2.5na to 200/300 tdi

Hi guys, don’t exactly know where to post this so thought I would ask on here. Just contemplating a 2.5na I’ve seen, the chassis is very tidy n the bodywork is in good condition for age,the problem is the 2.5 na engine I would like a bit more pepp and the power steering would be a nice addition but just wanting to know if the chainring to a 200/300 tdi is a good choice and some good specialists who can do this conversion. Any help appreciated guys and if anybody else has had this done?
Cheers guys

200 defender tdi would be the most straight forward but very hard to source,300 would be far easier but better done/fitted as lr did which means more work and the transmission changing too with all that goes with that

Yeah 200 tdi’s seem to be like unicorns that’s why I was asking if there are some good specialists who can do the 300 swap r basically just keep looking for a decent 300tdi which is kind of impossible at the moment especially at decent money and not ridiculous

If you are taking a diesel out in 2021 it doesn't make a lot of sense to put a diesel back in. Original engines will hold their value but later diesels? My bet is not.

Check out https://www.steveparkers.com/conversions/
I’m keeping mine n/a but if I were doing it I’d go down this route.

Huddy84 said:

Check out https://www.steveparkers.com/conversions/
I’m keeping mine n/a but if I were doing it I’d go down this route.

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What you think about the 2.5na just don’t think it will hold up for me on the motorway. Also could also do with some power steering just a tad to heavy!

If you want to drive on the motorway and have power steering a Series is not for you. Yes you can make a very simple rugged vehicle designed in 1948 go faster, but why? It has drum brakes, leaf springs, no anti-roll bar, no crumple zones, airbags, anti=burst doors (or in many cases dual circuit brakes or a servo). It works because it has a simple modest engine with modest power. Don't go "all millennial"; when those guys drove from London to Singapore they didn't ask for more power or lighter steering, they got on with it.

If you're going for a 200tdi or 300tdi then go for the disco transfer box at the same time, unless your are into serious off-road work.

The TDI power plus disco transfer box, makes for much more relaxed open road travelling.
My 1984 110 was converted with the parts from a 200tdi disco, including power steering.

I now get 32mpg, it will trickle along on the flat at 30mph when the engine is warm in 5th gear, otherwise 4th. I tow up to a ton of boat on trailer without problems, you just change down slightly more often..

That’s what I’m meaning just something that will have a bit more power not after being amazing just something a bit more useable. It’s just finding good specialists that can do this job as it’s just to big for me to do at moment.

Muzzy-13 said:

That’s what I’m meaning just something that will have a bit more power not after being amazing just something a bit more useable. It’s just finding good specialists that can do this job as it’s just to big for me to do at moment.

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There was a complete 300tdi discovery on gumtree a couple of weeks ago for 300 quid. When I did mine I bought a running disco with 2 weeks mot and drove it home and did it on the drive in a weekend. I went from a 19j to to a 300tdi tdi and the difference was night and day. Worth keeping an eye open

I’ve seen an engine which suits, it’s just the fitting which I couldn’t do as I haven’t got the tools or expertise at the minute. Is it the disco 2 and the disco’s gearbox which is just a drop in.

Google Glencoyne Engineering, he has loads of information regarding TDi conversions.
If you get a 2.5 N/A, all 68bhp of it, you will be flat out everywhere you go. If you venture on to a motorway, you will just about keep up with the trucks...... on the flat.
I put a 300tdi in mine and it transformed it, but if you have a 1.6:1 transfer-box you need to replace it with a Defender 1.4:1 or a Discovery 1.2:1 or it will scream its nuts off. Ignore any consideration regarding off road use as low ratio is the same in all transfer-boxes.
When I fitted mine, I retained the LT77 gear-box and fitted the Discovery power steering. I fitted the engine myself, using engine mounts from Steve Parker Land Rovers. These and one PAS pipe were the only special bits that I had to buy, although I had to cut and weld a few bits.
The trick is to make it look like Land Rover fitted the engine rather than a chimp with a big hammer and a bag of cable ties.

Muzzy-13 said:

What you think about the 2.5na just don’t think it will hold up for me on the motorway. Also could also do with some power steering just a tad to heavy!

