Thread: Cooked my beloved Defender 130

Originally Posted by Tote

*i dont really see a 3.2 as a good alternative, its still prone to eating injectors etc.

What about a 4.4 ?

Been thinking about what happens if /when my Puma dies. I can't find another vehicle short of a RAM 2500 that can tow 3.5 tonne with another tonne on the tray. And a Ram 2500 won't do the off-road stuff that a Defender can.

Regards,
Tote

IMHO. i dont see a Defender as an awesome tow vehicle, I put it on par with a 76 series cruiser. To me potato partarto.
putting a V8 in the worst handling, worst aerodynamic, worst braking, worst safety to me makes no sense at all.

throw another 2.2 into it and be done with it

Hi Nova,

sadly I did this very same thing to my 2012 puma four years ago. I feel your pain mate! In my case a plug blew out of the water pump, venting my water. Quite coincidentally I was driving through a major bushfire, so didn’t smell the engine until too late. Of, course temp guage only measures coolant temp.

End of story I went to a complete engine replacement, using the 2.2 Transit motor. And had a CHT gauge fitted which I watch like a hawk now. Worked a dream.

Heres the painful part. From memory the engine replacement and engine combined (I left the task to my excellent mechanic) came in at about $16000. But well worth it mate, especially if you had nursed the engine and love your 130.

Good luck

Alan

M57 with ZF6HP26 .

Originally Posted by loanrangie

M57 with ZF6HP26 .

RRT has already done most of the prep, although he went 8 Speed.

Think I'd include a brake upgrade...

I went through all the decision process last year and replaced my 2.4 with another 2.4. Transit Automotive did the replacement, $15k drive in / drive out, crate motor, injectors, turbo, sundries. None of the mobs putting bigger motors in Defenders have the R&D capability of a car manufacturer. I'm also with Dazza on the ridiculousness of putting big horsepower V8s etc into these vehicles. If that's what you want, better to get another vehicle that is made to go fast, handle and stop.

Another vote for M57.

Hoping to have more finished on the next 4-6 weeks.