o_teunico

Searching the net I´m finding more and more pros for the MB Auto... Info taken from clubgwagen.com and peach parts forum.

Good thing about 601/2/3 is that they are fully electronic free. 604/5/6 use EDC pumps, but can be easily swapped for earlier mechanical pumps. Modern ecu engines are great, but some of use simply don't know how to work on them.

Santana used a "u" shaped front crossmember when they built 3.5 six series. That way the engine was located above front axle and the box maintained it's original location. Firts idea was to use a Vito 120cdi transaxle (with welded diff) and a halfshaft moving the divorced lt230. For this we will need to build special gearing in the lt230 for overdrive high range (press and weld inverted low range gears?). Top speed just 50mph and first low 40% lower than a coiler with ashcroft underdrive! But I dont have equipment/skills for such work. Going with oeiginal auto box is the easiest way. Looking at ratios, MB second gear with 4.7 diffs will be very much the same as a ZF 4hp22 with 3.54. I have not looked at other mb autos because of electronics. There's even 722.5, wich is a 722.3/4 with a 5th overdrive and lock up convrter, but that extra features are electronically controlled. What about descendig step climbs with autos?

Hi all, Now that I have the "cosmetic" upgrades for my 88" on it´s way, I´m thinking on the suspension, axle and engine conversions for the future. The engine is already chosen, MB six pot turbo OM603/606. Axles: front Series V, rear Disco 300. Gearbox...still thinking about it. All Mercedes W124 turbo sold in Spain had auto box. Using the factory MB box will save lot of work/money on adaptations. 4G-Tronic 722.3XX is extreamly though, reliable and fully hidraulically controlled (no electronics),has four speeds and ratios are extreamly close to those of a Rover four speed, except the crawler reverse. First 3.87 second 2.24 Third 1.44 Fourth Direct Reverse 5.59 The only vehicle I have ever used off road with auto box was a 2002 Freelander. I was really amazed how the torque converter acted as a low box. Used with a divorced LT230 it will act as a second low box. But there are two things about the 4G-Tronic that I really don´t know if they will represent a problem off roading. -No "1" position on gear lever. -No lock up converter. What do auto box experts think about this?

After one week waiting for insurance paperwork, I have used now Lacasito on a full Mon-Fri run to work. That same trip cost me in fuel the previous week with Evaristo, my beloved 88", a total of 42 Eur. Lacasito has used just 19 Eur! Money saved in fuel will be reinvested in the Landy.

Here in Spain car taxings depends from local authorities. Last owner was paying less than 60 Eur per year. insurance is less than 200 per year and estimated saving in fuel about 1200 Eur per year. (80 to 100km 22 days per month, paying now 1.2 to 1.4 Eur/litre of diesel). Soren, maybe a lower car should do the trick. V8 Lotus? My Lacasito and the real ones.

Can't upload picture. Will try it again later with the laptop.

Lacasito.

Easy trick I have made in my 88". 1-Find a suitable clean and flat area for working. 2-Park your landy. Wheels chocked, handbrake off and battery disconnected 3-Take 400 Euros out off your pocket 4-And buy an Isuzu 4ec1 powered Corsa! LOL 1.5 litres diesel, 50hp and 70 to 74mpg (4L/100km). Mine has 325.000km on the clock and a rusty body, but its low fuel consumption will give me money for the landy, used now once a week on road and as a 4x4 toy. I have nicknamed it "Lacasito" like some colorfull chocolate candies, very popular here in Spain. Note that this fuel saving trick will also work with thirsty V8 Land Rovers.

In spain trailer speed at highway is 90 km/h (55mph). For spanish vehicles: tow bar MoT approved, indicated in our v5 equivalent. Over 750kg must have brakes and own (red) plate and insurance (here you insure vehicles, not drivers). Trailer will allways have also towing vehicles plate (that is, over 750 you carry twin plates). B+E over 750kg unless: trailer max gross weight is less of unladen towing vehicles wight and AND the summ of both MGW is less of 3500kg. Then just a B will be ok.

Aparently you can build at home an hybrid pump using parts from both EDC and mechanical pump. As they said in other forum "Ta-da! Mechanical 6mm OM60X pump for the price of a few seals" Have a look at http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/159894/rover-series-ongoing-project-om606?page=3 Pump is from a 5 pot going into a Rover P6B. Same owner runs a SIII with OM606.

A pro mechanic is going to test the car, as my friend says that the car made that smoke even before adjusting the IP.

Hi, A friend readjusted some time ago the IP in his 300 Tdi, in search of some more HP. The car feels more powerfull, but it smokes a lot (blue/white) when using engine braking. Some suggest that it may be oil entering cylinders from valve guides. Could be? How to probe that without lifting the head? Could be just because the readjusted IP? We want to upgrade the engine with bigger intercooler, VNT and reworked pump, but before that we need to be sure that the engine Is OK and will whithstand the upgrade.

As they have said, yes, welding a Land Rover chassis is easy and very common. My own vehicle has only about 50% of original chassis. I was repaired using patches and parts from other donnor vehicle. Some members from this forum have made excellent chassis works, like De Ranged with his 109 camper

At last we have just bought the Td5´s intercooler. Tunning a Tdi can be made without MoT people noticing it. A Td5 swap will need full engineer aproval. We are now looking for a VW Cracter VNT and have found in neigbour Portugal a cheap "super LDA" kit for tweaking the Bosch VE IP.

Maybe Land Rover will be happy selling the design to a 3rd party, like Pinzgauer made when they decided to stop production.

Hi, A friend needs more power for his 300 tdi Disco. We have been thinking about the idea of bigger intercooler, VNT and tuned IP, but this week a td5 Disco has arrived to local scrapyard. How easy will be a tdi to td5 swap? My LT85 gearbox needs an urgent rebuild. If we buy the td5 Disco, will the R380 from the td5 fit the "old" tdi engine? (that combo will go into my series). Advice and ideas are welcomed...

New pads have made the trick! Never heard about that moisture detector.

We will use some soft pads (Necto high performance) and the entire system will be checked (brake fluid is about 3 years old). Friday is the D-day, as there is an off-road event and the car must be running.

Hi, A friend needs to change the front brake pads in his Disco 300. Is out there any particular make or type of pads that will give more braking power? Maybe some type of softer compound? We are not going to change the calipers or discs, just the pads. Thanks.

I will talk to local machining shop to see how much they want for making the job.

Here a crazy idea...what if a standard coiler shaft is shortned and resplined to suit the 10 spline series diff? Is heat treatment really a must?

Thanks for the info. Today I have taken out both front halfshafts. If I keep UJs I will need to change the left shaft, not just the UJ

Hi all, I have ignored one of the Land Rover owner´s rule "If your Landy stops leaking, you should check the oil level". As a result, one of the front UJ is seized. I would like to ift AEU2522 CVs instead of the the UJs, but for that I need some 10/23 halfshafts, as used in the Stage One V8. Is out there somewhere to buy cheapo replacements? I have been able to locate some NOS, but priced as gold!

Not from a Defender, but from a Series V Santana. It´s the same as the Defender one. Wipers where also like Defender. In the past I used a Series II bulkhead (wipers in windscreen frame) and drilled the bulhead for fitting a Series III wiper system.