Range rover classic engine and gearbox combos

[geoffc]

Hi there people
I have decided I am going to purchase a new to me motor, a range rover classic.
Fat enough you say but!
For me it has to be a v8 and a manual shift

I know I know but that's my preference

As manual v8 rangies are few and far between I've thought about creating my ideal motor, either by

1. Buy v8 auto and convert to manual
2. Buy a diesel manual and convert to v8

Now to me the diesel manual convert to petrol v8 makes most sense to me as it will have all the hard to source bits like clutch pedal and interior trim, but what difference would there be in the gearbox? Is the diesel box different to the v8 manual box ratio wise.
Will it fit to the v8?

And thoughts appreciated

[comfortablynumb]

Bellhousing and input shaft are different from the diesel, so it’s not just a case of bolting on another housing
V8 manual boxes do come up, but finding a goodun can be a bit testing
We’ve done it the other way round, V8 auto to diesel manual, it’s pretty straightforward since rangies are mostly bolt together.
Big 4x4 autojumble s are run by Mark Woodward events several times a year in locations around the country so that’s where we go for parts
Got a manual v8 4 speed box here if you don’t mind the earlier box, but I don’t know how good it is

[geoffc]

curse word lol, just my luck.
So in essence it would entail finding a engine and gearbox combo and swapping them complete. Again a hard ask lol

[comfortablynumb]

Not actually that difficult once you’ve got the parts, main problem is that rrc bits are on the up quite considerably currently
If you’ve got bottomless pockets you can even buy it all new!
Or buy a two door, the early ones were all v8 manual!

[geoffc]

Bit like all things landrover really, makes me cry to think what I paid and sold stuff for years ago,
Would disco 2 v8 engines and boxes work? I assume the electric side would be more complicated, but aside from that would the physical fitment be a problem?

[comfortablynumb]

Can’t see why not, I’m currently fitting a td5 engine and box into a rrc, had to modify mounts for the engine but everything else bolts straight in, (sort of!) and the original lt230 transfer box bolts straight onto the back of the disco 2 r380
As you say, wiring will be the biggest headache, but you could always carb it and run a stand-alone ecu?
The real problem will be finding a rrc not rotten as a pear!

[kevins]

Have you tried the ZF 4 speed auto fitted to later ones, I love the one in mine, it realy suits the rrc. Discovery 1 is basically a RRC with a bit added on the back parts from one swap accross easily enough.

[geoffc]

Problem solved
Found a decent enough 1990 range rover classic v8 manual, good chassis, all usual rot points on the body have been done, runs well enough did a genuine 21.0 mpg on the way home and didn't miss a beat. Mpg thought I worked it out wrong but nope
Just a few cosmetic niggles to sort

[geoffc]

[comfortablynumb]

Result! Much easier than building one, well done 👍