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chrispy

Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: Gwent
Posts: 347

1987 Defender 90 300 Tdi CSW Keswick Green

V8 Upgrade from Tdi Question

I've been refurbing my wife's 87 90 since last February and we decided at the beginning we were going to go the whole hog and do an engine swap from the 300 Tdi currently in it to a nice 3.9ltr V8. We've owned many V8's in the past primarily American muscle cars and both the love the sound and power from a V8 so to get one in the 90 would be the best of both worlds.

My question is what is needed altogether? Obviously upgraded braking system (which I learned the hard way when a friend and I changed the engine in my old 998 Mini years ago for a 1275GT lump and found it very difficult to stop on a roundabout lol). What else will it entail though? This will be a garage upgrade as much to my dads chagrin I am not mechanically minded like my two brothers. I realise it won't be a cheap job but to get the 90 we both want I don't mind paying for it and really miss the sound and feel of a V8. We use the 90 for green laning on weekends and it's a godsend up here in the bad weather/snow etc so with the engine swap would we still have use of the diff lock etc. Selling it and buying one with a V8 already installed is not an option as my wife loves it and would never part with it. Apologies for my lack of knowledge here but if I don't ask I won't find out

15th Dec 2015 2:38am

mikeh501

Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

A journey of discovery, rather than a quick question lol.

At a minimum.
- v8 has different engine mounts than tdi, so they will need to be changed. Unsure if you can get converters or if you will need to grind the old ones off and put new ones on. I've no idea about dimensionally where they go, but you will want to retain your gearbox as it is now otherwise it will be different mounts for that too and likely props.
- the r380 gearbox is compatible but will need a new input shaft and different bell housing.
- obviously the clutch is all different and slave cylinder
- wheres the v8 coming from? is it carb, or will you need to wire up an ECU etc etc?
- you need a v8 radiator. no need for the intercooler etc.
- you will need to sort out an airbox arrangement. the tdi one should be ok but may be a bit small. the proper v8 one is like a dustbin and sits in a different place.
- obviously you will need a new exhaust.
- depending on the fueling you will need an in tank fuel pump.

Just off the top of my head. theres probably more. Im doing exactly the same conversion at the moment from 200tdi to v8 but on a new v8 chassis. So i've not come across everything yet!

15th Dec 2015 11:03am

ibexman

Member Since: 13 Dec 2008
Location: Essex
Posts: 2902

And probably a 4 pin diff

15th Dec 2015 12:01pm

chrispy

Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: Gwent
Posts: 347

Most insightful, many many thanks.

15th Dec 2015 2:12pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2571

Standard 90 brakes should be more than adequate.

Perhaps a set of post-1991 rationalized brakes with discs all round would be good. Vented would go on the front easily too but that won't improve braking ability - just help reduce fade if you're on them a lot.

16th Dec 2015 2:59pm

Pickles

Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3755

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green

I'm a V8 man myself,...love 'em, owned heaps of 'em,.....but never had one in a Defender,.....but of course I'd love one,.....but a 3.9 would not do it for me.
If you're going to go to the trouble, wouldn't a 4.6 give you more "enjoyment", or if you REALLY want to enjoy a PROPER V8, then ya can't go past an LS3?!!
"There's no substitute for cubic inches", or as they say now, "there's no replacement for displacement".
Pickles.

16th Dec 2015 10:11pm

charcoal

Member Since: 28 Jul 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 942

I am doing the same conversion with my Defender 110 and I chose a 3.5 v8 on carburettors to feel more "original" (and I couldn't insure any bigger ones). 1999 Land Rover Defender 110 td5 station wagon
1998 Land Rover Defender 110 County Station Wagon ~ Sold
1995 Land Rover Defender 110 V8 Station Wagon ~ Sold

1985 Land Rover 110 ex mod project Tithonus ~ Sold

16th Dec 2015 11:37pm

roel

Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Been there done that a long time ago.

