For several months I have been looking for a suitable machine for a diesel conversion. A 99 Disco ll has shown up in the auto trader, 200,000km with the engine completely shot. Price is far too high, asking $5900, but down from $7900 originally.

Providing a reasonable price could be negotiated, is this a feasible machine for a diesel conversion? I plan on a 6.2 or 6.5, manual trans (probably GM). The project is beyond my expertise, a race car builder I know well will be doing the difficult parts, ie fabrication etc.

The reason I ask about suitability relates to increased computerization of the Disco ll relative to earlier rovers. My thought is that the engine/trans management could be bypassed, leaving the other systems functioning. Is this possible, or is everything integrated to such an extent it would be a lost cause? What think ye all?

First, duck.

Then read this:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428341

That should at least get you started.

Is this possible, or is everything integrated to such an extent it would be a lost cause?

Yes, everything is integrated to such an extent that this would be folly.

You can search further for my expounding on similar hare-brained ideas.

PT

Harold my friend, do not be put off by the nay-sayers! I for one think putting a 6.5 GM diesel into a Disco II is a GREAT idea and would like to encourage you in this project. It may take slightly longer than you have envisaged and may cost slightly more than you will have budgeted, but a Disco II/CCUV! Who doesn't want to see that?














Just in case you were in doubt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

Put the engine/tranny/xfer in.
Just rip out the wiring harnes and replace with a universal Painlesskit. If you do it right the radio wont change stations when you roll up the window.
Get some Dynatracks with Wilwood brakes so you wont need to worrry about ABS and broken axles.
Change out the suspension, look for a D1 parts truck maybe.
Bob it and cage it and you will have a respectable off roader.

:D

[QUOTE=RPR]Harold my friend, do not be put off by the nay-sayers! I for one think putting a 6.5 GM diesel into a Disco II is a GREAT idea and would like to encourage you in this project.

Why stop with the 6.5, how about an 8-71!!

[QUOTE=RPR]
Why stop with the 6.5, how about an 8-71!!

Eight!? Only eight?!

With that overweight pig he should surely go at least to the 14 ;)

Yes, I still have a box in the car for shipment to PT...

Where are you located? Guessing Canada, unless California finally converted to the metric system...

Here in the US $5900 for a '99 DII with a blown engine is a bit much IMHO. That aside, I think a DII is the perfect candidate. I am really watching all the TD5 conversions that are about to begin with the high hopes of converting my wifes DII in a few years. Besides, my RRC could use a 4.0 to replace the very tired 3.9.

I say go for it. Peter has a bit of experience with the 6.5L.

Where are you located? Guessing Canada, unless California finally converted to the metric system...

Here in the US $5900 for a '99 DII with a blown engine is a bit much IMHO. That aside, I think a DII is the perfect candidate. I am really watching all the TD5 conversions that are about to begin with the high hopes of converting my wifes DII in a few years. Besides, my RRC could use a 4.0 to replace the very tired 3.9.

I say go for it. Peter has a bit of experience with the 6.5L.

Yes I am in Canada, about an hour's drive ( a sufficient distance ) out of Toronto. I was thinking about $3000 would be OK. The TD5 did cross my mind, but all the electronics scare me. A domestically sourced, non computerized engine would be much easier to deal with if one were to break down in Flin Flon, St. Louis de Ha Ha or some other such place.

If this doesn't materialize I will probably try to find a Disco 1. Incidentally, has anybody here bought used engines, trannies etc. from Equicar in the UK? Thanks very much to all you guys who have offered advice, opinions and suggestions. I will keep you posted on progress.

Put the engine/tranny/xfer in.
Just rip out the wiring harnes and replace with a universal Painlesskit. If you do it right the radio wont change stations when you roll up the window.
Get some Dynatracks with Wilwood brakes so you wont need to worrry about ABS and broken axles.
Change out the suspension, look for a D1 parts truck maybe.
Bob it and cage it and you will have a respectable off roader.

:D

While I am at it, what do you think about some fuzzy dice for the rear view mirror, some chrome fender skirts would look great too. (If Land Rover gets a look at those I'm sure they will be the next big thing in the accessory catalogue.)

If this doesn't materialize I will probably try to find a Disco 1. Incidentally, has anybody here bought used engines, trannies etc. from Equicar in the UK? Thanks very much to all you guys who have offered advice, opinions and suggestions. I will keep you posted on progress.

