Thread: 3.9 v8 220K. Time to replace?

Originally Posted by Lambo

I have a 1995 Disco1 V8 3.9. I have been advised by a mechanic friend that more power can be gleaned from it by boring and stroking it out to around 4.9. I suppose it would. However he also seems to think that a holden V8 and associated gearbox (turbo 700), on gas, would be a better option as far as all around power and reliability is concerned. It is really a dilema for me cause if I go the wrong way it could be an expensive mistake. Anyone got any thoughts on the matter?

Your mate sounds like he's good at spending your money!

I think the 5.2 V8 option would need you to have super deep pockets, and really would you want that much extra power with a 15 year old drive train and brakes?

Does your engine have a problem?

At 220000km, it could do with a freshen up.
If the camshaft is the original, it's probably worn by now. A cam & lifter set would be a good starting point.

With the inlet manifold off, you're halfway to getting the heads off so you may as well get them serviced/checked if you have some concerns with them.

the 3.9 has plenty of go faster bits available for it.

at 220 its probably getting close to wanting a bit of attention so why not keep it and spend the money that you would on repairing parts on replacing them.

How long are you keeping it?

any major work will be more than the cars worth,,,
and thats not a bad thing if its a long term prospect

stay away from other engines,,
a replacement LR V8 will always work out cheaper

for about 15k you might be able to get a chev or detroit engine in your disco..

Originally Posted by pistolpete

for about 15k you might be able to get a chev or detroit engine in your disco..

Gee, for 15k you could just go out & buy 5 more V8 Discos !!

23.4 litres should be plenty.

have you compared the weight of a holden V8 compared to a rover V8? My Rover V8 in my D1 has done 345000km and still going strong. Work on the 2 principles of "If its not broken, don't fix it" and "keep it simple, stupid". Works well for me. Oh, and look after it.

If there is nothing wrong with it keep it. My 95 V8 Auto has now done 285,000k and its all original drive train (only changed distributor to performance ignitions Scorcher, radiator and alternator). It still starts and runs beautifully (that scorcher dizzy and coil was the best thing I ever did for it by a country mile - Holden and Ford V8 combined dizzy with Australian Bosch HEI module). It pulls really hard and is supersmooth. I run LPG most of the time.

Cheers

PS. The series 1 motors seem to run cooler and more reliably than series 2 actually.