BMW M52 Defender 110
Discussion
So just to start of with this isn't a genuine M52 Defender, consider it a homage to the south African spec.
Upon reading about the straight six defender, or red mamba as I believe it was known I was sold on the idea. The thought of a brilliant straight six engine in a defender, just sounds brilliant!
So my 110 is a 'oneten', a very early one and I would guess had a 2.5 diesel originally. It had been retrofitted was a 200tdi so it was far from original, so by whacking in the new engine I wouldn't be loosing any originality.
In brief it's a 2.8 (m52b28) fitted to a Discovery V8 R380 with a 1.6 transfer box. This isn't exactly how land rover accomplished it, but the end result is near enough the same.
Exhaust wise, it's essentially the M52 downpipe mated to a TD5 silencer and backbox which is actually surprisingly quiet at idle and mild throttle but boot it, and it sounds delicious!
I can't take any credit for the wiring as this was previously fitted to another defender, as such he had done 80% of the wiring.
Driving wise,it's shockingly different to the 200tdi. I had a V8 with an autobox years ago and this is miles apart. Theres enough torque to trundle around at low revs but hold onto the revs and it really does fly!
I'd estimate that at around 6000rpm in 3rd it's doing just over 60, so there's clearly plenty of pace in it!
Since the photos I've got rid of the open air filter, and fitted an encased cartridge filter thing.
I've done maybe 500miles in it, and took it around the off-road track at billing where it was brilliant!
Moving forward, next step is to remove the LT230 which I'd recently put in as it appears to have an ungodly leak! Bit of an own goal on my part.
After that, one of the disco drop arm conversions as and replace the old, old shocks with some nice new bilsteins and OEM springs as it's leaning over on one side by a few degrees.
The aim long term is to get a lifting roof / pop top roof and part roll cage on it and just generally tidy it up and keep making it useable / habitable without going crazy.
It's not perfect yet, but so far it really does seem to be a vast improvement! 50mph in relative comfort and quietness in a defender??! Living the dream!
Assembled for a test / sanity check before ripping old engine out...
Trusty old 200tdi..
And its gone..
In with the new
[
A pleasant milestone, sitting on its own mounts
Oil cooler for the R380 located behind the main rad
First mucky outing, to billing. Engine and gearbox behaved itself very well, transfer box not so!
Completed engine bay (the K&N has been replaced with a enclosed 300tdi canister type
A couple of OEM fans from a modern ish Peugot... These things shift air and the single Ebay fan I had sitting behind the rad couldnt keep up with the demands whilst slowly offroading. Unfortunalty they are push, rather than pull but I've actually managed to fit them quite neatly infront of the rad. I've got an override switch for complete control of them, and with them both running their is a hell of a lot of air moving through!
And thats about where it is at the moment. Regarding the straight six diesels, the M57 I know these are very good and probably better in many, many ways but I've always wanted a straight six TVR, and seeing as that isn't really going to happen any time soon if at all this does seem to have a very silly character to it, pop'ing and backing its way along and its actually suprisingly involving to drive!
Once the transfer box is dropped out, leak addressed and refitted I'll try and get a few videos of it on the road as there really isnt a great deal about these on the internet!
Upon reading about the straight six defender, or red mamba as I believe it was known I was sold on the idea. The thought of a brilliant straight six engine in a defender, just sounds brilliant!
So my 110 is a 'oneten', a very early one and I would guess had a 2.5 diesel originally. It had been retrofitted was a 200tdi so it was far from original, so by whacking in the new engine I wouldn't be loosing any originality.
In brief it's a 2.8 (m52b28) fitted to a Discovery V8 R380 with a 1.6 transfer box. This isn't exactly how land rover accomplished it, but the end result is near enough the same.
Exhaust wise, it's essentially the M52 downpipe mated to a TD5 silencer and backbox which is actually surprisingly quiet at idle and mild throttle but boot it, and it sounds delicious!
I can't take any credit for the wiring as this was previously fitted to another defender, as such he had done 80% of the wiring.
Driving wise,it's shockingly different to the 200tdi. I had a V8 with an autobox years ago and this is miles apart. Theres enough torque to trundle around at low revs but hold onto the revs and it really does fly!
I'd estimate that at around 6000rpm in 3rd it's doing just over 60, so there's clearly plenty of pace in it!
Since the photos I've got rid of the open air filter, and fitted an encased cartridge filter thing.
I've done maybe 500miles in it, and took it around the off-road track at billing where it was brilliant!
Moving forward, next step is to remove the LT230 which I'd recently put in as it appears to have an ungodly leak! Bit of an own goal on my part.
After that, one of the disco drop arm conversions as and replace the old, old shocks with some nice new bilsteins and OEM springs as it's leaning over on one side by a few degrees.
The aim long term is to get a lifting roof / pop top roof and part roll cage on it and just generally tidy it up and keep making it useable / habitable without going crazy.
It's not perfect yet, but so far it really does seem to be a vast improvement! 50mph in relative comfort and quietness in a defender??! Living the dream!
