300tdi source?...+hello

[Drroe]

Good evening,

I'll do a formal project/intro soon, but here is the TL;DR version, my dad bought an 87 110 from a guy in Vancouver a few years back (19J, white with "best car" stickers). Gathered rot for a few years and bought it back/18th birthday present two years ago. Last winter I started working on it with a friend, next spring I'll take it across Canada (I'm from QC) on an epic summer long road/fishing/off-road trip.

For obvious reasons, the 19j has to go before then. So, I'm on the market for a 300.

Swapping will be the easy part, finding one is more of a pain...

I thought of getting one through landroverimport but heard mixed stories, turner engineering and such are out of my price range. Rover north (conveniently an hour away) is a little expensive. Right now I'm leaning towards Urban Land Cruisers, a Georgia/UK company...

But, where would you buy one? Importing one is not something that scares me, but I'll need to read up on it a little more.

Thanks

[red90]

No idea who best to get it through these days. A 200TDI is a simpler swap and runs just as nice. Plan to get the gearbox and transfer case at the same time. This gives suitable strength and the correct gearing. There are a few big clubs much more in your neck of the woods and I would ask there.

[StuartL]

Firstly I don't know what the obvious reason are, I missed them. I believe the 19J is the Turbo Diesel, which I had one in a 109" for a few years. They got a bad reputation years ago because farmers in the UK don't change their oil regularly and this caused problems. I liked the TD but wanted that little extra hp so put in a 200TDi. Should have stayed with the TD, Land Rovers should only ever go 100km/hr so the expense isn't worth it.

If you are determined to go TDi it is very hard to find as good one. Over the last 10 years I have imported around 5-6 200/300TDi's. Never got a good one, the 200TDi with "70,000" miles on it to replace the TD you could turn it over with your hand, so obviously not real. So I had it rebuilt and that was the smartest thing I did. My recommendation is to find one that needs rebuilding and get it done locally.

A used engine is used and a crap shoot, better to rebuild or buy new then you know what the cost will be. There are far too many stories of serious engine problems in Used Engine in Used Land Rovers.

Hope my experience helps....

[Drroe]

thank you both for your input.

Andrew

[red90]

Stuart is spot on about the frequency of bad engines. Make sure the source is reliable and the engine condition known... If on a low budget, then you would need to rebuild it yourself, which is pretty straightforward. IMO, if you are paying someone to rebuild, you might as well bring in a new engine. New 300TDIs are still available and I can't see how you could buy a used engine and have it professionally rebuilt cheaper.

http://www.paddockspares.com/stc4723n-e ... 00tdi.html
http://www.paddockspares.com/engine-uni ... -rema.html

[roverdevin]

Jeremy Pinney often has some 300Tdi motors out of wreckers. As mentioned, you are always taking a gamble with those, but he will tell you as much if you are interested. Not sure about price.

I had to do a bottom end rebuild of mine a few years ago. I'm horrible with keeping track of receipts, but for parts I think I was under $1000 For seals, bearings, pistons and gaskets, timing kit. a bunch of other bits. etc. MWM/OEM, but not "Land Rover". I didn't replace the cam.

Machining at Magnum Engines was about $900, and that including chemical bath, some polishing and piston/crank assembly.

I did the stripping and reassembly. Maybe that gives a ballpark idea for the local rebuild option. It was the first engine I had had done so no idea if that's high or low!

Also, I never tend to keep track of the tons of other things you spend on a job like this, and all the little things you do along the way!

Devin B

[swamijake]

There is also the 2.8 TGV still available new.
http://www.mdengineering.co.uk/index.ph ... y&cat_id=1

[swamijake]

Some other's thoughts on the 19J:
http://www.roverlanders.bc.ca/roverforu ... php?p=5442

Easiest route is likely rebuild the 19J, add an intercooler and an extra fan, and keep the oil changed.

[Drroe]

Thank you all for info,

I'm indeed still looking at the current 2.5TD. Cotterell engineering has been very helpful with info, might swap pistons, intercool it and play around with a couple of things to boost it and improve reliability.