Thread: Tweaking A 96 3.9L Disco 1??

Originally Posted by steelo

Was just wondering what's available for tweaking the ECU for better towing & low down power on my V8 Disco 1?
thanks

Stick a timing light on it and check the timing, idle should be set to around 10 degrees BTDC for max performance, both vacuum and centrifugal advance should be working too. The ECU does NOT control the timing, you set the dissy by hand after loosening the lock nut under it. Just like in Grandpa's day.

Failing that the only known cure for a slow 3.9 is a properly built 4.6.

Originally Posted by bee utey

.......Failing that the only known cure for a slow 3.9 is a properly built 4.6.

OR....go take a ride in a 300tdi, then you'll realise what you have is like greased lightning

Originally Posted by sheerluck

OR....go take a ride in a 300tdi, then you'll realise what you have is like greased lightning

Now now, a d-gassed Tdi can be quite, er, sprightly you know!

Originally Posted by bee utey

Now now, a d-gassed Tdi can be quite, er, sprightly you know!

Ah, come on bee utey, whole continents float past in the time a 300tdi takes to get to 100!

It goes quite good, it surprised me, just wanted to improve low down torque & hopefully better mpg that's all

im in the same boat as you steelo, also have a 96 3.9 and would love to tweak her a little

Originally Posted by steelo

It goes quite good, it surprised me, just wanted to improve low down torque & hopefully better mpg that's all

Diesel does both, but... takes longer getting there

spending good $$ tweaking an engine that most likely has a fair amount of lobe material missing from the cam, has worn valve seats and started life as one of the lowest compression engines around offered to the market, is possibly going about it backwards. a set of high compression pistons, a decent cam (standard efi spec is very good) and some attention to head port cleaning up and matching etc will do a lot to help efficiency. but as PhillipA has mentioned, ignition advance curves play a very important part, perhaps also tackling an aftermarket ignition controller with knock sensing will also drag this engine kicking and screaming out of the 1960's....

jc