woobanger

New Member
hi, i would like to put a 200 tdi engine and gearbox in my 109, i can't seem to be able to find them advertised together, are they all interchangable or does it depend on year? if anyone has done this convertion i would like to know how it went? many thanks all.:confused:
 
You will find that a Discovery 200Tdi is not an easy fit into a Series LWB (if you keep the turbo). A Defender 200 which has the turbo mounted higher will find more readily. Swapping Defender manifolds onto a Discovery 200 is my favoured route, as the Discovery 200Tdi has the correct bolt pattern for the Series gearbox.

An alternative is to get a 300 Tdi. This has a higher mounted turbo already and the Discovery version will mate to the Series gearbox with only slight modifications to the gearbox (drilling two new holes IIRC).

The main issue with the 200 Tdi into a LWB is that the turbo and the chassis are trying to occupy the same space. Some people have had the chassis 'notched' to over come this but many owners are not happy with what they see as a bodge. The 200 with Defender manifold over comes this, as does the 300. Also consider with the 300 engine that you will need to move engine mounts on the chassis as well.

Fitting the gearbox from the 200Tdi donor will also bring additional problems. Firstly it will be perminant 4WD and the interior (seatbox etc) will require modification for the new gear lever positions.

Personally I would just fit the engine to the Series gearbox.

So, all in all, not completely straight forward with a LWB Series, but definately do-able.

Hope that helps :)
 
thanks alot that is a help, do you know anything about the fourtrak 2.8 engine and gearbox as i've heard this might work? cheers:)
 
Have a look at my comments on the :replacement dif salisbury axle Thread, and use the search sunction.
TDi conversion has been debated from here to doomsday & back; and its one I dont, unfortunately rate; done quick and easy, and you are sowing the seeds of lots and lots and lots of knock on consequential problems, hassles and niggles that get harder and harder to sort out.
Done with a lot of consideration, thought and upfront time effort and money, and the benefits are 'marginal'; or take you somewhere you could have got to an awful lot easier starting with a coiler Landy.
Isuzu diesel; from what I remember of it, lumps best suited to a Rangie conversion, as the transmission is better up to taking it. High torque low rev engine, like the old perkies, lower rev cieling means that road speed can actually be lower than LR four pot; lifting gearing with Ascroft Hi-Ratio X-fer 'safest' way of getting sensible road speed from them, but lots of strain on the gearbox & half shafts.
 
cheers teflon, read through replacement dif salisbury axle and kind of been put off the 200 or 300tdi convertion, my 109 gearbox has gone and the engine is pretty knackered but the bodywork and chassis is really good so would you suggest getting original 2.25 engine and gearbox? or what others might be worth looking at? thanks again :confused:
 
cheers teflon, read through replacement dif salisbury axle and kind of been put off the 200 or 300tdi convertion, my 109 gearbox has gone and the engine is pretty knackered but the bodywork and chassis is really good so would you suggest getting original 2.25 engine and gearbox? or what others might be worth looking at? thanks again :confused:
How much of a masochist are you?
May offer a few ideas if the links work.

Personally,
  • absolutely standard, for a cheap, easy, hassle free time.
  • V8 for the heck of it, if cost effort & ecconomy not an issue
  • Perkie Prima or 19J TD for something a bit more every-day useful, and practically doable without breaking the bank or making life hard; possibly De-Turbo'd 200TDi.
Keeping its stock, with a two and a quarter petrol engine would be solution I'd most eagerly suggest you investigate. Performance isn't too bad, where the Diesel is a slug, and not that eccommical in compensation. For ecconomy, with a 109, and teh space to fit a suitable tank, and the simplicity of conversion, I'd go gas, and LPG it. For a bit more go, bit of fettling on the engine, new timing chain & gears, electronic distributor from a montego, and maybe a stage head from turners. Power + Economy + Simplicity + reliability
And I'd use the series box DIY reconditioned, and as they do make a difference, a second hand Fairy OD as and when I could find/afford one; maybe a Rocky Mountain or Rover Drive if I was flush.

Then again, if I was flush I'd probably throw caution to the wind and go for a full on hybrid......

All comes down to how much money and how much mechanical dexterity you have to chuck at the thing, and what your objectives are for the vehicle at the end of the day.

If you jsut want a cheap Landy; bottom line is buy one that works and keep it standard. If you want more performance, go find a coiler, as it'll be cheaper in the long run. If you want a 'project' well anything goes, really, just be mindful of what you are getting yourself into and what you can practically achieve, as long as what it might be worth at the end of the day for the time money and effort you've put into it.
 
