Range Rover Classic SWB, white, Great Divide Edition look-alike w/ 200tdi diesel 5-speed swap!

   I just got this truck in.  It looks GREAT,  and has obviously been well-taken-care-of.  Has some GDE badges, but as this truck is a 1988,  it can not be a real GDE as far as I know.      Body is perfectly straight and rust free.   Tires are huge 265-series, and appear to be brand new, and have no miles on them.     Interior looks great,   the major flaw being a long split seam in the driver's side leather seat.  ARB front bumper looks new too.   I may swap seats out to manual seats if I can find a grey set soon.   Factory radio switched out for a newer nice stereo with aux/ ipod input.

   I have here a Range - Rover issue 200tdi turbo-diesel engine and matching LT77 5-speed transmission to go in this truck.    It will have a brand-new clutch, water pump, timing belt, engine seals, diesel lift pump all installed,  and conversion will be done in about 2 weeks (Middle of August).     I have had a lot of requests for another white Range Rover Classic  - so here it is.     The short wheelbase trucks are faster,  and get better mileage by 1-2 MPG than the LWB trucks,  so this should be a great truck for someone.   AND ,  if no one buys it, I am happy to keep it.    It even smells fresh inside.     

  It is rare to find a truck that has been so obviously taken care of as this one.

    If you are interested in this truck,  or having another converted to Tdi diesel power,  shoot me an email at zombiemotors@earthlink.net or call 503-810-4713 and PLEASE leave a message if I can not answer,  and sorry folks, I do not text.   The particular geometry of my thumbs makes it a fool's errand.

   Here are a few photos for you, pre-conversion :

  

   

Land Rover / Range Rover Tdi Diesel Engine Conversion kits for sale! - What you get, and what you need/ need to know to do a proper conversion...

   I get engine 'conversion kit' requests almost every day and am asked what the swap includes.      Almost every potential buyer asks me if they can keep their existing transmission,  as 'it is working fine'.       I am typing this post up to hopefully make clear what you can expect to receive in your kit,  and what it all looks like.

   Also,  everyone likes to shop around for good prices,  and I have said it before and may say it again,  but if you buy a kit from someone else,  especially a seller in the UK (Or Atlanta) ,  and once you receive your kit (or do not receive your kit but instead receive excuses why you do not have it yet) ,  I will probably not be able to help you.     I DO stand behind my own engine kits,  and make sure my buyers receive satisfaction.    I have been doing this for a couple of years now  and have performed dozens of engine swaps myself and understand what it takes.    I think  my prices are good,  and I know my service is good,   and I know there are people out there selling engines that are garbage -  I know this because the buyers eventually call me to help them get their engine fixed, and I hear who they purchased their kits from that were shady.

   Enough about that.

   What you receive in an engine swap kit from me will be every part necessary for the job you are doing.   In the case of going from a gasoline-V8 Range Rover Classic with auto box to a Tdi 5-speed, you will receive a complete running engine,  transmission, CDL - equipped LT230 transfer case,  front driveshaft,  shift boots for inside the car, clutch pedal to attach to your pedal box,  clutch line,  radiator/ intercooler,  diesel and air filter assemblies,  wiring harness and glow plug relay, motor mounts, chassis mounts and more.     This is a big kit with a lot of parts,  and we manage to get it all to fit on one standard pallet with careful packaging.

   If you are running a Land Rover with a V8,  you will NEED a new transmission when you go to Tdi/ Turbo Diesel power.    Yes, even if your current transmission is operating perfectly.   The bell housings are completely different between V8 and 4-cylinder versions,  and input shafts are different too.   I am sure you can convert  your V8 transmission to fit the 4-cylinder Tdi engine,  but you will at least have to pay for an adapter plate, or correct bellhousing, and input shaft, and the time to disassemble the gearbox to do this makes it dis-advantageous, in my opinion.     The transmission part of the equation here in the pricing only reflects about $500-$800 of the total price of the kits,  so you may as well just take the transmission too,  even if you think you will not need it.


