Chicken Drumstick

Just to clarify some things. I've owned this engine for many many years and done tens of 1000's of miles on it. It might be slightly abused, but also looked after I feel. It has always run very well, even before it was tuned. Order of modifications: 1. Injector pump and turbo tuned by Allisport when they fitted their large front mount intercooler. I forget which year this was, but was circa 2005'ish 2. Injector pump fiddled with again probably circa 2006/7. Made more smoke than the Allisport tune, but power definitely up. (all parts of pump played with including cutting the collar off the rear power screw and adjusting) 3. About 10'ish years ago the engine was transplanted into another vehicle. Where it gained a straight through exhaust system, large cone filter and custom ducting from filter to intercooler to manifold --No other changes for quite a while from this point. It was dyno'd on a rolling road Jan 2019 (I'll dig out the dyno run later) --- Engine has run great over all this time. 4. A few months ago (June/July 2020) fitted a 'boost ring' to the injector pump. This visibly reduced smoke and made it run even better. 5. A couple of weeks back (Oct 2020) fitted the dual inlet manifold. Biggest difference was significantly smoother running than before or any other Tdi I've driven (have owned 3 myself, my Uncle has one and my brother and have probably driven in the region of 20-30 others over the period of time, in-various sates of tune). However it does also feel a lot more flexible, responsive and better running over just the boost ring addition. This is subjective at this stage, but I'm well versed in modifying vehicles and noting performance differences over the years. And with a number of different cars that have been modded and then dyno proven. The biggest difference with the manifold .is smoothness and refinement of the engine. I have no idea how I can provide anything other than subjective thoughts on this matter. But it is strikingly noticeable. Here are some performance metrics I record in 2019 (i.e. pre boost ring and manifold). I will re-run the same tests on the new setup and compare.

Lol. Could you be any more Victor Meldrew about this? It’s always the same in the U.K. with performance mods. Complete denial by some that they don’t work. And still wouldn’t believe it, even if presented with infallible proof. I’ve got nothing to gain if people do or don’t believe. I’m just passing on my findings as a punter who has bought one and fitted. If it didn’t feel like it made any improvement. I’d have either reported that or kept stum about it. I certainly wouldn’t have wasted time posting up lies.

Well I beg to differ. I don’t think it has added loads of power. But the change in character is night and day. And not something that would show up on a dyno anyway. But I can attest it is running a lot better too. And will in time get a dyno and some performance figures. But to highlight the biggest change is how much smoother it runs.

Yep

Engine is a 200Tdi and was originally tuned by Allisport when they fitted a large front mount intercooler. All the dials/screws on the pump have been played with and the boost pin rotated. Think the turbo boost slightly fiddled, but not far from stock. It's running a large cone air filter and custom ducting from turbo to IC. And silicon hoses in many places. Exhaust is straight through. And it has a boost ring fitted to the injector pump. Stock turbo, head & cam.

I won't know until I get it on the dyno. But low end torque seems better than ever too, even off boost (although it does smoke a bit off boost, but always has). Due to being smoother, it seems happier at lower rpm in gear than it ever has done.

Thought I'd share my experience with my 200Tdi engine. I've recently fitted a new mod, a twin inlet intake manifold. https://fourby.co.uk/epages/950004277.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/950004277/Products/Manifold (image from website, not my install) I kind of bought it on a whim by submitting interest for it a while back. I was then contacted the other week asking if I was still interested. For the money, it seemed like it was worth it, as with the exchange price it works out pretty cheap overall. The manifold was an easy fit, although the Y piece piping I found very tight and awkward to install. Although in fairness I was fitting to a Series III engine bay (different inner wing) and my FMIC does not have the outlet pipe in exactly the same location as a standard IC. What I can say is, it has transformed the smoothness of the engine. In a rather radical way. The Tdi's have always been a bit gruff, but with this manifold it is so much smoother, to the point you might not even recognise it as a Tdi engine. The smoothness extends from tickover, but is most noticeable across the rev range. I'm sure power and torque are up too, at least according to the SOTP dyno. Hoping to get it on a rolling road in the new year most likely. I have a dyno run from last year that'll be able to compare too. I've driven and experienced many "tuned" Tdi's over the years. But I have to say, my current setup is by far the most potent, despite running tall gearing thanks to the 1.2:1 transfer box and 33" tyres.

