Diesel into a P6

Tom W

Tom W

Active Member
Just daydreaming here, but anyone know if it's possible to fit a Land Rover Tdi diesel into a P6 to make an economical daily driver?

Land Rover Discos are cheap as chips at the moment as they rot, but the engines are really tough. 200 series bolt to the lt77 gearbox, and 300 bolt to the r380, both of which I understand fit the p6. They look dimensionally similar to the 4 pot, and it's still a Rover product, so should look at home. Obviously engine mounts would need to be made, plus some custom wiring and plumbing.

I'm not about to start taking my car any time soon, but I really like the idea of a 35-40mpg P6 daily driver with improved performance over standard. Worries are it would be massively nose heavy and really agricultural.

Anyone know of any diesel P6 conversions?
 
There was an almond 2000 on Ebay a couple of years ago with a Montego turbo diesel in it. I think it had an LT77.
 
I think the 200/300 tdi's will be a bit on the heavy side :wink: . I can pick up a 2000 or 3500 block myself, but need two to drag the land rover diesel block across the floor :shock:

I'd vote for the peugot 1.9 diesel, although I have no experience of them myself, just heard good things about them. A detuned version was found on the front of the lt77 as fitted to some sherpa / ldv200 vans and they seem to be good scrapyard fodder at the moment. It really depends whether the front ancillaries will clear the front crossmember or not. With some extra sound insulation, I'm sure you could make it much quieter and refined, possibly pushing mpg up towards 45-50mpg if set up well and driven carefully.

P6 News had an article years ago with a 2000 retro fitted with the perkins prima 2.0 diesel as fitted to the montego/maestro.
 
The landrover boxes are not suitable for cars due to the transfer boxes. It is possible to convert them for 2wd but the cost and lack of availabilty would make it a headache.

Colin
 
I was hoping the engine would bolt directly to a RWD variant of one of the gearboxes, rather than using the gearbox from the Land Rover itself. The Lt77still seems fairly easy to get in RWD form, there's a couple on ebay at the moment. The R380 was used in early TVR Chimaeras, and maybe Griffiths before they went to the T5, so they are available with RWD, just probably at a price. Don't know if they were fitted in anything else with RWD.

The worry was that the tdi engines are massively heavy. I guess there's a lot more metal in there being a diesel, even though the construction is similar to the 2200 engine (iron block/alloy head).

It would probably be too long to fit, BMW 525tds have a great straight 6 diesel with RWD gearbox (also in Omegas) and they're available for a minimal outlay of beer tokens on auto trader.

Anyway, I should stop daydreaming and start enjoying my P6. I've just got everything finished and legal, so I'm off for a test drive and to enjoy the sunshine! :D :D :D
 
Personally I couldn't drive a P6 if it had the diesel whif and sound effects :)

(no offence meant to all those who love theirs) :wink:
 
A friend of mine put a 4 cylinder Perkins in his P6 and it went straight to the bumps stops, he had some stronger springs made, but said he daren't open the window when it was ticking over in case it threw him out. :roll: Ruined a good car in my opinion. Guess a modern diesel will be much better though.
 
They were a popular conversion in Malta years ago, I think there is some write ups on what was used and how it was done in P6 News.
 
KiwiRover said:
There was an almond 2000 on Ebay a couple of years ago with a Montego turbo diesel in it. I think it had an LT77.
Click to expand...

There was one for sale at Cashel Cars in Christchurch about 15 years ago.. the guy spent a fortune doing it.
 
If you don't mind putting a German engine in your Rover, would be interested to know if anyone had ever thought of or tried the Volkswagen/Audi/Seat 1.9Tdi. With a weight not much more than a Rover V8 and power outputs in same range as 2200sc/tc yet fuel economy in region of 40+ mpg, it sounds promising?

A lot of cars used this 1.9Tdi engine going back to early/mid 90's - so there must be plenty residing in scrappies by now?

Many had a longitudnal fit but I have no idea how the engine would offer up to a P6 bay nevermind how you would connect up the transmission. :?: :?:


10.5 - 13.3S 0-62mph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A4


Rover V8 engine weigth = 170 kg (375 lb)
Click to expand...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine

1.9Tdi diesel
dimensionsmass: 200 kilograms (441 lb) (Marine variants, dry weight)
Click to expand...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_diesel_engines
 
There is also the 2.5 vm tdi engine used in the 825, this I believe is also used in the original discovery 200 / 300, should fit into a P6 no problem, just need to attach it to a gearbox, although it is quite a bit heavier than the 2ltr T16 engine in the 820, so I guess will be a bit heavier than a P6 4 pot too. Still a decent engine and will run veg oil if it's got the bosch pump.
 
