Inappropriate diesel converted shite

[richardthestag]

Sure i heard of a dizzle Royal Enfield bike. Made in India, iirc they had to put an electric start on them because folk kept breaking legs on the kick back when kick starting them.

[mercrocker]

saw some of these RE dizzlers out in the forest a year or so back... Took a pic but fooked if I can find it now.   

[richardthestag]

Thought the Rangie was always turbo diesel? It was pretty much just the engine out of the SD1, which was the fastest production diesel for a time (until Citroen released the CX turbo diesel). My 2.5 VM TD Rangie wasn't half bad. Just laggy.

I was sure that the first ones lacked the turbo, and were 2.4. Maybe preprod.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Thought the Rangie was always turbo diesel? It was pretty much just the engine out of the SD1, which was the fastest production diesel for a time (until Citroen released the CX turbo diesel). My 2.5 VM TD Rangie wasn't half bad. Just laggy.

The VM Range Rover was the first diesel to average 100 mph over 24 hrs or something like that, they ran 2 at Nardo,I think,that held loads of speed and endurance records for diesels. One of them is in the Dunsfold Collection,or was a couple of years ago.

[michiel]

Pretty sure I've heard of a Citroen SM with a diesel engine fitted. No greater heresy available, though I have seen a Rolls Shadow for sale with a Volvo six-pot dizzler. 

This one peut-être? C35 engine apparently, some 66 chevaux... owned by a family with 4 SMs.

 

Citroen SM diesel by Timo1990NL, on Flickr

[Taff]

mate of mine dropped a Pug 2.3 dizzler into his Mk Zephyr used a citreon gearbox I think. worked like a charm but did sound a little agricultural.

 

I harbour dark thoughts about using all BMW diesel running gear in a '50's yank. The idea being looks and performance as well. got as far as measuring up a E36 525 and my 1949 chevy, same wheelbase and track.

 

one day I'll pluck up the courage

[richardthestag]

I was sure that the first ones lacked the turbo, and were 2.4. Maybe preprod.

It was probably something to do with this...

 

"Chris Goffey (Top Gear) ruined the reputation of the VM in the Range Rover when it was launched by testing a pre-pro example that was not set up properly. Since that day everyone has had a downer on this engine"

 

I did drive an sd1 sd turbo which had the same engine?, it wasn't a new car by any means but it was horrific compared to the v8 sd1 that i had just exited, when i put my boot down i could count 1-2-3 before the car would start to pick up. I tyre kicked a 300tdi rrc which i didnt like. It was laggy, but not as laggy as the rrc vm a friend owned and i drove from time to time. The vm did sound nice though but the vm 2.4 felt gutless in a 2 tonne car imho. Probably gutless also dragging a house down the street . Lathargic is the single word i would use to describe the experience.

 

I did a long pay and play in a 200tdi disco and crawling around an extreme off road site suited that car down to the ground. Nearly bought one i was so impressed. But why run a 200tdi when you can have much the same running costs with an lpg'ed v8 and a shit load more performance?

[dollywobbler]

It was probably something to do with this...

 

"Chris Goffey (Top Gear) ruined the reputation of the VM in the Range Rover when it was launched by testing a pre-pro example that was not set up properly. Since that day everyone has had a downer on this engine"

 

I did drive an sd1 sd turbo which had the same engine?, it wasn't a new car by any means but it was horrific compared to the v8 sd1 that i had just exited, when i put my boot down i could count 1-2-3 before the car would start to pick up. I tyre kicked a 300tdi rrc which i didnt like. It was laggy, but not as laggy as the rrc vm a friend owned and i drove from time to time. The vm did sound nice though but the vm 2.4 felt gutless in a 2 tonne car imho. Probably gutless also dragging a house down the street . Lathargic is the single word i would use to describe the experience.

 

I did a long pay and play in a 200tdi disco and crawling around an extreme off road site suited that car down to the ground. Nearly bought one i was so impressed. But why run a 200tdi when you can have much the same running costs with an lpg'ed v8 and a shit load more performance?

 

Because LPG isn't always very easy to get hold of. I had an LR 90 V8 and it was entirely the wrong engine. Mind you, a Rangie without a V8 feels a bit wrong. The Disco 200Tdi feels just right. Nowhere near as laggy as a VM and the car itself is agricultural enough to pull off the diesel lump.

