Upgrade Range Rover Engine - 2 door Classic

[Baker]

Hi Guys,

I'm New to the forums! Hi!

I own a 2 door range rover, owned it since I was 16! It was my daily driver, it has dual fuel, and the 3.5 carby engine and 4 speed manual. Runs dual fuel too. (on LPG its running a little rough, think the carbies need a look at..)

It barely gets driven these days, but still goes really well. Having to drive it around recently as my daily was out of action, I now remember... this thing is so slow... I hate feeling like a need to thrash it just to keep up with traffic... It bugs me!

Anyhow, was researching and the p38 4.6 engine seems to be a nice easy change over (not by me..)

Some tips would be great.
Who in Melbourne would you recommend to carry out the job?
Anyone recently done this?
Probably keep the stromberg carbs, can I keep the lpg?
What realistic cost? Go for 2nd hand or rebuilt? Rebuilt would cost much more, but less risky...

Should I consider any brake upgrade after this?

I'll upload some pics...

[Baker]

attached below... this was back in 2002.. haven't got a recent pic... nothing has changed much, removed the super heavy roof rack. Paint work needs a little work.. need to redo the headlining now. I would LOVE to reupholster the seats

[justinc]

None of these modifications are possible you will have to sell the vehicle to me...

Seriously i would leave the 3.5 in there. The vehicle is worth more as original. A good rebuild with hi compression pistons a decent camshaft and proper carby tuning, lose some of the weight and it will transform the vehicle. Ditch the gas too.

Jc

[Baker]

this engine was rebuilt 12 years back, but car has probably only done less than 30,000k's since then... nothing wrong with the engine... the right thing to do is to leave it... but I don't plan on selling it, so I can leave the original engine in storage.... I would love to be able to curise around effortlessly...

what is approx cost of cam and for someone to install? Will I notice much difference?

[justinc]

A well running 3.5 is a better engine. Except for the lack of cubes they are superior.

The easiest way to tackle this is to buy a 4.6 high compression long engine and all your ancilliaries will bolt onto it. IIRC you will need to grind away a little edge of the block casting where the oil pump housing on the timing cover interferes with it or something similar but it was a long time ago that i did it so my memory is hazy.

Yes you can use your flywheel and clutch etc and enjoy all the extra torque... 😎

Jc

[loanrangie]

I had an 85 rangie that previous owner rebuilt the hicomp 3.5 , it was a ripper even with the TF727 behind it.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

[superquag]

The old 3.5 Classic I used to tow a sweeper with, had been re-built and 'cammed' for towing up to 80 km/h, and was respectably quick across the traffic lights and beyond, - died after 90km/h

With the plant unhitched, it just... fleeewww:twisted::twisted::twisted:

Seriously, I'd suggest getting the most out of the (relatively robust) 3.5 block, convert to high compression... then decide if you need more 'cubes'.

The Lady Sarah, 1995 Classic 3.9 Vogue SE with working air suspension...:D

[theMISSIONARY]

get rid of the gas get it tuned,if it is still low on power to what you want look at the 4.6 ;)

[PhilipA]

Really have you thought of what extra torque will do to 40 year old drivetrain parts?

The poor old transfer case will probably die first and the whole LT95 will then need a rebuild which is expensive.

My tip would be to get a wrecker discovery 3.9 V8 5 speed manual and use the engine and transmission from it, although you will have to modify the transmission tunnel. You could probably get a low mileage one for a grand or two as they are written of with just cosmetic damage these days.

Much of the OLD feeling of a 3.5 2 door comes from the old LT95. I used to skin my knuckles on the aircon on changes to third. I remember discussing the options with SWMBO and to my surprise she said get a newer one which I did. She hated the gearchange and the Fairey overdrive which had to be changed down at every slight rise.

It would be a nice car and not cost a lot to do.

Regards Philip A

[DoubleChevron]

I have a 3.9 low compression R380 disco engine in my 4door running on gas. It's way faster and has a lot more power and torque than than my old 1985 Range Rover. It had a strong carby 3.5 high compression petrol only V8 and went nicely....

The injected 3.9, even though it's a low compression engine running on LPG ... would leave it for dead in every aspect though.

seeya,
Shane L.

[blackrangie]

If you have the budget get a Top hatted 5L Rover from Davis Performance Landys in Sydney but make sure the gearbox, diffs, axles brakes etc can take it! 12k last time i checked drive in/out.

