SpagettiDefender
Member
Can we get a sticky for the 2.0 MPi Engine? I did not see one and this is a quasi-standard engine for the Defender. It has a VIN identifier in the 8th position.
SpagettiDefender
Member
MPi going into the machine shop for inspection and overhaul. Preliminary inspections look great.
If anyone has MPi questions, feel free to ask.
If possible, can one of the Mods add a 2.0 MPi sub forum be added to Engines?
If anyone has MPi questions, feel free to ask.
If possible, can one of the Mods add a 2.0 MPi sub forum be added to Engines?
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SpagettiDefender
Member
No it has not been run without antifreeze. It does look really nasty. I'll post more pictures once the machine shop has gone through it.
If this engine is unsalvageable, this does not seem likely at this point, then I'll be off to get a 300TDI. I really don't want to do this but I am prepared.
Sourcing the MPi overhaul parts and spares has been challenging but I believe I've got nearly everything to include most of the specialty tools. Believe it or not, I drove this Defender across the USA with this engine and it made it all the way without any issues. I did have the slave cylinder go out on the east coast but Rovers North was close so this only resulted in a 24 hour delay.
More to follow.
Anyone else out there have this rare Defender Configuration? Or does anyone have MPi parts laying around?
If this engine is unsalvageable, this does not seem likely at this point, then I'll be off to get a 300TDI. I really don't want to do this but I am prepared.
Sourcing the MPi overhaul parts and spares has been challenging but I believe I've got nearly everything to include most of the specialty tools. Believe it or not, I drove this Defender across the USA with this engine and it made it all the way without any issues. I did have the slave cylinder go out on the east coast but Rovers North was close so this only resulted in a 24 hour delay.
More to follow.
Anyone else out there have this rare Defender Configuration? Or does anyone have MPi parts laying around?
We are as you know, but I have only seen a few others and a couple of Discos.
Spares, Its been fitted in many Rover series cars mostly they go X20 but be carful the MPI system as many had distributor.
But I would imagine most basic parts are the same.
J
SpagettiDefender
Member
The Rover T16 was used in various Rover Models and it had a turbo variant as well though the turbo version never found its way in to Defenders or Discoveries the best I can tell.
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
The T-Series is a very good engine. Sadly a rare find these days, even in the UK. It was used in the Rover 800 mostly with a few examples being in the 600 and 400 cars (the 400 becoming the rover 45 in later life) and the Rover 200 Tomcat coupe.
The Discovery was sold with the T-Series in called the MPi as it got tax benefits in the UK and I believe certain parts of the EU. For the Defender I understand around 200 were built for the Italian army or police. But wasn't a mainstream production model. Although I daresay there may have been a way to special order and a few protoypes.
As for the turbo yes, I have heard stories they tried it and it went too well. The Turbo engine made 197bhp vs 182bhp for the 3.9 Rover V8, the Turbo also had a very flat torque curve making peak torque somewhere around 1500-1800rpm.
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SpagettiDefender
Member
It didn't realize there were so few MPi Defenders. Many second hand T16s are finding their way into Morgans. I'll keep this forum updated on the process and once complete I'll post some videos on youtube. I am 99.9% sure I have an Italian police Defender.
SpagettiDefender
Member
Guilty as charged and I've go some blue under the front carpets. I'm going to keep the new paint job mostly because I couldn't convince the Mrs. to go back to the blue.Can you see any blue paint?
Ours is blue.
J
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BenitoTheItalianDefender
New Member
Hi Spagetti ! I bought myself a 1996 defender 90 2 liter MPI engine and I am trying to make some precautionary maintenance over the winter but i find it pretty hard to find some information and shop manuals, how have you managed to do so ? Just like yours it appears to be frome the italian police ! I found general information about the defender 90, and general information about the T16 engine but nothing with the 90 frame and mpi combo.
The main issue i'm facing with is a high idle after about 45+ minutes of driving (faulty sensor?), hope to find a way to fix this somehow !
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Welcome
.I have not managed to find a manual for the 90 MPI but there is a free manual floating around the internet which is for the dicovery that covers the MPI engine, so have a look around.
I did post a link in another thread here about an MPI so do a search the link might still work.
J
HickoryCrest
New Member
I have a ‘96 Defender 90 MPI. It’s a deep blue with white top just as it was when used by the Carabinieri in Italy. I also have the manual (in Italian). It’s a peppy engine and you don’t have to go looking for diesel. I’d be interested in learning more about the turbo mentioned above.
The turbo was fitted to the range of cars as listed above, the 220 "tomcat" probably the most remembered.
Or search for T16 turbo engine, am sure you may come across a few kitcar forums or MG/rover forums that speak about it.
So can we see pics in the "introduction" section and hear a bit more about you?
J
