What are your expectations and goals in installing a diesel in your 88? I love the 2.5 diesel in my 109, but diesels can be great at some things but stink at others.
Pros:
-Rover 4-cyl diesels are ALMOST as painless a conversion as you can get
-Slight-to-moderate improvement in fuel economy
-Extremely reliable and trouble-free engine w/only routine preventative maintenance
-Diesel engines have great longevity
-Once started, diesel engines require extremely little or no electricity to keep running, depending on which type of fuel shutoff valve is installed.
-No coil, points, condensor, plugs, plug wires, rotor, cap, carburettor jets, float, etc to fail/clog/stick/wear/crack or get wet.
Cons:
-Low horsepower compared to similar displacement petrol engines
-Not so great torque
-Fuel somehow costs the same or more than the most premium gasoline out there
-Some parts are harder to source or more expensive than their petrol counterparts, though I haven't found a part that was unobtainable yet.
-Depending on engine wear, the diesel can be harder to start in the winter. On the other hand, vapor lock is never an issue!
-2.25 and 2.5NA diesels have NEVER been described as "peppy" by anyone...ever.
-Diesels are so much louder than their petrol counterparts. Get rid of your radio--you won't need that anymore!
-Diesels vibrate a lot at all speeds but especially at idle. Make sure everything is tightened or it'll vibrate off.
I'm sure there are other pros and cons, but you've got to make sure your needs and expectations will be met with a diesel. In other words, don't fit a diesel and expect to go drag racing with it.
Last edited by SafeAirOne; 05-01-2009 at 02:08 PM.
--Mark
1973 SIII 109 RHD 2.5NA Diesel
0-54mph in just under 11.5 minutes
(9.7 minutes now that she's a 3-door).