Thread: Replacement engine for 1980 Range rover 2 door

Geez - tough laws up there! Who at the RTA worked out that the 3.5ltr V8 makes a Rangie 'High Performance' Based on power to weight ratio, any V6 Commodore will have better performance...

Haven't seen this particular conversion done, but if you go through with it, post plenty of pics and info, as I think it would be a good conversion. What sort of engineering hastles will the RTA give you regarding a comversion like this. In Vic, a full engineers certificate would be required, which can be quite pricey.

Cheers - Gav

I have heard that the V6 (same family of engine as the Rover) is not a good engine for a RR as the power/torque characteristics are all wrong - someone else can elaborate.

But really if you cannot drive the v8 why buy it - buy an early Disco 200 or 300 Tdi. The overall costs of buying the RR doing the conversion, getting engineering etc will be more than the cost of an older disco diesel.

Garry

Can't you somehow take advantage of any exemptions which exist? From memory there are some listed exemptions in Victorias RTA for P platers.

I had a 83 2 door I bought from a 4 wheel drive mob here in SA.
They did the conversion and full re-wire as a show car.
It had a 3.8L V6 with a turbo 700 tranny from memory.

Motor was quiet but kept getting vapour locks, electrical fuel pump gremlins and had a maze of wires and relays.

Box shifted well but the torque range was terrible for off-roading and tansfer case kept jumping out of gear.

It also got very hot when towing even a small trailer.

Anyhow, the conversion be fine but not fast or even economical and definately not suited for off-roading.
I could not wait to sell it and that itself was not easy as no purist would touch it and anyone else just looked under the bonnet and although it was neat, its just not right.

I dropped a lot of money on that car, I had 3 other 2 doors and always sold and came out even, a 84 model I advertised and had people throwing money at me. Keep them original and that is best.

Originally Posted by Davis4x4

Hey guys,
Im in negotiations with buying a 1980 2 door rangie. But my problem is its a 3.5 L V8 The RTA doesnt let P- Platers drive V8's. They have classified this range-rover as a High performance vehicle, even though a commodore V6 put out about the same power.

Mate, I'd be making phone calls, no way is the rangie over the power to weight for a p plater up there... surely not???

Well, VicRoads won't let a P-plater drive anything with 8 (or more) cylinders since they changed the rules... you can only drive one here if you get an exemption on hardship grounds.

Originally Posted by Knightmayre

Well, VicRoads won't let a P-plater drive anything with 8 (or more) cylinders since they changed the rules... you can only drive one here if you get an exemption on hardship grounds.

arghhh!!

the danger of generalisations...

PIA x 2

Originally Posted by big guy

Motor was quiet but kept getting vapour locks, electrical fuel pump gremlins and had a maze of wires and relays.

Sounds as though they had little idea on engine conversions