Cost of a D1 TDI swap?

[junkyddog11]

I'd recommend the 300. More refined and modern(ish) motor and easier to get parts for.
Not sure why the popular opinion to swap to manual trans with conversion to diesel. I have RRC's with tdis and both auto and manual trans and people who drive both often like the auto more. It *feels* slower but actual timing shows the auto box to be less than a second slower than the manual 0-60 and perhaps 1/2 a mpg less fuel economy. In this case the auto equipped car is also a LWB and the manual is SWB.
Also the unlike the Defender the tdi Discoveries and RRC all used the 1.22 transfer case. They seem IMO to be fine with that unless you get large with the tires.

 

[Scott Brady]

We are looking to bring three complete 300tdi drivetrains from AU on a container. You should expect everything to cost about $4,000, with you installing it. The 300tdi in the Discovery I is perfect.

 

[owhiting]

300 tdi swap

Being realistic the engine the vehicle came with would be the least expensive to replace. If your heart is set on a land rover diesel go with the 300 as the parts are easier to find. Early non EDC versions would be the easier to swap. Go with an auto. but you need the proper one and the correct torque converter.

I have done two 300 tdi's and it will cost more than 4000 even if you do the work you self. I am very suspect of used engines from over seas as you never know what you are going to get. There are a few good companies in the UK that can supply you all the parts you need. Equicar and Jake Wright.

There is also a guy on ebay selling rebuilt tdi's. ?

 

[piper109]

If you are resourceful and can do your own work you can do it for not too much money. I converted my 99SD Disco1 about 18 months ago and I use it in the NC mountains.

Basically I bought the engine, R380 tranny, transfer case, rad, etc. from the same guy on Ebay UK. In corresponding with him before the auction, he said that if I won his auctions that I could have anything else I wanted off the car for free. His Disco was damaged in a motorway incident so he was just using it around his farm until he decided to scrap it. I won everything so I flew over.

I went to Wales, picked over the vehicle, bought an export legal crate which I then carefully packed it all in and took it to a freight forwarders in Bristol in a rental van.
I made sure I got every single part, nut and bolt etc from the donor vehicle. I even cut out the engine mounts and measured where they have to go in my US Disco.

I picked it up 3 weeks later from Charleston SC and towed it with my trailer with the V8 and auto still in the Disco. I did the swap all single-handedly in my garage over about a two week period. Fortunately most went well and it runs fine. A local shop made an exhaust system for me. I just brought over the original down pipe.
The alternator died so I replaced it with a 100 amp Saturn alternator which fits the same bracket. I also fitted a new timing belt, clutch lever and a few other bits and pieces.
I made my own brackets for the V8 a/c compressor and everything works well, even the cruise control from the V8. The wiring took some study but it all went well in the end. I still have to hook up the Glow plug light so it shows in the instrument panel but the relay works fine. I just listen for the click.

I won all the parts for less than $1000. I spent a week in UK, about $1100 including the car rental, flight (low season) and accommodation. Shipping was $850.

I spent very little doing the swap as all the parts I needed were in my crate. I modified the US 2 pedal assembly to fit the clutch pedal, master cylinder, cruise control hose myself using the RHD parts as the LHD 3 pedal assembly is hard to find in USA. Altogether I spent about $3500 doing the swap and then I turned round and sold the V8 with 104K miles on it. I still have a rad, ZF tranny, Y exhaust pipe etc for sale from the V8 if anyone is interested.
It was an interesting project, with a weeks vacation in the UK included.

My wife thought I was crazy but now, every time someone wants to buy the thing from me for silly money, she understands.

Steve
Ashe County

 

[t42beal13t]

After looking at the prices, I see it's a possibility in the near future, but between now and August, most of my spare pennies will be going towards this wedding/honeymoon. Can't wait to get this build going!

But she would like a trip to the UK for the honeymoon...

If you are resourceful and can do your own work you can do it for not too much money. I converted my 99SD Disco1 about 18 months ago and I use it in the NC mountains.

Basically I bought the engine, R380 tranny, transfer case, rad, etc. from the same guy on Ebay UK. In corresponding with him before the auction, he said that if I won his auctions that I could have anything else I wanted off the car for free. His Disco was damaged in a motorway incident so he was just using it around his farm until he decided to scrap it. I won everything so I flew over.

I went to Wales, picked over the vehicle, bought an export legal crate which I then carefully packed it all in and took it to a freight forwarders in Bristol in a rental van.
I made sure I got every single part, nut and bolt etc from the donor vehicle. I even cut out the engine mounts and measured where they have to go in my US Disco.

I picked it up 3 weeks later from Charleston SC and towed it with my trailer with the V8 and auto still in the Disco. I did the swap all single-handedly in my garage over about a two week period. Fortunately most went well and it runs fine. A local shop made an exhaust system for me. I just brought over the original down pipe.
The alternator died so I replaced it with a 100 amp Saturn alternator which fits the same bracket. I also fitted a new timing belt, clutch lever and a few other bits and pieces.
I made my own brackets for the V8 a/c compressor and everything works well, even the cruise control from the V8. The wiring took some study but it all went well in the end. I still have to hook up the Glow plug light so it shows in the instrument panel but the relay works fine. I just listen for the click.

I won all the parts for less than $1000. I spent a week in UK, about $1100 including the car rental, flight (low season) and accommodation. Shipping was $850.

I spent very little doing the swap as all the parts I needed were in my crate. I modified the US 2 pedal assembly to fit the clutch pedal, slave cylinder, cruise control hose myself using the RHD parts as the LHD 3 pedal assembly is hard to find in USA. Altogether I spent about $3500 doing the swap and then I turned round and sold the V8 with 104K miles on it. I still have a rad, ZF tranny, Y exhaust pipe etc for sale from the V8 if anyone is interested.
It was an interesting project, with a weeks vacation in the UK included.

