It's pretty much done!

Mercedesrover

Explorer
revor said:
You will need a complete wiring harness, ECU, Alarm ECU and the BCU from doner car. Shifter consoles are different from Standard to Auto you will need the transmission that goes with the TD5, you will also need the rear cross member and the transmission mounts as they are also different from Petrol versions.
Looking at the rave there are also different dash wiring details , plus the TD5 instument cluster uses some different inputs than the Petrol...

You guys are braver than me!
 

revor

Explorer
Mercedesrover said:
You guys are braver than me!

You know Jim it's not all that bad. If you can understand a D1 Gems or even 14CUX you've got it bagged. The only thing I think I'd like to have is a Rovacom or NanoCom which I will soon have but otherwise once you get to know it you feel okay with it.

It's that getting to know it part that turned my hair grey.....

Kinda like getting the feel of feeling the straightness of a body panel after you've worked it, it takes forever to get "the feel" but once you get it you never use your eyes on it again.

The D2 with half a care would be pretty easy, as would a Defender. The D1 just forced relocation of a lot of 'stuff' and that made it more "interesting"

Oh! Shoot me a mail, I have two Series guys you need to talk to.
 

gjackson

FRGS
This car is *amazing* to drive! It does not feel like a diesel at all, and it can really get up and go. Very cool work Keith!

cheers
 

R_Lefebvre

Expedition Leader
Wow, that's kinda what I was thinking, needing half a car. So you figure $10k to bring one over? Ouch. Does really seem not worth it just to get the fuel savings. Would be nice if I could offset it by selling off my gas powertrain.

How do you think the truck would tow with the diesel? I know it's got a lot of torque, and probably feels sprightly around town, but it is only 120hp, I gotta think trying to get the rig up to speed with a heavy trailer would be pretty bad? That's one of my other concerns.
 

Mercedesrover

Explorer
R_Lefebvre said:
Wow, that's kinda what I was thinking, needing half a car. So you figure $10k to bring one over? Ouch. Does really seem not worth it just to get the fuel savings.

Fuel savings is not, has never been and will never be the reason for doing a diesel swap.
 

revor

Explorer
I was trying to get it out with a trailer on this weekend but it never came to pass.. I think it will be okay up to what really should be towed behind a Disco, maybe 1500 pounds.

As far as the reason I did it. The car had 150ish so it needed a motor an it showed. Being less and less of a fan of the Buick V8 I figured why not. To rebuild would cost an honest couple grand so why not a low mile used Diesel. Better range better milage than the V8 at about 13MPG(after a week it's looking like about 25MPG around town) better power and more fun. It's even a little less complicated than a Gems car and only slightly more complicated than a 14cux.
 

kevb

Observer
Good job Keith, interesting project. I am a big fan of the Td5 having had 3 so far (D2 & 2 90s) and covered over 100,000 trouble free miles in them. On our recent trip with BB I was getting 19mpg off road and 25 on, even with a 90 that gives me a good range. (did Bill get his front diff cover done?)

How have you tuned the ECU? I have a Dastec in my green 90 and a Van Aaken in my good 90, both are a big improvement over standard but I want to go for a proper remap, been looking atTD5 Alive, they can do it by email for later ECUs if you have a Nanocom.
 

revor

Explorer
Hey Thanks Kev!

It has been interesting! Given the options for a motor in a D1 I figured why not kick it up a notch! BAM!

Bill got his cover repaired, in the end we didn't use mine because of the complexity of the install (?) but after talking Rob the mechanic that worked on it it's all good now.

Haven't gotten a tune on this one just ye. I have the earlier ECU (late 2001) so it's a Piggy back unit or put a later ECU in it and buy a Nanocom. I'll buy the Nanocom regardless. Based on how my wife drives I might leave it stock (oh I'm in trouble now!!)

It is a very powerful and pleasent little engine. I'll be excited to see how it runs up the mountain!
 

michaelgroves

Explorer
Mercedesrover said:
Fuel savings is not, has never been and will never be the reason for doing a diesel swap.

Until fuel starts costing US$9/U.S. gallon like it does here in the UK. Anyone doing a biggish mileage of say 50,000 km a year, can probably save around $5000 per year.
 
Last edited:

michaelgroves

Explorer
revor said:
I think it will be okay up to what really should be towed behind a Disco, maybe 1500 pounds.

Hmm, my TD5 Disco was quite happy with a 3-ton trailer. Change down for the steep ascents and descents, of course, and it's a little slow, but never gave the impression it was straining.
 

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