IRC, Doug didn't have any trouble getting the ECUs to "talk" to one another with no engine to "read" unput from. i drove it and it didn't have any dash lights on or anything. it was a nice truck to drive too. however, it'd be better if you just got in contact with him rather than believing hearsay.
I'm going to get the truck home tonight, and will start by dropping the tranny pan to see what we can see. Maybe there's hope it's just a bit of dirt or something trapped in some control gizmo. But I don't hold out much hope. Who knows. But what I'm going to do next, is just unplug the engine computer completely, and see if the BCU will at least still work the door locks, windows, lights, etc. That will be telling.
If Doug (Roving Beetle) could get an Izuzu to work in a DII, I can't think of any reason a 300Tdi wouldn't work.
Given some of the areas you drive (water), I would think the more basic you go (300Tdi), the better.
Definitely a thought. I am not really afraid of the water and electronics. I think that's manageable. But, simple as a box of rocks is sometimes good. If I did a 300TDI, I'd probably take the opportunity when it's out to sound deaden the heck out of the firewall. That's one of the things I like about the D2 and want to keep, is the really nice highway drivability. It's really nice to drive. I've talked to too many Defender owners who really hate driving their trucks long distances. I'm not sure how raucus the 300 is. I might get to test drive a 300 in a Defender, give me some indication.
The impetus for this whole thing, is to get rid of the complicated hydro-mechanical-electrical auto trans, and the probably-gonna-leak-coolant V8. I've just seen too many cracked blocks, dropped liners, or leaking head gaskets, and I don't want to worry about it anymore.
From what I've read so far, the TD5 has proved to be perfectly fine for reliability. But I'm absolutely open to opinions to the contrary if somebody has them.
Have you thought about a 200TDI? I rode in a D1 that was converted and it was quite strong, got great mileage and was a pretty straightforward swap from what I understand.
Not sure why I would consider a 200 when a 300 is just a little more? And as far as I can tell, a little better in every way.
you could buy a secondhand td5 engine and box, (I assume you want auto?)
as a complete kit over here for about £2000 to £4000 depending on condition,
No, I don't want auto. I love auto for heavy off-roading, but I don't want it so many other reasons, chief of which is they're just not robust. At least not in my opinion. If I was going to put another auto box in the truck, might as well just put another V8 box in and leave the engine alone for now.
I'd love to have some help from guys on your side of the pond looking in to this. I have not yet found who/what/where to contact to investigate the "kit" option. It would be SO much easier than shipping a whole truck over. And I'm guessing you guys over there know exactly how to do it, and have done it before. (specifically, putting a TD5 into a V8 D20). I'm pretty much sold on the TD5, as long as I can figure out the logistics of it. That is, of course, barring any strong reasons not to, which I haven't seen yet.
