How to - Land Rover 90 TD to Discovery 200TDi Engine Conversion

[chunkymunky]

Its worth finding a defender 200tdi. Hard but well worth it. Even better if you can find one with gearbox still attached

 

[IamRobbie]

You can find anything for the right price....

300tdi seems the better option now days as the 300tdi disco and defender engines are more or less the same

 

[chunkymunky]

Its all to do with the exhaust manifold. Defenders is lower i think. James can confirm on this

 

[jamesmartin]

3000 tdi engine are the same

 

[chunkymunky]

Sorry meant on the 200tdi.

 

[series 3 sweet 16]

i've just brought well buying a 200 disco c reg 90!! drove it and quick for what it is. thats the 3rd brought and 5 conversion, but i have heared the rangie 200 is slightly more challenging anyone know if this is the case? as my understanding was the mk1 black eye was rangie chassied and based?

 

[Jonathan Churchill]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Shabang]

Very nice write up! All I need is all of the above! anyways, very concise yet specific!

 

[FlyingPete]

Barely worth doing this conversion now. The supply of cheap rotten discos with decent engines has basically dried up, and you're left with either an unknown engine on a pallet or a tired old lump of an engine that's gone to the Moon and back. In either case it will be over 25 years old and most likely need a rebuild anyway.

Far better nowadays to keep the originality and do a good rebuild on what's already there.

 

[Pappasmurf]

Barely worth doing this conversion now. The supply of cheap rotten discos with decent engines has basically dried up, and you're left with either an unknown engine on a pallet or a tired old lump of an engine that's gone to the Moon and back. In either case it will be over 25 years old and most likely need a rebuild anyway.

Far better nowadays to keep the originality and do a good rebuild on what's already there.

Its perfectly worth doing, there are still some very good engines out there. I bought one for £300 last year, even got to drive the vehicle it came out of, I've seen its service history, its MOTs, it was a straight fit, without the need for rebuild, it is an awesome vehicle now. Also the instructions are similar for fitting a 300tdi, except for engine mounts and a couple of other minor jobs, so this guide also helps them out. Also, what if your engine is actually dead and you need a new engine?

 

[FlyingPete]

I'm sure they do still exist, but it's not like it's 2006 where you could easily buy a MOT-failed Disco, ransack it for parts and weigh in the rest to almost break even. Even the latest 300tdi is 20 years old now.

 

[Pappasmurf]

I'm sure they do still exist, but it's not like it's 2006 where you could easily buy a MOT-failed Disco, ransack it for parts and weigh in the rest to almost break even. Even the latest 300tdi is 20 years old now.

So what do you suggest? Should people scrap their vehicles if their engine wears out or goes pop?
It's not like there are that many options that are suitable for Defenders.

 

[FlyingPete]

Nothing wrong with putting a tdi in if it's a good one, but it's not always the simple, cheap 'chuck it in in a day' that it used to be. Worth taking time beforehand to ensure the donor engine really is in good order before putting it in. Otherwise you might go to all that effort and find it broken again soon after. That means it's not always as clear-cut between doing a swap or doing a good rebuild on the original engine.

 

[Pappasmurf]

Nothing wrong with putting a tdi in if it's a good one, but it's not always the simple, cheap 'chuck it in in a day' that it used to be. Worth taking time beforehand to ensure the donor engine really is in good order before putting it in. Otherwise you might go to all that effort and find it broken again soon after. That means it's not always as clear-cut between doing a swap or doing a good rebuild on the original engine.

Oh I agree with you that the engine needs to be sorted, but to say it's not worth doing the conversion anymore..............?

 

[FlyingPete]

Oh I agree with you that the engine needs to be sorted, but to say it's not worth doing the conversion anymore..............?

It's just not the 'obvious solution' to engine trouble that it used to be. A few years ago it seemed like just about any malfunctioning TD got pulled out in favour of a 200tdi. Still more were neglected by the owners because "it's a 19J, I'm just waiting for it to break so I can fit a tdi" and unsurprisingly broke down- more from lack of maintenance than anything else.

Nowadays it just needs a lot more consideration as to whether it's worth doing rather than just following 10-year old advice.

 

[kevstar]

dont suppose you know if you can fit a cummins engine in these?

Yes Contact Reece Myres on facebook he does conversion kits he's a very helpful chap.