200TDi engine into 300Tdi disco

[robgee1964]

I've been offered a 300Tdi disco minus engine, spares or repair jobby. Gearbox is all there but it will of course be the R380.

I've got a late model 200TDi, I originally wanted just the diffs, (mines the later 24 spline ones) but I'm wondering if it might make a better car to shove my 200Tdi into this 300.

I've been surfing around and getting various bits of info. I've gleaned that the bellhousings are different lengths between the LT77 and R380. One post I read seemed to suggest that you could fit the LT77 bellhousing to the R380 Gbox, then bolt on 200Tdi and all would be hunky dory.

In my experience, endings aren't always as happy as that. For instance if shorter bellhousing is fitted to R380, then surely the input shaft would then be too long? Anyway I wondered if anyone has tried fitting the 200TDi engine into a 300 Disco? I could fit my Lt77, but to be honest its not brilliant, and the R380 is reckoned to be a much better box.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

Regards

Rob

[Keeper_of_Tess]

Rob,

I don't if this is any help at all: it's years since I've owned a Disco but...

I have a 110 which was built with a 12J engine and an LT77 gearbox.

The P.O. managed to fit a 300 Tdi Discovery engine to the original LT77 box.


Now, the fittings on a 12J engine allow a 200 Tdi to be dropped straight in as a direct replacement. Therefore it is possible to fit a 300 Tdi in place of a 200 Tdi.

Therefore it should be possible to fit a 200 Tdi engine in place of a 300 Tdi. I'd guess that you'd need to keep the back plate from the 300 engine, and move your engine mountings. You might find that the engine sits a bit further forward in the engine bay by the time that you've finished.

I hope this helps. If it all sounds too complicated, why not flog the 200 Tdi and buy a 300. The price on e-bay seems to have taken a dive of late.

Perhaps someone who knows better will be along soon!

[robgee1964]

Hi Nick

Thanks for the reply. Actually I'm only just round the corner from you, in Hoghton.

I think as have to start chopping about with engine mounts etc, I might as well do the bits of welding this 200 needs. I might try and get this other though, take the diffs off to fix my 200, then break up the rest, much to the delight of the neighbours!

I'm happy enough to stick with my 200 really, the engines perfect and its had the pump/injectors overhauled (got a buddy in the diesel FI trade), no PAS leaks plus quite a few other bits have been done. Gearbox isn't so bad really, at least it shifts down into 2nd.


Regards

Rob