Disco 1 Engine Conversion.

[bl1300]

I have come to the conclusion that the best way to procede with my auto Land Rover Discovery is either an engine rebuild or engine swap. Now if I go down the latter route I'm thinking I might as well put something different under the bonnet as the stock 300tdi is a little lethargic when hooked up to an autobox at the best of times. Now I have the offer of a 2.5td out of a vauxhall omega which as far as I know is the same engine as used in the P38 Range Rover and as such should work reasonably well with the existing autobox. 6 cyl smoothness and a little extra power but to be honest I'm in two minds at the moment as the power gains would be relatively small for the work involved. I then thought perhaps using the same engine in 3l flavour for more oomph but have heard a few horror stories about those.

So what engine options have I got to play with.

Its got to be Diesel for economy
Better torque and power figures than the 300tdi. 122bhp and 210lb/ft of torque in EDC form
Work with the discos autobox
Fit in the engine bay without having to do modifications that would warrant an IVA.


What suggestions have you got. I sort of like the idea of trying to put a 2.7 TDV6 under the bonnet but something tells me that wont be easy.

[carat 3.6]

The merc 2.9 turbo diesel out of the old sprinter fits in a disco...

[dodgerover]

The big GM v8 diesel fits and goes very well with an auto box

[rwdrules]

although the m51 in the omega is the same basic engine in the p38,it has a way different map in the ecu to give it much more low downstomp, so you could use the omega engine as ususally they are very cheap but would need rr maps and intercooler setup,they can easily be chipped to around 200bhp if you want?

[colnerov]

Apr 30, 2014 14:22:27 GMT dodgerover said:

The big GM v8 diesel fits and goes very well with an auto box

Hi, yes I had a 6.2 GMC in my Range Rover and as you say excellent tow vehicle. Same 165 bhp as the RV8 and 300 ft/lb torque compared to 200 ft/lb for the RV8. Torque is what you need for towing.

Colin

[welshpug]

M51D25 isn't commonrail.

[barrytrotter]

Diahatsu four track engines has been done a few times I think.try a website called landyzone but be careful what u say on there,there not very good with new comers that don't introduce there self porpely.theres also a lot of big headed w@nkers on there lol

[bl1300]

May 1, 2014 17:32:15 GMT barrytrotter said:

Diahatsu four track engines has been done a few times I think.try a website called landyzone but be careful what u say on there,there not very good with new comers that don't introduce there self porpely.theres also a lot of big headed w@nkers on there lol

I'm already on there been their a fair while now and seem to have managed to be accepted by the regulars. In fact I'm off to the 10th anniversary bash a week tomorrow

Looks like I might be pushing on with this a little quicker than originally intended as the other disco which I'm using as a daily drive has just started losing water and running hot under load. No signs of water loss on the rad or the block so I suspect it might be a failing a HG Might try a bottle of K seal and see if that sorts her out.

[Smiler]

I had the BMW straight six diesel in my old BMW E34 525 TDS. I purchased a pair of remapping chips from 'The End' tuning for the princely sum of £75. Wow, what a difference! BMW de-tuned these engines as standard and boy did it show! I don't know how it would compare to a Disco but the 525 was hardly a small light car itself.

[welshpug]

I've got exactly that myself.

[vaughant]

The merc 2.7 5 cyl engines are superb engines but the Cdi gubbins that goes with them is not the most robust. Do shift the truck along really well though with the vnt turbo on them.
Would it not be sensible just to tune the 300 tdi motor?

[carat 3.6]

May 2, 2014 0:06:44 GMT vaughant said:

The merc 2.7 5 cyl engines are superb engines but the Cdi gubbins that goes with them is not the most robust. Do shift the truck along really well though with the vnt turbo on them.
Would it not be sensible just to tune the 300 tdi motor?

Use the 2.9, that has a normal injection pump. Can be chipped to 170hp too.

[vaughant]

Ahh never knew that, wish they'd fitted it into my ml, another injector copper o ring has failed!!!

[madwelshman]

Peronally, I'd stick with the 300 Tdi. A reliable engine, (usually) easy to maintain, easy to tune as well.
111 bhp in Discovery spec, small adjustment on the wastegate and another to the fuel pump diaphragm and spring and if the engine's in decent nick around 135bhp plus bags more torque. Then you could fit a more efficient intercooler, single box exhaust and de-cat (if one fitted). I did all of that apart from the intercooler swap and used to tow my 16' transporter trailer with discovery based off roader with no problems at all, even on the really steep hills.

[chairchild]

I need to get myself a 300TDi to see what tuning parts I can make for them...

Rover L series: 2L TD. Early ones have a plain mechanical pump (with ECU controlled timing advance - minimal wires)
Slightly newer ones have a servo controlled pump... not worth the effort
Newest have EDC pumps (VP30) and with a basic remap, and some injectors from an early model - make 150Bhp

Shove on a GT1752, and you can hit 180Bhp



Utterly bulletproof lumps - only Achilles heel being missed cambelt services, and old fanbelts shredding (which then kill the cambelt). Whole donor cars can be picked up for £200-£300. Here's a page where one's been converted to fit upto an LT77:

www.pimpmysherpa.co.uk/




EDIT: Here's a dyno graph of one at 180Bhp (using one of my hybrid turbos). Very smooth power delivery, and not peaky like you may expect when you've doubled the standard power