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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 315

United Kingdom 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
110 automatic with Mercedes OM606 engine

Click image to enlarge

Hello, I'm Mark and would like to introduce myself along with my finished 110 build. It's a mercedes engined automatic 110, completely rebuilt as a restomod. It took me three years to complete, but it's nice again now!

Click image to enlarge


Last edited by MarkBrown on 9th Oct 2022 12:56pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #967157 9th Oct 2022 12:20pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3184

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
That is nice. Love the colour scheme. Thumbs Up 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #967159 9th Oct 2022 12:48pm
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3610

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
Very nice indeed. Tell us more about the conversion!!
Post #967163 9th Oct 2022 1:30pm
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3612

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
Thumbs Up looks great DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #967169 9th Oct 2022 3:22pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2050

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Must climb vertical faces with that lump...... Mr. Green
Post #967189 9th Oct 2022 8:01pm
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Barneyboy



Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 1583

England 1986 Defender 90 2.5 n/a Diesel ST Nato Green
Very smart, and agree with Co1, please tell us more about it Thumbs Up cheers Paul
Post #967210 10th Oct 2022 6:12am
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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 315

United Kingdom 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
It's a 1983 110, rescued from a field, behind a barn.

I fitted a 98 mercedes om606 engine taken out of an e class.

The conversion needs a mechanical injector pump fitting, which is taken from an older Mercedes engine. Larger pump elements are fitted to enable the engine to develope more power and run with no electronics. I've used a hybrid turbo feeding an aftermarket intercooler. DPUK supplied the air filter box and high mount alternator bracket, needed as the steering box is in the way.

In it's current state of tune it's supposed to make up to 300 bio, but I've not yet had it on a dyno.

I used an adaptor plate made by Gaz Fab which allows the engine to be fitted to a cable operated hybrid hp22 hp24 zf4 automatic gearbox, taken from a discovery 2 V8. Other parts I've used from that for the build are the front diff, front double carden propshaft, 1.2 ratio transfer box complete with handbrake assembly, which needs rotating and re drilling to fit, so the cable is long enough to attatch to the 110 hand brake lever.

Ashcroft halfshafts are fitted to the original front axle, the original Salisbury rear has been converted to discs. Everything has been apart, checked and or replaced as needed, all the braking system is brand new, as is the suspension and steering.

Inside I've used a ministry of defender dash behind a new bulkhead, two layers of mass loaded vynil with carpeting over. The seats are out of a mercedes slk and fit very well as they are thin, but also leather and sprung.

All the components have been resprayed in tarpaulin grey and limestone.

It drives very well with ample power on tap, quite and comfortable when driven, indeed it goes much better than the old discovery V8 used for parts. For me the combination of the engine and automatic gearbox totally transform the vehicle.

Click image to enlarge
Post #970778 11th Nov 2022 4:19pm
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rustandoil



Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 661

England 2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS DCPU Bonatti Grey
The OM606 convertion has got to be one of the best engine choices for Defender.... Any detailed pictures of the build?
Post #970806 11th Nov 2022 7:21pm
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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 315

United Kingdom 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
No photos, I just kinda did it. Essentially I did this:

- Buy new 300 tdi chassis, for a 110.
- Get a 1.2 lt230 transfer box from discovery 2 and some 300
tdi mounts.
- Get donor zf4hp22 from discovery 2 and send to specialist to
rebuild with stronger hp24 ( 4.6 p38 ) clutches. Make it cable
operated, so fully hydraulic. Use 4.0l medium size torque
converter.
- Keep shifter from discovery 2 and make custom trunk ( or buy
one from ashcroft's) inside. Extend shifter cable as it's too
short by about 2 inches.
- Get hold of Mercedes OM 606 engine, but a mechanical pump
and fit it. Mine was from DPUK, indirectly. 7.7mm elements.
- Sort out glow plug wiring, I used 2 circuits, with two 40 amp
relays, so if one packs up, the engine will start, just, on the the
three.
- Buy a high mount alternator bracket, I used DPUK for this.
- Get a OM648 rear sump, oil pump and dipstick tube off and fit,
also block off the old dipstick hole.
- I chose to fit a new hybrid turbo from DPUK, this is optional.
- I also fitted a small water pump pully which is supposed to be
better, some disagree, but I don't know. This then used
6PK2036 belt.
- I fitted new glow plugs, valve seals, metal sump gasket and
top end gasket set, along with metal vacuum pump gasket as
the fibre one in the kit leaked.
- I fitted the engine adaptor plate from Gaz Fab, then stood
engine on its end to drop the gearbox onto the torque
converter, or apparently holes need to be cut into the bell
housing, to get at the bolts, which I didn't want. This needs to
be done with carefull marking so that the oil pump in the
gearbox doesn't break.
- I fitted the transfer box, then used a forklift to shove in the
engine and gearbox, bolted the transfer box and
gearbox/engine together, then made my
own mounts. I used a digital angle finder to make sure that
the rear propshaft is at the correct angle, that is inline with the
pinion, or it will vibrate. ( Mine doesn't, so I got that right! )
- I cut off the tdi engine mounts then made my own, making
sure that the engine sat parralel to the chassis, not wonky.
- I used a LHD 300 tdi throttle cable as it's long enough.
- Reconnect heater.
- Fit an oil cooler and get Pirtek to make up hydraulic hoses,
also get them to alter the power steering hoses to fit. They will
also make up the hoses for the gearbox oil cooler you have
chosen.
- I had a custom 3 inch exhaust made to fit by Longlife.
- The air box is from DPUK.
- Some sort of bracket needs to be made to connect the
gearbox kickdown control cable to.
- I fitted a pull to stop cable and fitted it to the old
choke holder ( I think ) on the steering column.
- I used a tdi fuel filter instead of the Merc one, as the plastic
fittings on the Merc one were broken.
- I fitted a 110 V8 radiator, but have on order an Allisport one as
it gets warm up long hills.
- The intercooler was the only one with bottom entry pipes, I
used a universal kit to connect it up.
- An EGR blanking adaptor is needed, this also gives the size of
the intercooler pipes, 70mm I think. I welded a bolt in the
manifold to block of the hole.
- Fit the double carden propshaft from the discovery 2 as it's
better and the correct length ( in a 300 tdi chassis ) Use new
uj's if needed.
- Get high low and difflock shifter for discovery 2, complete
with cables and fit.
- There are lots of other bits to figure out, but nothing daft.
- That's essentially how I did it.

