Seconding all the above. It's cost me £410 to mate my Jag engine to a Landy box so far - and that's not including anything for mounts, hoses, linkages, exhaust etc..
Click to expand...

Any more details on the engine swap?
 
It'll be the subject of the original Series IV thread when I get a bit further! That cost was for buying and milling bellhousings and flywheel and modding an input shaft. Actually, looking at in in an accounting way, I've also cut up and scrapped an autobox which might have fetched a couple of hundred. Wish I hadn't thought of that.
 
Thanks Guys... the concept of a wacky engine swap is starting to seem less appealing, particularly given the additional costs and hassle factor, so I guess it's going to be a Tdi unit of some denomination this time. I'll take a closer look at the how-to guides here on Landy Zone and hopefully, something decent and honest will surface, requiring only the basics such as a cambelt/tensioner, oil/filter change and general refresh to get going.

Cheers for the comments and happy LR'ing.
 
There's lots of outdated advice going around, usually from 2008 or so. These days it's not quite as simple as buying a cheap MOT-failed 200tdi Disco as there simply aren't as many left, and the engines themselves are now that bit older.
Have you considered a 2.5 petrol? It's the same block as the 2.5D so would be a relatively straightforward swap. They give the same sort of power as a 2.5TD, and are very sturdy engines if a little thirsty. It may be slightly underpowered for a big caravan though. The V8 has enough power but you may find yourself wanting a bigger tank to keep it running.

Anything non-standard is going to require a little more work and ingenuity. The FX4 taxi was at one point fitted with a Land Rover 2.25 Diesel, and latterly with the Nissan 2.8TD out of a Terrano so that may be a viable option.

If all else fails, you can tow with a 2.5D and it will get you there, just later than you'd expect from something more modern.
 
boguing said:
Seconding all the above. It's cost me £410 to mate my Jag engine to a Landy box so far - and that's not including anything for mounts, hoses, linkages, exhaust etc..
Click to expand...
Which Jag engine? Is this the V12?

Lets face it, that price is not really realistic. Because you are probably excluding the price of the engine and all the other bits that would be involved in a total conversion.

And of course there is the critical point, that 'you' personally might have access to tools, parts and skills that many people will not. So for Jo Public to achieve the same might cost many times more.
 
RiffRaffRevival said:
With a requirement to tow a mid-size family caravan, my trusty old 2.5 n/a is going to have to make way for something a little more suitable in the engine department. Having been away from LR's for a few years and with prices of decent 200 Tdi units now requiring organ donation, I'm going to have to look elsewhere!

Has anyone fitted a comparable alternative successfully and with relative ease? I've read through endless threads in relation to Cummings units, GM V8's, Isuzu 3.1 powerplants, etc but can't seem to find any definitive recommendations - with all roads leading back to the Tdi - I know, I know, it's a great engine, but £750-£1250 for an old Disco unit on eBay... really!?

There must be a challenger out there somewhere that can replicate the power and reliability of the Tdi, without the requirement to perform chassis modifications and major structural surgery... in addition to losing a kidney - Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8, Rangie 2.5 DSE, anyone able to help...?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

1. I don't believe you can't get 200Tdi's for sensible money. I bought one last year for £350. No need to look for Defender ones, a Disco one will fit.

2. Even swapping in a 200Tdi will likely cost you more than you think at first. Lots of little bits will add up to more money. And there will be lots of little bits you'll need or want to change. Plus if you aren't doing the work yourself, there is of course a labour charge too.

This is based on two Tdi swaps so far.

3. If you want cheaper, then you can probably find a nice 19j 2.5 TD for sensible money, which is a slightly easier swap than a 200Tdi. It's not as powerful, but it is more refined and is a perfectly good engine.

4. 300Tdi's are obvious options, but will require more work, effort and money to convert than a 200Tdi. And will give no additional gains. They make the same power, torque and mpg. So you need to weigh up if the price difference for the engine, will out way the other costs involved. I'm not convinced they will.

5. Other LR engines. Two main options here. A V8. If you are only doing 4000 miles a year or so, the fuel cost difference will be negligible compared to a Tdi. If you are doing more like 10,000 miles a year, then the fuel cost will be evident. Although there are LPG options you could consider further down the line.

Td5. A somewhat bigger conversion than a Tdi. But can be done with mostly off the shelf LR parts. And would completely transform the vehicle. But the extra cost might well be worth the gains.

6. Any other engine swap will likely be more costly, take more time, require more skill, require more bespoke and custom parts and will require more R&D on your part. Obviously you can end up with an awesome vehicle at the end of it. But this will NOT be the cheaper option. And any such project will always run risks of cost spiralling.
 
FlyingPete said:
Have you considered a 2.5 petrol? It's the same block as the 2.5D so would be a relatively straightforward swap. They give the same sort of power as a 2.5TD, and are very sturdy engines if a little thirsty.
Click to expand...
Do you know what power they make? The 2.25 was rated at an optimistic 72hp (by todays rating methods it'd likely be lower). And the TD about 89hp, but with quite a bit more torque.

The 2.5p is quite a nice engine, but I struggle to believe it's over 80hp. And yes thirsty.

Although I agree, it would be an easy swap, easiest of any engine mentioned so far. If going petrol, then the Rover T-Series as fitted to the Mpi Discovery is probably a better engine. A lot more power and probably more torque, even low down.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Which Jag engine? Is this the V12?

Lets face it, that price is not really realistic. Because you are probably excluding the price of the engine and all the other bits that would be involved in a total conversion.
Click to expand...

Yes 5.3 V12.

I made it quite clear that that figure was just for mating the box and engine.
 
300bhp/ton said:
1. I don't believe you can't get 200Tdi's for sensible money. I bought one last year for £350. No need to look for Defender ones, a Disco one will fit.

2. Even swapping in a 200Tdi will likely cost you more than you think at first. Lots of little bits will add up to more money. And there will be lots of little bits you'll need or want to change. Plus if you aren't doing the work yourself, there is of course a labour charge too.

This is based on two Tdi swaps so far.

3. If you want cheaper, then you can probably find a nice 19j 2.5 TD for sensible money, which is a slightly easier swap than a 200Tdi. It's not as powerful, but it is more refined and is a perfectly good engine.

4. 300Tdi's are obvious options, but will require more work, effort and money to convert than a 200Tdi. And will give no additional gains. They make the same power, torque and mpg. So you need to weigh up if the price difference for the engine, will out way the other costs involved. I'm not convinced they will.

5. Other LR engines. Two main options here. A V8. If you are only doing 4000 miles a year or so, the fuel cost difference will be negligible compared to a Tdi. If you are doing more like 10,000 miles a year, then the fuel cost will be evident. Although there are LPG options you could consider further down the line.

Td5. A somewhat bigger conversion than a Tdi. But can be done with mostly off the shelf LR parts. And would completely transform the vehicle. But the extra cost might well be worth the gains.

6. Any other engine swap will likely be more costly, take more time, require more skill, require more bespoke and custom parts and will require more R&D on your part. Obviously you can end up with an awesome vehicle at the end of it. But this will NOT be the cheaper option. And any such project will always run risks of cost spiralling.
Click to expand...
+1 I have two disco engines, one in the truck and a spare. I picked up a 200tdi with all the off road bits on for 500 pound two years ago the engine cost me nothing and my second engine I brought with a pooped Piston for 100 which included Injectors fip turbo ect so it can be done still. Just because too many people want stupid money on eBay doesn't mean these cheaper 200s can't be found
 
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