Hello - Edinburgh Series 2a Dormobile

[Wildwoodflower]

What to do about a fuel-thirsty engine on a classic vehicle is always a bit of conundrum, isn't it?

Yes, the six cylinder is a lovely engine and keeping it is certainly easier than swapping to a 200tdi. However, the reality is that when you live with a Series as your everyday transport as we do and no doubt some of you do, too, and especially when you frequently make 2,000 or 3,000 mile forays into Europe, then the benefits of 36-37mpg become very obvious indeed. As I think I mentioned earlier in this thread, my last Series 3 was a 200di (minus the turbo) conversion by Glencoyne and it really is a superb engine for this sort of vehicle. Incidentally, the noise issues can be licked, too.

I've had lpg conversions, too, and I'm no longer a fan - short range, it can often be hard to find a filling station and they are expensive to install and maintain. Oh, and it is surprising how many places lpg vehicles are banned from!

What will really determine the fate of this vehicle in my hands is cost of getting her back on the road. I had gone looking for a roadworthy, sorted 109 station wagon ... and came home with the Dormobile because, well, how could I possibly not? However, I'm a mum with two children and I need a runner not a project, and so head may yet triumph over heart - we shall see in the next day or so when the various estimates are in.

[jerryd]

Some interesting comments about the six cylinder motors versus the diesel. Mine is fitted with a Holden six cylinder which is approx a 3.3 litre motor. It sounds gorgeous and pulls like a steam train, but the fuel economy kills it for me. Especially with the distances from A-B over here

So I have a good 300tdi motor sitting in my garage waiting to be installed into the dormobile, but I'm not 100% convinced it's the right thing to do and keep putting it off. I need convincing I think

[Jabbawocky]

Hi Wildwoodflower

Like you, I have run Prima's and then TDi's as my daily driver in my 88" for the last 13 years. For the 5 years, I have run a 300tdi in my Dormobile and on paper the sensible option is to do exactly this. But, I did run the Dormobile for a year with the 6 pot fitted and I have missed it everyday since I fitted the TDI. I miss looking down at the gearstick to see if the engine is still running, when sat at traffic lights,etc. I miss people standing at the back listening to the exhaust burballingl

The 300 tdi is good on fuel, but has not been without fault. The engine had 'P' gasket issues before we got it and that resulted in all the core plugs rotting. Also, I think the engine must have been boiled before we got it as the head was cracked.

As for trips, we have done 4 trips out of the country.
1. Switzerland and Frence Alps. Dormobile came home on wagon because fan belt tensioner failed. It was French National holiday and all dealers were shut. Insurance just shipped it home.
2. Normandy. Made it home, but crack in head became apparent and mainshaft in gearbox snapped halfway back to ferry. Drove all way home, but she refused to move next day.
3. Morocco. Electric fan packed up and snapped a front leaf spring. All spring bushes failed. Biggest problem, wipers wore out and had no spares. Had spare everything else!!
4> Normandy. Clutch master cylinder failed on stationary M25 coming home.

All the fun of driving 40+ year old vehicles.

Mick

[RobW]

When I was talking to Das (Daslandroverman on S2C) he was saying there are more diesel options for the 6-pot set up as there's more space under the bonnet because of the bulkhead modifications. Some of those are more refined than the TDi.

Currently got a tweaked 2.5 Defender petrol, when (if?!?) mine gets back on the road I'll see how she behaves before deciding whether to switch. Economy is one issue, but so is range.

[Wildwoodflower]

Finding a good engine in the first place seems to be the key. If it has been cooked or otherwise abused then Murphy's law is bound to apply.

With my last S3, the previous owner had fitted the 200tdi himself. It wasn't a neat installation, but it was a Defender engine which has a few advantages over the Discovery when fitted in a Series and besides, the vehicle was sound enough and sufficiently cheap for it to be worth taking a punt.

Running down from Scotland to Norfolk, where the truck was to be fettled at Glencoyne prior to a European trip, we got no further than Lancaster before the oil pressure light came on and the engine lost power. The previous owner had removed the oil cooler but not the oil thermostat...

When the engine was stripped, we also discovered a bent con-rod, suggesting that this desirable Defender engine had probably been sold off after sustaining water damage. Glencoyne saved the head and the ancillaries, found a very sound Disco bottom end and started again from scratch - and it has run sweetly for tens of thousands of miles.

