London to Cape Town (West Coast) Need a workshop in the UK

Hi all,
Last year a friend and I undertook a journey from Cape Town to London for the World Cup spanning 33 countries. We have a TD5 with a WL conversion (not my idea) that caused us too many issues on the way up. For the return leg I am planning on whacking a TDI300 in it as most of the conversion is done for the WL. I have a new gearbox from ashgroves coming with the shorter shaft and am looking for a TDI300 engine that is in good knick.

I am in need of a work shop with a engine hoist (and welder) so I can fit the new engine and get her moving. I am aiming to do it in around 2-3 days. Any help or ideas would be much appreciated and I fly in to fix the car in early August.

Thanks,
Ed

I suspect that finding a good 300Tdi engine, ready to drop in, will be very difficult. They are much sort after.
Why not a TD5 engine? They might be easier to get hold of.

Not a TDI because all the TD5 electronic etc have been taken out by the previous owner for the WL conversion. Also I dont want to risk and electronic/engine/flywheel problem with a TD5 or the current WL. A real pain in the bum but it has to be done. Any recommendation on where I might look? Maybe an old Disco engine?

If I was you, I would be looking for a 300tdi Disco, that has a good engine and then pull it out.

You could then see it running, any ancillaries you may find you need will be there, then scrap the body.

Cheers

That was my plan and probably the best way to get it done in one go. I also need the mounts of the Disco/Defender for the TDI300 engine, so that plan would work. What milage is respectable on them? I am guessing nothing over 150k miles?
Thanks guys much appreciated

What is a WL?

As long as the head is good, spare injector loom and crank sensor, TD5 would be fine

TD5 is a pain in Africa. Heard nightmare stories and if electronics go that is it. The WL is a ford engine so it is already (besides mounts) pretty much converted to a TDI300... Am siding with a disco with an engine. I have a gearbox from ashgroves waiting. Just looking for a place to do it for a few days (hoist ) and preferably a welder. Also car is more valuable with TDI300 back in SA (not that I am selling )

OverlandAfrica said:

TD5 is a pain in Africa. Heard nightmare stories and if electronics go that is it. The WL is a ford engine so it is already (besides mounts) pretty much converted to a TDI300... Am siding with a disco with an engine. I have a gearbox from ashgroves waiting. Just looking for a place to do it for a few days (hoist ) and preferably a welder. Also car is more valuable with TDI300 back in SA (not that I am selling )

Click to expand...

I think you are better off with anything but a Ford engine.

I have heard of a TDI300 Transit

Best source is a rusty D1

Never heard of complete electronic failure on a TD5.

To add a different perspective, my other car has been a Ford for the last 17 yrs and they have been superb. Apart from the dual-mass clutch going on the last Mondeo at about 120K. I've found the TDCi Duratorque engine to be superb. !00% reliable, pull like trains and great economy if you drive carefully. That's just my experience though. Others will be different. I've had a V reg Focus Estate 1.8Td (great car) 02 plate Focus 5 door hatch 1.8TDCi (awesome car), 07 plate Mondeo estate 2.0 Tdci (great car), 12 plate Mondeo estate 2.o TDCi (Great car. Bordering on awesome, but steps between gears a bit high)

I'm confused about the WL Ford engine. Was that a South African spec only? Is it like the Puma models over here? Is it a transplant from a SA Ford truck? How is having a WL Ford engine almost like having a 300Tdi conversion already?

The Dual Mass has been the main issue the whole time, also finding parts in Africa is not the easiest (There is always a nutter who loves Landys though). The TD5 blew up I think and the previous owner did a conversion. It is not a bad engine but the conversion is substandard making it a pain ie ripping engine mounts. I just want something more reliable and easier to work on through Western Africa. TD5 has too much electronics. All those have been stripped and most of the work to go to a TDI is done...

My main concern is finding a workshop with a hoist and welder that I can use for a few days... I have sourced all the parts and will try get her in quick.

A 200Tdi has even less electrics.
Mileage shouldn't be an issue as long as the head is good, and a quick compression test is easy, although, admittedly, not 100% reliable, since you can mask a bad head temporarily.
Sorry I can't help you with a workshop, if I had one of them, I'd use it myself instead of laying my Landy out on the drive. You can hire hoists and welders though, in a pinch.