So my normally-venerable 19J is showing signs of imminent death. There's smoke chuffing through the breather pipes and blowing out of one of the rocker cover bolts where the heater pipes are attached, starting is harder, and the exhaust is smokier than usual. Optimistically it could be a valve oil seal in the head that's let go, but I suspect it's cracked pistons, block or something equally terminal.

I've managed to source a 200tdi from a friend, which I believe to be ex-Discovery, so this may be the best way forward. I've read all the guides and I think I know the conversion route, but I'd just like to lay out the assumptions to check I've not missed anything.

Fitting the engine- engine mounts can be made to fit. Different from the Disco. Engine should bolt onto the LT77 gearbox with minimal alterations.

Exhaust- get the conversion downpipe which mates to the standard 19J exhaust system. Easy.

Radiator- don't think the radiator from the disco is available. Get a defender radiator/intercooler/frame and bolt in? Or modify the brackets for a Disco assembly. Or possibly use the 19J radiator and fit an aftermarket intercooler.

PAS pipes. Some conversion work needed here to fit the Disco pump. The 19J pump is relatively new so would this fit the Disco engine?

Oil cooler. I seem to recall some mention of using the 19J parts on the 200tdi so the original pipes fit. Otherwise they need extending.

Wiring loom- swap from the 19J, extending the temperature sensor connection. I made a new loom to replace a damaged original so I'd probably just remake that wire the correct length.

Cooling fan- will the viscous fan setup work? Otherwise procure and wire in an electric fan.


Possible alternatives to the 200?
-- 2.5 petrol. Should bolt straight in with a few wiring alterations to suit the ignition system- nothing too difficult. Cheaper than a 200tdi (which will buy a fair bit of petrol.) Nice and quiet too. Possibly with the manifolds/turbo/other anciliaries from the 19J for a bit of extra power (and potentially sounding great) which is intriguing... This way would actually be easier to bolt together apart from sorting the carb out for turbocharging.

-- 3.5 V8. Similar to the 2.5 above, but a bit more involved mechanically.

-- Something else? Open to ideas.

V8! V8! V8! V8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although seriously, writing is on the wall for diesel - V8 gives you loads of fun and LPG possibility................................

waldamar said:

V8! V8! V8! V8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although seriously, writing is on the wall for diesel - V8 gives you loads of fun and LPG possibility................................

Click to expand...

Point noted about the future of diesel. I do have my suspicions that it will be the next evil scapegoat, after years everyone being told to buy them.

So, been talking to some folks at work who understand petrol better than me. With a draw-through carb feeding straight into the 19J turbo/manifolds for simplicity and about 5 psi of boost, we reckon the results of a franken-2.5 petrol turbo could be interesting. No intercooler with the TD manifolds, but with vaporisation of the petrol before the turbo this would help control temperatures a bit. Just watch the EGT under load. Anyone know if the block on a petrol has the oil feed/return holes (blanked off I presume) as used on the 19J? That would make it virtually a bolt-in conversion.

If I don't go for the turbo-petrol concept, will the petrol downpipe mate up to the rest of the TD exhaust?

Need to find out whether the radiator/other bits are on hand for the 200tdi, as this would make things more difficult if I have to track everything down separately.

Sell me the PAS pump and bracket

V8!!