I certainly like the idea of having a P6 daily driver that runs on veg oil :p

Fantasy time now............... if Rover had been left alone and not been messed up in the great BL disaster and needed to find a diesel engine for a relativley compact saloon, perhaps they would have turned to GM once more? On this logic, the Vauhall/GM 1.7CDTi engine might be a good choice. With power outputs of over 100bhp and fuel economy of 60mpg (at least in a low-drag Astra), this sounds good? I cannot find a weight for the engine but as they were used in cars like the V/hall Astra/Corsa with an overall weight of not much over 1 tonne, guess they can't be too heavy.

Of course, if you are running veg oil, maybe the mpg figure isn't too important :D Too bad you can't run a petrol engine on chip fat :D

In addition to the mechanical problems of fitting the engine and connecting to gearbox or transmission, I suppose you would have to consider all the stuff that goes with a modern turbo-diesel:- engine management, various sensors, inter-cooler, high pressure fuel pump. Though, compared to the mechanical side of things I suspect this would be relativley easy.

1.7 CDTI Ecotec I4 1686 cc 111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp) @3800 rpm 260 N·m (192 lb·ft) @1800 rpm 124
1.7 CDTI Ecotec I4 1686 cc 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp) @4000 rpm 280 N·m (207 lb·ft) @2000-2700 rpm 119/124(depending on region) @EURO 5
Click to expand...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astra

I once met a very dodgy bloke who claimed to have an answer to escalating fuel costs - he always carried a few empty 4 gallon gerry cans and an elecric fuel pump. Seem to recall this was in the days when a lot of cars still didn't have locking pertol caps!!!!!
 
what about the rover L-series - it went well in my rover 600, although i dont know how difficult it is to mount longtitudinally...
 
The TDi 200 and 300 Land Rover engines do have genuine Rover heritage - right back to the 1948 Rover 60! - and can be made to give some impressive power figures with a big intercooler. You can also get gear drive conversions for the cam drive. But I can't help feeling the result is going to be a tad too agricultural for a P6.

The L series is simply a developed version of the Perkins Prima, which in turn was based on the 2ltr OHC O series as used in the SD1 Rover 2000. So again a rear drive LT77 or R380 should be feasible. Sump bellhousing and gearbox easily sourced ex an LDV Pilot that's gone to meet its maker.

The dear old VM diesel is rather long in the tooth. A very narrow power band even by diesel standards when it appeared in the SD1 and Range Rover Classic. It has individual barrells and cylinder heads for each cylinder so very heavy and vibratory. I understand there's a much revamped version around now that makes it into Alfa Romeo vans (yes really, dirty great panel vans).

I like the idea of the baby Isuzu, which is what the Vauxhall 1.7 is. And I especially like the idea of a VW TDi. But I'd go for the 2.5ltr 5 cyl version which went in A6's for a while and now sees service in some of the VW panel vans in RWD format. I have a feeling the 5 is a close relative of some of the Volvo diesels - I know we have a few Volvo experts on here who can put me right on that!

My own personal favourite for this duty would be the Land Rover TD5 engine out of a Discovery. It's got some genuine Rover heritage in that it was developed by Land Rover, albeit from the 4 cyl Perkins Prima rather than from a proper Rover engine. And the P6 was always meant to be home to a 2.5 ltr 5 cyl before the V8 swam across the Atlantic! No doubt a heavy lump to cope with in the front of a P6 though. Perhaps it might be possible to banish the gearbox to the rear a la Alfa 75 to compensate?

I do think the power delivery of a diesel would suit the character of a P6. The key would be to get the sound insulation right and also to use the OEM engine mounting system of the donor. Diesels have to be "hung" through their vibration axis in order to get a satisfactorily smooth result - no good trying to adapt the P6 mounts!

Chris
 
I do think the power delivery of a diesel would suit the character of a P6. The key would be to get the sound insulation right and also to use the OEM engine mounting system of the donor. Diesels have to be "hung" through their vibration axis in order to get a satisfactorily smooth result - no good trying to adapt the P6 mounts!
Click to expand...

Agreed - all in the midrange.... :eek:)
 
Interesting stuff here. I think the Audi tdi engine can be mated to a RWD box, because the block is supposed to be similar to the 1.8t block and there's adaptor kits available for that.
 
If that wasn't so far away, I'd go and look. Would be interesting to see what character the car had.
 
Declaring an interest in the diesel P6 on eBay. :D

Anyone know the owner as I need to ask to some questions.

Been looking at a similar project myself with Rick.
Would run it on Veg Oil for totally free motoring.

It will probably be the Pilot gearbox - wrong ratios but it works.
don't think it is a turbo though...unless he has fitted the 1.9 turbo and hid the intercooler.

Bid placed and lurking on it.....
 
cant say i blame you :O)

I couldnt afford to drive the v8 everywhere as is - and the only way to solve it is lpg or diesel! ( or have 2 cars like we do... )

Shame it's such an old diesel is the only thing that strikes me as being slightly off from my point of view, although i did have a 405 1.8 TDi for a bit, and it did have a good turn of speed...
 
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