300tdi to 4.4 rover v8

[gerhardlombard]

hi, im new, so hi again from south africa

i blown my 2nd 300tdi engine.

i got hold of a aussie imported 4.4 leyland v8 engine

how difficult is it fit to this engine into a defender, and whats the pros and cons.

any help will be much appreciated.

thnx

gerhard

[nzlandies]

First what is is going into?

I really isn't that hard. as you an use most rover bits to get it going such as getting the right bellhousing and clutch etc and engine mounts. Just use what ever carb set up you like and of course you can get it to run. but why!

The 300tdi is a great motor. if you keep blowing up motors then I bet you blow up the gearbox next with the extra power.

What keeps blowing on the 300tdi. You might be getting it too hot so spend the money on good big intercooler and big exhaust and don't fuel it up too much. it will go well and be more reliable than the big v8 and use way less gas.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The task is very similar to converting a TDi to a Rover V8 although most P76 didn't have power steering and airconditioning so there is no mounting holes on the front of the RHS head usually used to fit the A/C compressor.

Search threads on P76 and/or 4.4 V8s as the P76 is where the 4.4 came from. A lot of them will be in the Range Rover Classic section.

You will need to use the P76 starter motor.

Diana

[Rangier Rover]

I would think 4.4 would mince the R380 in time as has around 210HP in stock form. I'd use the LT95. You'll need a Range Rover fly wheel re drilled with a RRC clutch, Modified RRC engine mounts + some RRC ancillaries would make it easier. Use a Rover starter with a spacer ring as P76 has solenoid in a bad spot and gets hit by diff.

Do you have emission regulations on post 80s vehicles?

Tony

[Blknight.aus]

I think the r380 will last quite nicely behind the 4.4 providing the box is in good order to start with. Theres been discussion of cooling the r380 elsewhere on the forum and given that its going to be used in South Africa Id keep an eye on that post as well..

the swap wont be brain or bank bendingly difficult But that depends on your skill levels in various areas.

Id be more interested in why your killing the tdi because anything that you do that kills a tdi will also kill the V8.

your fuel economy is going to suck and the v8s dont like getting wet.

the power is better and its an easier drive than the tdi.

[gerhardlombard]

Both tdi engines blew because it was run without water. 1st time it was a water pipe burst and now the water resevoir cracked.

It is a well known fact that the water temperature gauge on a Land Rover is only for cosmetic reasons.

I would love to have the tdi engine rebuilt, but for financial reasons i can not and as for the money i can get for my blown tdi engine, it will pay for most of my conversion cost.

[hoadie72]

I can't think of a temperature gauge on any car that will tell you there's no coolant!

[Rangier Rover]

You need a low coolant alarm.... These issues you have had may have resulted from a tired head gasket and coolant pressure build up. I see this here all the time. Some notice and stop. For those who don't its very bad news. A LOW COOLANT alarm would have saved them all.

Now seriously changing to a V8 wont be strait forward or any more durable to overheating than the 300. As pointed out the 4.4 will be very drivable but at a cost. How much is fuel over there these days?

Also 4.4s tend to crack the block along cam journals if used hard and likely you will need to fit a Rover timing case and Heads as p76 can be hard to source. Some minor engineering involved in this.

Tony

[defmec]

doesn't the tdi gearboxes have a shorter main shaft spline the v8 box as i was told that i couldn't use my spare lt 77 from a 200 tdi in a county because the main shaft is different

[gerhardlombard]

please visit our south african site as it is mostly the same as your aussie site, the link is

Land Rover News in Africa - LandyOnline

i just spoken to brian cotton of landyonline as they will be doing the conversion for me.

according to him this will be a easy fit as they do the 3.9 rover conversions regularly. the 4.4 is just a longer stroke according to him. (i send him photos of the 4.4 V8)

he assures me my blown tdi engine will cover the cost of the while conversion, so it is only going to cost me R 15 000,00 for the 4.4 V8 engine, plus about R 5 000,00 for some minor alterations. for instance he will swop my power steering pump, aircon pump, air filter, radiator etc. with stock disco parts.

of course he will rebuilt the tdi engine and sell it at a profit for him.

Add another R 5 000,00 for the MUD dash and floor consoles as advertised on there site, and i definitely will go for the engine protection unit they install this time around.

so for R 25 000,00 i will get the whole swop done plus the cosmetic interior addings, and of course the engine protection unit, measured up to R 40 000,00 for just the tdi rebuilt.

I already spend R 10 000,00 only for getting the RAND LOVER from breakdown point back to home.

thank you all for your post sending, it is much appreciated and please keep it comming.