Following on from my Ultimate engine post. I have now decided that i do not need a big horsepower engine
I need a reliable engine that will produce a respectable amount of power/torque and last quite a few years, The money i then save over a higher spec enine can then be spent on axles etc. It should be transferable between land rovers but i cant see this as i problem if it fits into one of them. I will be covering about 5000 miles a year tops with the odd occasional long trip and it needs to be able to deliver the goods off road. I have put my suggestions in the poll above
I would like the engine to be new or rebuilt to a standard better than new.

Go 3.9V8, enjoy the V8 till it becomes socially unacceptable to own such a vehicle

Thats probably when i would want to own one

think of the babies and the cute bunny wabbits!!!!

lets be honest.......... if owning a V8 means 20degrees C sunshine in the middle of January....then im sticking with my 3.9.

If you vote you have got to give your reasons for it, So i can understand the logic of your decision

big yank...NO i have a friend doing this at the moment and is having alot of problems, heavy and keeps over heating, and the gearbox wont last.

jap... YES isuzu engines are ment to be really good for 500k.

V8 .... youve already got one so get it rebuilt......cheapest option and probably get the best power.

others

too expensive unless youve got alot of money.

300Tdi, simply cos their easy to own, take care off & don't have any really nasty faults that haven't beebn dealt with, parts easy to get hold of & lots of info around.

You forgot the 200 Tdi the better version of the 300 Tdi you know the version of it that doesn't break?

200-300TDI both fine work horse engines.
the 200 more rugged 300 slightly more refined once the cambelt issue is sorted the rest is great plus being newer, lower mileage looked after examples will be easier to locate.

With the correct cooling it won't overheat. It's an installation problem not a problem with the engine.

Will run OK with a standard LT95 gearbox, otherwise you need to upgrade.

Not exactly modest

You can say that knowing the trouble ive got with mine

yours fixed yet?

Nope. But to honest i dont think the problem is with the engine.

OOPS I forgot you have one already

Exactly - the 300 Tdi is gay

Ask frida turner which ones always go poop and she'll say 300 Tdi. 200 Tdi engine is better for the price of a International HS 2.8 TGV you could get a re-con re worked 200 Tdi that would be bullet proof

Not seen mention but isn't there an Iveco engine alternative?

3.9 V8 - they're still the cheapest, and given the % fuel you'd save going diesel it's not worth changing.

Parts are cheap and plentiful and every LR has at some time or another been V8. The V8 has plenty power and flexibility. Sorting the usual Lucas gremlins (vis MS'n'S or whatever other method) will help reliability, power/economy and help with waterproofing too.

Worst case scenario you kill the V8, 5 minutes and £150 later on eBay you can have a perfectly servicable 3.5 engine ready to drop in to get you going. TDi's are getting cheaper but they're not that cheap and won't be for a long time.

The 200 is more agricultural and tougher
the 300 more refined

with so few differences.

the 200 will stand less boost increase than the 300

I'd rather have either of these two than a foreign jonny engine.

I got a 300 as I wanted a late 90 and so far it has proved a decent engine.

with only a few oil leaks and a turbo rebuild after 130k all is going well.

for the ££ the V8 is a cheap option and probably the best idea

I'm biased to diesels - I've had my share of Rover v8's, the last was a 4.6 in the rangie.

The 200/300Tdi aren't bullet proof compared to a light truck diesel.

The 4 cyl diesels from Isuzu N series trucks and the Toyota Dyna are great engines that will fit into a Rover. They have great torque from idle, are very reliable and long lived. But I wouldn't use either with Rover drive train.

voted for 300tdi as I couldn't find 200tdi on the list.
reliable, simple, and less parts than the 300tdi to go wrong........

Of course, If you had asked for a "civilised" engine my answer would be different.
Jas

Well I voted for the 300tdi.

Strange from a guy who loves V8's!

Reason: If I was starting from scratch on a car that was going to be relied upon for regular road use then I would go for the coughs and sneezal.

The only reason I dont have a squeezal is ....I love V8's (boy hood dream etc), Ive got 5 very good V8 engines to play with (3.5 x 2, 3.5 turbo, 3.9 rebuilt, 4.0 blue printed) and they are in my toys.

If I had to rely on my off roader for road use, no way would it be the v8, expense would stop that instantly.

Does sound like we are getting back to the "my heart says V8, but my head says Diesel"

2.8 Isuzu, front mounted intercooler & tweak the pump the same as the 200 & 300 TDi pumps ( they're virtually identical), even better get one from a Vauxhall Frontera, they've got the bigger turbo & a FMIC already, perfect with a Rangie drive train. Jez would say that the cam belts on these are easy to change & so they are but if you can get one with timing gears rather than belt you're home & hosed, look for metal domes on the front rather than flat ribbed plastic cover. No hassles with water ingress while wading then.[Helmet & flack jacket]B....y site more reliable than anything LR ever made. [/ naaah!, I'll just keep them on
Actually, if it weren't for the cost, the 2.8 TGV is probably the best way to go, getting an awesome reputation around the world, shows what a Land Rover engine could be like if it'd been done properly.
Cheers, Steve

anybody got any views on the Isuzu 3.0TD there are lots of them here in Riyadh

My mate has owned the 200tdi and 300tdi and has advised me to stay well clear of the 200tdi, as they are a bitch to work on compared to the 300tdi.

