Non-Rover V8 engine transplants

[Dr Gneil Pipely]

This is a "lying in the bath" thought, but here goes:

Has anyone fitted a non-Rover V8 into a Defender successfully?

There are loads of vehicles in recent years with V8 engines by Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW, Lexus, etc.

Looking on ebay many - including a ML500 Merc engine - go for the same sort of price as a used Td5 engine.

And I'm aware that many are also mated to ZF autoboxes of the same series as recent Range Rovers.

There are several comp safari cars running Jag and Lexus V8s - but not sure of the transmissions.

So, in the case of the ML engine you get 300 horsepower for a fraction of the price of a tuned Rover V8 - if you can get it to fit. Has anyone gone down this road and got things working?

[HoSS]

Interesting thought, I would also be keen to hear.....

[siearl]

Why would you want to use anything other than ROVER V8

[FridgeFreezer]

Why would you want to use anything other than ROVER V8

Because it's a blummin' ancient design, doesn't make much power for what it is and tuning bits cost a fortune. Not saying it's a bad engine, just that engine design & production has moved on - these days there are 2.0 4-pots that make better numbers than the RV8. It just happens the RV8 is a very convenient engine for Land Rover applications.

[ThreeSheds]

Dave, from the Yorkshire Off Road Club has fitted a - well in his words:

"The main part of the conversion will be to fit a GM LS1 engine and matching 4L80e auto gearbox (the level 2, Bionic 80). The engine is a 5.7 litre V8 imported from a specialist engine supplier in the USA In my case I've gone for their "middle of the road" product which produces 410 horse power."

This is now done and running. I have seen it and it's pure automotive porn when Dave lifts the bonnet and it sounds AWESOME :)

Another extract from the build story:

"One interesting result of the weekend is that, as the engine topped the 1000 mile mark I started to open it up a bit more and I now know what a spinning Simex sounds like on Tarmac Very Happy I can now spin the wheels on dry tarmac at 30 MPH and, now I've got used to it, it's not as scary as it was the first few times I did it ! Driving my Range Rover now seems really pedestrian and I find myself missing the overtaking power of the Defender... maybe when I'm rich and famous I'll put an LS1 into my Range Rover."

Well he seems happy :D

TwoSheds

[Coastcard]

Isn't the LS engine the Chevy block used by Overfinch in their conversions, if so it is a known quantity and popular to install in Land Rover products (Classic RR and Defender).

I believe that Overfinch did prefer to upgrade the autobox to the HP24 spec before unleashing the horses :D.

The German V8 issue probably boils down to the fact that nobody so far wants (or has the time/cash!) to be first. Especially with the modern stuff where you need to get computers to talk to each other (Can't lathe up an adaptor for one of those too easily )

A lovvvveeeeeerrrrly idea though.

[Dr Gneil Pipely]

Isn't the LS engine the Chevy block used by Overfinch in their conversions, if so it is a known quantity and popular to install in Land Rover products (Classic RR and Defender).

I believe that Overfinch did prefer to upgrade the autobox to the HP24 spec before unleashing the horses :D.

The German V8 issue probably boils down to the fact that nobody so far wants (or has the time/cash!) to be first. Especially with the modern stuff where you need to get computers to talk to each other (Can't lathe up an adaptor for one of those too easily )

A lovvvveeeeeerrrrly idea though.

No, Overfinch used a ZZ4 350 Chevy. The LS is quite a new engine, using a different block, etc. to the traditional small-blocks. Overfinch also used an adapter plate to match the engine, and I believe these are widely available.

The gearbox was not changed in the 5.7ltr engine conversions, which put out 330bhp. They did a 6.3 version for P38s which put out 400bhp but these RRs used an uprated ZF box as standard. Overfinch would not put the 6.3 in a RRC. That's not to say that you couldn't stretch a 5.7 and uprate a RRC ZF box with P38 internals though (didn't LR do that with the Lara Croft gearbox?).

Given the price of brand new LS engines and matching gearboxes, the LS route is a very sensible and cost effective way to go. Have a look at this for pure porn.

[Dr Gneil Pipely]

Dave, from the Yorkshire Off Road Club has fitted a - well in his words:

"The main part of the conversion will be to fit a GM LS1 engine and matching 4L80e auto gearbox (the level 2, Bionic 80). The engine is a 5.7 litre V8 imported from a specialist engine supplier in the USA In my case I've gone for their "middle of the road" product which produces 410 horse power."

This is now done and running. I have seen it and it's pure automotive porn when Dave lifts the bonnet and it sounds AWESOME :)

Another extract from the build story:

"One interesting result of the weekend is that, as the engine topped the 1000 mile mark I started to open it up a bit more and I now know what a spinning Simex sounds like on Tarmac Very Happy I can now spin the wheels on dry tarmac at 30 MPH and, now I've got used to it, it's not as scary as it was the first few times I did it ! Driving my Range Rover now seems really pedestrian and I find myself missing the overtaking power of the Defender... maybe when I'm rich and famous I'll put an LS1 into my Range Rover."

Well he seems happy :D

TwoSheds

Have you got a link for any more details on this one?

[ChrisV8]

Would sound superb just like a Rover but all modern V8s ahve heaps of very clever elecktrickery so could be very time consuming to get it going unless you have full access to computer etc etc.

Me if I was doing it would go down the Chevy V8 route, heaps of tuning stuff available and with a set of nice headers sound just luvverly

[FridgeFreezer]

Would sound superb just like a Rover but all modern V8s ahve heaps of very clever elecktrickery so could be very time consuming to get it going unless you have full access to computer etc etc.

There's a solution to that