nobber

Well-Known Member
Any cheap and easy options out there for a simple diesel engine to mate with an LT77?
 
You are better off with a LR engine unless you want to be welding new engine mounts on. Where about are you? Quite a few cheap engines about down here
 
You are better off with a LR engine unless you want to be welding new engine mounts on. Where about are you? Quite a few cheap engines about down here

Suffolk fella, dont mind welding mounts on if its an easy conversion,
 
Land Rover diesels are the easiest swap, nothing else will mate to your existing bellhousing. Land Rover diesels are also less likely to upset your insurance company.
Just seen from your other post that you have a dead 19J diesel, if I was in your shoes, I would be looking for a 200/300tdi engine, or a complete dead Discovery if you have the space,.
I put a 300tdi in my 2.5 N/A 110, it was a simple conversion.
http://www.glencoyne.co.uk/200tdi.htm
 
Last edited:
+1 for fitting a TDi. A Mk1 Disco would be an ideal donor. I know you were fond of the old 2.5 turbo, but a 200/300 TDi will give the old girl a new lease of life for years to come.
 
A 200/300 TDi will give the old girl a new lease of life for years to come.
I'd be wanting to rebuild any tdi first before putting it in anything. Remember they are all 20-30 years old now and most won't be in a disco anymore so no chance of seeing it running beforehand.
 
It's not hard to get them running out of the car to give you a basic idea of health before purchase, but this probably only applies to buying from friends as I can't imagine a breaker allowing you to do this.....HEALTH & SAFETY ALERT- Don't try this at home!!
 
As I mentioned above, a complete disco 1 being sold for parts is the ideal doner - that way you will have some idea of the mileage, and can get the radiator/oil cooler/intercooler etc and all the pipework. You will need to make or buy a exhaust downpipe, but the whole thing is pretty easy.
 
I'd be wanting to rebuild any tdi first before putting it in anything. Remember they are all 20-30 years old now and most won't be in a disco anymore so no chance of seeing it running beforehand.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. It's not as if it is normal for people to buy a used car and then take it for a full rebuild before using it.
 
If it ain't broke don't fix it. It's not as if it is normal for people to buy a used car and then take it for a full rebuild before using it.
How many people buy 25 year-old used cars? Not really applicable.

The point is that tdi lumps aren't indestructible, and wear out like any other engine. In 2009 there were still a plethora of cheap, rusty discos around with decent engines ripe for pillaging, but 10 years later a bit more thought is needed before chucking an unknown engine in.
 
How many people buy 25 year-old used cars? Not really applicable.
Tens, maybe even hundreds of 1000’s people. Globally probably millions. Not really sure what your point is here??

The point is that tdi lumps aren't indestructible, and wear out like any other engine. In 2009 there were still a plethora of cheap, rusty discos around with decent engines ripe for pillaging, but 10 years later a bit more thought is needed before chucking an unknown engine in.
Any engine can wear out. However there is a huge cost in rebuilding one. Fine if you have the money to throw at it. But I suspect this isn’t true for many and especially for people owning old Land Rovers of this nature.

The Tdi is also known as a robust engine. There was a thread recently about rebuilds and more than one person posted saying they wished they hadn’t bothered. As when they stripped it down. It really wasn’t worn at all. Even with over 200,000 miles on them.

And lastly, rebuilding blindly you have no idea how it runs. And rebuilding in situ doesn’t really make it any harder. Or even pulling it out will only take a fraction of the time you’ll need for a rebuild. And this way you can access how it runs first.

One more thing. Lots of rebuilds end up in engine failures. Each time you take something apart you have risk of something going wrong. Of course this shouldn’t happen. But can and does.
 
Tens, maybe even hundreds of 1000’s people. Globally probably millions. Not really sure what your point is here??


Any engine can wear out. However there is a huge cost in rebuilding one. Fine if you have the money to throw at it. But I suspect this isn’t true for many and especially for people owning old Land Rovers of this nature.

The Tdi is also known as a robust engine. There was a thread recently about rebuilds and more than one person posted saying they wished they hadn’t bothered. As when they stripped it down. It really wasn’t worn at all. Even with over 200,000 miles on them.

And lastly, rebuilding blindly you have no idea how it runs. And rebuilding in situ doesn’t really make it any harder. Or even pulling it out will only take a fraction of the time you’ll need for a rebuild. And this way you can access how it runs first.

One more thing. Lots of rebuilds end up in engine failures. Each time you take something apart you have risk of something going wrong. Of course this shouldn’t happen. But can and does.


Seen that happen a few times, engine running away as mech forgot to drain oil from intercooler after turbo change which resulted in a totally blown engine so got a little expensive!
Another favourite was liner height not set so had to be rebuilt again, that happened more than once.
People snapping head bolts, people snapping taps in the block whilst cleaning out threads.
New rocker gasket left in the air filter, which then got sucked into the turbo think that cost 2.5k to fix
Motors sent out afetr major service with no oil in the diff
Trucks left idling after an oil change until they heat siezed as the mech had forgotten to put the new oil in!
Sump bung dropping out a few miles after service as he forgot to tighten it, unsurprisiingly that totally shagged the engine.
The list is literally endless and none were cheap to fix, best of all none were done by me.

I was told many moons ago the most dangerous time for any vehicle is right after its been serviced as thats when any cock ups will show up and result in a break down.
 
How many people buy 25 year-old used cars? Not really applicable.

The point is that tdi lumps aren't indestructible, and wear out like any other engine. In 2009 there were still a plethora of cheap, rusty discos around with decent engines ripe for pillaging, but 10 years later a bit more thought is needed before chucking an unknown engine in.
A lot of people buy classic cars.
 

Similar threads