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siwady



Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 22

United Arab Emirates 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Sumatra Black
Defender 1997 3.5 V8 Power Increase
Hello there,

I just bought a 1997 Defender 110 with a 3.5L V8 engine.

The car has a lot of torque but the maximum highway speed it's giving me is 105Km/h.

Any tips on how to give it more power to reach around 140Km/h without an engine swap?

The engine has been recently rebuilt and all the mechanical aspects of the car has been properly restored.

I read somewhere that replacing the camshaft with one from a 3.9L V8 engine could do the trick, any idea if this is enough to get what I want? (of course budget is an issue as I am currently broke Shocked )

I am also looking for ideas on how to somewhat reduce fuel consumption is it is giving me around 3km/L which i think is really bad.



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Post #531681 15th May 2016 11:25am
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Riccarton



Member Since: 10 Aug 2015
Location: Gods' Own Country
Posts: 280

Scotland 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Zambezi Silver
Might it be possible that the lack of performance and the very poor economy are linked? You don't say whether it's the EFI or carb' engine - I'd strongly suspect a fueling issue (have you checked the plug leads are on in the correct order?).
Post #531693 15th May 2016 12:01pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Is it actually a power issue or is it reaching the top of the gearing? If you're going flat out in top gear then the way to sort that out is to change the gears in the transfer box to a higher ratio set.

Roof rack won't help fuel economy, but that works out at something like 21-22MPG which I'd think is about right for a V8?
Post #531718 15th May 2016 2:42pm
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The Hulk



Member Since: 13 Apr 2016
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 81

Scotland 1997 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
3km/L is is about 9mpg. Shocked Defenders aren't fast but you should get more than 65mph from a V8; I'd say 140km/h should easily be achievable.

Something's not right there. Sounds like the engine needs a proper tune-up? Mid Life; Live It!

Ongoing thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic45697.html
110 300Tdi Utility (Hulk)
90 300Tdi SW (GF's Tank)
Post #531730 15th May 2016 3:23pm
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siwady



Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 22

United Arab Emirates 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Sumatra Black
Riccarton wrote:
Might it be possible that the lack of performance and the very poor economy are linked? You don't say whether it's the EFI or carb' engine - I'd strongly suspect a fueling issue (have you checked the plug leads are on in the correct order?).


It's a carb engine.

Didn't check anything yet ... I am sending it to my mechanic after tomorrow.

I'm a newbie when it comes to mechanical issues. Rolling Eyes
Post #531747 15th May 2016 4:24pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2563

Scotland 
No idea regarding your issue but...

Any more pictures? It's gorgeous! Cool
Post #531756 15th May 2016 4:57pm
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siwady



Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 22

United Arab Emirates 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Sumatra Black
The Hulk wrote:
3km/L is is about 9mpg. Shocked Defenders aren't fast but you should get more than 65mph from a V8; I'd say 140km/h should easily be achievable.

Something's not right there. Sounds like the engine needs a proper tune-up?


Yeah that's what I thought so too. something is definitely not right with the car
Post #531760 15th May 2016 5:07pm
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siwady



Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 22

United Arab Emirates 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Sumatra Black

Click image to enlarge

Retroanaconda wrote:
No idea regarding your issue but...

Any more pictures? It's gorgeous! Cool


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Post #531761 15th May 2016 5:07pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
ooooh, it's one of the ones with in-dash AC and no bulkhead vents.

Not sure what was up with my maths last night :/ but yes that's not right.
Post #532131 16th May 2016 7:56pm
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siwady



Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 22

United Arab Emirates 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Sumatra Black
Which brings me to my question ... Where the hell do I find spare parts for the dash (vents, dials etc..), cant find anything online for such a dashboard.
Post #532134 16th May 2016 8:00pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Rolling with laughter Laughing

Good luck! Some parts are like rocking horse poo but others are available from the usual suspects.

Things like this: http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/land-rove...r-con.html

Towards the end of this document are some potentially useful pictures and part numbers.

http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/par...80-666.pdf
Post #532142 16th May 2016 8:20pm
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roel



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

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
I build me own 90 V8.
http://mudmachine.webklik.nl/page/land-rover-90-

I use a RR carb V8 approx 135 hp so a little more then normally in a Land Rover V8. I never really checked the top speed but it would cruise easily between 120 - 130 km/hr.
Depending on my driving style and the amount I drove off-road I got between 4 till 6 km/ltr.
After I converted it to lpg I got around 5 km/ltr or a tank full in an afternoon if I was playing in the sand. Mr. Green 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)
Post #532309 17th May 2016 12:01pm
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5028

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
All the defender v8s were down on power...its been 9yrs since I had one, but upgrade the carbs, at the same time on my v8 we upgraded the airfilter, the spark plugs coil and various other bits, got the timing nice too. Mine had a Santana box so it was bomb proof but not the sportiest.

It would easily do over 70 though Mike
Post #532392 17th May 2016 4:45pm
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lohr500



Member Since: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Skipton
Posts: 1293

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
If you end up with the carbs removed have a look into the inlet manifold at each side. I don't know if the later V8s were like this, but the early Stage 1 V8s actually had a restrictor in the manifold each side to reduce the power !!
If I remember correctly they were easy to remove with a slide hammer and then a change to the carb jetting to up the power.
Post #532441 17th May 2016 7:27pm
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charcoal



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

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 110 Td5 HT Bonatti Grey
I really like those in dash air conditioning units, way more that the modern foot well ones Thumbs Up

siwady wrote:
Which brings me to my question ... Where the hell do I find spare parts for the dash (vents, dials etc..), cant find anything online for such a dashboard.


These diagrams should do the trick, both include part numbers and prices (from UK shops though):
https://www.landroverworkshop.com/diagrams...mbly_52943
https://www.landroverworkshop.com/diagrams...mbly_52944

For the dials, try these:
https://www.landroverworkshop.com/diagrams...ents_52863

Very useful website that I use to find any parts I may need! 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 Sad
1985 Land Rover 110 ex mod project Tithonus ~ Sold Sad
Post #532546 17th May 2016 11:34pm
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