Replacing a Defender 200tdi with a Discovery 200tdi

Hi guys

Well with having very low mpg ever since i have had the 90 since early last year and now the engine has just recently starting giving signs that its getting tired, sump gasket leaking, oil seals leaking, oil cap staining, and just very recently oil staining from all the intercooler hoses, air filter hose, and cyclone breather leaking, its obvious that the engine it goosed but still runs ok.

i was planning either an engine overhaul or transplant anyway for the galv chassis swap depending on funds as i am not really a fan of the defender 200, but its just brought it further forwards now.

while i am at it is it worth considering a 300 or is this too much hassle, what do you think

engine i mean sorry

Mechanical problems aside, your biggest problem will be finding a disco 200 tdi that doesn't need a load of welding. You could keep the 90 and get it mechanically sorted. The 90 is also always going to be worth more than any disco 1, with perhaps the exception of the G-WAC press discos in a few years time.

That said, I had a 1987 E reg 90 TD a few years ago and the disco is much more civilised and quiet to drive, so you really have to go with what you fancy. Chances are your 90 is worth more than enough to sell and buy a disco 200 and still have some change.

bluedisco300 said:

Mechanical problems aside, your biggest problem will be finding a disco 200 tdi that doesn't need a load of welding. You could keep the 90 and get it mechanically sorted. The 90 is also always going to be worth more than any disco 1, with perhaps the exception of the G-WAC press discos in a few years time.

That said, I had a 1987 E reg 90 TD a few years ago and the disco is much more civilised and quiet to drive, so you really have to go with what you fancy. Chances are your 90 is worth more than enough to sell and buy a disco 200 and still have some change.

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Sorry engine i meant, to convert into my 90

cornish rattler said:

Sorry engine i meant, to convert into my 90

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its not uncommon to swap rear and front housing plus manifolds etc from def to donoe disco engine, if i was converting to 300 tdi id want to fit it as lr did ie r380 box and different tunnel floor plates etc

jamesmartin said:

its not uncommon to swap rear and front housing plus manifolds etc from def to donoe disco engine, if i was converting to 300 tdi id want to fit it as lr did ie r380 box and different tunnel floor plates etc

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Are right i was always lead to believe that a disco housing wouldn't fit a defender engine assuming its a 200 you are speaking about

are the tunnel plates easy to do as fabrication is not one of my strong points

cornish rattler said:

Are right i was always lead to believe that a disco housing wouldn't fit a defender engine assuming its a 200 you are speaking about

are the tunnel plates easy to do as fabrication is not one of my strong points

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same block,head etc , 300 tdi transmission sits about 50mm further forward, youd need the tunnel ,diaphragm ,floor lates and mod seat box to fit the tunnel, you can the use a disco front prop and buy a rear 300 tdi 90 one , its more work in some ways but all parts used are std 300tdi parts not fabricated ,like exhaust would need to be etc

jamesmartin said:

same block,head etc , 300 tdi transmission sits about 50mm further forward, youd need the tunnel ,diaphragm ,floor lates and mod seat box to fit the tunnel, you can the use a disco front prop and buy a rear 300 tdi 90 one , its more work in some ways but all parts used are std 300tdi parts not fabricated ,like exhaust would need to be etc

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Yeah i do like the sound of this but just thinking if i would have time to do all this ie buy everything and collecting stuff where needed whilst still using this engine till i could do the work Mmmmmm.

got to be easier re building your engine than swopping everything from a donar vehicle, and you would end up with a new/fresh engine, which if looked after should see 200,000 plus miles,

johnlad said:

got to be easier re building your engine than swopping everything from a donar vehicle, and you would end up with a new/fresh engine, which if looked after should see 200,000 plus miles,

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I know but i need to keep the 90 on the road whilst re building the engine so think its best this way

jamesmartin said:

same block,head etc , 300 tdi transmission sits about 50mm further forward, youd need the tunnel ,diaphragm ,floor lates and mod seat box to fit the tunnel, you can the use a disco front prop and buy a rear 300 tdi 90 one , its more work in some ways but all parts used are std 300tdi parts not fabricated ,like exhaust would need to be etc

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Mind you i could probably buy a cheep disco 300 for the engine, gbox and anything else we mite need, concentrate on the engine conversion to existing defender gbox then at a later date say when doing the chassis swap fit the disco gbox and do the tunneling and other stuff then

One shagged engine for another potentially shagged or near shagged engine.

Id rebuild.

I am working on son to try and either get his car back on the road or buy another car so it free's up the 90 so then i could possibly do a full engine re build which is really what i want to do but atm with son using the 90 for work as i don't need it for work it makes life awkward as re guards re building this engine

Thats easy.

Son the landy engine needs rebuilt , you best sort out other transport in the mean time.

top drive said:

Thats easy.

Son the landy engine needs rebuilt , you best sort out other transport in the mean time.

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Even easier

Son, the landy engine needs a rebuild - let me know when you have finished

Kwakerman said:

Even easier

Son, the landy engine needs a rebuild - let me know when you have finished

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Ha ha

johnlad said:

got to be easier re building your engine than swopping everything from a donar vehicle, and you would end up with a new/fresh engine, which if looked after should see 200,000 plus miles,

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Are the cylinder heads the same on a 200 defender / 200 disco

buy a cheap disco, use it while rebuilding the 200 90.. sell disco when done

cornish rattler said:

Are the cylinder heads the same on a 200 defender / 200 disco

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yes, but you can have the original skimmed and pressure tested and valves cut in for around £120, normally done in a day

johnlad said:

yes, but you can have the original skimmed and pressure tested and valves cut in for around £120, normally done in a day

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Nice one here is the plan, ok mite sound a bit daft doing it this way but the 90 has to stay on the road give or take a couple of days swapping everything over, so anyway plan is buy a disco 200 ( decent runner ) drop it in the 90 as a defender engine, saves messing with exhaust, re build defender engine then later once we get round to replacing the chassis fit the re furbed defender engine