 

Talking of Solihull and odd conversions, I never really understood why folk fitted the 6.2 GMC (I think?) V8 diesel. The economy must have been pretty shocking, and the weight something else entirely.

[richardthestag]

Yep jimmy v8 is a bit of an enigma. Dont ever get into a discussion on the virtues of that lump in a range rover with an owner. They go all fucking redneck on you.

[TagoraSX]

I can remember an XJ-S and a BMW 7 Series with Nissan Patrol engines smoking about

[scruff]

^^LOL!! I had a bit to do with one that belonged to a chap I worked with, it was not as fast as my dad's 3.5 EFi, barely more economical and with the original auto box changed gear at exactly the wrong time. The RR in question broke our local independant's ramp when it went in for MoT work, it was so nose-heavy. Verdict: shit

[rml2345]

I saw this one at East Fortune

 

 

 

Brilliantly done but I couldn't understand why you would want a diesel engine in a convertible.

[junkyarddog]

 

My Vauxhall VX2300 with a sierra turbo diesel engine and matching box.

Got fed up with the petrol lump,was unreliable,lumpy and thirsty.

Dropped in this with very little bother,sump cleared the crossmember,made up gearbox/engine mounts plumbed and wired it in.

Had to cut a hole for the gearleaver,knock back the bulhead slightly to clear the turbo,and got the propshaft professionally modified(the only bit I didn't do)

Made the old girl a lot more reliable,economical and useable.

Now to tackle the rust.

[Tayne]

 

 

Talking of Solihull and odd conversions, I never really understood why folk fitted the 6.2 GMC (I think?) V8 diesel. The economy must have been pretty shocking, and the weight something else entirely.

 

Like this you mean?

 

RR49.jpg by Tayne, on Flickr

 

RR50.jpg by Tayne, on Flickr

 

RR51.jpg by Tayne, on Flickr

 

You can also read about all manner of solihull conversions here.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tayne/sets/72157626817728715/with/5823760565/

 

[KruJoe]

There is a Stag out there with a sierra dizzler in it.

 

Looks nice, sounds shit, but tbh i cant get past the sounds shit bit.

You thinking of this one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The builder/owner is a good friend of Pa_KJ, who has been Autoshiting since before they invented Autoshite. The smoke on start-up is comical, but it goes alright! He uses it to trundle about locally, and loves it, even if it's a tad over-geared. He could fix that with a different diff if he ever bothers.

[vulgalour]

Going back a few years now, but at Billing Aquadrome there was a big Kustoms & Hot Rod shindig and there was a Zephyr (or a Zodiac) that had been converted to a pickup, Caddy lights on the back, copper metallic colour... anyway, it had a Pug diesel up front which at the time seemed a really strange thing to do when all the other stuff had sporty lumps in them.  Having said that, the thing could shift well enough and Dad had a job keeping up with it in whatever it was he was driving at the time.

[Twiggy]

I really don`t know if these can be described as inappropriate - they are certainly different - but here goes:

 

A pre war green Rolls Royce fitted with (I think) a Gardner Diesel. Lived in Walkden just outside Manchester and was the pride and joy of a local tool maker. It must be at least 45 years since I last saw it.

 

Mid 50`s Jaguar mk 7 (or 8 or 9) again fitted with a Gardner diesel, a 180 I think. It lived round the corner from me in Walkden and belonged to the spares man from Gardner Diesel Engines. I last saw it as he was washing it in his drive about 4 years ago. I think he had bought all the Gardner spares when they closed.

 

An ex-police Triumph 2.5 PI, fitted with a Perkins 4/108, Humber Sceptre gearbox (?) and the diff from a Commer van. It was done by a good friend who had his own garage so that he could A-frame auction bought cars back home. Averaged 54 to the gallon up hill and down dale, regardless of whether it was towing or not. I remember that it did star ship mileage over the 5 years he owned it. I can`t remember what happened to it...

 

I`m sure the Jaguar is still in Walkden...... not too easy to check now that I`m living near Southampton. The other two are unusual enough to have stuck in one`s mind if they`ve been spotted and I`d love to know if they survived... Pity I can`t remember the registration numbers..................

[Tayne]

Perkins 4108?

