Hi everyone, I saw that a common engine swap for the 300tdi defender is 2.8TGV or powerstroke. I didn't find much information on this topic on this forum. I read that they are based on the 300tdi and share some parts with it but the block is obviously different. Are they worth the upgrade and are they hard to come by because they aren't manufactured anymore. I saw some people said that the extra 300cc doesn't make a difference but rather is the VNT turbo that does the work. I also saw that MD Engineering in the UK sells a kit to convert a 300tdi into a 2.8, has anyone done this? Is there enough space to bore the 300tdi's block bigger and most importantly does it put too much stress on the 300tdi's block? Back to the 2.8TGV, when engine swapping a defender with a R380 gearbox with the 2.8TGV. The 2.8TGV produces about 400nm I read and the R380 is rated at 380nm so its a bit over the limit. My biggest worry when swapping a 300tdi with a 2.8TGV is that my drivetrain isn't strong enough. It won't be fun breaking diffs and gearboxes the whole time. Any thoughts and advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You hate Series, you feel the urge to carry 'lots of spares, because its a landrover' and now you want to change out a 300tdi engine for a 2.8TGV ....

Why don't you just get a standard Defender 300tdi and work with that first ?
Sort out the chassis and runing gear etc ....
If you really can't get on with it you can send your 300tdi off to be made into a 2.8TGV, or buy one that will slot straight in ...

Talk to othese people:
https://www.mdengineering.co.uk/international-hs-2-8l-300-tdi/

If you can find a 2.8 (not easy or cheap) as they were made in south America and not common here it's a fairly easy swap and they do have alot more tourqe

You shouldn't break the gearbox as the td5 used the r380

As Mike says sort the basics first then go for extra power ,if you can't live with the tdi a factory td5 would be a better option

miktdish said:

You hate Series, you feel the urge to carry 'lots of spares, because its a landrover' and now you want to change out a 300tdi engine for a 2.8TGV ....

Why don't you just get a standard Defender 300tdi and work with that first ?
Sort out the chassis and runing gear etc ....
If you really can't get on with it you can send your 300tdi off to be made into a 2.8TGV, or buy one that will slot straight in ...

Talk to othese people:
https://www.mdengineering.co.uk/international-hs-2-8l-300-tdi/

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I do not hate Series. I dislike Series, for several reasons but they are better than walking. I feel it is compulsory to carry spares with a Land Rover as they are old machines but mostly because I don't like calling for help and I have a habit of carrying spares in all of my vehicles. I just thought I would create an interesting thread on this topic as I couldn't find much information on it. Do you think the 300tdi's block can handle 300 extra cc when going for the MD Engineering path? Anyone who may already have done this? Thank you

chrisstdt said:

If you can find a 2.8 (not easy or cheap) as they were made in south America and not common here it's a fairly easy swap and they do have alot more tourqe

You shouldn't break the gearbox as the td5 used the r380

As Mike says sort the basics first then go for extra power ,if you can't live with the tdi a factory td5 would be a better option

Click to expand...

Thank you chrisstdt. I have considered the TD5 route but I don't really like the electronics on it, as far as I understand the 2.8TGV is also still mechanical. Don't get me wrong, the TD5 is very reliable, I have seen some with over 700,000km on them but then again I heard some pretty nightmare stuff about the electronics of them. Oh well then I suppose the R380 would easily handle the 2.8TGV as I saw some pretty tuned TD5s running the stock gearbox. I didn't think of it now. Thanks.

Farmer John said:

<snip> Do you think the 300tdi's block can handle 300 extra cc when going for the MD Engineering path?

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Most probably, but at the same time I don't think it i at all neccessary.
The R380 and LT230 with a 1.2:1 ration will pull you out of the same **** a 28TGV will.
Fitting a VNT turbo to the 300tdi along with a larger intercooler and a fettled/good FiP will give you an excellent drive package at a significantly lower cost that fitting a 2.8TGV engine.

If you want to fit a 1.4:1 ratio box and larger wheels and tyres then that extra horses will probably give you a similar performance as the 300tdi described above but with a higher top speed.
Stop trying to be different.
Get a 300tdi like many of us on here and then we can all help with first hand experience.

miktdish said:

Most probably, but at the same time I don't think it i at all neccessary.
The R380 and LT230 with a 1.2:1 ration will pull you out of the same **** a 28TGV will.
Fitting a VNT turbo to the 300tdi along with a larger intercooler and a fettled/good FiP will give you an excellent drive package at a significantly lower cost that fitting a 2.8TGV engine.

If you want to fit a 1.4:1 ratio box and larger wheels and tyres then that extra horses will probably give you a similar performance as the 300tdi described above but with a higher top speed.
Stop trying to be different.
Get a 300tdi like many of us on here and then we can all help with first hand experience.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice, maybe I must consider the VNT turbo. A 300tdi with a VNT turbo vs a 2.8TGV with the standard VNT turbo it comes with. I don't think the 2.8TGV will make so much more power or what do you think? When fitting a bigger intercooler, VNT turbo and tuned FiP can I expect to see a decrease in engine longevity? Thanks.

chrisstdt said:

If you can find a 2.8 (not easy or cheap) as they were made in south America and not common here it's a fairly easy swap and they do have alot more tourqe

You shouldn't break the gearbox as the td5 used the r380

As Mike says sort the basics first then go for extra power ,if you can't live with the tdi a factory td5 would be a better option

Click to expand...

The South American issue is not a problem as such, the normal 300TDi was manufactured there when they shut the UK manufacturing capacity to provide powerplants for the ROW spec TDi vehicles still being manufactured (inc MOD vehicles). 100% spares compatibility.
My own 300TDi was manufactured in Brazil (2004) and I believe they kept manufacturing the engines there until 2006 and the 2.8 until 2010.

Wasn't the 2.8 (along with an autobox) used to power later versions of the WMIK?
Being a total fan of the 300TDi auto, I would love to have a go with a 2.8 auto!