1.2 vs 1.4 in a 200tdi 110

[Tomaco1]

After reading through the Cummins thread I started thinking about swapping my 1.4 for a 1.2 hoping to give myself more drivability on the road.

I already have the R380 stumpy with higher 5th, 255/85/16 tires and will probably someday do the Cummins swap so I figured why not get the 1.2 now.

It’s a 110 crew, 200tdi/VNT turbo and I do mostly road driving and a little on the beach. I live on very flat land, LI.

I was hoping to get some thoughts

 

[JimC]

Maybe with the turbo. I have a 1.2 in my tdi 90 and hate it. I really like the 1.4 in my 130 with the stock tune. It’ll run at 75 (per the speedo) with no trouble.

 

[Tomaco1]

maybe I’m just not use to it, but 70 in my truck seems like it’s screaming.

 

[RDavisinVA]

The 1.2 is too high for the limited power of the 200TDI.
It won't be terrible on the LIE, but get anywhere with upgrades and you are chugging in 3rd gear or second and the first on Afton...

 

[MountainD]

I have a 1.2, formerly in the 3.9 v8 (now in the LS) and a 1.4 in my 200tdi (110). I have no issues with the 1.4 in the slightest. I’d leave it and get the 1.2 when you get around to the Cummins. Why do it twice? I live in the mountains at altitude— so flatlanders can probably get away with it...I’d still wait than go to the expense of doing it before a swap...

 

[El Pinchi]

The 1.2 is too high for the limited power of the 200TDI.
It won't be terrible on the LIE, but get anywhere with upgrades and you are chugging in 3rd gear or second and the first on Afton...

What about a 1.2 in a V8 4.6 L? Currently has the stock 1.4. What would be the benefits or negatives of swapping to a 1.2?

 

[Napalm00]

I had a 1.2 in my tuned 200tdi when we used to live near one another. Had 32.5ish tires at that time.

Was amazing on everything except for the steep hill on the way to my house. Got great mileage

Soon as a moved to California all the inclines and the 35s I upgraded to made it necessary to move to a 1.4.

 

[Napalm00]

What about a 1.2 in a V8 4.6 L? Currently has the stock 1.4. What would be the benefits or negatives of swapping to a 1.2?

You will have slower take off the line but better highway mileage and less engine noise at speed. A 4.6 will have zero issues infront of a 1.2 ...came that way in lots of factory configs

 

[1of40]

Seems putting a 1.2 will wipe out the uptick in performance that ur VNT gives u.

I find that I don’t regularly cruise above 70+ in my 25-30yo vehicles anymore. I hang in the right lane and let the vibrations put me in a trance.

 

[Uncle Douglas]

The 1.2 is too high for the limited power of the 200TDI.
It won't be terrible on the LIE, but get anywhere with upgrades and you are chugging in 3rd gear or second and the first on Afton...

Cabell has had a 1.2 behind a 200 in his 110 pickup since 2008. He's been very happy with it for tens of thousands of miles here in the rolling foothills of the blue ridge mountains. He swapped his heavier 5 door to a 1.2 as well given the experience with the pickup. He's running 255/85 height tires on both trucks.
That said, his truck is properly tuned, most are not.

 

[Uncle Douglas]

Seems putting a 1.2 will wipe out the uptick in performance that ur VNT gives u.

With the vnt you shift @ much lower shift points. Winding the engine out to 3k rpm to get a decent gear pull is no longer how you drive the truck. Have a 200 90SW with vnt here and with 1.4 It sucked. Switched it to a 1.2 Q box and it's much better to drive and more quiet. Truck has 285/75's.

 

[Tomaco1]

Thanks for all the input.
How involved is swapping a T/C? I have access to a lift and shop.

 

[acheck]

On a lift in a shop, in/out swap in a Defender in a couple hours even for a first timer.

 

[LiquidMoose]

Would installing a Roamerdrive behind a 1.2 give the best of both 1.2 and 1.4?

 

[acheck]

no, installing a roamerdrive behind a 1.4 might. the use case is pretty thin, though. i have yet to truly understand the need for a roamerdrive in a 5 speed defender. it is a bandaid fix for improper gearing and/or engine tuning.

 

[defenderholty]

I had a 1.2 with my 200. I upgraded to a VGT, r380 with higher 5th and a 1.4 tc. My 1.2 worked fine behind my 200, hills and all. I live at about 800 feet above sea level. I have a 1.4 now and it is better for towing, but I never minded downshifting with the 1.2 and frankly never had a problem. I have a chriscraft and wanted to be able to tow it, hence the 1.4.

 

[Red90]

Currently you should be 2600 rpm at 70 mph. If this seems like it is screaming, it is you. 2600 rpm is not high. The 1.2 will take you to 2260 rpm which is fine if you have your engine set up to have enough power to pull that.

The question you need to answer is 1st gear. How do you feel with 1st gear now and will you be happy with it 16% higher?

 

[LiquidMoose]

no, installing a roamerdrive behind a 1.4 might. the use case is pretty thin, though. i have yet to truly understand the need for a roamerdrive in a 5 speed defender. it is a bandaid fix for improper gearing and/or engine tuning.

Yeah, I meant 1.4 not 1.2. I'm considering the Cummins swap as well and I have the same engine,trans,TC, turbo specs as the OP. First and second gear shift are way too short now so an OD would lengthen them when needed and lower RPMs at highway speeds. Best of both 1.2 and 1.4 it seems.
I may have this backwards or upside down, I'm good at doing that.

 

[Red90]

Yeah, I meant 1.4 not 1.2. I'm considering the Cummins swap as well and I have the same engine,trans,TC, turbo specs as the OP. First and second gear shift are way too short now so an OD would lengthen them when needed and lower RPMs at highway speeds. Best of both 1.2 and 1.4 it seems.
I may have this backwards or upside down, I'm good at doing that.

The overdrives are not intended to be used in low gears and not designed to take the torque of using them that way.

 

[pmatusov]

What about a 1.2 in a V8 4.6 L? Currently has the stock 1.4. What would be the benefits or negatives of swapping to a 1.2?

Just buy some 8.25-16 XZLs, and you'll be fine.