21-23rd August - 200Tdi on it's way!

I mentioned right at the beginning of this 109 saga that I planned to replace the existing engine with a diesel. Two reasons really one to give it a bit more power and torque and also so I can run it on a small percentage of waste veg which we already process here anyway. The engine of choice would be a 200Tdi from a rusty early Disco. For now I will leave off the turbo just to make the installation as simple as possible. Whether I fit it in the future - who knows?

Anyway, in the background I have been putting the feelers out and regularly checking Ebay for cheap MOT failures with what appears to be a good engine and transmission (after all I can sell the LT77 on if it is good). So far two have come up over the past week and both have got away.

1. G plate with 180k in Avebury - couldn't view due to other social committments and that went for £315
2. H plate with 196k Andover - Was on the way over to see it Friday when he called and said he had sold it for £600 outside of the Ebay auction for cash :(

So back to the Bay and keep on looking?

Saturday was spent stripping the rear axle followed by the front on Sunday then giving both the remains of the POR15 that had formed a lump in a jar followed by two coats of Johnsons grey primer (as used on the chassis)then International black satin gloss. I was worried how much material remained on the rear diff bowl then noticed that a PO had done a weld repair after a previous 'puncture'. But it looked much better once cleaned up. Hopefully that will hold for years?



Front is surprisingly good internally and once the scale was chipped off and the surface beaten about with the wacky wheel it wasn't bad externally either. After pulling off the leather gaiters both balls were in perfect condition - so that worry is out of the way.



Also found what looks like a chassis No. (?) stamped on the outside of the front casing.



When stripping the rear axle I found the old military ratio markings for the diff (4.7) under layers of grime.



+++++ Stop press ++++++ Disco now found!!
Well all change again! After losing the last 2 Disco's keeping my eye on The Bay has now come up trumps. A 'K' plate 200tdi with 100k on the clock. Good engine with current (new MOT) plus 3/4 tank of diesel for £350. Reason - the clutch lever in the bell housing has pulled through. Common problem but one that gave me a bit of leverage on the price. We collect next Sunday :)