    I always offer a 'NEW PARTS KIT'  to buyers -  not that you NEED it,   but a lot of people think that while their engine is out,  why not change the engine seals, water pump, diesel lift pump, timing belt,  clutch, etc  -   SO I offer this kit in addition to the cost of the engine conversion kit, should you want it.   I keep all of these parts in stock here in Portland too,  in case you need anything else I can get your parts to you easily in two days.

   Some kits are for 'engine only swaps' -  For example going from a 2.5 N/A gas or diesel engine to a Tdi engine in a Defender 90 or 110.      The 200tdi engine will bolt right up to your existing LT77 transmission,  and you may only want the 'Engine Kit'  -  In this case you will get the complete, ready-to-run engine,  motor mounts, radiator and intercooler including frame,  diesel and air filter assemblies, wiring harness, glow plug relay and harness,   everything you would need to swap engines out to the 200 or 300tdi.    I do have experience here as well,  and can offer advice about mating the 300tdi to your LT77 if you wish,   or installing a R380 behind a 200tdi.      I also offer LT230 center-locking transfer cases in 4 ratios,  to match all engine/ wheel types :  1.6 , 1.4, 1.2 and even 1.1 : 1 final drive ratios.

    My engines and gearboxes have all been tested and ran in the UK by my partner there before being removed, drained, wrapped and forwarded to me here in Portland OR.    My engines all come with a warranty,   and I also offer complete rebuilt engines as well, which adds about $3000 to the price of the engine kits.

    Here are some pictures of a recent engine kit I shipped out.   This was a 'Complete kit'  to go from auto/V8 to 5-speed/Tdi.

  Please message me at zombiemotors@earthlink.net or call 503-810-4713 with any questions.  

 

Laws Yes!

  Greetings, faithful Land Rover Lovers  (and other lovers)  -   It has been a while since I posted anything, and that was a bitter little post, that.    It has been grim here, folks.    Grim indeed.    Have you read THIS yet? :

  http://jalopnik.com/the-feds-just-seized-40-land-rovers-imported-to-the-u-s-1605985758

    Well,  fortunately I did not buy a Land Rover from the gentleman in North Carolina,    (and I must say I am impressed with his prolific importation prowess -   60 trucks!!??)  but this article illustrates that the guv'mint is keeping tabs on the trucks and the importation of said vehicles,  and as a result my latest shipment has been stalled in NY/NJ for going on two months now.    Not to worry -    all is in order and on its way again , cleared,  as I type this,  but it was touch and go there for a while.   Google 'Land Rover Defender Importing'  and you'll see my worry.   It is like Googling 'Scratchy, pain in throat' -    Soon you are convinced you are not long for this world.

    The ding-dongs over at the Defender Source are up in arms about it as well,   with plenty of speculation to go around (that is, before they became bogged-down bickering and name-calling among themselves) from those 'In The Know' offering their two cents.    (and some offering many more cents than that) ; http://www.defendersource.com/forum/showthread.php?p=545628#post545628


    So what does this mean for us now?    Well, for me,    it means I will be asked even more now this question :   " Do you think I can register that Defender in Arizona ?"   (Or whatever the state du jour is that particular day) -   Buyers will be more wary.      They may even buy less imported Rovers?  Although,  I doubt it.      JLRNA seems to be kissing hiney somewhere along the line to keep out old Land Rovers -   but why?   My guess is, they believe these old primitive Defenders are cutting into their business selling new Range Rovers.      I would bet on it.  

    There are other things out there to worry about people! 

    The irony is,  a person can being in a truck MORE than 25 years old,  presumably without issue,   but can NOT bring one in 24.999 years old or newer -  DUE TO SAFETY AND EMISSIONS VIOLATIONS.  

