Repower SIII 109 with 200TDI?

[disco2hse]

My apologies. On several other forums I frequent, such posts as those emerge from trollites

Off-topic: It used to be a fairly common thing to do in this country, to put Nissan Patrol or Toyota Hilux diffs and axles into series wagons. Also, provides the benefit of a wider track.

[busboy]

It used to be a fairly common thing to do in this country, to put Nissan Patrol or Toyota Hilux diffs and axles into series wagons. Also, provides the benefit of a wider track.

I lost interest in my Landrover for a number of years and only recently became enthusiastic about it again so I have not followed what people have done in the last 10 years or so I only have my experience of owning my 1971 2a for the last 35 years and what I have done with it.

I personally did the Toyota transplant about 25 years ago when I had the chance to get a 1968 109 body with no frame. People have put larger more powerful engines in Landrovers for many years but it all boils down to the Landrover axles being too low geared even with an overdrive and the new engine has to rev too much to get any speed so poor gas mileage. Back then there was not the interest like now, no internet and there were next to no parts on this side of the pond so we made do with what we had and frequent trips to the UK. Using the Toyota truck was a very simple solution and I was just offering it as an alternative that gave a decent engine full syncro gearbox and higher geared axles along with disc brakes on the front.

[disco2hse]

Yep. That's what I was thinking when I referred to what used to be common. Consequently, it is fairly rare to find an unmolested landie in good working order. Most of ours ended up with Holden (GM) engines.

[TeriAnn]

People have put larger more powerful engines in Landrovers for many years but it all boils down to the Landrover axles being too low geared even with an overdrive and the new engine has to rev too much to get any speed so poor gas mileage.

I am one of those molesters. My truck is basically all Land Rover except for 2 assemblies, the engine and gearbox. The engine is basically a 1991 Mustang 5.0L and the gearbox is an NP435 ( American truck top loader four speed).

I agree that if you leave the gearing stock you can go slow very quickly. However there are gearing options. If you just look at the diffs you can use the same diff ratios available for 1980's and 1990's coilers (Pre-Disco II days). The stock 3.54:1 and common aftermarket 4.10:1 immediately come to mind.

Our friends at Ashcroft Transmissions cater to those of us who molest Land Rovers. For instance they have a Series transfercase high ratio conversion that turns the transfercase high gear from a 1.15:1 underdrive to a 0.87:1 overdrive while leaving the transfercase low range ratios the same. Calculated at the wheel this gives you very close to having a 3.54:1 diff in high rane while maintaining stock Series low range ratios.

This is what I have behind my 5L V8. With 33 inch dia tyres at 65 MPH my V8 is turning 2,650 RPM. Which is within the economy RPM range of my engine. With this gearing I get better fuel economy than I got with a fresh 2.25L 8:1 LR petrol engine.

If you want to swap in a 300tdi or td5 Ashcroft offers short bell housing R380 that will bolt directly to the 300tdi and will not push the engine forward. Then there is the part time 4WD conversion kit for the LT230 behind the R380 plus a number of high range gearing choices for the LT230.

And if you want to use a common American engine that bolts to a common American top loader truck gearbox, Advance Adapters makes a range of adapters that will fit the American gearbox to a Series LR transfercase. Call their 800 number and ask to speak with Matt.

There are a LOT of gearing options.