SeriousIIa Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I am working on finding an alternative for my underpowered 2.5 petrol engine in my series. I am considering 3 conversion options and am wondering if anyone has ideas or experience with one of these 3 options? All three are injection and about 135 to 140 hp with approx 190nm and are 4 cyl ( I can not legally fit a 6 or 8 cyl). In the Netherlands they are readily available. All three are relatively easy on LPG which is also important for me. They all have the exhaust on the propshaft side but this should be manageable. Mercedes M102 2.3 petrol injection (normally sits in 190E or 230E) 134Hp 201Nm Adapter for the the gearbox to engine readily available Ca 200kg fully dressed, Cast Iron Volvo B230 (F) 2.3 petrol injection (Normally sits in a 740, 940 and 240) 136Hp 190 Nm No adapter found yet, but should be able to fabricate this Ca 200 kg fully dressed, Cast Iron BMW M42 1.8 petrol injection (Normally sits in a E36 318ti, si) 138Hp 175Nm Bellhousing is a creative solution to fabricate since this engine has no bell housing but doable. approx 150kg fully dressed, aluminum block Please let me know if you have any opinions or know of any successful projects documented anywhere online. Cheers Bowy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 There is a turbo version of the Volvo engine.... Cant offer much help but I had a 940 turbo and it did a big end at 250k not too bad, also that engine family has been around for decades so may be the simplest of the 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Volvo engines are great. Long lasting and go really well, easy to work on and reliable. I had a B230E which was slightly more powerful than the F. I can only speak of my experiences of that engine in a 240 I once had and kinda wished I'd never sold, but the F was a lower compression derivative of it so would probably last even longer. I have no idea of the complexity of a conversion. The 230FT was the turbo version at 165bhp. (The B230ET had even more HP) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I have good memories of the Volvo lumps as well, and I think they would be the cheapest to source. But if the adapter has to be made then that is a big factor against........... Not everyone wants an oil burner though, you might start a trend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 So the Volvo engine is definitely a good one quality wise and power wise. Only the adapter might be a small issue. Any opinions on the Mercedes one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Frimodt Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 are you planning to mate it to a series box? Cus if so there does exist an adaptor to the old Volvo b20 from the Amazon etc. Plenty of people put those in back in the day up here. If it fits the newer engines is of course beyond my knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Useful tip Soren, luckily the B20 and B23 share the same bell housing so if I can find the adapter. Do you know where to source such a part? I am planning connecting it to a LT77 but should be the same result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Raiding the LR parts bin: 2.0 MPi from a Disco or 1.8 K Series Petrol from a freelander/rover/MG/lotus, there's twincam turbo T-series too. M47 (Freelander TD4, rover CRDi, BMW whatever) is a cracking little lump with VNT in TD4 form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 They used the m102 in a lot of vehicles , including in the G wagon , and there are a whole load of specs to choose from including power outputs . If there is a ready made adapter thats the route I would take , JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Just stumbled across a Mercedes engine nearby. It is not the 102 but the later M111. 150HP and 220nm at a bargain price that is delivers more HP per EURO than any LR engine I've ever bought;) . Now I can start with the conversion as I have also sourced the conversion plate. Thank you all for looking and thinking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Is it the version that was used in the Ssangyoung musso ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Let's hope not, they are awful lumps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 It is actually from a 220E. But seems to be the same engine basis. What was wrong with the SsangYoung musso ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 They weren't actually Merc diesels, more Merc sold them the build rights, so weren't built in Germany, and had injection pumps that were made of things softer than cheese, that then filled up the injectors with swarf, killing them at the same time. Repair bill would be over £2K. Then they just stopped running at all. Same with the Kia and other Korean cars that used a 'Merc' diesel. Good luck with the conversion though, should go really well with that on tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 Lucky that I am going for a petrol then, no injection pumps to go wrong They weren't actually Merc diesels, more Merc sold them the build rights, so weren't built in Germany, and had injection pumps that were made of things softer than cheese, that then filled up the injectors with swarf, killing them at the same time. Repair bill would be over £2K. Then they just stopped running at all. Same with the Kia and other Korean cars that used a 'Merc' diesel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Lucky that I am going for a petrol then, no injection pumps to go wrong What year is your series? And what are your restrictions on an engine swap if it is tax free(as your handle implies a 11a circa late 60s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carloz Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 If your car is before 1998 (and it is) you can stick about any engine under the hood. Only thing is that you need to go to the RDW for checking workmansship and CO to make it legal. 55euro's and you are done. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carloz Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 @ Nigelw: There are practicaly no ristrictions :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 @ Nigelw: There are practicaly no ristrictions :-)now we're talking, wonder what I might be able to squeeze under the bonnet of the Disco??Petrol power lowers my road tax!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeriousIIa Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 Carloz is right, as long as it is before 1998 it is almost without restrictions although I think if you would put an LS engine in a a 2CV that would raise some questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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