1986 RRC 300Tdi conversion

[PoPrivit]

Just about to start on my 1986 3.5Efi V8 to 300 Tdi conversion and i thought i would ask for some advice.

the rangie is a 5SP Man (LT77) what problems am i likly to have and what oher bits apart from so new engine mounts will i kneed?

Has anyone in the northants area done this so i could have a look / Chat.

cheers rich :D

[muddyboots]

Hi Rich. You shouldnt have many prob`s did mine with out to much swearing. You will find it a tight fit on the stearing box. Had to grind one nut down to give good clearance for timing cover. The bit is the gearbox, it fits well, as long as you have the bell housing to fit the 300. Just a bit weak, i have cooked 2in 3 yrs. And 1 of them was a new one (OUCH) THE LT77 IS OK TIL YOU DO SOME TOWING .  
 If you do, do the change over, dig a bit deeper and get a bigger intercooler from allysport wow pulls big time. :twisted:  :twisted:
Any way i am in brom welcome to look at my bobtail to see how it all fitted. good luck Ray :D

[PoPrivit]

Thanks Ray i had already thought that an upgraded intercooler was the way to go, also going to look at a little more boost and a bit of a tweek on the fuel pump. :twisted:

did you have to move the engine mounts? as i understand they are in the wrong place. :?

did you have to change the fuel tank / Fuel pickup?

did you use the disco loom for the glow plugs / engine elecs

sorry for all the questions :shock:

finaly do you have any picks the install is going to start in the next 2 weeks :)  and im keen to get all the bits i kneed in before i start to save time

[landyman Ash]

Thanks Ray i had already thought that an upgraded intercooler was the way to go, also going to look at a little more boost and a bit of a tweek on the fuel pump. :twisted:

did you have to move the engine mounts? as i understand they are in the wrong place. :?

did you have to change the fuel tank / Fuel pickup?

did you use the disco loom for the glow plugs / engine elecs

sorry for all the questions :shock:

finaly do you have any picks the install is going to start in the next 2 weeks :)  and im keen to get all the bits i kneed in before i start to save time

The engine mounts are in the wrong place  :x   Depending on your level of confidence and money you have two options:

Pop the engine and gearbox in, mount the gear box and then mark the engine to weld the mounts.  Take engine and gear box out, weld mounts, place the whole lot back in..... Painful

If you have £100 quid spare, speak to motor and diesel RR conversions and they do a great set out Tdi mounts with a template.  Blot the template in, weld the mounts, drop the engine in.  Did mine in about 3 hours.

[TimM]

I've not had much (read any) experiance with conversions, but it sounds wrong to be mating the 300TDi to the LT77 gearbox.

The Discoverys use the 200TDi engine witht he LT77 and the 300TDi with the R380 gearbox.

I think you should condider either:

a) fitting a 200TDi engine instead

b) getting a R380 gearbox to go with it

c) ignore me because I'm probably talking rubbish.

 

[landyman Ash]

Im not good on gear boxes.  Muddyweb or V8redline are good at that

I bought a disco 300tdi with an auto box so just kept them joined.

TDis on eblag have been getting chaper and cheaper.

The 300tdi needs no mods, I think you may need to modify the 200tdi though.

Also ashcrofts will tell you what gear box mates with what and they may offer you a adapter o9f bell housing  :?

[PoPrivit]

Well finaly got somewhere and now just looking for the final bit. Had a chat with a nice man at Ashcroft and if i use a 200 Tdi belhousing then the LT77 will mate up to the 300Tdi and then just got to move the engine mounts.

I asked about the R380 and was advised that if i've got a good LT77 it will easily cope with the 300 as they tend to be a bit down on umph due to the EGR and other C**P. :(  

so now just got to remove said extra rubbish and tweak that pump  :twisted: for some muddy fun  :D

after i.ve found the 200 di belhousing that is :(

so if you have one going spare please  drop me a pm

[Jan-Cor]

Hi guys,

I have found this topic and for me its very impotant because I am planning to do (almost) the same, although there are some differences and I could use some help;

I own a RRC from 1974, 3,5V8 carb with LPG conversion and because of better handling, more miles per gallon I'm thinking about a diesel conversion. The RRC has the LT95 gearbox with overdrive fitted.

I'm planning to build in the 300Tdi conversion, probably with bigger IC but I need to know a few things and I'm not familiar with RR / LR.

1) do I need to mount other mountingbrackets for the 300Tdi conversion? and which companies have these for sale ( M&D?)

2) how about the exhaustsystem of the diesel? does it need the complete exhaust system of the later model RRC with the 300Tdi fitted?

3) probably I need the dieseltank too, with fuelpump, can I use a Discovery dieseltank with fuelpump or again do I need this from the later model RRC with the 300Tdi fitted?

4) can I use the LT95 with overdrive on the 300Tdi diesel engine? do I need a special adapter plate / flywheel / startermotor etc.??

5) are there any other things I need to know which are very important??

6) do you know a website / link where I can read and see pictures of the RRC v8->diesel conversion?

Sorry for all the questions :roll:  but I think there will be some other questions too. I hope you can help me anwsering them.

Cheers, JC

[way2deep]

why not go for a good 2.4 or 2.5 vm engine (if you can find one)might be less hassle ?????

[Xtremeteam]

why not go for a good 2.4 or 2.5 vm engine (if you can find one)might be less hassle ?????

cos a tdi wont melt itself so quickly & are easy to work on

[way2deep]

no cam belts to snap tho :D

[Xtremeteam]

no cam belts to snap tho :D

cost £100 to sort after a snapped belt,how much does it cost to repair a VM after it blows a headgasket???

[way2deep]

one head gasket £15 :D

[muddysteve]

Mine had a 2.5 vm in it originaly but has been replaced with a 200tdi, they bolt straight in and are a much nicer engine, i've test driven a couple of vm's and the 200 tdi seemed to have lots more go in it, just a bit noisier

Steve