    So let me get this straight;   I can bring in a 1958 Land rover with drum brakes that spews black exhaust,  but can not bring in a 2001 Land Rover with a clean-burning-catalyzed-exhaust and airbags  -    For safety reasons?  

   Far be it from me to second-guess.

     ANYWAY -   My other guess is that more fellas are going to want to make their Range Rover Classics and Discoveries (as well as Series 88/109 rigs) turbo-diesel and manual transmission.   Well,   I have engine kits for you.        And I can offer installation and/or technical advice. 

      Bring it.

     A lot going on lately.        I'll be posting more in the near future now that I am breathing again.

    In the meantime,  we have Tdi Range Rovers for sale,   and a Defender 90 with soft and hard-tops.   Whaddya' think??@!


  ZM

        

  

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION

  HI All, and thank you for the many messages and phone calls regarding diesel engine questions and other Land Rover parts requests -     New contact information here.   If you want to know why,   read on after this paragraph.        PLEASE SEND ALL EMAIL INQUIRIES TO zombiewife@earthlink.net  -      AND USE THIS PHONE # TO MY SHOP :  503-505-7113  -      I CAN RARELY ANSWER THE PHONE SO PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.  I DO NOT TEXT.  THIS IS A LAND LINE AND WILL NOT RECEIVE TEXTS.  IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE, I WILL NOT KNOW YOU CALLED.


     My previous cell phone #   and the phone attached to that number is being 'retired' -     AKA, I am throwing IT of the bridge in my proxy. 

    A little about me  :    I am more-or-less trying to work alone at my shop here in Portland,  and I am ashamed to admit it, but I am a rather unorganized fellow by nature.    This means that I have a difficult time making a proper flow-chart of what to do with my time at the shop,  and my triage skills may be lacking logic at times,   and I am easily distracted by the many many projects which are all lurking around me as I try to work on finishing any one (even little) job.


   What this means is that I get behind with work.     Then,  I begin to feel very anxious.    THEN,   I begin to wish I could go to Hawaii or Australia,  or out into the woods,  or, when things get really tense I begin to wish I could jump off the bridge outside.      

    You see, I am trying to actually work on some of these trucks myself,   and the jobs are relatively long and complicated, despite the fact that I am very familiar with the work and feel competent and comfortable doing the jobs.  

    Every 15 minutes, on average,  I get a phone call that needs attention.    I get about ten calls a day with people asking about diesel engines;   they want to know which one,  how long does it take?   How much does it cost?  Why can't I use my own transmission?    How can I do it myself?  Can you talk to the guys at my local shop and explain to them how to do the job?     -      These calls usually last between 5-20 minutes each.     Times ten calls a day.      There is an hour or two on the phone every day, not to mention the time lost as I lose my train of thought and momentum about whatever job I was just performing when the phone rang. 

   I DO NOT TEXT.

   Then,  there are another 5 calls a day to parts stores locally, other shops,  etc -  Calls for me to order parts.    Easy calls.      

  There are always about 2-3 calls a day to England to talk to suppliers,   shippers,   I have to try to manage to get all my freight in one place at one time and provide addresses,  customs forms, invoices, etc etc etc just to keep that thing rolling.   This is not easy.   Read above,   I am not very organized.     These cals take about an hour every day.

   I get 3-5 calls a day from people who are good customers, and many have become friends.   They have a question about their truck.      They want to say HELLO.   They want to chat for a minute.    They want to know if I can 'fix something really fast' -- 

    I do not do any work on other peoples trucks.     Even if you bought a truck from me in the past,  I do not work on them.    I can recommend a good local shop for you if you like.      I can not look at anything 'real quick' for you.    I have to say this,  and do this now because I do not have time to do anything other than try to get caught up with the work that is already here and in front of me now,  and those things that are waiting to be finished have waited far too long already.

