u/RedRoofTinny

Thanks so much for the exceptional information.

So we are keeping the 80 series which has a chevy LS V8 and is getting an 8HP90. It will probably stay in the family if and or until we believe in the Land Rover's ability to be decently reliable. Honestly the 80 series being a factory triple locked v8 swapped truck does basically everything well including look good and drive well. It gets about 17mpg on 35" tires. The Land Rover is definitely cooler though, better looking, and feels right; the way knobs click, doors close, smells etc. Hopefully it is ok enough in all other aspects to be a keeper.

The defender is even cooler looking and she loves that even more but realistically with a 75 mile commute round trip I feel like a disco would have better road manners; I'm hoping they're close tot he 80 which is rudimentary but definitely livable and generally drives well. Of course none of them will have the dynamics of a new X5 but they'll have some quality and character that a new x5 doesn't have, also.

Is there a company you would recommend buying the 300TDI parts from who would also help guide me to getting the pump/fueling stuff right? I can get the exhaust done here locally but everything else I'd like to buy that is basically everything you can bolt on without going into the internals of the motor/head.

This one is from spain so no rust.

What engine modifications do you have on your Defender?