300Tdi 130 Conversion to 3.9 V8?

[94defenda]

Hi All,

I have a 94' 300Tdi Defender 130 which I am thinking on converting to the 3.9 V8. My 300 dieseled due to excessive blow-by and overheated in a bad way. I have a recently rebuilt 3.9 in the shed and I can buy an older rangie with the 3.5 and decent auto in it for $400. I am considering taking the auto, transfer and mounts etc. out of the rangie and pairing it with the 3.9. The 3.9 was fuel injected but has had the injection removed and twin carbs installed. I live in QLD and was wondering what sort of dramas I would have with the department of transport and other
conversion problems I might run into. Any help would be muchly appreciated.

Cheers,

Skip

[pibby]

skip - there's a couple of 300 tdi's for sale in the markets. would end up cheaper and lot less stuffing around. then again, we all like to suffer in our own ways. :)

if you are wanting to go auto, then that's a different matter.

brett.

[VladTepes]

That's gonna suck some juice !

[94defenda]

Thanks pibby but I sort of have my heart set on putting in something with a little more grunt then the 300. I have Great Basin Rover's 4.11 diff gears and 35's on it already and the 300 was a little underpowered. I will only be using it for weekend trips and playing around so im not too worried about fuel consumption.

[muddy]

Check rego prices from under $700 4 cylinder to approx $1000 8cylinder and even more if it is a 9 seater mini bus

[94defenda]

Thanks muddy, I know rego is definatley an added cost.. I already own a V8 SS, maybe why im such a sucker for V8s. I looking for something with a bit more grunt and was thinking a conversion to a motor that was used the defenders would have to be more achievable than 308 or something..

[VladTepes]

Except that the Defender was never available in Australia with a V8 (that was discontinued with the County model). Not sure but I THINK that precludes it from being ADR approved for that vehicle ? I'm not clear on that though.

IF that's the case then you may be just as likely to be allowed do an LS1 as a Rover V8. The Ls1 would have more power of course, the Rover V8 probably be a much easier conversion though.


Hmm, reading back over that I guess my answer is "I don't know"

[the_preacher1973]

Except that the Defender was never available in Australia with a V8 (that was discontinued with the County model). Not sure but I THINK that precludes it from being ADR approved for that vehicle ? I'm not clear on that though.



The engine will have to comply with whatever the rules were when the chassis it's being fitted to was first registered.

So long as the V8 being fitted was made after that date and still has the same emissions controls fitted you will be fine but will still need engineering approval.
As a rough rule of thumb if your chassis is post '89 you'll need a modern fuel injected motor.

I would be very surprised if you'll get away with fitting a carburetted engine into a '94 chassis.

[94defenda]

Thanks guys. That gives me a starting point at least. I was not aware that the 3.5L Defender was not available in Australia. Wikipedia states the Defender was available with a twin SU 3.5L until 94'. I'm not sure of the build date of the engine I have. If the engine was built pre 94' but was still used in Range Rovers (with EFI of course) until 95' would I still be able to use the engine if I refitted the EFI?

Cheers,

Skip

[clive22]

Hi

I've run a V8 (4.2L carbed LSE rangie motor) county for years. Provided you can get the rego sorted I'd do it.Really the rest is just the same

For days trips they are a good motor with a smooth load of idle power and have a great sound. This works very well over trickier stuff, especially compared with a turbo and their lag.

They would have to make twice the power compared to a 300TDi when running right. They will drink the juice, but if your only doing day trips is it that bigger deal. I roughly go through a full tank each day - maybe a bit less.

Clive

[94defenda]

Cheers Clive. I think as long as I can get the rego sorted I will go ahead with it. A bit less than a tank a day really wouldn't bother me at all with the added power I would be gaining. I did find my 300 to be a little laggy down low, especially with the 35's.

Thanks everyone,

Skip

[djam1]

I wouldn't live in the illusion that you are going to have all that extra power.
Rover V8s aren't know for their power converting petrol into noise yes.
I have a V8 Land Rover and love driving it even if I use a bit less than a tank a day it will still cost me $100 per day.
My TD5 outperforms the V8 and doesn't use anywhere near as much fuel.

[87County]

I'm thinking that you will be surprised by the lack of power increase if you go with the V8.

See if you can drive discos with both engines and see for yourself if there is any apparent increase in power with the V8. As I wrote above, I think you'll be surprised.

[94defenda]

Thanks guys. There seems to be mixed opinions with the 3.9's. The mate that gave the motor to me had spent quite a bit of money getting it rebuild but pulled it out after the county he had it in gave him too much trouble. He also said it was no power house but it has quite small extractors on in and twin SU's. I'm thinking I would have to put EFI back on it to get it regod and was hoping this would have to improve then power. I think my 300 was pretty tired in the end so it may be hard to compare..

[Wallaby Ted]

I have an 85 County with a bored and stroked 3.5l in it (roughly about 4.3l), I have also put the range rover intermediary gearing in the transfer box (lt95), extractors and 2.5 inch exhaust with 1 muffler with a hotdog on the end to keep it quiet, original carbs (re-jetted for the larger motor) and an after market electronic ignition which replace the points (got sick of changing them every 5k km or so), and standard size tyres.

It goes like a rocket, and on the highway I have got usage down to 14l/100km.

I do day trips in it, and usually go through 1/2-2/3 tank for a day of off-roading.

Don't know how the 3.9 compares to what I've got in the county, but every one who sees it offroad likes it, especially the noise it make.


Richard

[MacMan]

As someone who fully rebuilt a 3.9 V8 with flanged liners, high compression pistons, new cam, lifters - the works - I wish I had put my money into a diesel. Yes, it's nice to drive. Makes good power, lots more torque. But it's dual fuel and even though it's running on LPG 99% of the time I wince every time I fill it. Very happy with the build, but $4,500 could have gone a long way towards a healthy 300TDI with a long life.

[94defenda]

Thanks Richard and MacMan. I have been doing a bit of research into the Isuzu 4BD1T 3.9L turbo diesel and am starting to think sticking with a diesel might be an easier option. With all the dramas of putting EFI back onto the carby fed motor, ADR regulations and an excessive fuel bill for a 'questionable' increase in power, im not really sure the petrol V8 would be worth the time and money spent. Thank you to everyone who has posted for their advice.

Cheers,

Skip