300 tdi importation

[Mtanzania]

I have spent a ton of time searching for information regarding what is required to import a 300tdi engine into the states and am still uncertain about what exactly needs to be done. Having grown up over seas I have some great contacts who can find an engine for me and ship it, I am just worried about any issues getting it into the U.S. Has anyone personally done this who would be willing to give me their advice first hand? From what I can tell there are certain forms to fill out but I keep reading horror stories of items/vehicles being refused entry etc. I live where vehicles are not tested for emissions so I'm not worried about it once I get it here, just getting it in.
Thanks in advance
Frank

 

[Jake1996D1]

Contact Doug at Dividing Creek
doug@dividingcreekimports.com

 

[Mtanzania]

Doing it right now. Thanks

 

[Mongo]

this should be good, let us know what he say's...

 

[nosivad_bor]

Seems like there are two issues here.

1) Legalities of importing an engine.
2) Legalities of installing the engine in a motor vehicle

You might want to tackle the first one first, then decide on number two.

 

[Houston]

Seems like there are two issues here.

1) Legalities of importing an engine.
2) Legalities of installing the engine in a motor vehicle

You might want to tackle the first one first, then decide on number two.

i) Get your wallet out and dump it on the table
ii) Slog through tons of red tape
iii) Spend hundreds of hours sorting out wiring harness

Just skip the first two and drop in a 4BT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSHmrlNNbvw

Skip right to the maddening and beautiful world of shoehorning.

I am looking forward to this in a year or two when the baby gets a bit older.

 

[crown14]

The wiring harness is a LOT more simple with the 300 TDI, even adding the glow plug relay and wiring a warning light in the dash won't take long.

 

[Mtanzania]

I will definitely let you know what I learn. Thank you for the input

 

[Colin hughes]

Definitely worth the trouble. I recently purchased a 1997 D1 Japanese 300Tdi auto that was imported into Canada, converted to LHD and then I bought it. I haven't done any tweaking to the engine yet and it's returning a very nice 28 mpg. Contrast that with the 4.6 D2 I was driving and I'm now paying less than half of what it was costing me before. And turning the key and hearing the diesel clatter, that's priceless.

 

[achapman]

I see you're in Kansas City. Are you going to the Aristocrat motors Offroad event tomorrow?

 

[listerdiesel]

187bhp back to 113bhp? I know that V8's are thirsty, but you are going to miss those ponies.

I just surprised myself at the gas (LPG) pump on the way back from Kettering. We had a run to Grimsby yesterday, about 112 miles each way, and a mixture of fast dual-carriageway and single carriageway roads. We managed 16.24mpg, running at 70 on the fast bits and 50-60 on the slow bits.

In cost terms, petrol compared with LPG that works out at 27.62mpg, which is why so many V8's over here run on LPG.

£33.84 paid, £0.759 per litre for LPG, petrol is £1.30 a litre. Conversion is for UK gallons.

Peter

 

[p m]

Peter, LPG filling stations are not as widespread in the US as they may be in UK and Europe, while diesel can be found everywhere.
For me, cost-wise the conversion makes as much sense as buying a 2007 Grand Cherokee CDI - but the range on the full tank is pretty important. I was running on fumes after 250 miles on Utah backroads, and I had to use the spare jerrycan of gas on the way back from UT to CA.

Also, that turbodiesel may only crank out 113 bhp at sea level, but those remain almost the same 113bph at 10Kft above (I don't know how the wastegate is set on 300TDI). That can't be said about a naturally aspirated V8.

 

[Mtanzania]

With regard to the aristocrat event, I wish I were but had other engagements. Hopefully I can make it next year. A lot of people scoff at the rover diesel in the usa because of acceleration but in my opinion I did not buy a rover to drive fast. I drive a police interceptor every day which allows me to drive in a "spirited" manner when I feel the need. The range and torque are worth it for me.

 

[listerdiesel]

Also, that turbodiesel may only crank out 113 bhp at sea level, but those remain almost the same 113bph at 10Kft above (I don't know how the wastegate is set on 300TDI). That can't be said about a naturally aspirated V8.

Are you sure about that?

The 300TDi does not have Absolute Pressure sensing like the TD5, so the pump settings at sea level will leave you overfuelled at altitude. This results in black smoke and loss of power. I'd be very surprised to see anything like 113bhp at any altitude.

It isn't as much a wastegate adjustment as the fuelling map for the pump itself.

There's plenty on the web about it, we have loads of high mountains in Europe and the problem crops up quite a lot.

Peter

 

[crown14]

Also, 113hp isn't enough to run with traffic in the US. The only thing you will ever "feel" is the torque, and mainly that feeling comes in low range.

If you have ever felt the need to reach down and put a hand on your orange soda to keep it from tipping out of the cup holder while driving your V8 rover, that goes away with the diesel.

 

[p m]

I'd like to know more about the wastegate control on the TDI.

One of the reasons to buy my wife's Volvo is to still have power in the mountains - and that it does. With the curb weight only 300lb less than the D1, it moved itself very smartly near Breckenridge - unlike the Disco that needs the second gear and the engine @ 4750 rpm near Eisenhower tunnel on I-70.

 

[redhawkrovers]

The waste gate control is by a spring and boost pressure on Vail Pass my tdi is pushing
15 pounds of boost. I'll take my tdi over the old v-8 any day and that 3.9 ran hard.

 

[turbodave]

From my experience, the stock TDi can feel very slow - especially if the wastegate spring is weak - so first thing is to make sure they are at least running to specification. Modifying the powerunit and replacing the absoutely terrible OE intercooler and upping the boost (and making other changes to fuelling) makes a WORLD of difference. If you are willing to fit a more modern turbocharger (GT-series) than the 30+ year old design as standard, then you will see HUGE gains.

 

[garrett]

I've driven Defenders with 200tdi, 300tdi and Puma motors. Some with stock size tires and others with 38-44" tires on the highway and at highway speeds. Never did I feel like I was really struggling to keep the truck at speed with the later engines. The Puma motor would run at 70mph with big artic tires and felt quite happy. I'd take a late model diesel any day over the antiquated Rover V8s. Talk about inefficient and unreliable.

 

[crown14]

Sorry, I assumed the original poster was asking in this section because he intended to install his diesel engine in a Discovery.

I've driven Defenders with 200tdi, 300tdi and Puma motors. Some with stock size tires and others...

So have I, and I don't disagree with what you say. But in my experience, whatever speed and acceleration you feel in a Disco feels faster and comes on quicker in a Defender, and vice versa. No matter if you are talking about 3.9 vs. 4.6 or diesel vs. petrol, drive trains being equal the Defender is always much more likely to feel like it has adequate power. Perhaps it has something to do with the seating position, increased noise level, whatever.