LPG or TDI?

I am looking to make my 1974 series iii a little more practical and reliable.

It has an old defender 2.25 engine at the moment, but this has it's problems..
I do not know how old it is and how long it is likely to last, Starting the thing is sometimes a bind, even with an electronic ignition and recently checked timing (6 degrees BTDC).

The other thing is the running cost. She is thirsty.

Now i can spend a grand on converting her, but have heard of problems and not many specialists will touch her because of the carb..
Or
I could buy a newer diesel engine with more years left in it and cheaper running cost, probably cheaper tax too.

Any advice??

With my experience LPG always causes reliability problems... Blockages on the fuel filter for 1.. but that might have something to do with using the orange gas bottles .

200Tdi are a nice engine to fit. goes straight on to the series engine mounts. also LOADS of guys on here have done, which u have prob seen . And if you drive it right with a ashcroft gearbox u can get 40mpg.

as reguards LPG what i would like to know is what is everybody who has already converted to LPG going to do once LPG prices are the same as petrol and diesel prices.

the last time i looked at LPG prices about 18 months- 2 years ago it was 36p a litre and now is around 75pish a litre. i know it has a fair bit to go yet to reach the same price as petrol and diesel but it won't be long untill it does and the more peeps convert to LPG the more the price will go up then peeps with LPG conversions will have an LPG tank that they won't use as in some cases the LPG tank will be smaller than there petrol tank and LPG isn't as good on mpg than petrol so the LPG thing won't get used.

My thoughts exactly. The government won't allow cheaper fuel for much longer I'm sure. I seem to remember that LPG tax benefits were only guaranteed for a few years, which I believe comes to an end soon. Better to go diesel and make your own good quality bio.

Groan!!!:mil80: I hate fuel prices!!

I have to put another vote for the LPG band wagon, i just fitted a 200tdi to my series and it is an astonishing difference, the only way i would have gone lpg is if i was fitting a v8 but as others have said it was the likelihood of it rising in price that put me off it will take a good few year to break even on the install cost and there is no guarantee there left.

...Hi guys.

Usually in Discoverys but saw the thread and thought i'd comment.....

The government promised to keep the differential between lpg and other fuels (petrol etc) fore three years and as Spacemonkey says that ends within twelve months as i remember.
I have LPG and it is now at the price that petrol was when i said enough is enough...however it is still nearly half price in comparison, better for the engine in trems of oil changes and in my classic rrovers i never had any trouble. I almost put it on my Stage 1 (carbs) and never did and didn't have trouble finding any one to do it.
I will have a dig and see if i can find out through contacts to see what the governments long term plan is......in the meantime i used profess auto gas who can do it in one day, and charged me £1400 for a Stagg multipoint injection system for my D2..they have just dropped their prices too so i don't know if that is to do with future lpg price hikes.

200tdi, definetly. you get a much better engine, less problems, and improved efficiency

200tdi brilliant engine etc got one in my series 3,
but the petrol engine is so smooth an quiet in comparison to the noisy deisel.

83series said:

200tdi brilliant engine etc got one in my series 3,
but the petrol engine is so smooth an quiet in comparison to the noisy deisel.

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think the 200 tdi is a bit quieter than a 2.25 diesel though.

tdi definately cheapest 30-35 mpg lpog wont comne near that youy can get old disco tdi for £200

Jeez, this ain't easy.
I am looking to get the work done as I do not yet have the skill to change an engine. This would mean sourcing and having the engine fitted.
I have about a grand but can come up with a little more if the extra expenditure is worth it.
My personal issues with LPG would be the space taken up in the rear for the tank, and the lack of filling stations.
(looking to get forward facing child friendly seats at some point)
I have been advised that the cost would be cheaper that running a diesel though, and so this would make it worth it.
I have no intention of selling my cherished series iii on, so I see this step as an investment.
The more posts i read, the more I am leaning to a diesel engine which then leads me to the next question which is what model and why. My series has not been the most reliable due to starting problems despite me fitting an electronic ignition.

If a modern (relatively) engine would afford me the reliability to get me from Mansfield to Cornwall without worrying about her stopping and not starting again, and also giving me another 10MPG or so, then I would definitely go for a diesel.

The next question would be which engine would be the best, most suitable, most reliable and efficient etc. If i could get one fitted for under 1500 quid, that would also help.

Grateful as always for your advice.
R-tron

disco 200 tdi is one of the most reliabland economical engines lr built def 200 easier to fit but rare and £1000 if you could ,theres good info in doing job on this site

If you're in Nottingham i'm only down the road from you - did my 200tdi conversion before Christmas - happy to offer advise / show you what i did etc. if you need it

I'm in Mansfield.
I do not have the equipment to lift an engine, nor the know how to be honest. It would have to be done on my drive as I can't get it to my garage due to the way my house has been modified. (My garage has therefore been turned into a bar).
How old would the 200tdi be, and how much to buy and fit?
I have done everything I can on the vehicle myself, but i am no mechanic and an engine change would be beyond me.

defo a 200tdi i bought my 200 tdi engine for £275 about 2 1/2 years ago then spent about another £700 on the conversion which inc a new turbo as it was fooked, a new 300 tdi radiator, and a steve parker exhaust oh and a clutch so the actual conversion was peanuts but the more you can do the cheeper it will be. i only went for a steve parker exhaust as i can't weld but if you can it will save you loads of money.

Fair enough, i'm not going to try and tell you you should do it yourself, you know your own capability. I'd never done one before but fancied the challenge and did it in the snow on my driveway!

I'm not 100% sure on the dates but for a disco 200tdi it was from about G reg to about N reg i think.

Engine would cost under £300 - but - budget an extra £100 or so for 'bits' you'll need too. Search on eBay for 200tdi engine - you'll find loads.

How much a garage would charge you for labour... i'm not sure tbh, i'd expect under £1000, but really not sure - i don't tend to use garages.

Someone on here may be willing to take on the work for you - fraid i've not got the time to do it though.

How did you lift it?

you can hire engine hoist for a couple of days

R-tron said:

How did you lift it?

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Lots of swearing and 4 pints of beer