Four cylinders, 1.8 litres and old tech?

 

That doesn't sound as though it could pull the skin off a rice pudding let alone a car back from the auction?

[cort16]

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I've got a say that looks great even if it was RAF and a p45 maker. I remember it coming up on gumtree before you bought it but didn't have the £ at the time.

 

There's a guy over on retro rides with an Astra 1.7 tdz in his Chuvette that seems to work pretty well.

[saucedoctor]

Not a diesel, but that R107 Merc reminded me of a car show up at the Antrim Forum, years ago. Someone had brought one which looked bog-stock and minty. Well, except for the Ford-Cosworth YB Turbo under the bonnet. Some other owners were not amused.

[Twiggy]

Perkins 4108?

Four cylinders, 1.8 litres and old tech?

 

That doesn't sound as though it could pull the skin off a rice pudding let alone a car back from the auction?

 

My memories not what it was............... but it was a 4 cylinder.....

[Tayne]

I've just looked the engine up and it was used in transits, CFs and some Alfas. Marine ones made 50hp and 110lb ft, and the automotive units probably a bit more.

 

He might have had one, but I'd want a bit more poke.

[CortinaDave]

I've got a say that looks great even if it was RAF and a p45 maker. I remember it coming up on gumtree before you bought it but didn't have the £ at the time.

 

There's a guy over on retro rides with an Astra 1.7 tdz in his Chuvette that seems to work pretty well.

I loved the idea of it... And when it worked it was awesome! The loom was shot though and I had to carry a fire extinguisher around in it as it nearly went up in flames a couple of times. It also needed wings... And mk1 capri wings are made of unobtanium. When they do come up its ££££

Even the tail lights are a fortune... It was a facelift and they were both cracked. £200 a side sir.

 

The basic shell wasnt too bad but it really did need a rebuild. Almost every part was in that "just about useable" condition

 

That plus it was a ringer. GT id but XL trim/dash and a different reg number etched into the windows. I presume (and hope) this was done for tax exemption reasons especially since given the diesel conversion the previous keeper was clearly a grippy bugger.

 

But hey, I gave about a grand for it I think which is washers for a tested mk1 capri, had fun with it and moved it on at a small profit (to raise money to feed myself after it cost me my job)

 

DVLA say unlicenced since 2012. I bought it in your neck of the woods Cort - just round the corner from Prestwick airport

[cort16]

You stole it from right under my nose. The shame.

[CortinaDave]

It would've made you lose your job though, so maybe not a bad thing

[cort16]

Yes good point . I see our old Cortinas been up for sale a few times in the last year. I'm hoping it comes up again when I've got some money to buy it back.

[quicksilver]

Mid 50`s Jaguar mk 7 (or 8 or 9) again fitted with a Gardner diesel, a 180 I think. It lived round the corner from me in Walkden and belonged to the spares man from Gardner Diesel Engines. I last saw it as he was washing it in his drive about 4 years ago. I think he had bought all the Gardner spares when they closed.

 

This fits with what I've heard about Mr Gardner having one of his own diesels fitted to his company Jag, which apparently still exists. I believe Mr Perkins did similar.

 

I vaguely remember a chat with a wedding car owner at a show many years ago. He had a totally stock looking pre-war saloon of some sort but under the skin was a modern diesel (it might have been a Peugeot XUD) and he said the reason he did it is that reliability is far more important than originality in that business and the majority of clients would never even notice.

[Mr Livered]

I can understand that. Imagine doing wedding hire and breaking down on the way to the church with the bride in the back...

[CortinaDave]

Yes good point . I see our old Cortinas been up for sale a few times in the last year. I'm hoping it comes up again when I've got some money to buy it back.

 

That really is a genuinely nice old car now. It always struggles to find a home when its sold. I think its problems are 1) the slush box and 2 ) its a shit colour and not a great respray

 

If you buy it back again I have a mate locally who is a great spraypainter. He produces brilliant results despite doing it all in a chicken shed for a couple of hundred quid.

 

I reckon resprayed silver/blue or another more appealling colour than black and a manual conversion it would sell easily for better money

 

I know it was an original factory order black car but black just doesnt suit it IMO

[willswitchengage]

I think we're all missing a big one here!

 

 

 

Inappropriate diesel converted shite

 

 

fifty years of progress later