Keep taking pics and posting then as you go through the conversion

Don't think there's any grounds for worry. My 90 was converted to 300tdi / R380 in 1998. Gearbox sits on LT77 mounts and the engine sits about 50mm further back than a standard 300tdi. Coolant hoses etc are all standard and fit with no problems. I only had problems with the fuel filter. I retained the bulkhead mounted filter. A 300-tdi type fuel filter fouled the air filter hose hence I retained the old-type fuel filter for 15 years. Lately I decided to change it and found that a citroen xsara fuel filter fits the 300 tdi Boch filter head and is 30mm shorter than standard.

cheethd said:

but now its been suggested that i can use the lt77 position and achieve the correct position?

Click to expand...

As already said, this is not the standard position but it is near enough so all the pipework will fit with little or not messing about. But in this position you can use your original prop shafts. If you use the R380 gearbox crossmember then you should use later props. The front one can be a Discovery prop but the rear will have to be the correct Defender type.

But adding more confusion to this, you may well be able to get away with using your old props. But the front may be too long to compress enough at full suspension compression and the rear may pop out at full suspension expansion.

As you have to weld in new engine mounts either way I would say that the easiest will be to use the original gearbox mounts and that's it. Then you don't have to cut the seatbox to allow for the new gearbox position (or get a later seatbox/tunnel,diaphgram). I did the conversion with a 200Tdi and used the R380 gearbox crossmember and I had to cut the seatbox and mess with the tunnel and floor, but it's not too much hassle really.

Thanks for all the advise, it's in and as you can see in the photos I went for the new r380 crossmember. I'll start another thread for the re build as it's been so far a massive undertaking. Not just the "all you need us an engine mate" like I thought when I bought it I went for new seat box as cutting I could not be bothered with and as it turns out I sold the lt77 one for the same as I got the r380 one for. And same for the tunnels. Happy days. Mounts are a bugger though for the 300tdi exhaust as my 2.5 Na chassis does not have the midd chassis mounts and need a photo of what they look like. Hey ho it's all good fun.

Cheethd

I am in the middle of this same conversion. Can you tell me which of the original bolt holes you used from the new R380 crossmember to what was already in the frame. I have three that line up and two that I will need to drill holes for. I am just not 100% sure I have the crossmember in the right position.

Cheers

Tim

if you use a discovery r380 cross member the 3 8mm holes are the ones you use for position,and you would need to cut a bit out for seat box support

James

Thanks. Yes I am using the disco R380 cross member. I will need the check the holes that I used. I did need to trim down the seat box support so it seems I am heading the right way

This look correct?



Cheers

Tim

yes it does