Defender 200tdi convention slow acceleration

Hi all.

Recently bought myself a 1985 ex mod 110 defender, belive it to be ex RAF military police.

It's had the N/A block swapped out for a disco 200tdi. It has a lt77 box.

I'm finding it best to pull off in second gear as its so slow in first. Not that it feels normal in second. Its slow to get going in any gear then eventually picks up.

A mechanic friend of mine seems to think it might have a rock crawler transfer box and that. A disco one would change the way it drives.

If I'm honest it Feels dangerous trying to pull out at junctions even in second. And feels like your driving in 4th on at 60mph in 5th.

Any advice, knowledge or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Previous searches seems to knock putting a disco transfer box in it? Never gonna toe. I might like to do some light greenlaning at some point but soley it's my daily driver and work van.

At present it's not pleasurable to drive as is.

Thanks in advance ☺

Check on the rear of the transfer box(by the hand brake drum) for a reference number
I think yours is lower than a 1.44(disco 1.22)

also what size tyres are you using?

Check basics first
Throttle pedal hard into the floor (ign off!) is the other end htting the stop? be surprised just how many dont.
Lift pumps notorious for failing with sluggish results.

Hicap phill said:

Check on the rear of the transfer box(by the hand brake drum) for a reference number
I think yours is lower than a 1.44(disco 1.22)

also what size tyres are you using?

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Hi floor's wet atm for me to crawl under. My mate did when I took it to him and he couldn't see any numbers.

Running on lt235/85 r16 120/116s m+s

lynall said:

Check basics first
Throttle pedal hard into the floor (ign off!) is the other end htting the stop? be surprised just how many dont.
Lift pumps notorious for failing with sluggish results.

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Sorry its my first defender. Are you talking about the screw bolt on the pedal when you say the other end?

Mac-1990 said:

Sorry its my first defender. Are you talking about the screw bolt on the pedal when you say the other end?

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No, if you look at the injector pump, work the linkage there by hand and you'll see it hit a throttle stop screw, now... Check if the pedal hits the same stop screw when its pressed. Sometimes there is too much slack in the cable so you won't get max revs.

Flossie said:

No, if you look at the injector pump, work the linkage there by hand and you'll see it hit a throttle stop screw, now... Check if the pedal hits the same stop screw when its pressed. Sometimes there is too much slack in the cable so you won't get max revs.

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Right I'm with you! Silly sod before me has put in some crap sound deadening pads and a thick pile carpet so I'll have look to see. Thing is surely pulling off in first gear shouldn't warrant the foot to the floor to get it to move. It honestly does crawl. I set off every time is second and it acts like first gear should?

If everything is ok engine wise then that is normal for that transfer box, it should move off sharpish but soon run out of revs so you are changing up quickly yes? If that's the case then you just need a disco transfer box.
Just checking....(because someone else off here did the same!)
You're not in low box are you?

Flossie said:

If everything is ok engine wise then that is normal for that transfer box, it should move off sharpish but soon run out of revs so you are changing up quickly yes? If that's the case then you just need a disco transfer box.
Just checking....(because someone else off here did the same!)
You're not in low box are you?

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Nope not in low. Issue is the opposite crawls at the start then picks up, hence the need to pull off in 2nd. I'll have a look at the motor and see what I find

Mac-1990 said:

Nope not in low. Issue is the opposite crawls at the start then picks up, hence the need to pull off in 2nd. I'll have a look at the motor and see what I find

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Floor mats can be a big issue with throttle linkages, to get max power (what there is of it!) the throttle linkage on the injector pump has to hit the stop screw when throttle pedal is on the floor.
With the tyre you have and a def transfer box it should pull away okay/run out of revs quickly in 1st, much the same in 2nd start to get better in third, 5th will get you an easybut noisy 60 on the flat wth 70 being a screaming the arse off it affair.

The worst thing you can do is try and compare them with a normal car, they are so far removed from a normal car ir is unreal.

Has it still got the turbo fitted?
It also might not be boosting even if it has.

Even a 19j gets on with it, a 200tdi that’s crawling sounds like it’s either getting no fuel or it’s strangled - check the intake side for obstructions and if the intercooler plumbing is all properly in place, if all sound I’d be thinking no boost as well…..wastegate stuck open?

Flossie said:

Has it still got the turbo fitted?
It also might not be boosting even if it has.

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Yup turbo is still there it boosts quite late in gear. Seems to me to make a lot of revs but not go anywhere. Just had the injector pump top off to check the pin wasn't sticking or seized. It isn't but there was some oil on top of the diaphragm? Also feel I moved the position as u wiped the oil off to find the dot. Not sure really what position is normal for it?

Is it not strange that about the gearing feeling like it's in 4th when in 5th? I have driven another defender that had a 300tdi in it. I know the old its loud on a motorway but surely not like you could go up a gear at 55-60mph.

Even my TD5 seams like it is 4th when in 5th, thats the way they are, corners are taken in 3rd gear, they are low geared.

Mac-1990 said:

Yup turbo is still there it boosts quite late in gear. Seems to me to make a lot of revs but not go anywhere. Just had the injector pump top off to check the pin wasn't sticking or seized. It isn't but there was some oil on top of the diaphragm?

Also feel I moved the position as u wiped the oil off to find the dot. Not sure really what position is normal for it?

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If you remove the top of the pump again remove the diaphragm out from the top of the injection pump look at the angled section on the bottom you will see the thickest longest telltale mark is where it normally runs the thickest wear mark points towards the front of the vehicle if you have more than one wear mark someone has been messing with the pump if you just have just one wear Mark it is most likely totally standard if you rotate the diaphragm 45 to 90° from the position it was in you will have a much nicer drive

The standard gearing of these vehicles makes sense if you are carrying a heavy load or towing a loaded trailer,

tottot said:

The standard gearing of these vehicles makes sense if you are carrying a heavy load or towing a loaded trailer,

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But if you're not. Will a disco transfer box be better to drive on?

lynall said:

If you remove the top of the pump again remove the diaphragm out from the top of the injection pump look at the angled section on the bottom you will see the thickest longest telltale mark is where it normally runs the thickest wear mark points towards the front of the vehicle if you have more than one wear mark someone has been messing with the pump if you just have just one wear Mark it is most likely totally standard if you rotate the diaphragm 45 to 90° from the position it was in you will have a much nicer drive

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I was looking into doing this. Is it right by turning the pin it only increases power when boosting? Not before the turbo kicks in? Ideally I'd like a little more umph before the turbo or the turbo kick in sooner. Is that possible?

If it's your first Defender, are you 100% sure you're not it low ratio?