Swapping Range Rover Classic to 5-speed manual gearbox (Chris' truck)

   So, during the turbo-diesel conversion for this 1995 Range Rover Soft-dash Classic the owner elected to go with a 5-speed manual transmission at the same time.    The Range Rovers are actually set up to become manual easily (They are often stick-shift in other parts of the world)  and you do not need to many 'special' parts to do it.   

   I have some pictures here of the process, I had to remove the ABS pump and distribution block, then unbolt the pedal box itself and remove.   You will have to unbolt and remove the steering shaft that goes from steering wheel to power steering box in order to remove the pedal box assembly.  

   Once pedal box is out,   either swap in a manual pedal box assembly,  or in the case of this truck, I unbolted another box and swapped out the clutch pedal and pedal shaft into the auto pedal box.  I had a RHD pedal box, which is different,  but the pedals themselves (As well as master cylinder) are the same and can be swapped over in a few minutes.  Then, carefully measure and drill out the holes for the clutch master cylinder, tack weld the nuts to the back, then re-install pedal box.    Pretty easy!   You will have to source a steel fluid line to go from master to slave cylinders, and the anchor for the pipe is already on the Range Rover body.

    I have much more pictures and information about the complete swap, just follow my blog here for more information, and do not hesitate to email me at zombiemotors@earthlink.net for more information or parts.  I carry everything to do all these various conversions here at my shop in Portland , OR  - Thank you & Happy motoring!

 

1986 Land Rover Defender 110 for sale w/ upgrades!

  excerpted from my ebay ad :

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"If you are looking for a solid, high-specification Defender you can finish up to your specific liking with new paint and interior,  but do not want to have to do nay mechanical work or welding, this is it.        This truck in the last two years had had ;   a brand new galvanized chassis by Richards Chassis,   rebuilt proper Defender high-turbo 200tdi engine,  rebuilt Ashcroft gearbox,  upgraded turbo charger and intercooler,  2” spring lift with extended shocks and shock towers,  new tires,   all new brake pipes and suspension bushings  -    There is not much else you could possibly do to this truck mechanically to make it any better.

   PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK :      I will list here everything I know that is not otherwise ‘terrific’ with this Defender:    A)  Front door bottoms are rusty.    Doors are otherwise solid,  but bottoms of fronts only (Rear door bottoms have been replaced)  have perforation.    B)  Paint is getting tired overall and is no longer shiny.   Truck is currently covered with many decals.  If I keep this for any length of time, all decals will be removed before another attempt at selling..   C) Rear door has some rust, too    D)  Seats are looking worn and are not perfect,  but are in fact presentable   E)  Front (galvanized) bumper is bent on one end (See photos)  F) Dent on roof behind a Safari window (See pictures)   G)  Truck has been fitted with power door locks, and they are temperamental, working sometimes, and sometimes not.     H) Non-original gearbox shift knobs    (8-ball shift knobs.. nice)   I)  One rust hole in the passenger side floor which will be fixed once the truck is here in Portland (Will be professionally fixed for high bidder)  J) Tinted window film is flaking a bit.    I will scrape all tinted film off. 

   OUTSTANDING / EXCELLENT FEATURES :  A) Truck has NEW galvanized chassis.   No need to even ask about chassis rust.    B) Less than 2000 miles on a rebuilt Defender 200tdi including rebuilt cylinder head and checked-out injection pump.  Starts right up every time, first time, regardless of glowplug time.   C) Rebuilt Ashcroft gearbox (no issues at all shifting)  D) New clutch  E) Upgraded heated windscreen F) New big tires G)  Upgraded turbo and intercooler – pulls like a train and gets great fuel economy! H) rebuilt rear doors I) New brake fluid lines and suspension bushings.      .. and much more more I am forgetting now -   Mechanically a great truck.        Also has , as bonus material :

200tdi defender engine fitted
galvanized chassis
galvanized front bumper
bulkhead waxoiled
reconditioned gearbox
reconditioned head
reconditioned turbo with upgrade (although the fuel pump is still standard)
fuel pump bench tested and calibrated to standard (still over fuels on start up so puff of black smoke - normal for 200tdi)
uprated intercooler and pipes
terra firm 2 inch lift suspension
hi lift jack
rear passenger door bottoms replaced
new wheels and AT tyres
safari snorkel
cat 1 alarm and immobiliser
full stainless exhaust with lifetime warranty
replaced UV joints in the prop shafts
replaced all brake pipes
new battery
front disc
Yale style deadlocks on the rear doors

   Short story   :   With new paint and seats ,  this Defender has most of the features that the Defenders fetching 30-40,000 dollars have.      I am offering this one for about half of that.      You can spend $5000 on paint,  front doors and  seats and be far ahead of the game here, even flip this truck and make a tidy profit yourself.      If the truck does not sell this time around,   I will keep it for a short while and do these things myself and re-sell it for its actual value,  not a reduced price like I am offering it here now for.     This truck is mechanically (and structurally) rock-solid and although a bit of a cosmetic project ,  all the hard work has been done for you already, and done the correct way.  