Body parts only. Good folks.

I would skip the dice.

The 6.5s did have some computer controls. From the light truck line I believe pre 96 you could find a mechanical controled IP, but from 96 on everything is fly by wire. Except for large commercial vehicles. So that might be a better source??

Pete

A couple of days ago I would have suggested using a GM engine and trans and retaining the D2's LT230 Transfercase, but now I am not sure. I am used to working on earlier Disco's and Defenders but yesterday at work I had to repair my first D2 t/case and I am afraid it looks as though Rover have screwed the goose yet again. Instead of the big chunky gear teeth of the old 230's, in the quest for quietness and smoothness they have gone to extremely thin fine mesh gears on the primary and high range gears which may be ok with Auto trans or the R380 with the relatively gentle Rover engines, but to my mind these just do not look beefy enough to cope with the extreme low down grunt of the 6.5 pulling reasonable size rubber.
Anyone here know of any horror stories relating to this T/case ?
Bill.

Horror stories of DII T-cases, nah, I've never heard of such a thing :flipoff2:

Look at the pics of the pieces that came out of the one I posted pics of. Read about the one I put in that didn't move.

I hadn't realized that the teeth were that much smaller, that may account for the heat-induced discoloration in every DIi t-case I've opened up.

As for the diesel in the DII, the damned things are set up in such a way that if all of the switches aren't in the right position, nothing works. From what I've seen, seemingly unrelated components can throw such a monkey wrench into the CAN that the vehicle will shut down, not run (will tease oyu by starting and a coupla seconds shutting down), the transmission will shift when it is damned good and ready (SEVERAL thousand revs), the dash lights will make a Rave seem sedate, etc.

When they are running well, they are cool trucks, when they have problems, you need a good witch doctor, an electrical engineer and a computer programmer to get them right again.

Several years ago, a gentleman finally bit the bullet and brought his truck to me for me to TRY to synchronize the new engine ECU with his truck. The dealers he'd spoken with told him it couldn't be done. All the independents he'd spoken with told him it couldn't be done and the body shop who foolishly welded on the truck with the ECU energized was scared shitless. After about 45 minutes, I got the damned thing running but couldn't commit to being bale to duplicate my efforts. It took manipulating both the trnasmission and the engine ECUs and many prayers to lord Lucas along with magical keystrokes to get the truck running.
I still don't know how I wrote a new VIN to a supposedly "locked" boneyard ECU.

Unless one were intending to completely gut the truck to the point of roll-up windows, I don't see how it could be done in a fashion remotely resembling economical.

Keep in mind I'm the guy who took on such wonders as the burned up Disco wiring job and the Range Rover with the identity crisis. Even I wouldn't tkae this job on.

PT

You could always get a TD5 and complete wiring harness from a rolled one.

You could always get a TD5 and complete wiring harness from a rolled one.

and the torque converter, governor and tranny ECU.

Is it worth it?

I'm willing to sell you my TD5 which is tuned, along with the R380 and all the wiring that came with it. However, adding to the cost would be shipping from Dubai to the US.

PM me if interested, I'll shave off 5% as your a PBB member :flipoff2:

Even putting a Td5 in a NAS DII is a bitch of a job. Still need to change half the wiring in the truck and prey that somone with some serious computer skills can get everything to agree with itself when your done.

A good DI would be a much better victim. 2.8l Powerstroke and an R380, pretty good combo, no computers.

As for the diesel in the DII, the damned things are set up in such a way that if all of the switches aren't in the right position, nothing works.

...

Unless one were intending to completely gut the truck to the point of roll-up windows, I don't see how it could be done in a fashion remotely resembling economical.


Which is why I made the post I did
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5302872&postcount=5

Wasn't trying to be a dick or sarcastic. I really would just rip it all out.
I think a ragged out DII would make a great begining/donnor vehicle

Wasn't trying to be a dick or sarcastic.

Neither was I. Hope you didn't take it that way.

Peace,
PT

Look at the pics of the pieces that came out of the one I posted pics of.

And how would Agrover or myself look at such pics? With the search disabled for us poor/stingy people.

Any chance of posting a link to said pics.

Neither was I. Hope you didn't take it that way.

Peace,
PT

Me No. I think Harold might have felt mine was. I somehow over looked his fuzzy dice comment :D

Just in case you were in doubt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm


Wasn't trying to be a dick or sarcastic.


oops..

Me No. I think Harold might have felt mine was. I somehow over looked his fuzzy dice comment :D

Not at all! I was glad to see such a zany sense of humour, and thought I would add to the fun (fuzzy dice, fender skirts, whip aerial with raccoon tail etc) These things I remember on some cars when I was wee lad, the cars who's owners probably kept the brylcreem company in business. Then there were the little red & white balls all around the windshield too, and the chrome exhaust extensions and chrome rims. All most entertaining for a lad who grew up in a small village, where a trip to the nearest town (pop6000) was high culture indeed.

Horror stories of DII T-cases, nah, I've never heard of such a thing :flipoff2:

Look at the pics of the pieces that came out of the one I posted pics of. Read about the one I put in that didn't move.

I hadn't realized that the teeth were that much smaller, that may account for the heat-induced discoloration in every DIi t-case I've opened up.

As for the diesel in the DII, the damned things are set up in such a way that if all of the switches aren't in the right position, nothing works. From what I've seen, seemingly unrelated components can throw such a monkey wrench into the CAN that the vehicle will shut down, not run (will tease oyu by starting and a coupla seconds shutting down), the transmission will shift when it is damned good and ready (SEVERAL thousand revs), the dash lights will make a Rave seem sedate, etc.

When they are running well, they are cool trucks, when they have problems, you need a good witch doctor, an electrical engineer and a computer programmer to get them right again.

Several years ago, a gentleman finally bit the bullet and brought his truck to me for me to TRY to synchronize the new engine ECU with his truck. The dealers he'd spoken with told him it couldn't be done. All the independents he'd spoken with told him it couldn't be done and the body shop who foolishly welded on the truck with the ECU energized was scared shitless. After about 45 minutes, I got the damned thing running but couldn't commit to being bale to duplicate my efforts. It took manipulating both the trnasmission and the engine ECUs and many prayers to lord Lucas along with magical keystrokes to get the truck running.
I still don't know how I wrote a new VIN to a supposedly "locked" boneyard ECU.

Unless one were intending to completely gut the truck to the point of roll-up windows, I don't see how it could be done in a fashion remotely resembling economical.

Keep in mind I'm the guy who took on such wonders as the burned up Disco wiring job and the Range Rover with the identity crisis. Even I wouldn't tkae this job on.

PT
I think the computer geeks in the Auto industry have outsmarted themselves and the rest of us.
I recently heard an apparently true tale of a family in Outback Australia in a new Toyota LandCruiser Lexus. On attempting to set off one morning after an overnight camp, the vehicle refused to start. They were around a thousand kilometers from the nearest major dealership equipped with the diagnostic computer. They managed to contact the dealership by mobile phone, who arranged for the Toyota to be towed all that distance for repairs. When the diagnostic computer was plugged in it revealed the cause of the problem, which happened to be a blown tailight globe of all things!!!
I hate electronics and electrics in cars, so I have no way of knowing if this can happen. Anyone?

and the torque converter, governor and tranny ECU.

I'm just an ideas man, I don't worry about trifling details like those.:flipoff2:

I'm just an ideas man, I don't worry about trifling details like those.:flipoff2:

Oh, now I understand. You're one of those guys who comes up with the ideas and lets us enginerds figure out the details:flipoff2:

Fortunately for us (the engineers), the details are the important bits:D

Oh, now I understand. You're one of those guys who comes up with the ideas and lets us enginerds figure out the details:flipoff2:

Fortunately for us (the engineers), the details are the important bits:D

Yeah I'm a design engineer destined for management.:flipoff2:

Yeah I'm a design engineer destined for management.:flipoff2:

That means you got so good at your job you don't get to so it any more:flipoff2:

Harold
that conversion using the big GM oil burners is popular here in the UK, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of the biggest firm that does it!
It's something like 'Southern Marine' - something that doesn't shout LR conversions anyway, if my brain recovers I'll post the name.

Equicar are my local 4x4 breakers, and they seem OK. I certainly don't hear horror stories about them and they don't seem to bullshit about their stuff.

Mudplugga