Click image to enlarge

Changing a chassis on a 1984 90 is nothing special, doing that in 1995 is a bit early. But this 90 was used to pull a fish sale trailer over the dutch North Sea beach so there was a lot less steel left then I expected when I bought it.

Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)

17th Dec 2015 10:25am

chrispy

Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: Gwent
Posts: 347

Thanks guys. My mechanic was trying to sell me on a bloody Viper engine the other day, he knew of a brilliant engine and box available for just shy of £3k with extremely low mileage but I had to turn him down. I think that would be a bit ridiculous in our 90. A good friend of mine who rebuilds engines and owns a machine shop has told me to steer clear of any Rover engine above a 3.9 in our Defender. He did explain why but it went over my head and i've known the guy for years and trust his judgement. Not trying to upset anyone here and I value your opinions greatly but this guy has rebuilt two small block chevy's for me over the years and both have performed beyond expectation. The wife and I are happy with a 3.9, it will be a vast improvement over the 300Tdi in there now and give us the oomph and sound we desire without jumping into hyperspace alongside the Millennium Falcon.

Thank you all so much for your opinions and help, it's really appreciated.

17th Dec 2015 1:06pm

jimbob7

Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

LR supplied HD front brake calipers,a regular on here had a set for sale,pretty certain your conversion would need a stronger back axle,so rear disc conversion is (kinda) irrelevant.If it's gonna be an engine upgrade, then yeah,Logbook/Payday Loans for the Viper engine

.......Who needs them 2 front seats anyways! Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.

17th Dec 2015 1:30pm

chrispy

Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: Gwent
Posts: 347

I'd rather put the £3k to use elsewhere on it than drop a Viper in there. It's already had both axles changed over to TD5 ones, won't they be sufficient?

17th Dec 2015 1:43pm

shaggydog

Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue

If you have to have a V8 then I would stick to Land Rover as you can do a complete conversion back to how they used to come out the factory in the 80's. Lots of bits available and most of them can be robbed off a rotten v8 disco.

A viper engine in a defender would be fine if you were doing rallying but I think for most pottering around it would just be too much power and you would end up destroying bits like axles, propshafts, tyres and racking up points on your license.

If it was me however I would stick with the 300Tdi as they are bullet proof and much cheaper to run

Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter

17th Dec 2015 1:50pm

chrispy

Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: Gwent
Posts: 347

Thanks Shaggy. I'd like to stick with the 300Tdi but it sounds like a bloody tractor (much louder than a V8 lol) and has no guts whatsoever. It has a 0 - 60 of eventually if going downhill with the rear load area laden with heavy items. I'd love to give it more oomph but what can be done to a 300 Tdi to rectify it's sluggishness and tractor-like noise?

Last edited by chrispy on 18th Dec 2015 8:14pm. Edited 1 time in total

17th Dec 2015 9:14pm

Pickles

Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3755

chrispy wrote:
Thanks guys. My mechanic was trying to sell me on a bloody Viper engine the other day, he knew of a brilliant engine and box available for just shy of £3k with extremely low mileage but I had to turn him down. I think that would be a bit ridiculous in our 90. A good friend of mine who rebuilds engines and owns a machine shop has told me to steer clear of any Rover engine above a 3.9 in our Defender. He did explain why but it went over my head and i've known the guy for years and trust his judgement. Not trying to upset anyone here and I value your opinions greatly but this guy has rebuilt two small block chevy's for me over the years and both have performed beyond expectation. The wife and I are happy with a 3.9, it will be a vast improvement over the 300Tdi in there now and give us the oomph and sound we desire without jumping into hyperspace alongside the Millennium Falcon.

Thank you all so much for your opinions and help, it's really appreciated.

No worries, I know where your coming from, particularly with "sound",....so make sure you run a nice set of pipes, so that you can hear that V8 when it's working,.....that sound is music to my ears!
IMHO, any conversion to V8 is good, and I hope you'll post up pics & progress of your build.
Pickles.

17th Dec 2015 9:50pm

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