D3 Diesel Front Timing Cover Explosion

**winaje** · 22nd January 2016, 08:11 AM

Have bought a territory engine with 155kms (one hundred and fifty five) on the clock for $4000, with turbo, AC compressor, alternator, flex plate, exhaust manifolds (for gaskets) etc. When I physically have it in my possession I will update the thread with the sellers details. My mechanic mate and I will be documenting the process and he is looking to offer body on territory to D3 engine swaps as a service on the north eastern side of Melbourne.

Once the D3 is fully operational again we will be dismantling the old engine to find the fault.

**winaje** · 22nd January 2016, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by LRD414

Will had a strange noise and then found the serpentine belt tensioner out of position, followed by total failure of tensioner in <this thread> a couple of weeks ago. Things still sounded bad after belt was removed in his last post. So perhaps it wrecked a few things ....

Scott

Trailered the D3 to a well know indie near me, who had a look and listen. Based on what he said, and the fact that I am due for timing belts on the old motor anyway I decided to go with a new motor, which will cost not a lot more than possibly fixing the old one and doing the belts.

The issue sounds to me and a couple of mechanic friends, like it's in the core of the motor. Will know when we tear it down, and will create my own thread.

**LRD414** · 22nd January 2016, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by winaje

Have bought a territory engine with 155kms (one hundred and fifty five) on the clock for $4000

wow that's cheap. Well done.

**winaje** · 22nd January 2016, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by LRD414

wow that's cheap. Well done.

Yeah I'm pretty happy. He also has a 30000km engine for $3500. He said that the last 4 Territory engines he has sold are all destined for Discoverys lol

**~Rich~** · 25th January 2016, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by winaje

Yeah I'm pretty happy. He also has a 30000km engine for $3500. He said that the last 4 Territory engines he has sold are all destined for Discoverys lol

Well they wouldn't bother putting it back in another Territory!

**johnhorgan** · 12th December 2019, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by winaje

Can anyone advise if the territory flexplate is the same as the LR one? Buying an extremely low KM unit in the next couple of days and need to know if I have to get the wrecker to leave the flexplate on...

Flex plate is different in Territory supplied to me.
There is an integral spacer attached to the flex plate on the Territory, which mounts the flex plate about an inch further out from the crankshaft, towards the torque converter.

**Disco234** · 7th August 2025, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by BusinessConnected

The Beast Lives!!!!

I'll try and post a more detailed explanation later, however I thought I'd update this thread to say that Yes... a Territory Engine is in my Discovery 3, Running... No Errors on the Dash... Everything working as expected.

"Cliff Notes Version"
Engine Removal
- Old Engine Confirmed Ill (Rotating Crank by Hand isn't possible)
- Old Engine Out of Car without Removing Body
(Bonnet at Vertical, Gearbox Dropped Down to Improve Egress Angle, Front Diff Removed)
- Electrics/Cabling/End Connections are different on Discovery to Territory
(Appears Connectors at ECU End are a Sort of "Ford" Standard)

Things that need to change/come off old Engine
- Sump from D3 (Ford One has Whole through it)
- Radiator Fan Pulley
(Territory has Electric Fan... D3 has Viscous Fan... Territory has an Idler Pulley in same place as Fan Pulley.. can be swapped but....
- Plastic Timing Belt Cover
(Territory one would leave a Inch or so Gap around Radiator Fan Pulley.. whch is too much of a risk for me)
- 2 x Knock Sensors from Land Rover Engine
(Territory has the Wholes for them.. but not fitted)
- Power Steering Pump
(Territory has Electric Steering.. No Hydraulic so this needs to be added)
- Alternator/AC Compressor/Pulleys etc
(This is because Territory has 6 Fin Belts rather than 8 Fin Belts (due to not having to drive the VC Fan and Power Steering Pump)

Every Connector on the Wiring Loom from the D3 Engine fits the Territory Engine... No Sensors were needed to be swapped over etc.. My D3 is a Euro IV Spec 2008 Model... so this might not be exactly the same for a Earlier Model.. but I'm pretty certain it would be.

Did you have to replace the high pressure diesel pump?

Thanks in advance

**BusinessConnected** · 7th August 2025, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Disco234

Did you have to replace the high pressure diesel pump?

Thanks in advance

I didn't have to at the time... but I believe that may change depending on the Year of the Car.

**shack** · 7th August 2025, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by BusinessConnected

I didn't have to at the time... but I believe that may change depending on the Year of the Car.

I think that may be the car I now have?

**loanrangie** · 8th August 2025, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Disco234

Did you have to replace the high pressure diesel pump?

Thanks in advance

If your disco is a Euro4 spec ie post MY07 then the fuel system is the same so you can keep all the territory fueling system.

I also had the timing cover explosion as mentioned at the start of this thread but i was fortunate that mine went while i was stationary in my driveway at idle, that meant very little damage and 5 years later still running as good as it ever did.
Apart from the new oil pump and belt kit which i already bought for the upcoming belt change the only parts i had to replace were the LH exhaust cam (it went banana shape), a few cam cap bolts and the front timing pulley which i damaged while assembling the cam for replacement.
Timing cover had a few cracks but i was able to plastic weld it back to a usable condition.

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Flex plate is different in Territory supplied to me.

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