Only if you're counting $$ saved by increased MPG. There are other "gains" that can't be measured in money and only the person contemplating the conversion can decide if it's worth it.

 

Tom - 100% agreed. There are so many intangibles related to which "fuel" is best to power machines (vehicles) that I was just not going there. As the owner of a heavy truck with a large volume V8 it may seem oxymoronic for me to say I wish I could just plug my truck into the mains supply at night and rely on my solar panels on the roof for a grid free (at home anyway) existence. I wish I could...

I will convert one of my trucks to Diesel when the time comes regardless of the cost benefit equasion, regardless of what a tree-hugger may say (I am one), regardless of the dependancey on foreign oil argument, regardless of any "gains" anyone else may offer up or dispute.

I was merely following the logic of the argument that if one were converting to Diesel for cost savings at the pump alone then that is a bit of backward logic. The amount of GASoline one will burn (at current and future estimated pump prices) is most likely less than the upfront cost to convert to Diesel (Engine, refurb, tranny, driveline, labor, plumbing, wiring......) which traditionally has a higher per gallon cost but (again) typically is consumed at a lower rate vs. gasoline per mile driven. This all assumes the vehicle in question has a viable service life long enough to justify the conversion cost.

Short story LONG...... Screw the equasions and factored logic. IF you want to have a Deisel engine in your rig then do it. No spark, less electronics, "green-er" fuels... whatever ones reasoning is, do itif it makes you happy!

When anyone does shoehorn a Diesel into a LR, MANY people around the LR world get the same "I wish I could do that" thoughts.


****that's how it's done Shadow.... I took no offense whatsoever to Tom's stance on "gains" and owners discression and simply explained my position.****

Back to my Mojito(s) and the POOL. Maybe I'll pick some grapefruit in my backyard.

 

Ultimately Torque increase is what I'm shooting for. I there is a way to add a hefty sum of extra torque to my Disco then that's what I'll do, even if it means scrapping the gas to diesel conversion idea. Rovers generally have low horsepower and torque, when compared to common rivals such as jeep, Ford etc. Yes I know very well that the first Rover prototype was built on a jeep chassis and that Ford owned the rights for a few years (no need for any corrections people) but as it is Rover was designed and built in England! I just feel like Discovery could be so much better had it some more torque and HP.

So ending the Diesel conversion topic (for now until I find a suitable engine which desirable specs) how to increase maximum Torque in Discovery 1? That is the golden question and hopefully there is a way to do so without paying $10+k. Ill look around the forum to see what I can find, if nothing ill post a new thread.

 

The question I have is "why"?
I've been driving Land Rovers for around 35 years, including Series Rovers in the mountains (and mud) of Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. I've never found them particularly lacking in torque. They've always done what I asked of them (heavy towing being the only exception).
On the other hand I've always realized they aren't "American Muscle" and they enforce also taking in the scenery. But I have no problems cruising 80mph in a coiler. If you fit oversize tires you'll see a decline on uphill grades. But that can be addressed with transfer case or diff gear changes, something I've never felt an overwhelming need to do.

So, with an engine in good nick and appropriate gearing, coilers, in my experience, are very capable with stock engines.

When you go for a substantial torque increase don't forget to include the cost of upgrades propshafts, diffs and axles.

 

That was one point I was also trying to make Tom. OP you gotta think about the entire drivetrain when wanting to upgrade torque and/or HP. The axles are roughly equivalent to something between a Dana 35 and 44. You increase much at all and you wil probably have to drop something much heavier duty on there. Plus you have the weak link of the rear rotoflex coupling to contend with. Might I also suggest some custom TW shafts. And then regear and you should be ready to go. One of the best pieces of advice I have seen on here for a newbie is drive it off road alot and don't modify anything for a year. Then reevaluate and you will most likely find that your wish list of mods has changed significantly. These are amazing machines off road when you get them up to snuff on maintenance.

 

Man, was I late to the party or what?

M-o-j-i-t-o..., its freezing rain here.

As for service life, why does everyone think a diesel engine lasts longer than a petrol engine?
And do we all forget that engines are rebuild able? For cheap-er?

 

84* with cloudless, sunny skies, fresh fruit growing in the backyard and Mojito's... glad I can still spell all that.

As for service life I meant the entire truck... windows, door locks, ECU's, lighting harness and switches, chassis, engine, drivetrain, body and interior collectively.

 

You can kiss my hairy white...well, you know.

Everything can be replaced, rebuilt or made to work.

But there are always the unknown knowns and the known unknowns.
You keep your truck in tip top shape, spend your mortgage payment each month on upgrades to increase mpg by a .5% and then the truck is totaled the first time your teenager takes it for a spin or a tree falls on it while sitting in your driveway.

 

I've heard that Diesel engines generally have greater endurance and require less maintenance then conventional gas engines. Secondly I had DAP Enterprise (Land Rover Specialist) take a look at my 98 disco, and one of the workers simply made the suggestion of throwing in a diesel. I asked around various sources and they all seem to verify that aside from price at the pump, they are a better engine to go with. Guess it just.depends on the person your asking. It seems to me that the bigger debate is not "what diesel to put in my Disco" but rather to use or not to use a diesel engine.

 

Okay so I've found afew used/remanufactured gas engines for discovery 1. Price range is averagly $1,200 plus around $500 shipping. Generally speaking would simplify replacing my engine with a rebuilt engine be cheaper? Give me some estimates for labour not including the price of the replacement engine???