95 RRC...Diesel Swap?

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Surfin Elvis

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2006
158
0
Chincoteague Island VA
Just converted my 83 Mercedes 300SD to run on veggie oil and have over 1200 miles on it. After owning lots of unique vehicles, the coolest thing in the world is driving along with the knowledge that every mile I drive is saving me $$$$.:D
Has anyone made a succesful swap of a diesel into a RRC? If so, were you able to retain basic "creature features" like A/C, heat, functional gauge cluster, auto tranny, etc? My dream would be to install a 5 cyl. in-line Mercedes diesel powerplant, but beggars aren't supposed to be picky!!
I like my 95 RRC, but I would love to ride down the beach for free!!
Thanks in advance.
 
az_max

az_max

1
Apr 22, 2005
7,463
2
Surfin Elvis said:
Just converted my 83 Mercedes 300SD to run on veggie oil and have over 1200 miles on it. After owning lots of unique vehicles, the coolest thing in the world is driving along with the knowledge that every mile I drive is saving me $$$$.:D
Has anyone made a succesful swap of a diesel into a RRC? If so, were you able to retain basic "creature features" like A/C, heat, functional gauge cluster, auto tranny, etc? My dream would be to install a 5 cyl. in-line Mercedes diesel powerplant, but beggars aren't supposed to be picky!!
I like my 95 RRC, but I would love to ride down the beach for free!!
Thanks in advance.
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LR made a diesel Range Rover, so all the brackets and stuff will work. (At least with the original diesel). Here's an Isuzu conversion.
 
B

bigbillyboy

Guest
I've wondered about this as well. I recently pulled the 6cyl 2.4L turbo diesel out of my 1985 volvo station wagon for a rebuild (280,000 miles). I love the wagon. smooth, plenty of power, and trouble free. But, during the process, I noticed that the engine is bolted up to a ZF4HP22 transmission. I believe that is the same transmission in a RRC, is it not? I also believe that the bellhousings are removable, and I'm assuming interchangable. This would allow me to retain the stock drivetrain, and not need to fabricate an adapter plate. My thought was to look for a RRC with engine trouble and see if all the drive train pieces would bolt up/fit. If not, I'll just have to live the wagon..

anybody know enough about the ZF to confirm my suspicions that the bellhousings are interchangable?

thanks
Jason
 
eliaschristeas

eliaschristeas

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2006
2,442
5
Beverly HIlls
i just talked to a guy in our club SCLR who did it in a 95 as well. It took him forever, cost a fortune, but works! In retrospect, he told me that the easiest way to do it (which is still quite involved) would be to by the drivetrain front to back - engine to t-case - and swap the whole enchilada. Then some fun with wiring and appx a few months and 10k bucks or so later, you're done! I wonder if is better to just by a 2 or 300 classic or disco from england and ship it here. . .
 
sven

sven

Well-known member
Aug 5, 2004
4,921
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State College,PA
www.expeditionimports.org
eliaschristeas said:
I wonder if is better to just by a 2 or 300 classic or disco from england and ship it here. . .
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Yup, thats what I was thinking about too. Find a rear ended 300TDi D1 and ship it back here as parts. Then you'd have all the parts and a template on how it goes back to your truck.
 
Nomar

Nomar

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
6,078
13
Virginia
There are 2 or 3 RRC's here in VA with 300tDi motors.
Robert Davis did at least one, maybe two.
He's down in Chesapeake...
 
B

bigbillyboy

Guest
sven said:
I would think that the Volvo TD might be a little underpowered for a much heavier RRC.. right?
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the intercooled version puts out about 130hp and 200 ft lbs. Not a rocket ship, but it pushes the 3500lb station wagon around surprising well. There is also alot of info out there as to varying mods from "simple" to "involved" that get it, easily up around 175-200hp.

Not a rocket ship, but the real joy for me would be 25 mpg.

I just need to find a decent donor RRC for cheap.
 
az_max

az_max

1
Apr 22, 2005
7,463
2
bigbillyboy said:
the intercooled version puts out about 130hp and 200 ft lbs. Not a rocket ship, but it pushes the 3500lb station wagon around surprising well. There is also alot of info out there as to varying mods from "simple" to "involved" that get it, easily up around 175-200hp.

Not a rocket ship, but the real joy for me would be 25 mpg.

I just need to find a decent donor RRC for cheap.
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Those numbers are close to or above what the 200tdi motor was. The gearing is much different from the volvo, so I'd think you'd be ok.
 
B

bigbillyboy

Guest
az_max said:
Those numbers are close to or above what the 200tdi motor was. The gearing is much different from the volvo, so I'd think you'd be ok.
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What is the stock gearing of a RRC? What RPM is typical for 65MPH?
 
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bpjenks67

Guest
I am strongly looking into the 3.9Ltr Isuzu or 4bt Cummings diesel to swap into my 87 Classic and my 88 Grand Wagoneer both. Having a time finding someone hom has done it. Though each of these engines are described as bulletproof. While returning 25-30mpg. I'm here in Atlanta and looking for someone who has done a diesel conversion other than the 200 or 300tdi.

Bryan
 
p m

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,651
869
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
bigbillyboy said:
I've wondered about this as well. I recently pulled the 6cyl 2.4L turbo diesel out of my 1985 volvo station wagon for a rebuild (280,000 miles). I love the wagon. smooth, plenty of power, and trouble free. But, during the process, I noticed that the engine is bolted up to a ZF4HP22 transmission. I believe that is the same transmission in a RRC, is it not? I also believe that the bellhousings are removable, and I'm assuming interchangable. This would allow me to retain the stock drivetrain, and not need to fabricate an adapter plate. My thought was to look for a RRC with engine trouble and see if all the drive train pieces would bolt up/fit. If not, I'll just have to live the wagon..

anybody know enough about the ZF to confirm my suspicions that the bellhousings are interchangable?

thanks
Jason
Click to expand...
It's mostly the same ZF, but if you frequent brickboard, you must be aware of Volvo's ZF issues. Rover's 4HP22 don't have this problem.
I'd be suprised if that diesel from the Volvo felt anything but terribly underpowered in a Rover.

It's unlikely you'll see 25mpg, either - what was your mileage in the Volvo?
The B230 (non-turbo gasoline I4) gets you about 25mpg average, in an empty wagon that's 1000lb lighter than the Rangie.
 
p m

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,651
869
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La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
bpjenks67 said:
I am strongly looking into the 3.9Ltr Isuzu or 4bt Cummings diesel to swap into my 87 Classic and my 88 Grand Wagoneer both. Having a time finding someone hom has done it. Though each of these engines are described as bulletproof. While returning 25-30mpg. I'm here in Atlanta and looking for someone who has done a diesel conversion other than the 200 or 300tdi.
Click to expand...

Bryan, check ifsja.org - IIRC, somebody's done 4BT swap in a GW. At least, it's only 200lb heavier than AMC V8, not 500lb than Rover's.
 
Yorker

Yorker

Well-known member
Nov 14, 2006
199
0
Duanesburg, NY
bigbillyboy said:
anybody know enough about the ZF to confirm my suspicions that the bellhousings are interchangable?

thanks
Jason
Click to expand...

If that is indeed the case then there should be a ton of potential swaps, even oddball stuff like that M21 BMW diesel that was in Lincolns in the 1980s.
 
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