Galvernisednuts

Active Member
Hello everyone, just joined the forum and can't wait to get started

I'm running a defender 300 tdi with a very successful Tdci bulkhead and dash and still have a manual gearbox
I've met lots of people who tried and gave up or fitted an auto to clear the dash but I offer hope
Anyone interested?
Ta
 
I'll sort sum once the rains given it a rest
Let's get one thing straight though it wasn't simple but I was lucky to have access to the bits to work it out
New Tdci wiring uses a bit of canbus stuff to work with the ecu but junk that most of the warning lamp wires are the same ie diff lock sidelights etc
I used an r380 from a disco with it's more rearward gear selector and modded a disco 3 centre console to fit, I've now got a cubby fridge
The gauges are currently 300 tdi but I'm putting td5 ones in soon
As said I had access to a lot of stuff but luckily I needed to change my notchy gearbox so was worthwhile
 
I'm currently making black polycarbonate gauge holders for the dash if anyone's interested
e92043bb86d1bc98207390226ef80401.jpg

You need an instrument pack to butcher but it's not a hard conversion to do
7a7af54cdb99bf5541869d311da8f614.jpg
f90194605888dfa58209b577dbb1be1a.jpg
cb109875713d8f7c754cf12140e42370.jpg
 
de72a0400fa1c3f7817f925c924d5cff.jpg


Here's the instrument pack as dismantled to remove the can network gauges
31fc0cfdd56fde913ebf792974f105d6.jpg

Remove this white plastic piece and cut out its centre
16b7c32ae388f116eec263b883aac42f.jpg

Retain the outer frame, discard the middle bit
8e103d4aad5dca0f2d3f03cf44502728.jpg

Here's the outer lens and modded back
The black polycarbonate plate is shown prior to cutting the gauge holes and warning lamp panel
0220a73e0c9bc26bc5f9233d63840aa4.jpg

The template test shows my planned instrument layout

3014d7d83512124fb437c0bbe540d620.jpg

Here's my current tdi gauges lit with led bulbs and a td5 warning lamp unit
I'm fitting td5 gauges soon which will match the illumination of the rest of the Tdci stuff
 
Last edited:
More pics as requested
Here's the centre console too
19dec9a7dc7016850e08732458457073.jpg


I made a sank alloy centre plate to allow the cubby fridge to fit the seat box and just modded seatbox leading edge and Tdci tunnel
Before ya ask the disco 3 hi lo lever does nowt not does the hdc button but I plan to either fit blanks or turn them into other switches
19e45e17acb11b78bc4a4aaa18b7e7bd.jpg


Once I get the rear vent ducts tapped into dash I'll have rear vents for the kids too
468343d0b06d3cfd71ff19f20bf66bad.jpg


To be fair I like the old tdi and td5 dash but the heater is truly brilliant with the Tdci bulkhead and it's rarely used at full heat

8e6ea9adef6b02da6a0a7275ab79fed0.jpg



I was lucky and won a 2010 bulkhead for £400 which considering my old bulkhead was knackered was a bargain
At least if you know where you stand you can decide whether it's worthwhile a job to do
 
Last edited:
Wow brilliant fit out 😊 may do this to my build it looks ace weldone and thanx for sharing 😊🍰
 
A standard r380 gearstick comes up where the dash is on the Tdci and that's the stall point, folks seem to end up fitting the auto as the disco selector doesn't just bolt onto the defender gearbox
The shaft inside has a grub screw that's 90 degrees different for starters
The wiring by and large is hard wired not needing ecu input although the glow plug relay needed a rework to Tdi type on mine
I got td5 connectors for the warning lamp display off eBay and just cut the Tdci instrument pack plug off
Had to run in a couple of wires for the temp gauge which was ecu controlled
Other than that use the redundant wires for other jobs
Make sure u get the harness and under driver seat fuse box with relays
 
Last edited:
As I keep scratching my head I'll add more info......
The heater valve for the Tdci is used but plumb in correct flow rate see pic
11932eeb8d22348a56abb973447ab2ba.jpg


Notice I added a bleed valve here too as it's quite a high point on a Tdi and it works a treat when bleeding the cooling system

117a496471f5e89985c35ad57783d6d6.jpg


I also moved the air filter onto the bulkhead where the ecu was after getting fed up of replacing those rubber bobbing mounts

You also get the benefit depending on spec to have leccy windows and central locking
I've replaced the alarm ecu 10as with the new black type and programmed it on a Tdci before fitting, with a bit of rework and an rf receiver it now uses the latest type 434 hz fobs which are fantastic for range and you no longer need to put the fob to your head
 
Last edited:
And finally ........

3dfd30cd743bb2d48db25e34811cd1ca.jpg


Td5 gauges in progress

0512d993984e1020c6c6a3118a2b032b.jpg


As you can see it's a snug install and you've got to get everything just right to fit

930255bc6c34283439fbc081b0e6a985.jpg


The warning panel needs special attention otherwise there won't be room for it

b7d4d70cecea01353afca77fbd14878b.jpg

See below for the extra trim needed on the white bit

1709429ff44a3aa2c4dde4280da83c4f.jpg


3f25b4774127896a113ea26eb6709e6e.jpg


Just need to order a rev counter and a set of alloy rings for the gauges

Hope you like it I've had plenty of time to upload all this , am stuck at home with MRSA :-/
 
Last edited:
Moving forwards my td5 clocks are ready to mount
Looking forward to the weekend
65d0fc3f2abbd02ce98ead9ac86c5829.jpg


Feeling somewhat lighter in the wallet but the row spec rev counter is the best bit

I opted for a DT deutsch 12 way waterproof connector from eBay, can't recommend this connector enough, easy to build and good quality

I've added the rev signal wire and spliced into the harness to provide ign feed for the rev counter too
Seen as my tdci bulkhead has an alarm led wire I'll run it to the speedo to illuminate the led

I'll send a final pic once were all fitted up
 
Last edited:
Now that I've made a few I'm gonna start making up the gauge panels, ideally I'll get another lot of gauges so I can test build em to ensure everything fits then offer em for sale
Glad to report I'm back at work again Hooray er Boooo ha ha
 
Here we are all in and working

708e65c7c2c96b4c5e4c2c01f44431f1.jpg


Superb illumination and they match the Tdci dash that little bit better

I'm loving the row spec rev counter

Next job will be a Tdci mud pod and more gauges from the vdo vision range
 

Similar threads