Series 2 TDi dilemma - 200 or 300Tdi

Can I sound out your opinions on a Tdi engine choice please.
Above is a photo of my '62 Series 2a, originally petrol but converted to a 200Tdi in 2009. An expert mechanic and old school friend did the conversion with an unknown engine from a breaker's yard with a month's guarantee. He fitted a new water pump, cambelt and drive belts. What the engine's mileage was I have no idea but it came from a 1992 Discovery so it was 100K +. It's still running well.

Two years ago a local chap bought a 1996 Discovery 300Tdi with a low mileage (68K) but as he was reversing a heavy trailer up an incline the n/s rear wheel parted company with the chassis and ended up jammed in the wheel arch. Terminal rot in the chassis and then it was not a viable repair.
The engine had a full service history, recent water pump and P gasket and I bought the whole vehicle for £200. To my surprise he handed over a plastic folder with every bill, service book (stamped to 65k) and receipt including one for a cylinder head rebuild at 50k following a snapped cambelt.

Some parts for 200Tdi's are getting scarce and none of the power steering parts were on my engine.
The 300 TDi is complete with all the power steering bits and there's a another mechanic locally who has started a nice sideline putting power steering on Series Landies using the 300 TDi steering box and using the 200Tdi engines they're fitted or converted to.

Would you swap the engine for the 300Tdi'? I know that it's not an easy task but Steve Parker markets a kit for the conversion. A provenanced engine versus an unknown mileage which is still running well.
I will need a Land Rover 90 steering column so I'm told but will one from a Defender 200/300Tdi or TD5 do?

What would you do gentlemen?

If the 200tdi has been in and running since 2009 I would argue that it no longer an unknown. The exact mileage might not be known however these will do very high mileage with no problems, my own 200tdi is coming up to 300k. A 300 does casue other fitting issues as you have already identified. If you can convert the 200tdi to power steering I think changing the engine is a lot of extra work and expense for very little gain.

I fully agree with dag019. The 200 is a nice fit in a series. If you must have power steering have a look at HST/TDZ power steering, a bolt on system with no need to modify your column or chassis to fit. You could sell the 300 to cover most of the cost and not be off the road for long.

why not obtain the 200tdi power steering pump and parts and fit that?

That would be the cheaper option but steering column/bulkhead fittings and chassis [cutting and welding ] would need modifying to make it all work.A lot depends on how much EWG is willing to do himself.

EWG said:

Some parts for 200Tdi's are getting scarce

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What parts???

Seriously hate that the same old dross gets thrown up time and time again.

Ok you can’t buy a new cylinder head anymore. But since when have these been regular service items? And you can still get reconditioned ones and used ones.

EWG said:

Would you swap the engine for the 300Tdi'?

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I guess the question is why would you?

It seems an awful lot of work and expensive just to get an engine with a claimed known mileage. If the 200Tdi is running ok, what are you really trying to solve?

As for PAS, well are you fitting PAS? If so how? There are many many different ways to do it. And adding the pump and belt back onto a 200Tdi would still seem a lot easier and cheaper than fitting the 300Tdi.

I’m not against 300’s. But remember they make the same power, same torque, same rev range, same power curve, same mpg and same noise.

You’ll go to an awful expense to end up with a vehicle that drives 100% the same as it does now.

I have also wonder'd what parts you are supposed not to be able to get for a 200,had mine out the other day for a clutch replacement and while it was out did some engine work.No problem getting any of the important parts needed. The only thing I can't find is a replacement heat shield over the turbo, patched up with glassfiber for now and will make something up if needed.
He wants to fit power steering to his series but which ever engine used [ 200 or 300 ] its a fair old job using a disco/defender steering box. To get it in the right spot front crossmember has to move forward or be cut up and modified.

@EWG there are a number of PAS options. The traditional route was a Defender setup. But as pointed out above requires moving of a cross member. The Range Rover p38 is IMO an easier route to go and what I did (link to build thread in my sig).

There are other options such as the Heystee setup that retains the original Series components or even electric PAS setups.

Thank you for all your replies - food for thought.
I do have a P38 Range Rover zf box "in stock" as well and to go that way means tubing the chassis.
You would all be surprised how difficult I have found it to obtain a Discovery 200TDi power steering component set complete.
I know of three time expired 200 TDi's and none of the owners will sell the pas system separately. Those I have seen on Ebay are incomplete.

Time for a further think.

If any of you have further thoughts then please let me know.

When I saw this I though fit a 300 any day but.....
The 200 is in and proven to be good (enough) , even I wouldn't rip out a bag of bolts running 200 to fit a 300

I would stay with the 200, you know its history - it runs fine, you know the history of the 300 - it throws cam belts and requires expensive repairs. As a general rule its safe to assume most things keep doing what they have done, in which case the 300 is more likely to fail than the 200.

EWG said:

Thank you for all your replies - food for thought.
I do have a P38 Range Rover zf box "in stock" as well and to go that way means tubing the chassis.
You would all be surprised how difficult I have found it to obtain a Discovery 200TDi power steering component set complete.
I know of three time expired 200 TDi's and none of the owners will sell the pas system separately. Those I have seen on Ebay are incomplete.

Time for a further think.

If any of you have further thoughts then please let me know.

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This may be a foolish question but what parts are you struggling to get hold of? You can buy replacement power steering pumps, pulleys, and belts. You can get used and recon boxes although as stated previously a p38 box might be a better bet which are also available. The factory pipework will not fit and will require modification anyway so may be better to get a custom set made up, or do what I had to do on my 110 and buy two different power steering hoses and join them in the middle