Defender V8 - fitting 3.9 exhaust manifolds

[Ranger 6]

I've got some 3.9 manifolds for my 90 V8.

The 3.9 downpipes/Y pipe appear to go straight into the crossmember, however the 3.5 efi parts would seem to go over the crossmember.

Any thoughts on what's the best solution?

[Ranger 6]

Thanks, that’s the pipes I’ve got

It was this RRC 3.5 EFI that made me think it’s an alternative.

[Ranger 6]

Interesting - I'd prefer the larger bore pipes to enhance the noise (and power?)

I've managed to win a TD5 exhaust on eBay quite reasonably so will see if I can join the pipes I've got. I'm watching for a crossmember so the whole;e thing is coming together slowly.

[Ranger 6]

I've now got the fanny-molds, the downpipes, system and D1 cross member. The next stage is all the nuts, bolts and sundries to actually fit all this. There will be some extra welding to get the cross member to fit.

[Ranger 6]

After some time here's a lockdown update.....

It's all on - the last piece is going to be the hanger for the middle box which will be the last piece.

There was a bit of fettling to be done to get it to fit properly.



The final piece has been to fit some new needles so the engine breathes properly. After some considerable online research I chose BBW. With a check on mintylamb's tool http://www.mintylamb.co.uk/suneedle/ the comparison with the standard BGC suggested the should be an improvement. The other suggestion I looked at was BDR (100SRV on another thread), but that looked a bit rich at the top end.



From a run round the block just to check things it really does seem to have transformed the car. The deeper breathing enabled by the manifolds has given the car greater 'legs'. It pulls now in fifth gear, which used to be just a breathless overdrive and low rev pickup has been improved with the needle change.

The next step is to get the timing/mixture etc checked...... and all the other maintenance that a 33 year old Land Rover needs

[Ranger 6]

Basically yes, the manifolds are 3.9 either RRC or disco. The down pipes are RRC not discovery and no cats. Then the system is a TD5. The joint to the down pipes is the two bolt connection as the picture. I can take more photos if it would help.

The down pipe to system joint isn’t perfect and needed some tweaking. The hangers and cross member also need ‘adjusting’.

The sound is good, light throttle/cruising is quiet and when you’re pushing on it’s nicely ‘throaty’ without being excessive.

Drop me a PM as I think you may be close enough to meet (I’m in Surrey) I’ve got a 3.9 which is in pieces ready for crack testing etc before a rebuild.

[Ranger 6]

Funnily enough I stripped the system off the other week as the V8 downpipe to system joint was leaking.

Now waiting for the clutch to start slipping as the pedal is really high.