Stupid question about engine swaps...

[mikeRG]

Currently I have my tough old 3.5 with low kms but I'm starting to look into upgrade options for the future.

I hear of stroking my current engine, engine swaps etc etc.

Whats the best route? What engine can just be dropped in with the least effort? 4.0, 4.6? Am I better off working with what I have? Should I build up some hybrid?

[bee utey]

A properly built 4.6 short motor using flanged liners, high comp pistons and a decent torque cam would be my first choice. It just bolts in using all your accessories and doesn't look any different to a stockie.

[libertyts]

8 litre Chevy V8, twin superchargers! No? Sorry couldn't help myself, wouldn't that be awesome though?!? You wouldn't be able to stop it, except maybe the fact the noise would probably be dragging along the ground!

I don't really have too much info on what will fit, I run a 300 TDI, so not heaps helpful. Although what I will say, it may help if you can give us a bit more info to work on.

Things that might help:

- Spending limits (please don't say money is no object because its never true) even if it's a really rough estimate while you scope out the options
- How is the rest of the car (body, driveline, etc.)
- What is the car likely to be used for most of the time
- What would you like it to be capable of, every now and then
- Completely legal or slightly shady job :p (had to be asked)
- What other mods are you likely to be doing other than the noise maker
- Doing it yourself? If so, what are your skills like? (Read that as, how many beers are you likely to owe people :p)
- How far away is "the future" (I ask that more out of interest really)

There are probably plenty more questions that will be asked, but I think that might be a good start. Hope it helps.

Chris

[mikeRG]

The cars a 1991 2 door and it's absolutely mint... or it was before I started taking it bush. I just rolled it over 180,000kms and I'm just enjoying it so much so plan to keep it for a long long time. Drive line and diffs are all immac but I'm doing some big trips of recent so I'm sure it will slowly need things done.

I'm definitely sticking with Rover bits!

So a 4.6 short motor... so basically the same thing just new block and high comp pistons. Does my computer get confused?

So would you start buy buying a P38 4.6 and working from that? What about intake etc? Is it just my current bits from the block up?

[justinc]

4.6 hi compression short will be just fine and dandy. you will have no need to rev it past 3000rpm so a remapped ecu isn't 100% necessary. i would however try and obtain a set of engine pipes (from the manifolds to the front muffler,) from a 1992 onward 3.9 range rover classic. they are significantly bigger bore. The D1 V8 shares the same crossmember etc as the RRC of that model year so it literally bolts straight up.

jc

[mikeRG]

Definitely sounds the way to go. Just need to know where to start!

[superquag]

Definitely sounds the way to go. Just need to know where to start!

.... Such as how much would you need to pay for a 4.6 short.... and where from. - Local or British? - Overall co$t$ in bringing one out etc etc.
- I presume the 3.9 heads would bolt straight on, along with the manifolds.

- What fuel would it need to run on? - 91 RON does a low-comp 3.9, - would it need 95 or higher???

- Adding Oxygen sensors more worthwhile on a hi-comp 4.6 ?

[justinc]

British import stuff is fine as long as you don't worry about warranty. There simply won't be any assistance forthcoming in most cases. buying a local product would be more expensive most likely, but you will have warranty backup.

The other way to do it is to import the stepped liners, pistons, seals, bearings etc etc and use a donor local 4 litre or 4.6 block and rebuild it using these components. This enables good priced quality components but machined and assembled here.

Fuel I would use 95RON with a hi comp engine in a distributor application with no knock sensing. You will find the torque increase from a low compression 3.5 amazing. Try to use a standard EFI spec camshaft, or a designated rover application high lift torque cam. Personally I'd use a standard EFI profile. Excellent vacuum and perfectly suited to stock heads and manifolding. Try to steer clear of headers, nothing wrong with your current cast manifolds, a bit of port matching however will help a lot.

Enjoy, you will be glad you did it :)

JC