Land Rover 88' Lightweight Engine Conversion
Discussion
I have an old LR ex-military Lightweight with a 2.25 petrol engine in it, that I'm thinking of putting a bigger engine in to make it a bit more fun/ usable.
Does anyone know what engines can easily be swapped in without too much difficulty/ know of anyone that's done this?
I'd appreciate any ideas you have, all foolish large capacity V8 suggestions welcome too
Does anyone know what engines can easily be swapped in without too much difficulty/ know of anyone that's done this?
I'd appreciate any ideas you have, all foolish large capacity V8 suggestions welcome too
Have a look here...
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f6/lightweight-engin...
It seems the 200tdi sans turbo is the easiest route...
I guess it's a case of how much you want to spend... and how good you are with the spanners/welder if you're DIY...
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f6/lightweight-engin...
It seems the 200tdi sans turbo is the easiest route...
I guess it's a case of how much you want to spend... and how good you are with the spanners/welder if you're DIY...
I a 200Tdi into a SWB Series (or Lightweight) is not too difficult. I agree that it is not all easy spanner work and there are some brackets that will need making for mounting the radiator, header tank and air filter box. Steve Parker also makes a full exhaust system to fit, but it is possible to make one up using the system off the (likely to be) Discovery donor.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
thanks Dave, that's great.
Do you know of anyone that's gone the V8 route? I'd like it to be a little less chug-a-chug if possible, and my experience of LR diesels tells me that it'll only be fractionally less juicy (even less so than LPG) and only fractionally more pokey.
It doesn't have to set the world alight of course- god knows even with new brakes, it wouldn't cope with that, and I don't want to have to do the brakes, suspension etc too- but if I'm going to spend the money and make the effort (it'll probably be me doing the majority of the work) it needs to be distinctly different to where it is now. And by this I of course mean faster and have a higher top speed than 55mph, so that I could at least over-take caravans should I feel so decadent.
Id love to go to somewhere like RPI but unfortunately having spoken with them it's likely to cost 6.5k at least. One day, though- one day....
Do you know of anyone that's gone the V8 route? I'd like it to be a little less chug-a-chug if possible, and my experience of LR diesels tells me that it'll only be fractionally less juicy (even less so than LPG) and only fractionally more pokey.
It doesn't have to set the world alight of course- god knows even with new brakes, it wouldn't cope with that, and I don't want to have to do the brakes, suspension etc too- but if I'm going to spend the money and make the effort (it'll probably be me doing the majority of the work) it needs to be distinctly different to where it is now. And by this I of course mean faster and have a higher top speed than 55mph, so that I could at least over-take caravans should I feel so decadent.
Id love to go to somewhere like RPI but unfortunately having spoken with them it's likely to cost 6.5k at least. One day, though- one day....
andyb66 said:
I a 200Tdi into a SWB Series (or Lightweight) is not too difficult. I agree that it is not all easy spanner work and there are some brackets that will need making for mounting the radiator, header tank and air filter box. Steve Parker also makes a full exhaust system to fit, but it is possible to make one up using the system off the (likely to be) Discovery donor.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
did you do one then, Andy? how is it for drive-ability now? Can it handle a dual carriageway?Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
nervous said:
thanks Dave, that's great.
Do you know of anyone that's gone the V8 route? I'd like it to be a little less chug-a-chug if possible, and my experience of LR diesels tells me that it'll only be fractionally less juicy (even less so than LPG) and only fractionally more pokey.
It doesn't have to set the world alight of course- god knows even with new brakes, it wouldn't cope with that, and I don't want to have to do the brakes, suspension etc too- but if I'm going to spend the money and make the effort (it'll probably be me doing the majority of the work) it needs to be distinctly different to where it is now. And by this I of course mean faster and have a higher top speed than 55mph, so that I could at least over-take caravans should I feel so decadent.
Id love to go to somewhere like RPI but unfortunately having spoken with them it's likely to cost 6.5k at least. One day, though- one day....