Teffy's right, however in a perfect world.
My choice in your position, and dont forget this is just what I would do.
Get a scrapper box, bolt it in and put the 200 di in without the turbo, its easy and a lot better than the original diesel.
Its a bodge and the new box may be crap, but my opinion is that any box could be crap, and were not talking a track racer.
Make yer mind up, spose my route's good for someone who has all the kit and knowledge so that if a new box or engine fails its not a big issue to sort it.
 
and kind of been put off the 200 or 300tdi convertion
Well done Teflon another easy victim's enthusiasm curtailed.....
 
and kind of been put off the 200 or 300tdi convertion
Well done Teflon another easy victim's enthusiasm curtailed.....
Yeah, real kill-joy me,
Dont think anyone should be allowed to have fun with thier Land-Rovers...
In fact I'm a Rambler.... I know nothing about Landies or mechanics, or building custom cars...
You know, enthusiasm is a great thing, properly directed...... I dont set out to dampen it, merely steer it in a direction less likely to lead to dissapointment and dissolusionment, so it actually has a chance to flourish, not ket killed in a peak of bitterness and frustration....
 
A nice way to do it would be to use a 200TDI and LT 77 box with an Ashcroft conversion to the series transfer box.No reason at all why it should not be a good job,the exhaust can be sorted with a Steve Parker bit or a bit of home fabricating.
Dont forget people have been stuffing allsorts of more powerful engines into series LR's for years,my brother in OZ has a IIA with a Holden 202 straight six in it - really flies,and has had no problems.I'm gradually gathering bits to build a tax exempt SIII with a 300TDI for very little cost.
I grew up with a SIIA fitted with a Perkins 4203 - horrible thing ! but its still going strong now 35 yrs after its conversion.Two gearbox rebuilds and a few 1/2 shafts in that time cant be bad.
Lets face it ANY conversion has downsides,but a series LR is probably the best vehicle in the world to modify - putting someone off is no bloody help at all.
Get on and do it ! Learn from it and enjoy it - we can all help if you get stuck.
 
You can do ANYTHING to a Landy!
Taking on a Project
Provide very well, exactly how far I would try and 'discourage' any-one from messing with thier Land-Rovers.
Do whatever you like; its not my time, my money, my effort, you are using; but if you want to achieve what you set out to, think well about it first, becouse forthought and knowledge will get you a lot further than any amount of enthusiasm.
 
You should build passenger planes teff's.
My approach is shove it in, if it dunt shove bash it, if it wont bash grind it, and if it wont grind feck it.
 
Theres an equilibrium of balance, when the paperwork equals the weight of your biggest 'ommer you've cracked it.
We used to say at college when the weight of the paperwork equals the weight of the equipment, the equipment will work.
 
Lets face it ANY conversion has downsides,but a series LR is probably the best vehicle in the world to modify - putting someone off is no bloody help at all.
Get on and do it ! Learn from it and enjoy it - we can all help if you get stuck.


I could not have put it better myself......how poignant - let's also not forget the fact that lots of people have a series motor as a second car and modify it with the view that it's going to be kept for a long time so the time and cost of putting different engines and 'boxes in pales into insignificance when the end result is what suits you.......
 
Sorry to bring this thread back to life but just wanted to say I agree. :)

I have bought a 109 and also a 200Tdi, R380, LT230. I didn’t mean to set out to buy the engine, box and t-box but it was so cheap it made sense.

Yes I could just keep the old 2.25 engine, and pretend the automotive world hasn't benefited from R&D, and yes I could stick the de-turbo'd engine straight onto my Series gearbox, which according to some 'frying pan' named nay-Sayers on here is soooooo fragile a mouse’s whispered fart would shatter it at 10 paces (mouse paces obviously being smaller before I am corrected!.

Alternatively, I can come online, go on a forum and chat to like minded people who just might... strange as it may seem... enjoy the idea of updating a classic to a useable vehicle.

Now, following a little research I may have a gearbox that won’t fit, and a t-case that wants to drive 4 of my 4 wheel drives wheels (heaven forbid!!!) but I also have plenty to think about, imagine and plan, and a hell of a laugh whilst on the journey. So I may break a cheap old diff, and have to replace it. I still say its better to try, and have something to occupy my time other than chronic self relief I currently use.

Still I could always come on here and shatter someone’s plans which condescending musings, which apparently ignore all the vehicular examples that prove otherwise.

I am not saying TELE-FON or whatever is wrong, and I do appreciate the time it took to so eloquently verbally castrate the lad’s hopes, but please remember for most it’s a hobby also.
 
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I fitted a 300tdi to mine and it was tricky.
If I was to do it again I'd fit a 200tdi and fit the exhaust fanimold and turbo off a 300tdi, and fit all this onto the original series box, its the best cockup and requires the least work, all you'd need to do is mod the n/s wing support bracket body wise.
 
I have a 200tdi for sale I think you should do it! People have been fitting V8's and Big Perkins diesels in LR's for years yes there are down sides but hey I'd rarther fit a tdi than some old Perkins plodder and the extra power- well if you have adecent gearbox a to start with opposed to a 30 year old shagged unit I reckon it would be just fine.
 

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