Perkins/200TDI Conversion

I have a series 3 SWB and the engine is knackered. I am considering doing a conversion to a 200 tdi or perkins. I am just looking for some opinions on which is better.

Perkins what, 2.0l 'Prima' or 4204 Dodge walk-thru motor, or any of the more quixotic Perkies as used in Jap motors, catapillar bull-dozers or even Hydrovane builder's compressors?
For the TDi conversion, use the search facility, or just click through a couple of pages of this board; question seems to get asked almost daily!
Its an oft done conversion, as the motors are readily available from dead Disco's, and it fits to the series bell-housing like it was meant to be bolted there, as the TDI shares the same flange drillings as all the series landies back to day one, though I think that they changed stud sixes to metric at some point and it fits better if you ream the bell-housing holes out.
BUT, in my opinion, its not a 'good' match, as the way a TDi makes its power puts an awful lot more strain than the numbers suggest on the series drive-line, which even if 'good' is being asked to deal with well over twice the power it was ever deemed good for.
Its to do with the way the power is applied, rather than the actual amounts, TDI power comes in with a big 'bang' from tick-over to 2000rpm, hitting the gear-box like a sledge hammer, and normally doing damage, or at teh very least hugely accelerating wear.
De-Turbo's TDi unit works better and gives the drive line an easier time.
But of the two, I think tha the little Perkins 2.0TD is quite a cracking engine, and though an out-dated conversion, still got a lot to commend it. Not as straight forward as a TDi, but knocks out useful power, (90 - 100bhp, almost as much as a 'good' TDi) without it loading the transmission, and reputedly the most ecconomical engine ever fitted to a series, with reports of 40+mpg not being uncommon, where the TDI rarely betters 30.
4203 Perkins, in normally aspirated form, is an old dog, loads of grunt, that twists series drive line bits to bits, and but very little 'go' as they dont rev out.
Turbo'd version works better, but not much and puts even more strain on teh transmission, and neither are wonderfully ecconomical.
But use your mouse, its ALL been said before......

Thanks for that, I was looking at the Perkins 4.203. Or a 200TDI without the turbo. I didnt know that the Prima was an option. I will start looking into that.
Cheers Lew

200Tdi for ease of conversion and availability of parts. No question.

I agree with andy, and its gonna be still all land rover which might preserve its value.
The 4203 is a really good engine though, bellhousing adaptors are expensive however, the only adaptor you need for the 200di is a 8.5mm drill bit and a 10mm tap.

THanks fo the advice.
JUst got to find time to do it now

Lew

A 200tdi conversion is a lot of work if you keep the turbo and intercooler, but they go extremely well in an 88" leafsprung landy.

300tdi can be done, its even more work, speaking from experience.

dr pepper said:

300tdi can be done, its even more work, speaking from experience.

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Agreed - It looks quite a bit more difficult to make the 300tdi fit, but it's worth considering for a 109 cos of the low mounted turbo on the disco 200tdi. I wander if the 300tdi manifolds and turbo can be fitted to a 200tdi engine?

theres an idea, it is the same garret 'charger, so probably.

fenby1976 said:

Agreed - It looks quite a bit more difficult to make the 300tdi fit, but it's worth considering for a 109 cos of the low mounted turbo on the disco 200tdi. I wander if the 300tdi manifolds and turbo can be fitted to a 200tdi engine?

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Defender manifolds on a 200 with help with putting a TDi in a 109.

Thanks andy I looked at that, but now I have the 300 tdi and it all fits, well I had to holesaw a hole in the n/s wing support bracket to get the hot air pipe in, but it fits ok.

I believe for those doing a non turbo di that the fanimold off the series engine does actually fit the 200, and probably the 300 block with a couple of minor mods.

fenby1976 said:

Agreed - It looks quite a bit more difficult to make the 300tdi fit, but it's worth considering for a 109 cos of the low mounted turbo on the disco 200tdi. I wander if the 300tdi manifolds and turbo can be fitted to a 200tdi engine?

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yes they fit, i have a good manifold, turbo and inlet manifold cheep if anyone wants one ( 300tdi) that is 07973539352

Does the 300tdi manifold make it easier to fit a series exhaust on a 88". Or is no gain made?

Moley,

if you fit 200Di (no turbo) then you can use a standard 2.25D manifold and exhaust. There are minor adjustments and trimming you need to do to the manifold, but it is VERY easy.

I know, but i want to fit a turbo to mine. Thats why i said 300TDi manifold, not Di.

1moley said:

I know, but i want to fit a turbo to mine. Thats why i said 300TDi manifold, not Di.

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are you trying to use the std series exhaust aswell as keeping the turbo on the tdi engine it can be done but will restrict the engine going that way. there is a conversion kit that you can buy on ebay but you will need to make an exhaust to fit it or you could do what i did and buy a steve parker exhaust fits straight onto the manifold and runs eggsatly the route as the series exhaust did using same style brackets but made for the sp exhaust the sp exhaust is the same diamiter as the disco and defender exhausts 2 1/2".

graham
________________
98 d1 300tdi auto.

It is soo temping to go out and buy, but money is pretty tight atm. I think i've seen that item on ebay, around £65??

Is it a serious issue have a smaller bore exhaust.

Errm you want a turbo to pack more into the engine, but a small bore exhaust to strangle it so it cant get out?

Turbo, larger bore
No turbo, smaller bore

Hence my earlier post.

ah, i see. I didn't relise you were describing a different option, than answering my question.

... With the sp exhaust, i've seen pictures showing it going under the chassis. Isn't this a bad idea due to been clouted by a protruding rock? .. or is this the same with the 2.25 exhaust?

cheers.