Which engine for a Hi-cap defender

[thinfourth2]

There is a Hi-cap defender abandoned on a farm near me.

It has seen better days. i am half tempted to buy it and restore it which would include a new chassis as the current one is banana shaped.


But what would make a good engine and transmission for it as it currently has a very old diesel in it.

It would spend 60% time on the road and 30% towing on the road and 10% of the time offroad.

I only do a tiny milage in my current landrover so fuel economy is not even vaguely a consideration. However robustness and easy to work on are very big factors.

[anonymous-user]

Unless you need it for work or as a support vehicle in building your own house or something, just forget it. Hardly a classic and not hugely practical unless you're a tree surgeon.

[thinfourth2]

What else can tow 3.5tons go offroad easily and be a convertible?

[camel_landy]

Tough one coz by the time you've replaced the engine & chassis, there's not really an awful lot left in one of those... On top of that, the bulkhead has probably seen better days!! All you're left with is a pair of axles, dashboard and a few body panels.

However, to answer your original question, the 300TDi or TD5 with the R380 are probably the best combo to go for.

M

[thinfourth2]

camel_landy said:

Tough one coz by the time you've replaced the engine & chassis, there's not really an awful lot left in one of those... On top of that, the bulkhead has probably seen better days!! All you're left with is a pair of axles, dashboard and a few body panels.

However, to answer your original question, the 300TDi or TD5 with the R380 are probably the best combo to go for.

M

mmm you must know the car i am talking about

Its totally fooked

I think i'll be keeping the VIN plate and the axles

[heightswitch]

This one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxKFu_wb0Gg

[anonymous-user]

thinfourth2 said:

What else can tow 3.5tons go offroad easily and be a convertible?

Any Defender, just without the oversize body.

[billywhizzzzzz]

I bought a pre restored hi cap with hot zinc sprayed chassis and a 200tdi - fantastic work horse.

[A.J.M]

Buy as a good long term project.
You could stick a tuned td5 in it, or put a v8 in if you wont do many miles.
Or older 2/300 tdi.

Any picture's to see just how gubbed it is?

[thinfourth2]

Crossflow Kid said:

thinfourth2 said:

What else can tow 3.5tons go offroad easily and be a convertible?

Any Defender, just without the oversize body.

I take it you don't like the hi-cap then

[anonymous-user]

thinfourth2 said:

Crossflow Kid said:

thinfourth2 said:

What else can tow 3.5tons go offroad easily and be a convertible?

Any Defender, just without the oversize body.

I take it you don't like the hi-cap then

I don't dislike them, and have driven a few over the years. For what they're designed for they're excellent, it's just as a domestic wagon they're a bit unwieldy.

[thinfourth2]

Crossflow Kid said:

I don't dislike them, and have driven a few over the years. For what they're designed for they're excellent, it's just as a domestic wagon they're a bit unwieldy.

Size is not an issue

Currently have one of these hidden in the garden so someone else's wife doesn't discover they bought it on ebay

[jrb43]

It's not very well hidden - I can see it

[300bhp/ton]

Crossflow Kid said:

thinfourth2 said:

Crossflow Kid said:

thinfourth2 said:

What else can tow 3.5tons go offroad easily and be a convertible?

Any Defender, just without the oversize body.

I take it you don't like the hi-cap then

I don't dislike them, and have driven a few over the years. For what they're designed for they're excellent, it's just as a domestic wagon they're a bit unwieldy.

No more unwieldy than any other Defender. A hi-cap only has a different back body tub and at a guess I should it weighs next to nothing more than a regular one.


Op - as for engines. What do you intend to really do with it and how much are you willing to spend on it?

A good RV8 will out gun most/all of the diesels and be smoother and more refined, but it'll never be great on fuel.

Tdi's are popular and good, but pretty old now. They also aren't great on fuel or power output. A Td5 would be a nice swap, but more complex and costly than a Tdi.

Lots of non LR engines you could consider too.

[anonymous-user]

FFS, you'd swear day was night and night was day just to have the last word wouldn't you....

[300bhp/ton]

Crossflow Kid said:

FFS, you'd swear day was night and night was day just to have the last word wouldn't you....

How can a first post be a last word? Get a life dude. It's also hardly my fault that what you said wasn't accurate either.

If thinfourth2 wanted a regular pick up it'd drive the same and a hi-cap probably weighs less than a CSW.

[camel_landy]

Crossflow Kid said:

FFS, you'd swear day was night and night was day just to have the last word wouldn't you....

M

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

How can a first post be a last word?

If you knew what it meant you'd realise it's entirely possible.
Dude.

[thinfourth2]

300bhp/ton said:

If thinfourth2 wanted a regular pick up it'd drive the same and a hi-cap probably weighs less than a CSW.

But i would still suggest a wobbly 1970s lump of american pig iron

EFS

[anonymous-user]

thinfourth2 said:

300bhp/ton said:

If thinfourth2 wanted a regular pick up it'd drive the same and a hi-cap probably weighs less than a CSW.

But i would still suggest a wobbly 1970s lump of american pig iron

EFS

You missed out the 2" lift and big tyres.