The problem with me changing to 300tdi is i wont be able to use my nice V8 auto unless i have a conversion plate. Then i don’t think they would work to well together would they?

If this is the 3.0 DOHC diesel from the 98 & later Troopers & Wizards etc, its a real grunter of an engine, 156hp standard, but also has some real reliability issues. Do a search for Isuzu 4JX1 motor. It would blow most Landie trannies to bit, Might be OK in an E38 Rangie though. From about 2002, the 2.8 (4JB1) was replaced by a 3.0(4JH1) derivitive of the 2.8 with electronically controlled injection, ( like the later 300TDis in autos I think), this is a pushrod OHV engine same as the 2.8 though, still gives about 130hp, but not the same low torque as the Landie diesels. I've a mate who has one in a Rodeo & tows his boat over steep hill around here no probs.HTH
Cheers, Steve.

Much as it hurts for me to say it I don't think the cost of a diesel is justified here, for 5000 miles a year. If you don't mind using WD40 on a misty day, get a cheaper (unit cost) petrol V8.

If im going to stay V8 then i will have my engine re-built.

Looks like its between the V8 being re-built and a 300tdi.

I guess a good V8 rebuilt to cost about £2.5k, What is the going price for a new or re-built 300tdi?

I guess a good V8 rebuilt to cost about £2.5k

eh ?

Why ?

Nige

Because i know thats what other people have spent getting the same spec engine as im after.

Hi ben,

was just shocked

to rebuild a 3.9 even improve on it 2500 is a hell of a lot of money ??

Price up what your thinking of ?

Often a regind, set of shells, big and small ends, then cam, full balance, new rings deglaze etc etc is a fraction of that ?

What was £2500 ??

Nige

Have just voted for the Rover V8,

a, it is already fitted so no messing in that department,
b, it is a good light unit,
c, If you think that JE Engineering do all of Bowlers engines with no probs, why shouldn't you,
d, sounds great,
e, go 4.6 and rev it less for the same power and more Torque
f, fit it to an auto box at the same time and you will be in heaven.
g, Deisels are great but they sound 5hit compared to a V8
h, The sound
i, THE SOUND

Lara

Think my next project will also be V8

For 2.5K I'd want a 4.6 with all those mods on it too.

I pritty much second all that

while we're on about the 2.8 motor, can anyone tell me the contact details of the place in Netherlands
that imports them?

thanks,

Tom

all round nice guys in Nederlands to be found HERE

I love the sound a diesel makes in water, its easy to hear over the silence of a V8 stranded in a lake...........

I think the V8 is going to be my choice. As i can probably get a really good rebuild for the price of a 300tdi with matching auto box and it is less hassle. The V8 all ready has a new gearbox so it would be a same to lose that.

Now when looking for a re-build what should i be looking at having done? I want a bit more torque with a lot more reliability. I am thinking of a general rebuild top hat liners, Properly balanced maybe even blue printed, Some head/plenum flowing, uprated cam and tubular exhaust manifolds?

Not sure on what size engine? What do the builders class as a dynamic balance?

depends what you are willing to spend, if your thinking blue-print your talking total rebuild.

A Cam maybe your best starting point, check out RPi:

RPi Cams

Also, if you pull the EFi off the top and look into the tunnel, if it's black and gungy your looking at a thorough rebuild, if it's reasonably clean then you possibly got the chances of a good engine to start with, worth it just for a valley gasket

I am after a total rebuild, That way i dont have to worry about it ever again

I had that theory once, but then I woke up and remembered I had a collection of British cars and bikes

I dont have that problem. Im getting a company car with a pay rise this year as well

<monty python mode>

You lucky lucky ba$tard!

</monty python mode>

We have a company car and it aint the perk it used to be( taxed to the max)
And with running 2 LRs as well, the extra money dont go far!!

Im not on a bad wage, I afford and run two Land rovers quite comfortably, Used to have four cars on the road between two of us until recently. And as for the company car i pay no tax, the fuel is paid for, infact im getting paid for the privilege

Lucky you! we thought about the "opting out" doda , you know leasing a car for work use only.... was just as damed expensive!!! when you do about 30,000 miles a year.!!!!

I am lucky. My car is free but only for work purposes (you wouldn't want to be going down to the supermarket in it anyway ), that’s why i still need the Rangie but it will be doing very few miles.