Thread: Stirlsilver's Disco Ute Project

Thanks for putting up the explanation on the spring perch mod Will. That's basically why I am doing it

Anyway, I've made a fair dent on the overall wiring of the ECU. I purchased 3 x 22 way Delphi connectors thinking I would have loads left over. But in the end it turned out to be JUST enough! Though the current arrangement has a pin for each injector's 12V supply. I could condense that all into 1 pin freeing up 7 pins. I'll see how I go when I do the finishing touches to the wiring diagram.

Oh, I also got a waterproof USB connector to go on the case... The ECU box is going to definitely be rated for being submerged if (when) that does happen.

Oh... and the Derale Oil Coolers came in

Originally Posted by stirlsilver

Home Buying for Dummies: Looking at a new job?

Originally Posted by disco2hse

Home Buying for Dummies: Looking at a new job?

I was wondering if anyone would look closely at that photo to see what books were in the background! That book was from many years ago now! Not overly useful.

So onto progress.

I quickly checked to see if the Oil coolers would in fact fit in the space I found in the 3D model, thankfully they did. After this they were put back in their boxes to be fitted later..





I pulled the transfer case off the 4HP22 so that I can send the auto box down to AB Automatics in exchange for my modified box that is waiting for delivery. The transfer case came off pretty easily which was nice.





The pallet with the old auto box ready to go.


Painting of the engine bay and spring perches completed. Time to start putting things into the engine bay






I purchased a schneider IP68 electrical enclosure along with 3 sets of Delphi 22 way bulk head connectors and a water proof USB connector.




You can't quite make out the connectors, but they look like this.


The sizing of the Schneider enclosure couldn't have been anymore perfect, just a little bit of trimming on the seat base and it slid in nicely.





A quick trial fit up of the ECU and injector driver in the box.



I had to do some modifications to the ECU, a set of wires to enable CAN communication (I need to add on another board for more sensor inputs... I rant out in the ECU!) The other modification was for me to scavenge the last two analogue inputs available on the ECU, I had to put in some resistors and capacitors to condition the signals which is why wires are running all over the place.



Finally, I bought a 0-0.5MPa oil pressure sensor off ebay, after having to re-tap the thread (it was the wrong thread) I fitted it and then re-wired up the ECU onto the test engine to make sure everything still worked and that my new oil pressure sensor worked!





This week I did realise one thing, all the testing I have done is with the test engine without any load. I'm sure there will be a lot of adjustment necessary to the ECU to make the engine run properly in the car with load, and I think constant idling of the new engine while I do the adjustments will glaze the bores quickly ruining it. I think I'll need to temporarily fit the test engine into the car and tune the ECU with it. Then when all is finalized, fit the new engine. I can't think of any other way? Or... does someone have an engine dyno??

Well, an interesting week... My laptop was stolen from the boot of my car after I rushed off and forgot to lock the car. So if anyone has an old Surface Pro 2 they don't want anymore, let me know. Thankfully most of my data was backed up onto the cloud, but I've lost my software installations!

Anyway, the gearbox arrived in from AB Automatics.


All the ancillaries fitted including the transfer case.


And installed There isn't much free space between the big torque converter and the bell housing!

Progress from the weekend just gone. Basically, the test engine was taken off the stand and fitted into the car. As I mentioned earlier, the reason for this is so that I can tune the ECU and not destroy my new 4.0L engine while trying to get the tuning right. You will also spot in the photos a new heat shield I had to make up to protect the RH engine mount and also the positioning of the power steering reservoir.

Hi Stirling,

Your YouTube videos lead me to this forum and I've just registered so I can complement you on your project, absolutely brilliant!

I'm posting from the UK and although I don't have a Land Rover I do have a vehicle running the 4.0 litre Rover V8 on LPG.

My car is a TVR Chimaera that I've converted to dual fuel using the the excellent Canems dual fuel ECU which allows direct mapping of ignition & fuel on both petrol & LPG from a single integrated engine management system. A unique optimal fuel & spark map is built for each fuel type respecting their very different burn characteristics & knock/detonation resistance, no piggyback/slave ECU is required or used with this system.

The Canems dual fuel ECU houses 8 petrol (saturated) injector drivers and 8 LPG peak & hold injector drivers in one watertight composite case with an aluminum heat sink on the back to draw way heat generated at the LPG peak & hold injector drivers. Switching to map two (LPG Map) on the ECU turns off the petrol injectors, activates the peak and hold injectors and energises the LPG solenoids for seamless toggling from petrol to LPG and back again at a flick of a switch.

If you're not familiar with the TVR Chimaera it's a 150mph 1060kg British sports car using TVRs own tubular steel backbone truss chassis with a fiberglass body. The Chimaera used TVR tuned Rover V8s in 4.0, 4.3, 4.6 & 5.0 litre capacities.

Here's my car:

http://thumbsnap.com/JDBA7vi4

I have worked with the ECU designer & engine management expert from Canems to develop the system along with support from Lloyd Specialist Developments here in the UK who run a Range Rover using the same Canems dual fuel system. The objective for the team is to develop the best & most complete vapor LPG conversion for vehicles using the Rover V8 (and other engines).

You can read about my project here:

LPG Chimaera (Follow My Conversion) - PistonHeads

If I can offer you any guidance based on the many lessons we've learned it would be my pleasure to do so, looking at your excellent project we are somewhat kindred spirits

Kind regards from the UK, Dave.

Hi Dave, thanks for your message! What you have done in the past would definitely be a massive help with what I have to do next with the tuning. I've tried getting some info from keihin and prins but they have been pretty cagey. Anyway, i'll PM you on that.

Well, on to progress.

I needed a couple of inline oil temperature sensors to control the oil cooler fans and i couldn't find any that were suitable. So... I made my own.






I made up the loom for the EDIS ignition system and installed it.




Finally, because i needed some extra analogue inputs (for the extra oil temperature sensors) i assembled an extra analogue to CAN board for that.



Anyway, that's it. Till next time!