The Suspension is a BIG change IMO. Bigger than going from coils to air. As it also alters how the axles are attached to the vehicle. It isn't just a spring upgrade as this change also impacts squat, dive, pitch and roll rates too. But in terms of changes, pretty much everything changed. The chassis was constructed differently with completely different wheelbases to the Series. The axles are wider, the diffs are a different ratio, it has disc front brakes, different steering (PAS), different front bulkhead, different windscreen, different wipers/washers, different heater, different roof, different doors and door locks, different windows, different seats, different interior, different central bulkhead, different body panels. And while the 2 1/4 was in some early models (probably in an effort to get the vehicle to market, like the early Disco 4 having the 2.7TDV6). The engine and drive train is completely different to a Series model. In terms of parts, there really is very little carry over from a Series to a 90/110. Some bits are backwards compatible, but the majority of bits are not transferable without additional modification.

The changes were reasonably significant though. Sure they still "looked" similar and some parts might have been backwards compatible. But really the 90/110 is a long way different from the Series.

Just as a point of reference. Many many optional parts are not fitted by the factory. A great many are "dealer fit" or even importer fit. Such as graphics, mud flaps, roof racks, tow bars and lots of other stuff. Not just Land Rover, this is for all car makers.

Only ones in the UK most likely. In the USA it is viewed very differently.

2.3 as the base engine (think it is 270hp) or the 2.7 Ecoboost V6 with 310hp. Suspect there will be a V8 at some point too.

Better everything apart from the official tow rating.

About 10% by the numbers. Although reality will depend on how you drive and where. If you aren't in lock up much and are heavy footed, the gap is likely to be bigger. As they claim 29mpg average with the manual, I'd assume they are on the more economical end of driving style and use. I'd suggest a MEAN average for a manual Tdi would be more akin to 24-27mpg across a wider sample of people. Which would put an auto one at more like 22-24mpg average. Which would tally with the real world results I've seen with multiple auto Tdi's over the decades.

The seats were ok in the one I drove. But I did find find they hurt my leg after a while. Certainly less comfy than my p38 or even a traditional 90 in this regard.

A fair point. But I'm still not sure what scientific backup there is to say you should only use 70% of a vehicles official rating. As for towing on a hitch.... well I took this over the weigh bridge the other day and it said 18.8 tonnes loaded. The MB Track only weighs a little over 7 tonne. Not the same thing I know, but still.

I'm not sure their figures have any real scientific rational behind them. Surely the entire point of a legal manufacturer tow rating, is that is what the vehicle is safely capable of towing. The EU driving licence structure often likely limits or truncates this, as it sets additional limits based on your licence and vehicle category type. Basically I can't personally see any logical reason to accept the caravan clubs thinking. I would guess it likely came from a single, very out spoken member in a by-gone era. Who had very strong views about what you should tow. Also if this was in relation to vehicles from 50 years ago. Thinks have moved on massively, especially in areas such as braking, engine power, vehicle weight and stability systems. In other markets towing is quite different. Some of the new full size pickup trucks in the USA are rated to tow 30,000 - 33,000lbs!!!! Which is 13-15 tonnes metric. Way heavier than the vehicles in question. Yet they are deemed perfectly safe and acceptable.

Have seen 1 vehicle at the dealers with the 'walk through'. Although I'm not sure it really is a bit I'd want to step on, or if there is even room to do so. I suspect the cubby box could be retro fitted, but my hunch would be you'd struggle to get hold of one.

"The designers of both Triumph and Rover submitted plans for the new car, of which the latter was chosen. David Bache was to head the design team, inspired by exotic machinery such as the Ferrari Daytona and 365 GTC/4" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_SD1

Looks like the different materials are different colours to me.

Green is the colour I'd pick from the online configurator. However in the flesh I didn't actually like it. It does look better in the matt finish, but my word is it an expensive option or what! BTW - There looks to be a huge colour discrepancy in the pic above, look at the rear pillar with the small lights and compare to the rear wing. Bit odd looking, wonder if it is only visible on camera and not with the naked eye?

No it isn't, that is taking an extreme stance. Lots of things look 'similar'. Certain model years of Passat and Mondeo share a very strong design ethos. As Mr Jim R is a self declared Land Rover Series/Defender fan. And he building a vehicle in the image of.... It is of no surprise that it has very strong inspiration. The Grenadier and a Defender clearly look very different to anyone with eyes. But it is also clear to see there has been huge inspiration in the design. For example, here is the origin of the Land Cruiser line.... do you see any familiarity with any other 4x4's that would have been around in 1950'ish? 😉 Or maybe you consider this plagiarism too: In which case what has Ineos done any different to the Rover car company....?? Lets also not forget, Rover has had other 'inspired' car designs too...

It is. It is in the same place, doing the same job. It just isn't quite as pronounced. But the Grenadiers also looks different in shape and profile to that of a Defender or Series.

Jimny also has the hips too. Daresay there are others too.

Have seen the TV advert a few times. Only seen one 110 though on the road. Excluding the one I drove and the one a friend has bought (which I've only seen parked in his garden so far).