    - - - ALSO - --

   I have what appears to many middle-aged-men,  a lot of 'cool cars'  parked outside my front door, and just inside the roll-up-door.   I keep my doors closed at all times as I am trying to work.    I still get at least 4-5 people a day banging on windows in front,  banging on the door,  yelling through the back fence to me,   all who want to talk about cars.   Specifically, they want to tell me about their cars.   Often, they want to tell me about a car they owned 20 years ago.    They do not notice I was just working,   my hand is bleeding,  and I am holding a ratchet in one hand and a greasy car part in the other.    They talk.  They talk.   I eventually have to say I can not talk.      I have work to do.      This happens every day.    Every day.   Every day.     

    Then there are the emails.      A lot of them.   I try to answer them throughout the day.      I communicate best with emails.      A lot of people emailing and calling feel like they are 'only going to take 5 minutes'  and I must have that time for them.        I really often do not,  but I do my best.   I try.   

   I am getting HELP though!      My precious wife,  Eve,   will be taking over email and phone duties.    Otherwise,  I am going to wander off into the ocean and not come back.    I am very behind right now.     I do not have 'weekends'.   I do not go anywhere for fun.   I would like to be a guy who can go someplace for a day on the weekend without being riddled with guilt.       I am sorry,  but this may mean you will not get a personal response from me immediately anymore.   I have to do this.   Self-preservation, you see.      EVE will try to get back with you ASAP though!   And if I can give her an answer to replay to you, she will!     


     IN SHORT -   From now on,    PLEASE SEND ALL EMAIL INQUIRIES TO zombiewife@earthlink.net  -      AND USE THIS PHONE # TO MY SHOP :  503-505-7113  -      I CAN RARELY ANSWER THE PHONE SO PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.  I DO NOT TEXT.  THIS IS A LAND LINE AND WILL NOT RECEIVE TEXTS.  IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE, I WILL NOT KNOW YOU CALLED.

     My previous cell phone #   and the phone attached to that number is being 'retired' -     AKA, I am throwing IT of the bridge in my proxy. 

    I recently had a guy call me to ask about a car I had posted on ebay who immediately segued into a 27-minute monologue  (I timed it on the phone)   about how important he was,  about all of is Rovers,  how much money he has,   how his shop is the largest and best in the USA,   and he was not going to stop.   After 27 MINUTES,   I asked him if he had any questions about the truck he originally called me about.     He did not, it turns out.   I asked him if he was interested in buying it.   He was not in a position to do this it seems.     I told him I had to get off of the phone then,  as I had work to do.   He continued to talk.    About himself.    I did eventually have to become 'stiff' to get off of the phone.   He told me I was rude.     He told me that he had heard I was 'rude on the phone'.        I tried to explain that I have work to do and can not afford to be on the phone for a half-hour, CHATTING ABOUT NOTHING.     Then he called me a 'Dick'.     Or, maybe it was 'A-Hole' .      I felt bad,    but I was confused, I was not rude,   I just said I had to go.    Especially if we were not talking about business.       If I am going to chat with someone for 30 minutes, it may as well be my wife, or I would rather have the time to Play With The Baby.

   Go Figure.  
   
    Anyway, I just wanted to get all that off my chest.  Probably makes me look bad again.       I just try to be honest. 

   Baby is Crying.   I have to go.       Please use the above contact information, and this will make things run more smoothly, I promise!

   Z

       

     

More new arrivals : 1995 LWB Range Rover Classic to 300tdi, 2-Door Range Rover LHD ...

    I just got these trucks in.      A VERY COOL Lincoln green LHD Range Rover 2-door,  1983 vintage with V8,  gasoline/ LPG  and 4-speed LT95 gearbox.    Sharp.   Nice.   Fun.


   ALSO,   another 1995 LWB RR Classic to be converted to 300tdi and either 5-speed R380 ,  OR ,   maybe this one will become an automatic -   Thoughts?   Opinions?   Whatnot?    Very nice truck with new headliner,  gold paint,   and air suspension works just dandy,  but I may be converting to coil springs depending on what the market requests.