   I believe my price is very reasonable , if not an outright bargain, for this truck.   My auctions do not usually ever make it to the end, with satisfied buyers (Please check my feedback!) ,  so I feel my prices are very realistic.       If you are interested in this Land Rover, please bid or buy it now,  or email/ message/ call with any questions you may have.  "

    A great, solid truck,  would cost much more to make one like this if this is what you are looking for.   Here are a couple of pictures, and the ebay ad can be found here : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160995092386

Coming Soon : More turbo-diesel engines, Range Rover Classic, Defender 110

   So, we have another container loaded up and sailing, which means in a couple of weeks I will have a new shipment of turbo-diesel engines here for sale as well as various Defender 90 and 110 parts (Hard tops, soft-tops,  windows and more)  and two more vehicles !   There will be a 1984 Range Rover Classic 4-door with turbo-diesel powerplant in a (in my opinion) very cool color -   A very dark red/ orange and original vintage interior in nice condition.  I am considering replacing my 2-door 1974 Rangie with this as with the impending arrival of Baby Mosieur,  I am talking a walk on the Practical Side for a change...      The highlight of this containers' arrival is the low-mileage (only 94K original miles)  1986 Defender 110 here -  Lots of cool features,  new parts, proper Defender hi-turbo 200tdi,  and rock solid despite needing some cosmetics.     If you are interested in purchasing this Defender get in touch with me soon,  I will probably have taken a deposit on it before the container lands, this seems to usually happen with these shipments.

   Stay tuned for more updates on the diesel conversions, I have made a lot of progress on the three which are under way right now,   and starting a fourth very soon.  

   In other news,  Team Mosieur is moving this weekend into our new digs in the Big Cool House -   We will finally have space to entertain and frolic!  Super excited to move, and get a room ready for Baby M.   

   Here are some photos for now of the soon-to-arrive cargo :

 

1996 Discovery V8 - 300tdi conversion for Jerry in NC

     Here are a few shots of the work involved in getting a 300tdi turbo diesel engine into a Discovery Chassis.         The 300tdi has motor mounts in an entirely different place than the 200tdi or VM diesel (and different than the gasoline V8 engines, too)   so once the V8 lump was pulled out,   I had to cut off the existing chassis mounts and grind them  flat.     No amount of searching on the internet helped me find weld-on Discovery mounts for the 300tdi,   but I did invest $110 from Oliver at Overland Specialties for his 300tdi Defender mount kit, which was advertised with a jig to help with placement.   Unfortunately,   this was not applicable for a Discovery frame.   

    I had ordered several sets of 300tdi mounts to be cut off of the donor vehicles the engines have been coming from,  and cleaned up a pair and bolted them to the mounts on the engine.    I then fired up the forklift and carefully lowered the engine and gearbox in place and sat the oil pan of the engine on a block I had made special that rested on top of the front axle  while I crawled in back and bolted the gearbox/ transfer case to the frame using the original cross member and mounts.     With the rear of the powertrain securely fastened where it should be, and the rear motor mounts snugged in the center of their slots,   I raised the engine in the front with the forklift until it was level, making sure I had clearance in the back behind the cylinder head, under the oil pan,  and made sure the alternator would not hit the steering box (they are close).    The then marked the frame of the discovery and then removed the loose chassis mounts so I could rough up the frame and grind off any paint,  reinstalled them,   and welded them into place with the MIG welder.    Some of my angles of approach to the weld were awkward making for a not-the-prettiest of welds,   but the grinder will clean them up nicely and they are deep and strong!

   I them removed the forklift, and THERE IT IS,  the 300tdi sitting right where it should be!    Now,   *I* have made careful measurement to make my own jig for welding mounts in for the Discos and Range Rover Classics in the future, so I can remove and replace the motor mounts without having to use the entire engine and gearbox as a jig!

     This is getting close to being completed.    If anyone has any questions,  or is planning on doing this themselvez in the future,  let me know...

  

   

1995 Range Rover Classic gets Turbo Diesel engine ..

   Soft-Dash Long Wheelbase Classic got its new VM Turbo diesel engine fitted today!   Many other conversions taking place here at Zombie Motors as well,  I just need a little more time to upload pictures and update projects.      I hope you like the pictures, Chris!

1988 Defender 110 V8/ LPG

       Thank you Ron -

    I have many more pictures of the truck, in fact more flattering pictures where it is light outside!  I also have alot of pictures underneath so you can see the frame/ etc..  I can always take more pictures for you as well if you want to see anything else in particular.

    This is a great price for a 110 which has already been legally imported and sorted out with DMV.   Do the cosmetic work while you drive it.    Ladies Love it!     More pictures here: