Diesel Conversion

[86MUD]

Hi All

Just after some ideas on replacing my current 1986 Rangie motor that has a costly 3.5 V8 EFI to a Diesel.

The petrol V8 is getting very expensive on fuel...I am lucky to average 350 kms to 80 litres. The EFI system is in need of replacing, plus the motor has done 290,000kms. It is ok otherwise.

I have been thinking of a 6.5 litre V8 diesel and have done a bit of research with a company called Lin-Quip which supply and fit chev diesels. They are located at Gympie just north of Brisbane.

Does anyone have one of these motors? I know is it is going to weigh a lot more then the alloy petrol V8. I already have heavy duty springs to support winch/bullbar. Will I need dual shocks as well?

Any thoughts or other ideas for a diesel would be appreciated.

Cheers

Andrew

[6.5 rangie]

I have one of these motors in my 83, they are approx 100kg heavier but you shouldn't need to run duel shocks but might need to revalve them. I run rangie spares purple springs in the front of mine and its fine. You can get good runner motors for about $5000 from various places, but you would be looking at around $13000 for a fully rebuilt one from linquip and then the cost of the installation on top of that (unless you can do it yourself). I would suggest the good low k runner though. Garry Croker desiel in Failford NSW has installed a few of these in rangies and could supply a good runner. I run a turbo700 with a low stall converter behind mine which i think is a cheaper option than the zf rover box, but i would definately run an auto for ease of driving. I converted mine all myself and i'm just a dopey electrician, the conversion is pretty easy but easier with a body lift. I had a Holden 308 stroker in mine prior to this and i would say the desiel goes just as hard easy, but sounds heaps tougher. Feel free to PM or email for any other info.

[86MUD]

Thanks for the info

I knew I would be looking at about $15,000 for the conversion and that is the only thing that is stopping me. $15,000 would build a pretty wicked petrol V8, which would still be a lot more economical than what I have now.

Cheers

Andrew

[uninformed]

for $15,000 you could get a brand new 2.8 tdi. one of thhe brazil made upgraded 300 tdi's. probably a better motor for you app. i bet i would be more economical to. and yes it would have enough power

serg

[TuffRR]

for $15,000 you could get a brand new 2.8 tdi. one of thhe brazil made upgraded 300 tdi's. probably a better motor for you app. i bet i would be more economical to. and yes it would have enough power

serg

I agree. I think this would be a much better option and probably a lot more economical both initially and in running.

[Loanrangie]

for $15,000 you could get a brand new 2.8 tdi. one of thhe brazil made upgraded 300 tdi's. probably a better motor for you app. i bet i would be more economical to. and yes it would have enough power

serg

I agree. I think this would be a much better option and probably a lot more economical both initially and in running.

And it will bolt up to all rover gear including the zf, its still a lot to spend on an old rangie - you could get a tdi disco for that or less.

[86MUD]

hmm...the tdi sounds like a plan. Does anyone know of a place in Brisbane that could do the conversion?

I know it is a lot to spend on a 19 year old car...but I have spent so much money and time on it so far...I couldn't part with it...it's got everything I need....apart from economy...and the current motor is just getting in little tired and low on power trying to turn 33's.

cheers

Andrew

[mickrangie]

LRA or Ritter in Melbourne do a TD5 conversion for about 10K to 15k inc motor gbox etc

[Loanrangie]

I did see somewhere a td5 for sale for $4500, i think it was on the australian range rover pages site.

[def90]

i am pretty sure british off road at forest glen, 1 hr north of brisbane, does sell the 2.8D, from memory they are either $11k or $13k were advertised in this months 4x4 trader i think, only a phone call away, they also sell most other rover motors as well as a l'rover place in gympie that advertise in the 4x4 trader

[LRHybrid100]

Recently completed a 300 Tdi and ZF conversion on my 1987 Rangie.

If interested I have web site diary http://www.users.on.net/~LRHybrid100/TDI.html

She runs like a dream and fuel is much better.

I bought a complete Panel damaged 1997 Disco from Ritters and used all the mechicals from the Disco and rebuilt the Rangie chassis and used the original Rangie body.