    A few pictures for you, for now.        

Not mine, but FOR SALE! 1984 Land Rover Defender 90 w/ 300tdi turbo diesel and AUTOMATIC!

    If you are interested in this Land Rover 90 ,   please contact Dennis @ 503-348-9836 or message him at dbellenterprise@comcast.net 

   This is a 1984 Defender 90,  'Van Side'  hard top.    This truck is RHD,   and has been converted to the highly-desirable 300tdi engine and is unusual in that it has an automatic gearbox.    Just completed a trip to Alaska and back this last year, and it is ready for more adventures.    I get A LOT of requests for tdi-powered Defenders,   and there are usually a lot of questions about registration and titling them as diesel...  Well this one is already here,  and has a clear Oregon title which is 100% transferable to all other 49 US states with no hassles at all.    Already a 300tdi, so it is a real bargain at $18,000. 

   In the rear there is a purpose-built and beefy roll cage,   up front it looks used,  but very neat with new seats.   Tires are big, and new.   Proper Defender alloy wheels.   Warn winch.  Snorkel.  ALL the stuff you guys want are here in one package.    There is some 'normal' rust issues to deal with,   but in my opinion they are minor/ the usual jobs one must perform when buying an older Defender that has not been restored yet, and is under-$30K,  and this one is better than most

. 

  This D90 is going to make someone happy.    You will not find another like it in our time zone for sale now,   and it would cost much more than Dennis' asking price to build it for you.  That is a $11K engine/transmission conversion alone.

    Please direct all questions to Dennis at 503-348-9836 , or dbellenterprise@comcast.net  -   And if you have any questions for me,  please bring them.   I have done a quick 'look over'   of the truck and think it is worth the asking price.

     

Bring out the clowns: We 'DO' fun cars too! Citroen DS Safari Wagon, Classic Austin Mini Clubman Estate/ Commercial 'Van'

   I have a soft spot in my person for unusual European cars,  not that either of these cars are 'UNUSUAL' for Europe/ England;   Citroen ID/ D Super wagon with 4-speed column shift manual transmission and an Austin Mini Commercial van!

   I have a hard time picking my favorite out of these two ...  The Citroens have always been a favorite of mine, but the Mini gets such great mileage, and is FAST.  Much more fun to drive than the DS...  but not so much on the freeway.   The Mini is much more of a 'city car', and the Citroen would be a(n) better (relatively) choice for a long trip and/or freeway travel.      Both cars can haul more than you think.  More than my Rovers.    Really.

    Europeans!    Post WW2 demands made their cars so F-ing great!    They could never entertain the American car ethic of 'put a bigger engine in it'  to be competitive,  they were looking for ways to get better mileage (Gas/ Diesel has always been the equivalent of 9-13 dollars a 'gallon' )  and make room inside and be practical.    And,  although many of their cars are cheap compared to ours, they were built to last longer.      American cars of the 40s, 50s, 60s, and start of the 70s were pretty great too,   but they were NEVER trying to be efficient,  or do more with less.     Poor Corvair.

    I'll shut my trap now.   I just wanted you all to know that I also bring in European 'Cool Cars' from time to time, I am thinking about doing a containers of Minis soon.   Of course, I will bring in parts,  engines, gearboxes and other hard-to-find stuff too.

    Let me know if you have any questions or need anything  -  zombiemotors@earthlink.net

MORE PICTURES of the Gold 1995 LWB with 300tdi/ 5-speed installed :

    Just wrapped it up today,  running and driving great.     On ebay and will be sold in the next 3-4 days  fielding offers in the high teens.      As you can see, the R380 5-speed,  clutch pedal and of course 300tdi turbo diesel engine are all in place and looking factory-correct!     Runs great and will make some lucky person a nice daily truck, or do some work to make an off-road trail rig.