Thread: Is Bigger Really Better?

I drive a 200tDI Defender - and the way I see it is as follows:

A nice V8 -
1. Brilliant on-road and for towing
2. No better off road I believe than my 200tDi - yes it has more power, but it isn't necessary for any obstacle I've driven so far, including the beach. The gearing in the Defender is excellent and works well with the engine.
3. You would need to upgrade the diffs, axles and CV's - however saying that I have still broken the rear axles and the front diff with the 200tDi - so much a much.
4. 5 speed transmission - I'm not really sure if it would handle a V8 (say a 5litre). I think it might struggle a little - esp in the heat department.
5. LT230 - are brilliant. They would handle the power of a V8 without even needing to consider it.
6. Suspension - would handle the V8 easily.
7. Fuel consumption - would absolutely suck (unless you went with gas) compared to the 200tDi. And even with gas it wouldn't compare quite. Anyone doubting that - check my fuel consumption for the Fraser trip.
8. Weight - there would be two tenths of stuff all in it. Nothing that'd matter in a Defender anyway.


Overall, quite honestly if I could fit a nice V8 with an auto into my Defender - I would most likely look at it when this engine eventually dies. Parts especially are so much cheaper than any Land Rover engine, and the extra power for towing/hills/headwinds would be very handy. However I would run it on gas to help my running costs. I would not expect any problems from the chassis or the running gear by running this set up.


Cheers
Chris

Originally Posted by vnx205

You almost got it though.

I doubled the power output of the engine and it wasn't as reliable as standard.

The moral is that improvements in one area (in the case of the Honda 125, an enormous increase in power) often comes at a cost (in the case of the Honda, increased wear).

However that whole story was just to try to illustrate that people who are happy with standard Land Rovers are not necessarily incapable of thinking about and carrying out modifications.

That's lovely, but if built correctly it would have made the HP WITH reliability

Hi vnx,

I suppose what I was trying to get across is that I have a pretty stock RRC with a 350 in it. Gets driven everywhere every day. Has done over 200,000 kms since I've had it and probably another 200,000 kms before that.

Has not broken ANYTHING in the driveline. Pretty reliable I think, and cheaper to run on gas than even a 200 TDI at the moment.

cheers, DL

Rovercare the point to this thread is if you start to change things you go outside the parameters that parts are made for.You have rubbished the ZF auto because it won't handle an LS1 bolted to it,it was never designed too,same as the diffs,they break with 35's rover has never fitted them.Engineers design the vehicles to do a job,if you raise it,re-power it or fit oversize tyres you can't expect not to have problems. Pat

Hi Pat,

I have a 2 - 3" spring lift (rotated the swivel balls), the 350, 31 x 10.5 tyres (last set went 120,000) and I have NO RELIABILITY OR DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS and have had no such problems for over 200,000 km's.

What more could you want?

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by 350RRC

What more could you want?

cheers, DL

To have a wild night with Roxy in Basic Instinct.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

To have a wild night with Roxy in Basic Instinct.

You know Brooke Shields turned that role down?

Originally Posted by B92 8NW

You know Brooke Shields turned that role down?

Serious! I didn't know that. I bet its one of those decisions that she didn't forget either. It may not have been big enough for her.