[ozscott]

I have driven or had all sizes up to 4.6. For longevity 3.5. For everything else injected 3.0-4.6. And in newer Rangies thicker walls were 4.6. Cheers

[Baker]

I have a 3.9 low compression R380 disco engine in my 4door running on gas. It's way faster and has a lot more power and torque than than my old 1985 Range Rover. It had a strong carby 3.5 high compression petrol only V8 and went nicely....

The injected 3.9, even though it's a low compression engine running on LPG ... would leave it for dead in every aspect though.

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi Shane, I had owned for a short time a soft dash 94/95 classic which had the 3.9 efi, drove incredibly well, would leave the 3.5 carby for dead...
with the 3.5 I struggle to keep up with buses at the lights.. is this normal? haha



I have driven or had all sizes up to 4.6. For longevity 3.5. For everything else injected 3.0-4.6. And in newer Rangies thicker walls were 4.6. Cheers

Would you do 4.6 with the carbies?



Thanks for the input guys!
I don't need it to be a rocket, but thought the 4.6 seemed like a good choice with carbies. 3.9 i would need to do efi..

I will go somewhere to at least get a tune up soon.

[DoubleChevron]

Hi Shane, I had owned for a short time a soft dash 94/95 classic which had the 3.9 efi, drove incredibly well, would leave the 3.5 carby for dead...
with the 3.5 I struggle to keep up with buses at the lights.. is this normal? haha




Would you do 4.6 with the carbies?



Thanks for the input guys!
I don't need it to be a rocket, but thought the 4.6 seemed like a good choice with carbies. 3.9 i would need to do efi..

I will go somewhere to at least get a tune up soon.

The 3.5 should roll along effortlessly enough with a manual gearbox. Check the timing .... I bet it's retarded as buggery. On lpg crank it around to 10+ degrees (it'll suck on petrol though). I think I'm running about 12degree on gas at the moment. very, very bad on petrol... great on lpg.... I reckon I need to drop it back to 10degrees... As sometimes it's not good on gas at 12 (no doubt when I get a crappy tank of gas that's full of butane) I was running 8degrees from memory on the petrol only 3.5 with twin carbs. It was a high compression engine though and I put high octane fuel in it.

It's a very low powered engine pulling over 2tons ... I wouldn't expect a lot, but it should quite easily keep up with the flow of traffic.

You have checked the basics right? the vac advance works, the springs in the dizzie aren't seiezed, the cap and rotor is good ... the plugs are decent etc... There is a ebay seller down in tassie that does a tune up kit for good money (ie: rotor, dizzie cap, plugs etc).

seeya
Shane L.

[discojools]

I have a 4.6 in my 82 2door. Effortless performance but no drag car. Could do with another top gear. Looks absolutely standard under the bonnet. Effortlessly uses fuel too! Couldn't go back to a 3.5 now. This car will not go offroad in any serious way so not necessary to upgrade axles diffs etc. LT95 is a strong box as long as its looked after.
Baker, I've sent you a PM if wanna know a bit more.

Jools.

[Mercguy]

Do I smell a possible TD5 conversion? :eek::twisted:

[Pedro_The_Swift]

My 3.5 EFI was great. wouldnt even look at anything bigger.
3.5RR 2Dr = 127HP
3.5D1 2Dr = 163HP
(numbers from Parkers)

[theMISSIONARY]

The 3.5 should roll along effortlessly enough with a manual gearbox. Check the timing .... I bet it's retarded as buggery. On lpg crank it around to 10+ degrees (it'll suck on petrol though). I think I'm running about 12degree on gas at the moment. very, very bad on petrol... great on lpg.... I reckon I need to drop it back to 10degrees... As sometimes it's not good on gas at 12 (no doubt when I get a crappy tank of gas that's full of butane) I was running 8degrees from memory on the petrol only 3.5 with twin carbs. It was a high compression engine though and I put high octane fuel in it.

It's a very low powered engine pulling over 2tons ... I wouldn't expect a lot, but it should quite easily keep up with the flow of traffic.

You have checked the basics right? the vac advance works, the springs in the dizzie aren't seiezed, the cap and rotor is good ... the plugs are decent etc... There is a ebay seller down in tassie that does a tune up kit for good money (ie: rotor, dizzie cap, plugs etc).

seeya
Shane L.

what have you added to it to make it over 2t?

