I recently bought a LHD 1991 RRC three door with a VM 2.5 Turbo Diesel. It was very very cheap, and I wanted the car for the absolutely immaculate interior and general three door bits and bobs - I wasn't so bothered by the fact the engine was the VM 2.5.
I drove the car back from France to Madeira, and apart from 5 non-engine related breakdowns, I have to admit that at the end of the trip, I actually quite like the VM to drive. It's got so much more torque than the 200/300tdi, especially at lower revs, and I found that I got on with it very well indeed.
Having found a good engine - mine didn't use a drop of oil or water in the 2000km I drove it - I am seriously thinking of putting this engine in a RRC out here as my daily driver.
All the research I have done seems to point to the VM's achilles heel being it's intolerance of large temperature variations, and needing some care in it's operation (doesn't like being revved hard).
And, lets face it, the 1991 RRC cooling system installation was not exactly perfect...
Anyhoo - my thoughts would be to carry out the sort of mods I do to a lot of cars out here - beef up the cooling system significantly, with a much bigger radiator (probably from a 19j Defender in this instance), much bigger intercooler (Td5, or custom charge cooler?) / Mod the fan so it actually drives air (I think the fan visco coupling is US) and add extra electric fans.
So - What mods have others done to keep their VM running sweetly fro a long time? What else does it need?
Background:- I run an Engineering Workshop on the Portuguese Island of Madeira. I specialise in Landrovers and classic cars. 200/300tdi/TD5/R380/L:T230 rebuilds & modification are my bread and butter. But when it comes to the VM diesel, I have only ever experienced the 5 cylinder 3.1 VM's in a certain American 4x4 (and quite liked it) I have never actually come across the VM diesel before in a RRC (all my previous RRC's have had V8's)
Before I get a tirade of "you should put xxx engine in it", my personal preference would be a TD5 with VNT by CR Turbos and one of Jose Amorie's tunes (like the setup we fitted to a customer's very pleasant D2).
BUT... the Portuguese laws are very strict, and the car won't pass the MOT with anything other than the engine listed on the registration document. The MOT inspectors here are all LR fans, and know the marque, so even a 200/300tdi transplant into a VM RRC will get rejected. These laws are tightening, and some people who have carried out 200tdi transplants to replace the old 19j TD in a 90 and passed the MOT in the past are now coming unstuck.
Yes, I could carry out a transplant, get all the engineering approvals, modify the paperwork and have it with a TD5 or any other engine I fancy. However, the law here would treat it as a "New" car when it comes to road tax, so the road tax would jump from €30 per year for the VM to about €1000 for an EU3 spec TD5!!! The yearly road tax is based on the year that the car was first registered in Portugal (Or the year that the specification was changed), and not the year it was manufactured.
I am trying to raise exceptions on "best practicable option" based on the fact that the car emissions and fuel economy are better - or due to simple obsolescence. If I succeed, then a monster TD5 it will be! But in the interim, for my daily runaround, I'm considering a VM.
A bit more background - car prices out here are insane, due to the above tax reason, and high car import taxes (A td5 D2 would cost me €22,000 euro in taxes to import) - yes, Portugal is in the EU, and pays millions of euros in fines to the EU each year for maintaining this tax, but hey - for all you who think that the EU solves all these tax problems - it doesn't - this has been going on for 20-plus years - go figure!
For comparison to UK prices.
A good VM RRC out here is about €6000 - ( I have one in my sights that doesn't have a working engine for €1250 - so would be good value, and make a nice daily driver)
A good 200/300TDi RRC in the region of €10k.
D1 - 2k for a scruffy and corroded 3 door 200tdi to €10k for a nice 5 door 300tdi.
TD5 D2 - Scruffy and worn out €8k, mint - €20k.
Defenders start at €12k for a 200tdi dog, going up to nice condition TD5 at €20k, TD4's up to €30k
And before you ask "why Madeira" - fabulous temperate climate (Never less than 16c, very rarely over 30c - today, 1st Nov, 24c!), more daylight, great food, great people, relaxed lifestyle, cool cars, fabulous customers. Downside - learning Portuguese. Muito Dificile!
