How to tell ?

Evening all !

I have a 1989 90 pick up with a 200tdi engine, all well and good you say. (For photos and basic in check my project thread)

However during many nights of reading (as I had a problem with that starter in day one), there is a lot to to look out for!

So my question is how to tell, was it a good conversion or just chucked in as my mate seemed to think? Is there a difference ? What should be done and what’s top of the list to check for?

Wiring seems all over ? For example there are loads of areas with dead ends (wires blocked off/terminals with no wires attached) ?

Gear boxes ... is there only one that works with a 200tdi ?

How do I know/does it matter/is there a difference between 200tdis ?

Temp sensors ?

Instrument panels ?

Speedo cables ?

Maybe I should know, but I don’t so I ask !
Regards Tom

Or is it a case of take a video or a chunk load of photos and see what people have to say ...

Thank in advance

SkillzTom said:

Or is it a case of take a video or a chunk load of photos and see what people have to say ...

Thank in advance

Click to expand...

This one ^^
Put up a couple of photos of the engine bay, that will be the easiest way for people to judge.

The two key areas to judge the quality of the conversion will be the exhaust from turbo to the rest of the system, and what has been done with the air filter. If these two are tidy then it is probably a decent conversion job. as other than these the 200tdi just drops in on the same mounts and bolts up to the original gearbox.

Wiring is always a nightmare due to po bodges and the addition/removal of extra equipment over the life of a vehicle this age. I would just slowly work through it all tidying it up and tracing it, or if you have lots of money get onto autosparks and buy the relevant replacement loom sections.

See comment sin red

SkillzTom said:

Gear boxes ... is there only one that works with a 200tdi ?

Gearboxes are not a problem, the 200tdi will run with either, but I would assume you still have the original lt77.

How do I know/does it matter/is there a difference between 200tdis ?

The easiest way to tell the difference between a disco and defender 200tdi is the turbo position. The disco turbo is below the intake manifold, the defender turbo is above the intake manifold. There are other differences between the two engines (e.g. fan belt routing) but that is the easiest visual way to tell.

Temp sensors ?

The temp sender and the dash gauge need to be matched. If the original dash gauge has been retained then you will need a conversion temp sensor (available from Steve Parker) with the correct resistance to give an "accurate" temperature reading. If this has not been done and you have the original gauge with a tdi sender the temperature will permanently read very very high. The other option is to fit a later temp gauge from a tdi defender and keep the tdi engine temp sender standard so they remain matched

Instrument panels ?

Other than the above consideration about matching the temp gauge to the sender there is no need to change any of the gauges, and the originals can be retained.

Speedo cables ?

This is linked/matched to the gearbox and has nothing to do with the engine. If the one currently fitted is working then it is fine.

Click to expand...

After a quick look at your project thread you have a discovery 200tdi fitted.

Couple of questions:
how is the arifilter mounted and secured in place?

What is in the middle of the top the radiator hose? Is that a temperature switch to control the electric fan fitted? If so, as it is not wired in, is there another way operate the fan?

That does not look like a bad conversion job on the face of it, I have certainly seen far worse!

Thank for awesome feedback @dag019 got it fired up today so dash going back in and few other bits going on.

I took some photos I’ll try get up but will give you heads up

Tom

The filter is a bit of a fudge job above turbo so will need a better mount and pipe work.

The sensor is as you guessed it has a manual override so you can turn the fan on from inside cab.

As standard there are plenty of dead ends in the wireing loom. it was one loom for all models.

SkillzTom said:

The filter is a bit of a fudge job above turbo so will need a better mount and pipe work.

Click to expand...

It is unlikely to ever be perfect. Mine is not ideal with the pipe routing, but it is secure and sealed which are the two important features.