Given than donor engines (with unknown issues) are starting to rise in price, for my next engine I've a good mind to check out this chap, who advertises rebuilt 200 and 300 tdi on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RECONDITIONED ... 3ccfc7399f

You're quite right, going anywhere in a 40-year-old vehicle has its risks and not all of these can be ameliorated - that same summer we threw a tooth on the rear diff on an autoroute, but thanks to good insurance it turned into a pleasant adventure as we sought out a French independent Land Rover specialist and swapped the diff.

Travel in a modern vehicle is just marking time until you arrive at the destination. In an old truck, getting there IS the adventure.

[Jabbawocky]

Finding a good engine in the first place seems to be the key. If it has been cooked or otherwise abused then Murphy's law is bound to apply.

I have been working on engines for the last 35 years and I still cannot guarantee an engine is good without taking it to bits. My 300tdi came from a friend who had run the Disco for several years and a friend of his had run it for about the same time. Both we adamant that the engine had never missed a beat. It was quiet and there was no smoke or crankcase compression. It look as clean an engine as you would ever see, but must have been treated to 'K' seal at sometime and it was the 'K' seal that must have fail in France? The head had been cracked for a long time.

As for the recon engines on ebay, That is a really good price if he has done everything he says. The last recon 200 tdi I had dealings with was done by Wards of Rugby and was £2500. If your going do lots of miles, this is the way to go without any doubt.

As for other engines to go into the 6 pot, there are a few, but please correct me if I am wrong, but none give the economy of the TDi? Also, none bolt straight up to the series gearbox as do the 200 and 300 tdi.

There is extra room in the 6 pot for the engine and that does allow more room for the rad and intercooler, but the downside is the engine is situated between the footwells and is a pig to work on. If you have issues with the starter motor, the manifolds have to come off to get to the starter.

The other issue is the weight of a full kitted Dormobile. A fully loaded Dormobile will be probably just under 3 tons traveling weight and a 300tdi gives out 114bhp. In the middle is the series gearbox and if you go for the recon engine, do you go for a recon gearbox? Do you go for a 5 speed gearbox?

I have a 5 speed sat on the floor with a short bellhousing. It is bolted to a Mazda 3.5 sl, which would drop straight in my Dormobile and allow me to get rid of the cam belt, intercooler, oil cooler and all extra the pipework. It would also give me loads of engine braking, which the 300 tdi seams to be completely lacking. Not really an issue in the UK, but in the Alps, my drum brakes were getting abused trying to stop our Dormobile running off.

Gives me something to think about.

Mick

[RobW]

As for other engines to go into the 6 pot, there are a few, but please correct me if I am wrong, but none give the economy of the TDi? Also, none bolt straight up to the series gearbox as do the 200 and 300 tdi.

I have a 5 speed sat on the floor with a short bellhousing. It is bolted to a Mazda 3.5 sl, which would drop straight in my Dormobile and allow me to get rid of the cam belt, intercooler, oil cooler and all extra the pipework. It would also give me loads of engine braking, which the 300 tdi seams to be completely lacking. Not really an issue in the UK, but in the Alps, my drum brakes were getting abused trying to stop our Dormobile running off.
Mick

Not sure about the economy, it was expected to be close, but was expected to be significantly quieter.

Would that engine & box combination fit with a 4-pot bulkhead? Would it be quieter than the usual TDi?

[Wildwoodflower]

Well, the estimates are in and I've done the sums and the news is pretty black - my present budget and the pressing need for a vehicle that is on the road means that I've got to let the head rule the heart and put her up for sale.

To say that I'm gutted doesn't really cover it!

An ad will appear on this forum in due course and its will answer the obvious question of how much.

Kathy

[RMS]

Sorry to hear that Kathy,

I know you were quite excited about restoring this one and using it

Robin.

[Wildwoodflower]

Thank you - yes, I'm afraid it all comes down to timing: right vehicle, right owner ... wrong time!

The biggest disappointment is for my children who, despite being warned that this one might not be for keeps, had already decided who was having which bunk. So it goes. I dare say we will get there eventually, but not this time.

Kathy