- DPUK had loads of how to videos explaining things, like
timing, fuel fittings, pump adjustment and so on. There's a
public group called Mercrovers too.

- If I was to do it again I'd start with a 200tdi chassis, as I
believe that the transfer box sits further back, which would
give more room at the front.


This may or may not help someone!







-
Post #970824 11th Nov 2022 9:09pm
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Mother superior



Member Since: 05 Aug 2013
Location: Surrey
Posts: 494

United Kingdom 
Good Lord, She's lovely. I have a hankering for a D1 with that setup and this isn't helping! Oh woe, oh woe
My crusty old landrover,
It will not go.
Post #972249 24th Nov 2022 5:12pm
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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 315

United Kingdom 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
Thanks! It's worked out well.
Post #972258 24th Nov 2022 6:20pm
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seriesonenut



Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 1205

United Kingdom 
Bow down 2010 XS USW
1957 Series One 88 diesel
1958 Series One 88 4x2
Post #972268 24th Nov 2022 7:21pm
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murph81



Member Since: 11 Sep 2022
Location: Ireland
Posts: 63

Ireland 2007 Defender 110 Td5 PU Belize Green
Great conversion, must be lovely to drive!
Post #973013 30th Nov 2022 11:31pm
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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 315

United Kingdom 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
Just a little update for reference.

1. People say that the OM606 engines have no torque and are all top end power. This maybe true for some builds, especially those with huge turbochargers. I fitted a standard sized hybrid turbo to mine, whatever that is, and there is no lag at all, it's very drivable - far quicker off the mark than when in the old e300 which provides the engine.

2. They are said by some to run hot. I've had a few problems with mine, however I have now fitted a genuine 85 degree Mahle thermostat after finding the existing 78 degree part was sticking. I've also fitted an Allisport 110 V8 radiator, along with a pair of Spal electric fans. The temperature now stays consistent at 85 degrees, rising to 90 on a long hill. Whilst Green Laning the temperature will rise when there is no airflow, but the fans kick in at 95 degrees and cools it back down quickly.


Click image to enlarge


3. There are many reports of the engine being jerky, making it impossible to drive just off tick over. I can't comment on this as mine is an automatic, so it's very smooth.

4. I've set up my fuel pump so that there is virtually no smoke, this is very simple to do, some builds that can be seen on YouTube are very obnoxious!

5. Air intake. I've got an off the shelf custom airbox but have had problems with the engine not being able to get sufficient air at 3/4 throttle, which leads to more black smoke than you'd think possible, followed by the engine suffocating. Obviously this is no good, so I now have fitted an additional 4inch intake, which has solved that problem.

6. Economy. Not much is written about mpg on this engine conversion, but my findings are generally I can get 20 mpg brim to brim on a tank, 25 mpg is achievable on a good journey, the best was 27 mpg on a motorway run at about 60mph, so in 4th gear lock up. Most of my journeys are local B roads in Wales, I also live down a track which means 10 minutes to the tarmac each journey, so not the best circumstances for economy.

7. Performance. I've not done any 0-60, nor have I had it on a Dyno. I would say that it would exceed the speed limit on a private road by around 40 mph, if anyone was brave or daft enough. Outside lane cruising on the motorway is easy peasy, as is joining via the slip road. Overtakeing can be carried out swiftly if necessary. It's very drivable and great fun on a dual carriageway.

8. Overall my opinion is that the conversion has far exceeded my expectations. It really is a joy to drive. I'll be starting another build in the future starting with a 90, the only difference is that I intend to use the 0M605 engine. This is currently less expensive to buy, has a very similar power output, will possibly be more frugal as there is one cylinder less and is shorter, which will give more room at the front ( with an automatic gearbox ).

9. It's simple. A starter to start it and a cable to stop it. That's it. Ideal for those like me who don't understand or see the benefits of a car full of electronic gizmos. It's kind of like a a TDI really, but about three times as powerful.
Post #981026 2nd Feb 2023 8:57pm
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hank



Member Since: 12 Sep 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2224

Wales 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Absolutely love this! > 110 XS Double Cab
> Instagram @simonlanemind
Post #981028 2nd Feb 2023 9:06pm
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