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The n/a wasn’t intended for motorways. In my 110 I expect to cruise at 60mph easy, it can get to 70/75 in the right conditions, but into the wind uphill can knock it back to 50 & 4th gear. That’s with a 1.4 ratio T-box. In good fettle they are absolutely fine to pootle about in and completely bullet proof. I had the cooling fan fall off in hot weather and didn’t realise till I got home 150miles later. The steering is heavy af when nearly static but no problem when moving, nowadays most have lost the ‘knack’ or patience with manual steering.

The first thing you should be considering is why don’t I just buy a tdi. It’ll probably work out cheaper than buying and converting an n/a. But if you do the Steve Parker kit is reversible so if in a decade original 110/90’s become highly sought after you could return it to original spec. (Happened with series!)

Cheers guys really helped out, the 2.5na would be fine to pootle about in, also finding a good 200/300 tdi is proving difficult was just enquiring. Might just leave as is and see how it goes if it gets to the point where I want to change it. Then there’s the reversible kit which gives options. Cheers again guys. Top stuff

I would stay with the 2.25 and if its not great rebuild it first. If you really find it a bit low powered keep looking for a 2.25 petrol before they become unobtainable. 10 years ago everyone wanted to fit a 200 or 300TD/TDI, it was "a thing" but this is 2021 and we are in Europe (the continent, not EU) and the UK, Scandinavia and the EU look set to come down hard on diesels. I drive a diesel Series, I'm watching events closely, I don't like what I see. If you were anywhere else on the earth I'd say "fine, do it" but here, now? There will be allowances for original engines and older vehicles but those will be lost once engines are changed. My advise to someone wanting to change a Series diesel with its original engine is a) rebuild it, make it the best original (or "in period") engine you can, or b) fit a state of the art euro6 that will be compliant with all the future emissions, but do not take out a 40 year old engine only to fit a 20 year old design if its diesel. While that made sense 10 years ago its not making sense now. If you want more power and speed and diesel look at an early 90 / 110 that is original and keep it that way. You need to be looking as early as you can, 83/84.

Yeah was thinking that probably best leaving it as is, n find something with the original engine in. Back to the classifieds n keep searching then
Cheers

rob1miles said:

If you want to drive on the motorway and have power steering a Series is not for you. Yes you can make a very simple rugged vehicle designed in 1948 go faster, but why?

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They said 2.5na not Series.

The Series also was not designed in 1948 ffs!!!!

TheQ said:

If you're going for a 200tdi or 300tdi then go for the disco transfer box at the same time, unless your are into serious off-road work.

The TDI power plus disco transfer box, makes for much more relaxed open road travelling.
My 1984 110 was converted with the parts from a 200tdi disco, including power steering.

I now get 32mpg, it will trickle along on the flat at 30mph when the engine is warm in 5th gear, otherwise 4th. I tow up to a ton of boat on trailer without problems, you just change down slightly more often..

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If you run 7.50 x 16 / 235/85R16 and a Disco transfer box, then chances are it will be sluggish and over geared. You need quite a juiced up Tdi to make this work, else they are not great at all.

Muzzy-13 said:

That’s what I’m meaning just something that will have a bit more power not after being amazing just something a bit more useable. It’s just finding good specialists that can do this job as it’s just to big for me to do at moment.

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What do you mean by 2.5na?

There was a 2.5 n/a petrol and a 2.5Nad diesel.

Which are you looking at?

Tdi engines are lovely engines. But they are noisy and unrefined. Do not fit if your intention is long distance at high speed on motorways.

A 200Tdi is a relatively easy conversion. And with some searching you can find them.

The 300Tdi offers the same power, performance and economy as the 200. It will cost more to fit one of these, but will be slightly cheaper to get an engine.

TBH - I'd say if going diesel a Td5 conversion would be the better bet or better yet the M57 BMW diesel as fitted to the L322 Range Rover (but in BMW car state of tune).

The other engine to consider would be an EFI Rover V8. MPG will be lower, but this may not be an issue if you aren't doing big annual mileages. But it is a much nicer engine overall.


HOWEVER-----

If you can't do most/all of the work yourself. You will pay through the nose to get someone to do this for you. More than what the vehicle is probably worth.

Honestly, you'd probably be better off just buying a Discovery or Range Rover. It sounds like it'd do what you are after way better anyway.

I need to lay off the EP 90, its the lock-down, honest. Remind me, what was the question....