Fun project

LRH

[RangingRover]

I would definitely be looking at the TD5 conversion - probably more economical than the big 6.5 diesel. I know Ritters have done a TD5 + matching auto a few years ago, on a late 80's vogue, and prices of S/H Td5s have definitely dropped since then. Should be able to pick up the motor for well under 7k, and if you pick one up with a manual bellhousing, it SHOULD bolt straight to the LT77 (not sure how easy it is with auto, if yours is). With a chipped ECU, that conversion would haul along...

Just a point here though - if you were to buy a 300Tdi Disco, which you should be able to get a pretty tidy one for 15K, most if not all of your mods should be transferable.... But then again, I don't blame you for being attached to your Rangie - aren't we all attached to whichever Rover we drive?

[cloughy]

1989 white vogue TD5 and auto maxi rear i seen it one day in morwell(latrobe valley) TD5 stickers on the side WTF had no time to stop and ask, met him about 18 months later lives in Moe and owns the morwell indoor go kart track. was selling another 84 with 2.4 diesal out of a surf. yes you read that right! he'd even done the canning in it

[mickrangie]

I would definitely be looking at the TD5 conversion - probably more economical than the big 6.5 diesel. I know Ritters have done a TD5 + matching auto a few years ago, on a late 80's vogue, and prices of S/H Td5s have definitely dropped since then. Should be able to pick up the motor for well under 7k, and if you pick one up with a manual bellhousing, it SHOULD bolt straight to the LT77 (not sure how easy it is with auto, if yours is). With a chipped ECU, that conversion would haul along...

Just a point here though - if you were to buy a 300Tdi Disco, which you should be able to get a pretty tidy one for 15K, most if not all of your mods should be transferable.... But then again, I don't blame you for being attached to your Rangie - aren't we all attached to whichever Rover we drive?

I would have thought that the gear ratios are different for a petrol engine?? I know the 5 speed for a desmell has a different output shaft then the petrol version.... so i am guessing the ZF would have different ratios for a desmell then a petrol to make better use the torque ranges

Mick

[RangingRover]

1989 white vogue TD5 and auto maxi rear i seen it one day in morwell(latrobe valley) TD5 stickers on the side

That'd be the one.

I would have thought that the gear ratios are different for a petrol engine?? I know the 5 speed for a desmell has a different output shaft then the petrol version.... so i am guessing the ZF would have different ratios for a desmell then a petrol to make better use the torque ranges

Not sure on the gear ratios, but since he has 33's anyway, kind of irrelevant.... the best thing would be to get engine to transfer case out of a Td5 defender, since the t/case ratio is 1.411, as opposed to 1.211 in a SII Disco.

[TuffRR]

so i am guessing the ZF would have different ratios for a desmell then a petrol to make better use the torque ranges

Mick

You're kinda on the right track n00b.

All ZF's run the same gear ratios. They just use different torque converters.

[Bush65]

1989 white vogue TD5 and auto maxi rear i seen it one day in morwell(latrobe valley) TD5 stickers on the side

That'd be the one.

I would have thought that the gear ratios are different for a petrol engine?? I know the 5 speed for a desmell has a different output shaft then the petrol version.... so i am guessing the ZF would have different ratios for a desmell then a petrol to make better use the torque ranges

Not sure on the gear ratios, but since he has 33's anyway, kind of irrelevant.... the best thing would be to get engine to transfer case out of a Td5 defender, since the t/case ratio is 1.411, as opposed to 1.211 in a SII Disco.

AFAIK the bellhousing on defender gearboxes is too short for installing in a rangie.

I fitted a 1.4:1 t/case from a defender to my rangie when I had the v8 engine and 33" tyres and found it very good. I fitted maxi-drive 30% reduction low range at the same time.

I have since replaced the v8 with a 300Tdi and the old LT77 with an R380 out of a disco 300Tdi. If I had used a defender R380 I would have had to move the gearbox and t/case forward and change the driveshaft lengths.

IMHO, the best diesel for a rangie is Isuzu 4BD1-T. The latter engines that replaced the 4BD1-T would possibly be better still, but would overstress the rover drive train.

I intended to fit a 6.5 chevy diesel into my bushie (hence Bush65 login name). I did a lot of research into the chevy diesel and came to the conclusion that the 4BD1-T was a far better engine in every way. Power and torque of the stock 4BD1-t is comparable to NA 6.5 chevy (from memory they may be better) and are easily increased if you want. BTW Isuzu designed the Duramax engine for GM, to replace the old 6.5 diesel.