How do I use my VIN to order the right parts? - Please

Myles Tagoyet said:

I'm looking to fit an electric fan in due course, so would be interested in peoples thoughts on that..

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I have a Revotec 200/300Tdi sucker fan kit. It works very well and there's zero risk of viscous failure, also doesn't sap any engine power. The important thing with LR diesel engines is that they run relatively cool, they're not a hot engine. I've used Revote sucker fan systems for many years. They work superbly, have an adjustable temp.pot/fan controller and never fail.


ps if you have a good condition/original brass core radiator keep this and don't be tempted by the low cost eBay alloy rads with plastic headers.

dag019 said:

I was still writing my post at the point you posted but I agree would have originally been an NA


Why do you want an electric fan? I have one in mine but in the station wagon I am rebuilding and putting a 200ti into I will be keeping the viscous fan if at all possible. an electric doe snot give any benefits on fuel economy etc that people claim and i would argue offers far more reliable cooling in hot conditions than electric. If you do not have a fan shroud for it however it will be doing very little and with th electric setup I currently have i have lots of space at the front of the engine to work on things without needing to remove the fan and shroud every time.

I have a set of modeo twin fans fitted to mine that came from the scrap yard, controlled by the x-fan thermostatic switch.

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In essence, I am considering an electric fan, as the 90 takes an age to get up to operating temp, whilst I appreciate that the 90/200TDi is a relatively cool running setup, I can get from home to work without the temperature coming up to running temp etc, or having enough warmth to de-mist the windows (the blower works a treat)

I'm not too worried about fuel economy, I appreciate it's an old vehicle with the aerodynamics of a house brick....

Myles Tagoyet said:

In essence, I am considering an electric fan, as the 90 takes an age to get up to operating temp, whilst I appreciate that the 90/200TDi is a relatively cool running setup, I can get from home to work without the temperature coming up to running temp etc, or having enough warmth to de-mist the windows (the blower works a treat)

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Sounds like a normal 200Tdi, they take a good 4-5miles to get up to temperature with the temp needle sitting mid way on the gauge. Very few Landies fully de-mist their windows. Welcome to Landy ownership.

v8250 said:

Sounds like a normal 200Tdi, they take a good 4-5miles to get up to temperature with the temp needle sitting mid way on the gauge. Very few Landies fully de-mist their windows. Welcome to Landy ownership.

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Been a Landy owner for many years, my first was a 1963 2a...

just not had to work on them myself, or order parts - but i` get your drift

I would also use the forums if you're unsure.. just post an image of what you're looking for etc if you can't find it on LRWorkshop.. people here reply when there's an image of something.

Myles Tagoyet said:

In essence, I am considering an electric fan, as the 90 takes an age to get up to operating temp, whilst I appreciate that the 90/200TDi is a relatively cool running setup, I can get from home to work without the temperature coming up to running temp etc, or having enough warmth to de-mist the windows (the blower works a treat)

I'm not too worried about fuel economy, I appreciate it's an old vehicle with the aerodynamics of a house brick....

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A correctly working viscous fan should just be idling until hot so as long as in good working order will not make a difference to the engine warm up time. Although it appears to be spinning it is not actually being driven as the viscous joint should be free to spin and the fan will be in "freewheel". to test this with the engine off you should be able to spin the fan without moving the belt, and when running cols you should be able to stop the fan from spinning (carefully) with a pencil or similar.

If the heater is not getting hot even if the engine is up to temperature (about midway on the gauge as stated above) it might be worth considering rebuilding the heater box as the foam seals degrade over time, or at the very least adjusting the heater operating flaps so they close fully and do not allow cold air to bypass the matrix. I do not know what thermostat you currently have fitted but you can get higher rated ones as well, I run an 88 degree thermostat in mine.

Despite what you will read about all defender heaters being terrible and the engines running cold (both true) it is possible to get hot air out of a defender after about 5 miles if everything is in food working order, it just takes time to properly maintain, especially considering the age of the vehicles.

RustyDefender said:

I would also use the forums if you're unsure.. just post an image of what you're looking for etc if you can't find it on LRWorkshop.. people here reply when there's an image of something.

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Thank you - Although I've been a LR owner fro years, I've been lucky, and not had to replace too many parts, so a little "green and cabbage looking" when it comes to trying to work out what on earth I'm looking at....

Myles Tagoyet said:

Parts I need are bushes on the front axle/suspension, I plan to change the CVs too, whilst it is being fettled with..

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Bushes there is a lot of choice with. But there are narrow and wide radius arms, so you'll need to know what you have. Older models are usually narrow, but they could have been changed.

Likewise the rear axle would probably have been a drum setup, but might have been swapped for a disc rear axle.

Rubber bushes work fine, but are not as easy to fit at home and need a press really. But are cheap, although none seem to last like proper factory genuine ones. Any form of poly bush is generally quite easy to DIY fit without a press.

There isn't really anything wrong with the Britpart ones, although they are on the harder side of things. Superpro have a good rep, but don't like to tell you much about the spec of their bushes and they are eye watering expensive.

Polybush (the brand....) also offer 3 different grades of polybush from comfort, dynamic and performance. So might also be worth a look.

CV's, well again you'll need to check what axle you have, I really wouldn't use the VIN for this, just the model year.

Ashcroft transmissions has a good page all about CV's, so worth starting there.

However, if yours aren't making a noise why do you want to change them?

Myles Tagoyet said:

I'm looking to fit an electric fan in due course, so would be interested in peoples thoughts on that..

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For what reason do you want an electric fan? Not saying you shouldn't, but there are pros and cons. Lots of ways of doing this. X-Eng (Foundary4x4) sell and easy adapter for a dual thermo switch. And fans you can get cheap from lots of places. Wiring is pretty simple.