Time to switch v8->200tdi?
- Thread starter AndrewClarke
- Start date
I've decided I'm going to do this swap. I have a friend who's offered to help me do it, so that's tipped the scales over to this decision. Are there any good writeups on the internet on how to do this? I've pulled the engine out of my 110 once with the help of some friends, or rather I helped some friends, but that's about the extend of my experience. I'm not great with mechanicals but I'm willing to try anything.
I've looked around and haven't found any great resources on this job yet. It would be great to know ahead of time how much I need to rip out of the donor truck. I have figured out the following so far:
- Move engine mounts
- Fuel tank differences: diesel tank is vented (?) and the v8 has the fuel pump in-tank, so I'll need to look at differences in fuel lines, etc.
- Need to look at the 200tdi gauge cluster to see if it has a glow plug light.
Is there anything else I should change/check while I have everything out? I'm planning on doing the timing belt and maybe putting a new clutch in.
I expect/hope to start this some time in June.
I've looked around and haven't found any great resources on this job yet. It would be great to know ahead of time how much I need to rip out of the donor truck. I have figured out the following so far:
- Move engine mounts
- Fuel tank differences: diesel tank is vented (?) and the v8 has the fuel pump in-tank, so I'll need to look at differences in fuel lines, etc.
- Need to look at the 200tdi gauge cluster to see if it has a glow plug light.
Is there anything else I should change/check while I have everything out? I'm planning on doing the timing belt and maybe putting a new clutch in.
I expect/hope to start this some time in June.
This swap isn't really that hard, you could do it in a weekend if you have the motor and everything prepped and ready to drop in. I had my 300tdi swap running in an afternoon once the v8 was removed.
A lot of the mountings are prepared in the shell so there is minimal fabrication work to do. Your v8 cluster has a spot for a glow plug light in it already just lacking the wiring. Having owned a tdi and v8 truck, I wouldn't call the performance difference really that noticeable both trucks are slow but doubling your fuel range is really nice.
A lot of the mountings are prepared in the shell so there is minimal fabrication work to do. Your v8 cluster has a spot for a glow plug light in it already just lacking the wiring. Having owned a tdi and v8 truck, I wouldn't call the performance difference really that noticeable both trucks are slow but doubling your fuel range is really nice.
Thanks. I'm familiar with 200tdi performance as I have a 200tdi 110. With the Discovery being smaller/lighter than a 110 with a winch, lift, oversized tires, roll cage, if I can handle the 110's "speed" I'm sure I'll be fine with the Disco.
What do you mean by "a lot of the mountings are prepared in the shell"?
Since I'm in a best case scenario replacing the head gasket on my v8, I'd rather just put that time towards the diesel swap.
What do you mean by "a lot of the mountings are prepared in the shell"?
Since I'm in a best case scenario replacing the head gasket on my v8, I'd rather just put that time towards the diesel swap.
For example, there are holes already drilled in the bulkhead for the fuel filter housing. I don't remember needing to do drilling or anything to mount everything besides welding the main mounts in.
Missed that: the V8 makes the TDI's peak torque at about the same 1800 rpm, and then goes up, while TDI drops like a rock.
Even a lame 3.9 is superior in torque and horsepower to a 200/300TDI; if you really want to enjoy driving, swap the ZF autobox for a manual transmission.
That said, not a week has passed since I was a little envious of a fuel range of a diesel truck.
I had a 1996 Discovery 5spd and I loved it. I loved it until I lent it to someone and when I got it back the engine had overheated and was destroyed. I'm no longer associated with that individual. That's also not including the multitude of issues I had with the V8 even when it was running; stuff like getting stranded in the desert because the computer thought I'd been in an accident and shut off the ignition and fuel pump and I had to be flatbedded back to a dealer.
I've never had an issue like that with my 200tdi. Even when I hydro-locked the engine I was able to drive it 500km back home with smoke spewing out of it. That engine is still running strong 8 years later.
The 3.9 v8 costs me > $100 every time I fill the tank. I don't drive a Land Rover to be fast. If I want to "enjoy driving", I can drive something else. Actually my Discovery brought a smile to my face every time I drove it, except when filling it up. Having lived through the overheating -> cracked head -> exploding v8 issues in the past, and since I have to do extensive work to get my 3.9 v8 running anyway, and since I 100% know I'm fine with the performance of a 200tdi, and since I have a 200tdi Discovery sitting here ready to donate its drivetrain, I am comfortable with my decision to do the swap. That's not to say someone else might want something else.
And for that someone who wants something else, let me know if you want my old 3.9v8/ZF combo once its out of my Discovery, since you v8 fans are out there. I'm just not one of them.
I've never had an issue like that with my 200tdi. Even when I hydro-locked the engine I was able to drive it 500km back home with smoke spewing out of it. That engine is still running strong 8 years later.
The 3.9 v8 costs me > $100 every time I fill the tank. I don't drive a Land Rover to be fast. If I want to "enjoy driving", I can drive something else. Actually my Discovery brought a smile to my face every time I drove it, except when filling it up. Having lived through the overheating -> cracked head -> exploding v8 issues in the past, and since I have to do extensive work to get my 3.9 v8 running anyway, and since I 100% know I'm fine with the performance of a 200tdi, and since I have a 200tdi Discovery sitting here ready to donate its drivetrain, I am comfortable with my decision to do the swap. That's not to say someone else might want something else.
And for that someone who wants something else, let me know if you want my old 3.9v8/ZF combo once its out of my Discovery, since you v8 fans are out there. I'm just not one of them.
German Gruner
Well-known member
Price of fuels is expensive for both diesels and V8 here in south, but i enjoy making trips where you don't find places to refill, so making 1600km off road with only two cans is one of the lovely things of 300TDI. Other advantage is over 3500 meters altitude to see how atmosferic aspiration engined cars drop in tbeir speed and 300tdi discos go faster than the others.
Regards
Regards