My wife thought I was crazy but now, every time someone wants to buy the thing from me for silly money, she understands.

Steve
Ashe County

 

[junkyddog11]

We are looking to bring three complete 300tdi drivetrains from AU on a container. You should expect everything to cost about $4,000, with you installing it. The 300tdi in the Discovery I is perfect.

I have done many of these conversions and own several as well as work on them every day in my shop. While I agree that this can be done on the cheap (as long as you consider your own time as worthless) and that you can get a tdi "kit" for 4k....it is very much the exception and really not accurate info. It will end up being more like $6500 once you replace all the wear/service items (clutch / rear main seal / timing belt / water pump / questionable gaskets / engine and transmission mounts / glow plugs / injectors / all hoses / belts) and questionable large bits (rad / intercooler) as well as source / fabricate a suitable exhaust.
I find that as most of these motors are now at least 15 yrs old they are all in need of some substantial service regardless of mileage. At this point unless I can get a motor with a guaranteed less that 70k miles I will count on having to spent 2k refreshing it. If it has less than 70k on it it will likely be part of a kit that sells for closer to $6500 anyhow.

 

[Rovertrader]

I cannot stress enough to get a whole vehicle, preferably running so you know it at least is alive, and then you have all the little bits that will end up costing a good chunk of change. I have done it this way and have zero issues with surprises...

 

[piper109]

I cannot stress enough to get a whole vehicle, preferably running so you know it at least is alive, and then you have all the little bits that will end up costing a good chunk of change. I have done it this way and have zero issues with surprises...

So what is your technique for getting a whole vehicle, running, into the USA that is less than 25 years old?

 

[junkyddog11]

I cannot stress enough to get a whole vehicle, preferably running so you know it at least is alive, and then you have all the little bits that will end up costing a good chunk of change. I have done it this way and have zero issues with surprises...

Not trying to be disagreeable but that is a lot of shipping $$ for a bunch of stuff that you don't need eh? I've always done well with taking a good look at the parts books first and figuring out which bits will crossover, which you need and which you'd be better off ordering new before hand. I will agree that having the whole (I assume you actually meant half unless you know a good trick for importing a whole one LOL) car there is really a no brainer. If you are dealing with a good donor dealer they have a pretty good idea of what you need. I have boxes and boxes of stuff I've had sent to me that I didn't need or wasn't worth using. A good way to save some $$ is have them NOT ship you the original rad Intercooler and send new units as well as all new hoses / clutch / a gasket set / timing belt set / Motor tranny mounts and a nice new SS exhaust system for whatever you are installing into. All this stuff is easy and cheap in the UK and you will be replacing it during the swap any how.

 

[DividingCreek]

So what is your technique for getting a whole vehicle, running, into the USA that is less than 25 years old?

I'm interested in that as well

 

[MuleShoer]

It is too bad the 300tdi drivetrain will not work in my series IIa 88. If it did I would spend the money tomorrow.

We are looking to bring three complete 300tdi drivetrains from AU on a container. You should expect everything to cost about $4,000, with you installing it. The 300tdi in the Discovery I is perfect.

 

[junkyddog11]

Who said it wouldn't work. It can be done. Not the easiest thing but it is very possible.

 

[Rovertrader]

I have been very lucky to find others who have gotten them in, and then not finish a project d/t titling, etc- some of which were Ebay finds. Point being, buy a known entity. If I was importing a donor, I agree with front half of the truck, and new ancillaries, etc as at minimal is shipped free.

As far as in a Series, not a big deal if you do the whole drive train which I assume you would. We did a 2.5 NAD in my father-in-law's 88 and he loves it!!

 

[piper109]

Not trying to be disagreeable but that is a lot of shipping $$ for a bunch of stuff that you don't need eh? I've always done well with taking a good look at the parts books first and figuring out which bits will crossover, which you need and which you'd be better off ordering new before hand. I will agree that having the whole (I assume you actually meant half unless you know a good trick for importing a whole one LOL) car there is really a no brainer. If you are dealing with a good donor dealer they have a pretty good idea of what you need. I have boxes and boxes of stuff I've had sent to me that I didn't need or wasn't worth using. A good way to save some $$ is have them NOT ship you the original rad Intercooler and send new units as well as all new hoses / clutch / a gasket set / timing belt set / Motor tranny mounts and a nice new SS exhaust system for whatever you are installing into. All this stuff is easy and cheap in the UK and you will be replacing it during the swap any how.

The only parts I brought in that I ended up not needing were the transfer case (used the one off the V8), the expansion bottle and some EGR parts that I chose not to use. The problem I see in having other people choose and send you parts is that they will likely send you Britpart stuff which sometimes has a bad reputation. I bought some new parts while I was still in the UK and put them into the same packing crate. Fortunately the rad was only a few months old.
I'm not a businessman and I guess I dont know any donor/dealers here or in the UK and rather than buy a pig in a poke, I chose to see the beast and drive it round the field, albeit after I had technically bought it. I was not on tenderhooks wondering what would be in the box when it arrived. That way I was relying on my own experience and abilities and had only myself to blame if things didn't pan out.
I grew up working on a shoe string and I suppose I still tend to.

Steve

 

[piper109]

It is too bad the 300tdi drivetrain will not work in my series IIa 88. If it did I would spend the money tomorrow.

Where in the south west Virginia mountains are you? I drive my Disco down to White Top and Damascus sometimes.

Steve