I’ve been upgrading my 200Tdi Land Rover with VDO gauges, much nicer, more and better looking. As I could not find a VDO senderi to fit the Defender 200Tdi engine I modified a cheap (standard Land Rover type) to take the 1/8 NPT VDO sender.

The cheap (non genuine) Land Rover unit cut into pieces, on top the VDO unit and some bits and pieces supplied with it. If you have ever wondered what to find inside you do have the answer!

Drill a 8/9mm hole into the sender, straight trough plastic and metal. Next, get a cheap 1/8 NPT tread cutting tool, e.g. this cheap set at http://www.conrad.nl :

Take out the 1/8 NPT tool and double check if it is matching with the sender thread.

If you do not have a vice use a pair of mole grips.

Voila, job done. Keep the plastic bit of the old sender, it will make an excellent washer.

The modified sender for 200Tdi Land Rover, ready to be fitted into the 200Tdi engine!

Make sure the wife is not at home + clean the kitchen!

Just a basic and cheap conversion. The unit has been fitted 40.000 km ago and is still doing fine. A little leak at the seal by now and I would recommend to fit some silicon sealant before screwing the sender into the modified housing.