Assembled for a test / sanity check before ripping old engine out...
Trusty old 200tdi..
And its gone..
In with the new
[A pleasant milestone, sitting on its own mounts
Oil cooler for the R380 located behind the main rad
First mucky outing, to billing. Engine and gearbox behaved itself very well, transfer box not so!
Completed engine bay (the K&N has been replaced with a enclosed 300tdi canister type
A couple of OEM fans from a modern ish Peugot... These things shift air and the single Ebay fan I had sitting behind the rad couldnt keep up with the demands whilst slowly offroading. Unfortunalty they are push, rather than pull but I've actually managed to fit them quite neatly infront of the rad. I've got an override switch for complete control of them, and with them both running their is a hell of a lot of air moving through!
And thats about where it is at the moment. Regarding the straight six diesels, the M57 I know these are very good and probably better in many, many ways but I've always wanted a straight six TVR, and seeing as that isn't really going to happen any time soon if at all this does seem to have a very silly character to it, pop'ing and backing its way along and its actually suprisingly involving to drive!
Once the transfer box is dropped out, leak addressed and refitted I'll try and get a few videos of it on the road as there really isnt a great deal about these on the internet!
Very cool project, sir.
I've spent years playing around with Land Rovers and this is a conversion I've dreamt of.
I have so many questions
What engine mounts have you used?
Do you need to change the speedo / dials to work with this engine?
I assume your chassis is in good nic?
Over lockdown, a friend and I installed a 3.5 V8 into his Series 3. The engine just went straight in with very little fuss. We were both very surprised.
Keep up the good work
NG
I've spent years playing around with Land Rovers and this is a conversion I've dreamt of.
I have so many questions
What engine mounts have you used?
Do you need to change the speedo / dials to work with this engine?
I assume your chassis is in good nic?
Over lockdown, a friend and I installed a 3.5 V8 into his Series 3. The engine just went straight in with very little fuss. We were both very surprised.
Keep up the good work
NG
well done, i bet that an excellent thing to drive now!Networkgeek said:
Very cool project, sir.
I've spent years playing around with Land Rovers and this is a conversion I've dreamt of.
I have so many questions
What engine mounts have you used?
Do you need to change the speedo / dials to work with this engine?
I assume your chassis is in good nic?
Over lockdown, a friend and I installed a 3.5 V8 into his Series 3. The engine just went straight in with very little fuss. We were both very surprised.
Keep up the good work
NG
The mounts were made from the previous owner of the engine in his defender, and modified slightly to suit my defender as with the R380 V8 gearbox the engine sits slightly further forward as opposed to the P38 bell housing he used. (which is pretty much what LR did)I've spent years playing around with Land Rovers and this is a conversion I've dreamt of.
I have so many questions
What engine mounts have you used?
Do you need to change the speedo / dials to work with this engine?
I assume your chassis is in good nic?
Over lockdown, a friend and I installed a 3.5 V8 into his Series 3. The engine just went straight in with very little fuss. We were both very surprised.
Keep up the good work
NG
The mounts just sit on the same hockey puck mounts as the 200TDI, so theres no physical change to the chassis what so ever.
Speedo is driven by the spinny wire thing that goes into the transfer box, so nope, all stays orginal dash wise.
Chassis seems in reasonable condition, previous owner believes it is galvanised and covered in some sort of gooop, but it looks in good nick with no welding and is very clean beneath the grime!
When I'd fitted the new BMW engine, I'd changed the steering box from a 3 bolt to 4 bolt.
I'd also fitted a new droparm, which after a few hundred miles the ball joint cover was already nackered, as they are a bit of an enormous faff to remove it seemed easier to switch to the discovery drop arm.
The discovery uses a better arm, with a traditional ball joint that is easily removable, so upgraded to one of these with a kit from Gywn Lewis 4x4 and their sumo bar steering arms. Probably a massive overkill, but will hopefully tighten up the steering furthermore. The beauty of an old land rover is that it doubles up as a workbench!
Trying to fix the leak with LT230 aswell, I used soley the paper gasket to seal the inspection plate, but in hindsight I should have used RTV sealant and threadlock on the bolts. Also took the opourtunity to inspect the input gear.
This shows the 1.4 variant which is cross drilled, and the 1.6 from this transfer box which as far as I'm aware isnt available cross drilled - hence dries out the splines and was full of dry oil. I contemplated drilling holes, or taking it to have holes drilled but insteaed opted for a oil feed plate. *The 1.6 box fits much nicer with the revvy nature of the M52.
This was an official land rover mod / bodge, that will help to propell oil in to the centre of the shaft as its all being sloshed around the gearbox.
I'd also fitted a new droparm, which after a few hundred miles the ball joint cover was already nackered, as they are a bit of an enormous faff to remove it seemed easier to switch to the discovery drop arm.
