200tdi and 300tdi

I am thinking of doing an engine conversion into my 90. I have been resercahing and think the best most reliable combo would be 200tdi and r380. But as you will know they arent a straight fit without expensive conversion kits. I have been put off 300tdi with storys of their aloy heads warping when they get hot. So i wondered whether you could fit a 200tdi head to a 300 engine so you can have a r380 and 200tdi reliability. Just a thought put me right if i am talking rubbish.

1361march said:

But as you will know they arent a straight fit without expensive conversion kits.

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who told you that ?

one of the guys at the off road club i am in. Is it possible?

1361march said:

one of the guys at the off road club i am in. Is it possible?

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it's probably the most oft asked, and most frequently answer (in depth) topic on every LR forum

search and ye shall find a horde of related threads

would be interested to know what's in the expensive conversion kit

Looking around the forums and found this. Have you done the conversion?

None of the factory built R380s will fit your 200tdi Defender. As you rightly point out, the input shaft is about 5" too long for the R380 to fit. Defender R380s have long input shafts like a Discovery.
The only solution is to source one of the rare aftermarket short input shafts for the R380 and use your existing LT77 bellhousing. The aftermarket short shaft was made by Ashcroft Transmissions in the UK for a while. Of course you'll then have to find a Defender R380 and have it stripped down and rebuilt with the short shaft.

You're probably better off getting your LT77 rebuilt. I know it's a crap gearbox, but an R380 is only slightly less crap and for a lot of $ to make one fit.

1361march said:

put me right if i am talking rubbish.

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Brace yerself.

I'm doing this as is Tom Tom Go even as we speak.
Only problem we can forsee is whether to fit a 200 tdi or a 300 tdi. Tom is fitting and engine / gearbox and transfer box direct from a Disco so may be that is more simple.
Cant decide which to fit though as we have one of each, I rather fancy the 200tdi for my 110 which leaves Tom with the 300. What to do.??

Yu like changing gear from the rear seats then?

The Mad Hat Man said:

Yu like changing gear from the rear seats then?

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Gear lever comes up just at the join with the seat box and the tunnel with the high / low lever in front of it, cant see a problem .... or is there something I've missed ??