I disagree with your opinion regarding the I5. I think it will do fine in a disco. You are assuming I like to cruise at 60+ and pull heavy loads. I don't own a trailer, and currently live were the top speed limit is 55, and that is for a 3 mile section of our road I frequent about once every 2 months. If I took it South, it would be primarily a soccer-mom car and weekend trail rig. Should fit the bill nicely. Any highway travel would have a top speed limit of 60. I have no issues cruising at 50 in a 75 with my hazards OFF. I carry.

 

Don't get me wrong, been there since they are getting plentiful.

 

Good info to know. And is probably good for those looking to do the swap cheaply but don't realize the power loss they will experience. For me, I don't mind and understand what I will be losing. And it doesn't bother me. To someone that wants to still cruise at freeway speeds and haul their toys on a trailer, the swap would be a disappointment.

I used to hit the trails with my bro, and he drives a MJ(not sure what year). So slow and steady always wins the race for us. We have been looking at a Peugeot Diesel for a swap into another old MJ....we'll see.

 

personally, if i were going through the trouble of swapping in a diesel other than a rover one it would be a later VAG V6 TDI - 220 HP and 400 ft/lb of torque, all while getting 19 mpg city.. I think the motor is about 100lb heavier than the stock rover v8 lump but with almost double the amount of torque i think it would get around just fine.. It would be an electrical nightmare to wire and get working right but that's a completely different kettle of fish..

 

That would be nice, but I am looking for simplicity at it's finest. No electronic controls. Just sensors for gauges. Either the MI5 because it is free, or $8k for the 200TDI and tranny that is an almost direct bolt in. I can't afford $8k, so the Merc is the option I choose...for now. I can always get another D1 later to go another route. But that is a few years down the road.

 

yeah, i understand you on the free/cheap route..

 

Hard to argue with free. I read about an old farmer in Kansas that came upon a group of 4 wheelers that were having a big hill climbing contest. None had made it up yet. He asked if he could go up the hill, they said sure and moved out of his way.

He drove his old Willis Pickup up over the hill and continued on his way home to his farm.