[Meccles]

I had a good 3.5 in my 2 door, and am putting a decent one in again. Got enough speeding tickets to show that I never had issue with keeping up with traffic! Used to cruise at 110Kmh no issue. As for buses...left in the dust.:D
Maybe not as good as something with more cubes, but certainly adequate.

[superquag]

Do I smell a possible TD5 conversion? :eek::twisted:

I've driven a tD5 LSE and it FLIES.... THE car that Land Rover 'should' have built...

My 3.9 V8 is a total disappointing slug in comparison in every area... especially thirst.

[bee utey]

I've driven a tD5 LSE and it FLIES.... THE car that Land Rover 'should' have built...

My 3.9 V8 is a total disappointing slug in comparison in every area... especially thirst.
My friend bought an LSE with a fully rebuilt 3.9 and slugomatic, we took it all out and substituted it with a tweaked 300Tdi, auto, bigger intercooler and diesel gas. He says the mid range power for towing the boat is now better than with the V8. With 130 litres of diesel and 20 litres of LPG it can now travel well over 1000km per tank. No need for computerised engines to make a LSE snarl. :)

[superquag]

Someone please check my 'guestimate' ... 130 litres diesel... plus 20 litres LPG which is about "half" the price/litre of diesel...so for ruff rule of thumb... say "140 litres" @... what $$$ over there? About $1.40 or so here... which means $1.40 multiplied by 140 litres of 'fuel' = $196.

Say $200 ( make life easy.) to travel 1,000km.... compared to The no-so-Ladylike Sarah who swigs over 20 LITRES per 100km, or nigh on $30 per hundred km.

Only 2/3 the thirst.... or FIFTY per cent BETTER economy !!! :o:D:o

Whichever way you look at it, makes the swap worthwhile - and easy.

Not only but also... the joy of getting up a hill without pushing the accelerator through the floor...:angel:

The Lady Sarah, 1995 Classic Vogue SE, with working air suspension...

PS, What does one do to 'tweak' a TD 300 ? My old Pajero (2.5 indirect diesel) got re-built to within a Poofteenth of going too far over the tolerances... turbo wastegate locked onto 'overboost'. But it went well.!

Eventually the head / head gasket also.... went. Not so well.... :(

[gavinwibrow]

My friend bought an LSE with a fully rebuilt 3.9 and slugomatic, we took it all out and substituted it with a tweaked 300Tdi, auto, bigger intercooler and diesel gas. He says the mid range power for towing the boat is now better than with the V8. With 130 litres of diesel and 20 litres of LPG it can now travel well over 1000km per tank. No need for computerised engines to make a LSE snarl. :)
Maybe this? 88 rebuilt with 300
Range Rover Classic 300TDI 5 speed manual Wagon | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Swan Area - Midland | 1098538478 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/midland/cars-vans-utes/range-rover-classic-300tdi-5-speed-manual-wagon/1098538478)

[Mercguy]

I went chasing other threads, re conversions / swaps and there was an idea for the TDV6 - but noone's followed up on it.
Given there are so many fraud territories around, you could be forgiven for transplanting the 'real' version instead of the LR badged one.

Just thinking out loud.

[DoubleChevron]

I went chasing other threads, re conversions / swaps and there was an idea for the TDV6 - but noone's followed up on it.
Given there are so many fraud territories around, you could be forgiven for transplanting the 'real' version instead of the LR badged one.

Just thinking out loud.

That's the go :) Why use the wheezy old rover motors :) The V6 is also used in the Citroen C5, Citroen C6 and poogoe 407, 607 etc ..... The ford would be best as it's already a rwd configuration.

[bee utey]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


:tease:

[Mercguy]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=105685&stc=1&d=1455491781


:tease:

GOLD!
:D

[gavinwibrow]

apart from the LSD being a good play on words for old English money, what about LSE D?

[Baker]

Do people use p38 4.0 engine?

[ozscott]

What do you mean mate? A p38 4.0 with either Gems or Bosch engine management in a RRC? Why not? Personally I would get a 4.6 if available but a 4.0 still goes very well.

Cheers

[DoubleChevron]

Do people use p38 4.0 engine?

I don't see how it would be better or worse than a 3.9 range rover classic engine ..................... Infact I'm sure it's just the same :)