Range Rover Classic fitted with a 6 cylinder VM Turbo Diesel

[rocket377]

Found a Classic Range Rover today thats fitted with a 6 cylinder VM boat engine.....

Apparently its a 4 litre engine, but I cant find out much about it.

Anyone familiar with the conversion?

[300bhp/ton]

I don't think its a common conversion, so I doubt you'll find reams of info out. I'd take it as a one off.

The VM's diesels have a great rep in the marine world as I understand it. I suspect it won't have much in the way of revs, but probably has some descent low end grunt.

[Lucas CAV]

WAsn't a VM engine an original option in the classic?

pre TDi 200 days

[300bhp/ton]

Lucas CAV said:

WAsn't a VM engine an original option in the classic?

pre TDi 200 days

Yes. But not a 6 pot Marine unit. We had an 89 Vogue with the 2.5 VM TD unit. Good engine and easily out performed a stock tdi.

[Jem0911]

I had a Rover 825TD with the VM engine from the marine world.
Loved the lazy torque.
Hated the boat handling.

[moose6x6]

Hi, the VM is or was designed for boats, I had a 6 cylinder VM 3.6lt in a Range Rover, it would rev to over 4,500 rpm. I would like to know more about the one you have found if possible please

[DaveBenyon]

I don't claim to be an expert on this but those VM HR (high revving) engines were originally designed for marine use. The first use in a car was by Alfa Romeo. Unfortunately some car makers did poor installations Land Rover for example who used a viscous coupled fan and an oil cooler combined with the radiator. Other niceties included a temperature sensor in the radiator input pipe. This meant that once all the water and steam has gone, the driver thinks the engine is cooling down. Been there done that! The Rover 825SD had a far superior installation. Temperature sensor in the head, SEPARATE oil cooler, water pump behind the engine so when going uphill it doesn't get starved of water, ELECTRIC fan, excellent overheat alarm. AFAIK these VMs came in 3,4,5 and 6 cylinder versions. BMW Marine used a VM engine for their D636 (diesel, 6 cylinder, 3.6 litres) and rated at about 150 to 180HP. Mercury used a 4.2 litre version with their Bravo drive. With all these engines it is important to use proper turbo-rated oil as I knew someone who had a theory that ordinary £2.99 per gallon 20/50 would be OK if it was changed regularly. Well the oil WAS OK during the running-in period. After three months the man decided that the engine was run-in and adjusted up the fuelling screw on the injection pump. After enjoying giving it the "loud pedal" problems occurred as within a fortnight the engine was smoking and running rough. The bores were scuffed and scored. Although the BMW D636 engine is very good I have heard reports of crankshaft breakage! Possibly in marine use the engines get run at a constant speed where a resonance sets in. (or more likely people let water get in the cylinders) Some British Range Rovers were customised with the 3.6 litre engine (done before the 4.2 came out) These are very rare.

[Paw]

There was an article in land rover owners earlier this year. There were a very rare conversion done at the time, from mem there was less the 20.

Try a search on the LRO forum .

Paw

[P100]

remember seeing one of these a few years ago !! IIRC it went very well indeed and would have pulled your house along easily..
The car was from Andorra, but the owner had a fleet for VIP transfers.

They are good reliable engines, if not the most quietest....Jeep and Chrysler use them in their cars and as has been said, land Rover did fit the 2,4 and 2,5 4 pot units. Like any engine they do not like to be overheated so pay attention to the cooling side!

[bakerstreet]

I think the classics were fitted with the same 2.5TD engine that was fitted to the jeep Cherokee and grand Cherokee.

They have a terrible reputation. Individual cylinder heads and individual head gaskets and they can cause lots of grief and parts are very expensive too for the constantly warping heads.