Yeah...Do you know of anyone that's gone the V8 route? I'd like it to be a little less chug-a-chug if possible, and my experience of LR diesels tells me that it'll only be fractionally less juicy (even less so than LPG) and only fractionally more pokey.
It doesn't have to set the world alight of course- god knows even with new brakes, it wouldn't cope with that, and I don't want to have to do the brakes, suspension etc too- but if I'm going to spend the money and make the effort (it'll probably be me doing the majority of the work) it needs to be distinctly different to where it is now. And by this I of course mean faster and have a higher top speed than 55mph, so that I could at least over-take caravans should I feel so decadent.
Id love to go to somewhere like RPI but unfortunately having spoken with them it's likely to cost 6.5k at least. One day, though- one day....
http://www.hayward4x4.com/downloads/LRELightweight...
Will you f
k off now please, you're making me want one!!! 
nervous said:
andyb66 said:
I a 200Tdi into a SWB Series (or Lightweight) is not too difficult. I agree that it is not all easy spanner work and there are some brackets that will need making for mounting the radiator, header tank and air filter box. Steve Parker also makes a full exhaust system to fit, but it is possible to make one up using the system off the (likely to be) Discovery donor.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
did you do one then, Andy? how is it for drive-ability now? Can it handle a dual carriageway?Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
I used a 300TDI intercooler as the pipe outlets were better placed
300TDI intercooler and 200tdi radiator in a standard frame will fit without modification
You need to chop off the end of the waterpump.
Some people fit electric fans but I haven't bothered - no overheating in 18 months.
You can rotate the turbo housing to give better pipe runs and avoid the need to chop a lump out of the inner wing if you have a large pair of cirplip pliars
You'll need range rover diffs as a minimum, but it will easily pull an overdrive as well
It's a brilliant conversion IHO; mine does around 35 to the gallon now - significantly better than the knackered petrol engine that I took out! I know that some people don't fit the turbo, but really it's not that much extra work to include it. If you're going to the trouble of changing the engine I can't see why you wouldn't leave the turbo on.
Some people find that the 200tdi vibrates a lot at tick over. It does vibrate more than the petrol, but I haven't found it intrusive. If you're handy with a welder you could adapt 200tdi engine mounts to fit, which should help, or the series mounts bolt straight it.
HTH - go for it I'd say!
Dave^ said:
Yeah...
http://www.hayward4x4.com/downloads/LRELightweight...
Will you fk off now please, you're making me want one!!!
http://www.hayward4x4.com/downloads/LRELightweight...
Will you f
k off now please, you're making me want one!!! smn159 said:
nervous said:
andyb66 said:
I a 200Tdi into a SWB Series (or Lightweight) is not too difficult. I agree that it is not all easy spanner work and there are some brackets that will need making for mounting the radiator, header tank and air filter box. Steve Parker also makes a full exhaust system to fit, but it is possible to make one up using the system off the (likely to be) Discovery donor.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
did you do one then, Andy? how is it for drive-ability now? Can it handle a dual carriageway?Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
I used a 300TDI intercooler as the pipe outlets were better placed
300TDI intercooler and 200tdi radiator in a standard frame will fit without modification
You need to chop off the end of the waterpump.
Some people fit electric fans but I haven't bothered - no overheating in 18 months.
You can rotate the turbo housing to give better pipe runs and avoid the need to chop a lump out of the inner wing if you have a large pair of cirplip pliars
You'll need range rover diffs as a minimum, but it will easily pull an overdrive as well
It's a brilliant conversion IHO; mine does around 35 to the gallon now - significantly better than the knackered petrol engine that I took out! I know that some people don't fit the turbo, but really it's not that much extra work to include it. If you're going to the trouble of changing the engine I can't see why you wouldn't leave the turbo on.
Some people find that the 200tdi vibrates a lot at tick over. It does vibrate more than the petrol, but I haven't found it intrusive. If you're handy with a welder you could adapt 200tdi engine mounts to fit, which should help, or the series mounts bolt straight it.
