Orchard Barn
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Hi all just bought a 90 with I believe a 19j engine thinking of replacing it with a 300tdi but i would like to know why the original engine gets such a bad write up thanks
engine change
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payydg
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perfectly good engine for what it was intended. The issue is times and motoring have changed. Replacing with one of the TDI engines is a sensible choice.
Turboman
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They put a lot of heat into the engine, because they are a 2.5 NA, with a turbocharger bolted on, but no intercooler or strengthening to the engine block. So the early ones had a habit of overheating, holing pistons, cracking heads, and developing a lot of crankcase pressure.
Leyland made a few mods, mainly coated tops to the pistons, so the later ones are a good deal better.
They are not as bad as people say, they don't produce as much power as a Tdi, but acceptable. And they can be fairly reliable if you are careful with servicing and maintenance, and don't abuse it.
My own suggestion would be to keep it if is a decent example. Those are old vehicles now, and coming close to historic status, and many of them were converted, so it is good to see examples with the original engines.
Turboman
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I used to tow a cattle trailer over most of England with mine!
Litch
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Like many things, in time the myth takes over from fact.
Yes there were problems but imagine you were a new owner with that extra power on tap, it was a novelty and I am sure they weren't always cared for in the way they deserved (or needed). Then comes along a properly developed engine (the TDi range) and all of a sudden the old engine is denounced as a bad'un. There were (are) plenty of owners out there who treated the engine correctly, drove it within its limits and subjected it to proper servicing and were rewarded with years of reliable use.
Yes there were problems but imagine you were a new owner with that extra power on tap, it was a novelty and I am sure they weren't always cared for in the way they deserved (or needed). Then comes along a properly developed engine (the TDi range) and all of a sudden the old engine is denounced as a bad'un. There were (are) plenty of owners out there who treated the engine correctly, drove it within its limits and subjected it to proper servicing and were rewarded with years of reliable use.
Turboman
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The Tdi is undoubtedly a better engine.
But they weren't available as standard in a Ninety.
And it is good to see an original vehicle still on the road today.
payydg
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I used to tow a cattle trailer over most of England with mine!
Was that with the cattle also pulling the landy along?
You will find as it was a commercial vehicle, and people who drove small commercial vehicles treated them like crap, it is still the same today!
Our workshop has 20 mechs and 1 van, I can garauntee you the oil is low/screenwash is empty, and everyone canes the arse off it, some motors can take it others cannot.
Of course if they are fragile to start with, you are screwed.
Do not forget the 200tdi were not perfect to start with, crank issues being one I can remember, in fact my first discovery had just had the engine rebuilt after crank failure.
Then there was the infamous 300 cambelt saga, and the list goes on with every engine ever made.
Ps even if you swap the engine keep the old engine, it will be worth money in years to come.
Our workshop has 20 mechs and 1 van, I can garauntee you the oil is low/screenwash is empty, and everyone canes the arse off it, some motors can take it others cannot.
Of course if they are fragile to start with, you are screwed.
Do not forget the 200tdi were not perfect to start with, crank issues being one I can remember, in fact my first discovery had just had the engine rebuilt after crank failure.
Then there was the infamous 300 cambelt saga, and the list goes on with every engine ever made.
Ps even if you swap the engine keep the old engine, it will be worth money in years to come.
payydg
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that is a good point. If it’s original in other ways and works for you would be good to see these things kept going
bankz5152
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Yup I can attest to this. Got 2 vans at our yard, one is for the workshop and basically flawless. The other is the site lads and its had 2 clutches, gearbox until finally it was driven into the ground after it being driven with no coolant for a few hours - How do you not notice that!?
As for the 19j ok engine just old n slow. 300 is a better choice for todays roads bit more refined bit more power. Still easy to fix
Orchard Barn
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Thats another issue I have its pretty solid through out some body panel corrosion, engine bay bulk head are very clean there is a small leak from the transmission that I have not looked at but its all original Im really stuck whether to change anything
Turboman
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No, they just stayed in the trailer.
But I have always been interested in bullock traction. My vet grew up on the last ranch in Kenya to use work oxen, and he talked about how they were trained.
And I often thought about hitching a bull to a chain harrow and going out for a spin in the field.
The main reason I didn't was that I have never seen any bullock harness for sale.
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