Defender Auto Conversion.

Is is possible to perform a home conversion from manual to automatic on a Defender 90?

I'm seeing prices from £3000 upwards from companies.

I'm just wondering if the parts needed (apart from auto centre console) are able to be swapped straight from an auto Disco or similar.

Any advice would be greatly received and appreciated.

Thank you.

Yes I'm doing it on my challenge truck

Is it relatively straightforward?

What are the costs like?

I'm looking to buy an older 90 and go down the Chelsea tractor route. An auto box would be the icing on the cake.

Nastynick74 said:

Is it relatively straightforward?

What are the costs like?

I'm looking to buy an older 90 and go down the Chelsea tractor route. An auto box would be the icing on the cake.

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What engine are you using ?

Nastynick74 said:

Is is possible to perform a home conversion from manual to automatic on a Defender 90?

I'm seeing prices from £3000 upwards from companies.

I'm just wondering if the parts needed (apart from auto centre console) are able to be swapped straight from an auto Disco or similar.

Any advice would be greatly received and appreciated.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

its quite easy what engine and age is truck,300 tdi just requires the box swapping(box is same dimension as the manual box) and flywheel housing etc and either buying or making selector lever mount

Either 300tdi or TD5.

Whatever I can afford when it's time to buy.

TD5 is more modern in performance but the tsunami is more suited to home servicing and fettling. So pros and cons for both. What are you running?

Tdi *

Stupid autocorrect.

Nastynick74 said:

Either 300tdi or TD5.

Whatever I can afford when it's time to buy.

TD5 is more modern in performance but the tsunami is more suited to home servicing and fettling. So pros and cons for both. What are you running?

Click to expand...

either are relatively straight forward and disco box is the same as defender, tdi been the most simple as very little electrics to sort

So I could just unbolt a manual box and then bolt on an auto box? Them I join that up to a NAS style auto boxed Centre console?

Or am I being wildly naive?

basically ,you need to remove flywheel housing and spigot bush in crank and fit auto plate and drive plate assembly ,oil cooler

If you already have a 300tdi , then as mentioned its easy , esp if you get tdi auto box from disco . just make sure that the TC is fully home in box before you offer it all up and bolt together , as its easy to damage the gearbox front pump, and then it dont work . The auto shifter on the disco box has enough cable to mount in centre seat area , i put mine in o/s front corner so i could still have a cubby box and cup holder around it. But mine was a complete power unit swap with the FBW accelerator, and I kept the edis and immobiliser. HTSH

the nas centre console is very expensive IIRC

Will the auto plate, drive plate assembly and oil cooler typically be present on the incoming auto box, or will I have to source these parts separately?

Please forgive me if these questions seem a bit bone, only despite being a long-term admirer of Defenders, I'm a complete novice when it comes to the mechanics.

tacr2man said:

i put mine in o/s front corner so i could still have a cubby box and cup holder around it.

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Got a photo of it?

Nastynick74 said:

Will the auto plate, drive plate assembly and oil cooler typically be present on the incoming auto box, or will I have to source these parts separately?

Please forgive me if these questions seem a bit bone, only despite being a long-term admirer of Defenders, I'm a complete novice when it comes to the mechanics.

Click to expand...

not if you just ask for a box but will if you ask for a fitting kit

Nastynick74 said:

Will the auto plate, drive plate assembly and oil cooler typically be present on the incoming auto box, or will I have to source these parts separately?

Please forgive me if these questions seem a bit bone, only despite being a long-term admirer of Defenders, I'm a complete novice when it comes to the mechanics.

Click to expand...

The torque converter should be with the box, the oil cooler wont be , but they are easy to sort , although the pipes on the box would be good as it gives you spigots to connect to, also the temp sensor warning is on the pipe near the cooler end . The drive plate will be on a auto engine so that will need to be from a 300tdi auto . I will try and get a pic today an post up

For anyone looking for a NAS style centre console...

Ashcroft Transmissions - Auto Centre Console

Here are a couple of pics the console is a quick /cheap build , but has the advantage that it protects the ECU from heat of engine /seatbox . It also has the 2 cupholders visible

Did you get the gear selector from the donor Discovery?

The whole engine gearbox, gearbox crossmember, auto selector, rad and intercooler, exhaust downpipe, and both axles, brake compensator, front prop all came from donor disco. I also used the fbw throttle , ecu, a TD5 defender speedo, and speed transducer. i used a mitsi l200 engine oil cooler for auto trans cooler!

Did it all bolt together easily or was fettling required?