HTH - go for it I'd say!
nervous said:
smn159 said:
nervous said:
andyb66 said:
I a 200Tdi into a SWB Series (or Lightweight) is not too difficult. I agree that it is not all easy spanner work and there are some brackets that will need making for mounting the radiator, header tank and air filter box. Steve Parker also makes a full exhaust system to fit, but it is possible to make one up using the system off the (likely to be) Discovery donor.
Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
did you do one then, Andy? how is it for drive-ability now? Can it handle a dual carriageway?Off the 2.25 petrol engine you will need the mounts, the alternator bracket and the clutch as well as other odds and ends and hoses etc.
I used a 300TDI intercooler as the pipe outlets were better placed
300TDI intercooler and 200tdi radiator in a standard frame will fit without modification
You need to chop off the end of the waterpump.
Some people fit electric fans but I haven't bothered - no overheating in 18 months.
You can rotate the turbo housing to give better pipe runs and avoid the need to chop a lump out of the inner wing if you have a large pair of cirplip pliars
You'll need range rover diffs as a minimum, but it will easily pull an overdrive as well
It's a brilliant conversion IHO; mine does around 35 to the gallon now - significantly better than the knackered petrol engine that I took out! I know that some people don't fit the turbo, but really it's not that much extra work to include it. If you're going to the trouble of changing the engine I can't see why you wouldn't leave the turbo on.
Some people find that the 200tdi vibrates a lot at tick over. It does vibrate more than the petrol, but I haven't found it intrusive. If you're handy with a welder you could adapt 200tdi engine mounts to fit, which should help, or the series mounts bolt straight it.
HTH - go for it I'd say!
Rover V8 is the way to go.
A friend has just swapped the 2.25 out of his SII without too much difficulty. Finding an adaptor plate for the gearbox took a little while, but the only items that took any real skill were fabricating the engine mounts and exhaust.
If you have the space, have a go yourself. You can rent an engine hoist when it is needed, and get a local mobile welder in to to the engine mounts if you can't do it.
Stick to a carb fed V8 and the only additional electrics that you'll need to sort out is an electric fan (there's no room left for the viscous one.
A friend has just swapped the 2.25 out of his SII without too much difficulty. Finding an adaptor plate for the gearbox took a little while, but the only items that took any real skill were fabricating the engine mounts and exhaust.
If you have the space, have a go yourself. You can rent an engine hoist when it is needed, and get a local mobile welder in to to the engine mounts if you can't do it.
Stick to a carb fed V8 and the only additional electrics that you'll need to sort out is an electric fan (there's no room left for the viscous one.
it comes to certain time when people stop 'killing' decent Land Rovers and start looking after them-- Lightweights were V6 & V8 engined to death in the late 80's and 90's --plenty of choice from Steve parker Land Rovers for conversion kits.
http://www.steveparkers.co.uk/categories.php?cat=2...
It is frowned upon to turn good 80 series ones into trialers these days !
Why not stay with the engine you have and do some modifications to it to get more power?
Saves the gearbox problems / exhaust problems and having to change diffs etc....crankshaft spigot/or main shaft interface etc.
http://www.automotivecomp.com/landrover_perf.html
http://www.steveparkers.co.uk/categories.php?cat=2...
It is frowned upon to turn good 80 series ones into trialers these days !
Why not stay with the engine you have and do some modifications to it to get more power?
Saves the gearbox problems / exhaust problems and having to change diffs etc....crankshaft spigot/or main shaft interface etc.
http://www.automotivecomp.com/landrover_perf.html
budrover said:
Why not stay with the engine you have and do some modifications to it to get more power?
Saves the gearbox problems / exhaust problems and having to change diffs etc....crankshaft spigot/or main shaft interface etc.
http://www.automotivecomp.com/landrover_perf.html
looking at those prices, I would say that the reason not to is that it's massively not cost-effective, especially when the engine you're tweaking is 32 years old and probably already very tired. Saves the gearbox problems / exhaust problems and having to change diffs etc....crankshaft spigot/or main shaft interface etc.
http://www.automotivecomp.com/landrover_perf.html
I like the idea tho. Less hassle, same gains, same cost would be excellent.
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