Thread: The D2 Lowdown

Originally Posted by ghoti

Thanks for the pointers folks - what a pity ya can't get the V8 "acoustics"
with the TD5 apetite! Going to look at a couple of 2003 TD5's on the
weekend.

And ...

Originally Posted by ozscott

What info can you give us about the 4.6 conversion? Cost and what mucking around was there. Did you use the heads off the 4.0? Did you get bigger injectors etc. Is the MAF the same?

Cheers

Lawrance (TempestV8) has done this also.

Originally Posted by Stuuu

And ...

Well, took an 2003 and a 2004 "classic" out for a spin on Saturday. They
both seemed to lack urge, though to be fair I am comparing against the
Disco 3 TDV6 we had until our son wrote it off...

They felt a little higher than the Disco 3. Seats were just as comforatable
and the road noise was almost as good as the Disco 3. They both seemed
to suffer more body roll than the Disco 3.

They were streets ahead of my old Patrol (2001 Ti 4.5 lpg) in terms of
comfort and possibly on par in terms of acceleration. My 11 year old loved
the step for getting in the back.

All in all I think we'd be happy with the TD5 if it was a little more spritely.
Perhaps a chip will help? Will have another look next weekend.

Originally Posted by ghoti

Well, took an 2003 and a 2004 "classic" out for a spin on Saturday. They
both seemed to lack urge, though to be fair I am comparing against the
Disco 3 TDV6 we had until our son wrote it off...

They felt a little higher than the Disco 3. Seats were just as comforatable
and the road noise was almost as good as the Disco 3. They both seemed
to suffer more body roll than the Disco 3.

They were streets ahead of my old Patrol (2001 Ti 4.5 lpg) in terms of
comfort and possibly on par in terms of acceleration. My 11 year old loved
the step for getting in the back.

All in all I think we'd be happy with the TD5 if it was a little more spritely.
Perhaps a chip will help? Will have another look next weekend.

I got the Chip + Intercooler for around $1700. Then the book figures are close to the TDV6.

Hi Ozscott,


Happy to give you my experiences, but may be different for others. Bear in mind I dropped my liners about 3 weeks before a major planned trip, and had to work fast rather than look for cheaper options. So:

New 4.6 litre RR HSE engine, new lifters, my two 4.0 heads overhauled, new water pump, all new coolant hoses including heater hoses, radiator (recently replaced) removed and tested (due to over pressure when the liners slipped), new O2 sensors: a bit less than $13,000 all up with labour (and a new ignition/steering lock done at the same time). You can see how much I love the car when it's probably not worth that on the open market!

We replaced both the O2 sensors since mine were only just working, and we thought they may have been the cause of a tendency for the engine to run very rough and with no power for a few seconds (maybe 30) when restarted while hot. We kept the original MAF, since it was replaced 2 years ago.

There are no bodges to perform: it is a straight 1 for 1 swap. All I needed was an engineer's report and an inspection to confirm the engine number to change the registration details.

I have to say that the 4.6 is the engine that the Disco should have had from the start. It is so different with or without a load, and I have had better fuel economy with the 4.6 than I ever got with the 4.0, and it is much more responsive to drive.

It is hard to justify the cost from a sensible point of view, but who buys Land Rovers as a sensible option? With time and facilities, the swap could be done much cheaper at home, but based on my quotes a few weeks ago, you should plan on an engine cost of around $6000 for a rebuilt 4.6 from TRS or similar, or around $8000 for a new 4.6 landed and delivered. I have been told that you should avoid any LR V8 built between 1999 and 2001 due to a change in the casting methods during that time which makes them more prone to liner slippage, but I can not confirm that. Diana or soemeone else might be able to advise on that. My original 4.0 was a 1999 build. My new one is a 2002 build.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat. Still haven't found anything I like better than the D2, albeit I like the thought of the TD5 fuel economy when towing the brick.

Hope this answers your questions.

Cheers

Thanks matey - thats most helpful. The yanks got the D2 in 4.6. They reckon that the 4.6 is a goer with the Bosch motronic gear on.

So the RR HSE engine must have been a late model one where they had gone to the long curved intakes and bosch motronic.

Cheers matey and thanks again