Disco 300tdi manual into V8 auto RRC?

Just wondered if anyone else on here had done this before as my Disco 300tdi has come to MOT time and needs a new body.

The engine is great after being rebuilt just before xmas and the RRC I have doesn't run due to electrical issues but was fully re bodied before it's last MOT and is mint.

It's a 1995 Discovery 300TDi manual going into a 1988 RRC V8 3.5 auto

If anyone has any pointers or issues they came across please let me know!

Thankyou kindly,

Jon

The auto box will need revalving for the auto so I would swap the transmission from the disco.

The swap of engine and transmission is straight forward

lr already did it fits,the only difference between rr 300tdi and manual (r380)gearbox is temp sender in thermostat housing,you will need disco gear box mount and some linkage for hi/low selector on bw t/box which i could let you have ,new gearstick gaiters and panel,remove eletric fuel pump from sender and replace with pipe ,

I will definitley be taking the 300tdi's manual transmission over to the RRC, inc the transfer box.

The RRC has a BW on it atm but that will come out in favour of the disco's.

I'm concerned for the speedo too, unsure wether it will but straight forward to hook it back up to the RRC's clocks.

Fuel wise, I will use the Disco's tank too and the new one from the RRC will be sold or kept to build something funky in time with the Disco chassis.

why change bw got to be better than lt230, speedo connection is the same,you may need to change gear

I think this will be a case of RRC body onto Disco chassis, might turn out easier, any pointers for the body swap?

used do do alot just undo body mounts 9/16 or 14mm ,handbrake cable ,steering uj ,earth straps,rad frame out,brake pipes ,wiring cables etc we used box section through open doors with padding and lifted with straps never bothered refining lift as it worked okay

jamesmartin said:

why change bw got to be better than lt230, speedo connection is the same,you may need to change gear

Click to expand...

BW is OK with an auto,but a TDI pulls so hard low down in a non smooth way its bettter with the gears in an LT - esp if the chain is slack in the BW.

Wow well this became a great project to tackle, I do like a good challenge!

Have a look at the pics in on my facebook page here for the first half: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405551997108.188244.633537108&l=8dbe5454fe

And here for the second: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.242842517108.143614.633537108&l=1e7076f27b

to see how things have panned out!!!!!

Well happy, thanks for the pointers guys!



My apologies for previous link but thats where I kept it all.

Hi, just reading your posts on the body sway. I'm just in the middle of putting a 300tdi in my V8 classic with a R380 box. I'm trying to do the wiring loom to V8 connector and have matched some with the colour codes but there are more wires on the 300tdi loom. Do you know exactly which ones go where and which ones to ignore? Any tips much appreciated.
Cheers, Paul

I am so sorry i can't help as I binned the whole RRC loom as most of it was burnt out/damaged. I have only had to wire up lights, windows ect.. I also used the Discovery's dashboard and wiper motors to make it an easier swap.

Couple of questions if I could mate, as I'm planning on doing exactly the same thing (pending a check of the donor Disco's chassis...) 1988 RRC 3.5 manual body on a 1994 Disco 300tdi manual - nothing really wrong with RRC chassis but still using it daily so gives me a chance to properly sort stuff out on Disco chassis, and hopefully put my M-reg private plate on it thats sat on retention

By the sounds of it you had issues registering it with DVLA etc as I saw a thread where you were trying to sell the RRC body - what happened and how'd you sort it?

What jobs did you to do the chassis while it was all apart? In my head at the moment I've got replacing all the bushes and changing suspension, and probably an overhaul of the brakes...

Any other pointers, I'm planning on using Disco loom as well due to the RRC one having remnants of various different alarms, car kits, etc.... Also planning on using Disco dash if it's not too difficult

Hi man!

The dash will fit but you will have to cut a little of the RRC's shelf plate away, make two new side brackets and relocate the heater hose holes in the bulkhead. I will look for pics as I have a few drop me your email addy and i'll forward a load on. Armrest console fits too.

Full strip and repaint of chassis is a good idea and waxoyl throughout.

Bushes a deffo and very easy while chassis and body are apart.

Change all the core plugs on the engine, do p gasket/waterpump ect.. if you think necassary. I did these just because I could get to the back core plug on the engine while the body was off. Anything engine wise should be done now while it's staring you in the face.

Brake lines and fuel lines, may as well matey, I did. I also did the diffs and props as they were easy to get to. Suspension also.

You will probably need new floor ties, theres 4 and these can be bought from Wizardbilt.

The body will fit straight on, the rear body supports fit and all body mounts fit.

You should consider fitting a wading kit or body lift kit too as this is the best time to do it.

As for the DVLA, I only had issues because the chap who inspected it cocked it up. He thought it was a monoque chassis and I had fitted different subframes?!? which held the whole job up. If you ask to register it as a Range Rover Hybrid you will have no issues. Just a simple ID check and your away. I had Disco chassis number, chassis number on dash and vin plate under the bonnet.

Jon

Spot on- just what I wanted to hear!

I've seen a pic somewhere of someone maybe in America who transplanted the 300tdi disco chassis onto a RRC and cut half of the bulkhead out and transplanted it in....that's why I was worried as it seemed like mucho effort, but that doesn't sound too bad...

Chassis will be painted, waxoyled, and anything else I can throw at it while it's apart

Good point about core plugs, wouldn't have thought of doing that but sounds like a good idea, P gasket etc I'll sort that when I do the timing belt, and will change clutch too for good measure.

Brake & clutch lines are on the shopping list, will do fuel lines if its not too much of a pain in the arse, last time I ended up making new copper pipes to go in the tank cause it was a huge effort to get anything to screw into the existing pipe but that was on a series...

Haven't got a clue what a floor tie is?! Maybe it'll become obvious when it all comes apart...

I might have more issues with DVLA/VOSA with the Vic check etc as the disco is currently Cat C so I'm trying to get confirmation from them that it'll all be ok, glad to know of someone who's done it recently but without the cat C, makes it that bit easier to justify to them!

I'll drop you a pm now with me email address, cheers pal!