The discovery uses a better arm, with a traditional ball joint that is easily removable, so upgraded to one of these with a kit from Gywn Lewis 4x4 and their sumo bar steering arms. Probably a massive overkill, but will hopefully tighten up the steering furthermore. The beauty of an old land rover is that it doubles up as a workbench!
Trying to fix the leak with LT230 aswell, I used soley the paper gasket to seal the inspection plate, but in hindsight I should have used RTV sealant and threadlock on the bolts. Also took the opourtunity to inspect the input gear.
This shows the 1.4 variant which is cross drilled, and the 1.6 from this transfer box which as far as I'm aware isnt available cross drilled - hence dries out the splines and was full of dry oil. I contemplated drilling holes, or taking it to have holes drilled but insteaed opted for a oil feed plate. *The 1.6 box fits much nicer with the revvy nature of the M52.
This was an official land rover mod / bodge, that will help to propell oil in to the centre of the shaft as its all being sloshed around the gearbox.
Bit of an update, all back together and seems to be better than ever!
I've done a little video showing faily gentle run up to 60.
https://youtube.com/shorts/oNTU1ZUFS5c?feature=sha...
Its miles more swift than the old 200tdi, perhaps not the fastest way to power a defender but it sounds delicious!
Next project is to sort a spare rear axle in to life and convert it from drums to discs to give a bit more stopping power.
I've done a little video showing faily gentle run up to 60.
https://youtube.com/shorts/oNTU1ZUFS5c?feature=sha...
Its miles more swift than the old 200tdi, perhaps not the fastest way to power a defender but it sounds delicious!
Next project is to sort a spare rear axle in to life and convert it from drums to discs to give a bit more stopping power.
Bit of an update, disc conversion is not yet fitted but pretty much built up and ready to go, bar brake pipe connectors / flaring details etc..
However, after the new year the car went to a small company called 'LR BITS' that fit lifting roofs to defender 90's & 110.
Frustratingly, mine was more expensive due to the older ealier 'oneten' roof with the ribs externally that had to be removed and reinforced but regardless, over the moon with it and can't wait to get out with it.
Also on the list is to block up the rear sliding windows and essentiually turn it into a 110 USW. I really don't want to faff about with the roof, and should have done it sooner, but I think I'll remove the windows and just rivet on a thin sheet than returns slightly around the corner..
However, after the new year the car went to a small company called 'LR BITS' that fit lifting roofs to defender 90's & 110.
Frustratingly, mine was more expensive due to the older ealier 'oneten' roof with the ribs externally that had to be removed and reinforced but regardless, over the moon with it and can't wait to get out with it.
Also on the list is to block up the rear sliding windows and essentiually turn it into a 110 USW. I really don't want to faff about with the roof, and should have done it sooner, but I think I'll remove the windows and just rivet on a thin sheet than returns slightly around the corner..
My Father-in-Law down in Durban, has a genuine one of these - albeit in 90 guise. It's a cracking bit of kit, and I tend to get the keys whenever I'm down there. They have somewhat of a cult following - there is one I know of, but haven't seen personally, that has an E36 M3 six (not sure if it's a 3.0 or 3.2), that is set up for long range bush work. Love the roof tent BTW.
I completely get the cult following, they are a lovely engine and it works suprisingly well in a Defender considering the comparative lack of low down grunt.
Roof tent is a comfortable two people, we have a 4 year old aswell and it will probably just about fit all of us at the moment.
Roof tent is a comfortable two people, we have a 4 year old aswell and it will probably just about fit all of us at the moment.
tommobot said:
I completely get the cult following, they are a lovely engine and it works suprisingly well in a Defender considering the comparative lack of low down grunt.
Apart from the V8, none of the classic Land Rover engines really had much in the way of low down grunt, in fact the engines were always the weak point of the design compared to competitors who managed to get larger and unstressed 4 cylinder turbo diesel or six cylinder petrol or diesel engines to the market.The Tdi and Td5 really need the turbo spinning to develop any power, I actually prefer the power delivery of my ancient petrol 4 cylinder for off roading you can use minimal revs and a high gear without it bogging down off road.
The BMW 6 cylinder is just a quality engine, and a good match for the 110, being quite a simple old fashioned design. They're actually not that bad on fuel either, which I always put down to the smoothness.
I've been helping a mate do up a Td5 110 (galvanised chassis and bulkhead) and would now quite like a coil sprung Landie, having always being a classics owner.
Newarch said:
The BMW 6 cylinder is just a quality engine, and a good match for the 110, being quite a simple old fashioned design. They're actually not that bad on fuel either, which I always put down to the smoothness.
I seem to be doing roughly just around 18-20mpg, and I don't think its 100% optimised and may be a tiny exhaust leak; so room for improvement.tommobot said:
Newarch said:
The BMW 6 cylinder is just a quality engine, and a good match for the 110, being quite a simple old fashioned design. They're actually not that bad on fuel either, which I always put down to the smoothness.
I seem to be doing roughly just around 18-20mpg, and I don't think its 100% optimised and may be a tiny exhaust leak; so room for improvement.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff