engine conversion

[landkal]

Have any of you gentlemen ever fitted a gen 3 holden/chevy engine in a series 1 disco . Iam thinking of using a marks adaptor kit my 3.9 has done a head gasket and and have been told that the bores more than likley would have shifted .and a chev moter and adapter would be a cheaper option than a total rebuild of tha 3.9 any advice would be welcome

[justinc]

Have any of you gentlemen ever fitted a gen 3 holden/chevy engine in a series 1 disco . Iam thinking of using a marks adaptor kit my 3.9 has done a head gasket and and have been told that the bores more than likley would have shifted .and a chev moter and adapter would be a cheaper option than a total rebuild of tha 3.9 any advice would be welcome

PM Rovercare, IIRC he has done just this conversion.

JC

[Vern]

you'll have to change the auto aswell, the ZF won't handle it at all

[stuee]

If you can do the conversion for less than the rebuild cost of your rover motor tell me the secret because Ill drop one in too.

From my research into this conversion on here and other forums it seems you'd be looking at $10-12k using 2nd hand motor and carrying out all work yourself. You can buy a new long rover v8 for far cheaper than that.

The biggest issue I've found is the transmission as Vern has pointed out. None of the rover transmissions would be capable of lasting for any decent duration of time with the power of any of the gen 3 chev motors pumping through it wihtout some serious dollars (225kw 460NM up to 325Kw 550Nm in standard tune available within Australia). The easiest option would be the 4L80e transmission which isn't commonly available here and getting one involves $$$. A 4L60e or 4L65e could quite easily be beefed up to handle the power but there does not seem to be a widely available commercial adaptor to suite the LT230, although if you look hard enough there are references to workshops who supposedly will knock one up for you (I believe a number of rock crawling buggies use the TH700/4L6xe transmissions mated to an LT230).

If this is only to be a comp truck then the 3 speed TH400 would be hard to go past as you can by an adaptor off marks for cheap, the transmission can be had for cheap, and out of the box they are pretty bullet proof.

Alternatively, running second hand rover v8's can be had for well under $5k, plus it would be hassle free in comparison. Gen 3 would be awesome to swap in but in no way makes financial sense.

[BigJon]

Alternatively, running second hand rover v8's can be had for well under $5k, plus it would be hassle free in comparison. .

I paid $1500 for a 3.9 out of a D1 two years ago. Done probably 50 000km + in that time, has been a great engine.

[justinc]

5K?? even with our labour rates, we just supplied and fitted one including swapping the injection etc from flapper to hotwire for $3k.

JC

[nigelbuilding1984]

what about a 5 litre holden v8 to the zf only 165 to 185 kw and 380 to 400 nm of tourque in standard form would the zf handle that nothing to extreme and handy 50 kw over standard motors are cheap to buy and rebuild usually find a donor vehicle for under 1500 dollars im thinking about it

[clubagreenie]

$2200- for a short crate 4.6. Excessive?

[justinc]

$2200- for a short crate 4.6. Excessive?

CHEAP!!!

Good buying

JC

[PhilipA]

The major problem with adapting a gen111 to a ZF,aside from the strength, which I understand can be overcome for $8K, is that the Gen111 has a 14inch flywheel/flexplate with no 11inch option.

This is decided by the starter mounts , which give only one starter position for a 14 inch flywheel/flex whereas on a small block 350 you can fit an 11inch or 14 inch flywheel/flex.

The actual bolt patterns for the bellhousing are the same except there is one hole missing on a Gen111 vs 350.

The flexplate will not fit inside a ZF bellhousing.

I reckon it could be done if someone was enterprising enough to get a Gen111 manual or automatic bellhousing and cut and shut it with a ZF bellhousing to the correct dimensions to make a pattern for a casting. The ZF bellhousing is "wet" and can be separated from the auto.

Now I have learned the above from various sources and it may not all be correct eg the starter position. I had a look at a gen111 at a wrecker but couldn't get to see the starter area, however barring contradiction I believe the above to be true.

The computer would be easy.
Now if someone could convince Marks or Dellow or Castlemaine to do a kit , I reckon they would sell quite a few here and in the States.
Regards Philip A