Replacement engine

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Terry Mc

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Hi All,

Newbie and recent convert to LR.

Have a 2003 Discovery 2 and am not happy with the power output, and would like an auto gearbox.

Has anyone here ever installed something like a BMW 3 litre twin turbo with an auto box in a D2?

Or are there any drivetrains better suited.

Any advice appreciated.
 

joey

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I have heard a chevy 350 or 5.7 liter for those not familiar being put into a Discovery. I have also heard of several diesel engines.
 

BeemerNut

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As Joey mentioned 5.7 chebbie install which has become a popular and cheap item over the years.
Your lucky to have the 4.6 vs 4.0, don't forget a 3.9 WAS in my 95 D1 5-speed. Same year D1's with auto were a total **** vs the 5 -speed. My vehicles must have manuals.
An aftermarket chip sold by RPI V8's across the pond if they have one for your engine also wakes them up, a big difference like going from a 3.9 to a 4.6 right off the bat.
Aftermarket cam, roller timing chain, mild head work, porting, cleanup and especially port matching including the intake and exhaust manifolds wakes them up big time. Don't forget an aftermarket exhaust like Borla's "Cat Back" as well installing Magnaflow high flow cats. Intake manifold extension project I machined now at 2,715 rpm max torque vs 3,100 stock. It pulls from 500 rpm's, pick any gear to 5,900 with full proper fueling by the RPI chip. RPI buys the chip off the inventor making a buck, recall Dave Smith or Brown the LR chip maker???
I haven't a clue what injectors you have, I bet Lucas dribbles. My case factory stock single hole Lucas dribbles of the 80's era crap LR used. I made up a balanced set (within 3/4% flows, 300 to 7,500 rpm injector pulse & duty cycle tester build a set of 4-hole Ford injectors which look identical to Bosch that again woke up the overall driving fun. Cold ram air intake another performance improvement.
I did this plus more to the 4.6 install back in 02 turning a slow **** 3.9 to a fun vehicle to drive. Best part it passes smog here in Kalifornia that is too clean on their **** smog machines.
Oh, years ago before the 5.7 chebbie installs became the hot setup, I was branded years before as an A-hole for trying to make a hot rod out of my "leave it alone they are slow" Land Rover. Last time I checked your 03 only had 217 hp, i'm at 255 hp on the engine dyno not enough to cause drive train damage unless driving it like you stole it. Torque off idle pulls way better than stock 4.6. I now have a engine that LR should of produced years ago. This a street use only D1 with stiffer cornering suspension the main goal.
My choice for engine swaps would be a 88 3.5 litre inline six gas BMW engine, with a little of work out to 3.7 litre with a Getrag 5 speed which BMW also use. An engine that produces 400+ reliable hp plus gobs of torque. My son picked up a 745 BMW engine (turbo 3.5) a gray market engine for his 325is BMW swap.
I bet a Rover engine swap would fail the visual smog inspection especially here in Kalifornia. That is why I believe in and kept the 4.6 engine.
.....~~=o&o>......
 
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Terry Mc

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Yikes....I've got 5 *** diesel right now!Gas prices in euro are mental, so diesel is the only way!!!
 

BeemerNut

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Diesel engines in the US have been a battle allowing them, rather sad as they are clean running not like the diesels of the 70's era.
I believe VW and BMW diesels are finally allowed stateside.
Europe has high gasoline prices I found this out as I was in England during the "storm of the century" in London.
Gassed up heading north when the storm hit, thought the price was cheap until I found out by the litre not gallon. Little 2.3 litre Mercedes was a hoot to drive with the right hand drive. I have one of your cars from your country, 81 DMC in storage with 314 original miles. Heavy accent you Irish have, recall waiting out the storm in a McDonalds. A bunch of college kids from northern Ireland.
Never forgot the old Austn taxi cabs that rattled like crazy at idle then under power feeling every power pulse shifting what felt like at 1,000 rpm's.
Do you have vehicle smog checks in Ireland and how often? Every 24 months in Kalifornia. A breeze to pass, readjust throttle position sensor and remove the ram air intake. Reinstall air intake snorkel, ready to test. A whole 2 minutes to convert back to happy running engine again.

Prost, Carl.....~~=o&o>.....
 

BeemerNut

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Hi All,

Newbie and recent convert to LR.

Have a 2003 Discovery 2 and am not happy with the power output, and would like an auto gearbox.

Has anyone here ever installed something like a BMW 3 litre twin turbo with an auto box in a D2?

Or are there any drivetrains better suited.

Any advice appreciated.

Terry, a couple years ago I ran across a "YOYA-TOY" mechanic that picked up a 94 D1 which barely ran and acted like a Stanley steamer.
Toyota.
Hi All,

Newbie and recent convert to LR.

Have a 2003 Discovery 2 and am not happy with the power output, and would like an auto gearbox.

Has anyone here ever installed something like a BMW 3 litre twin turbo with an auto box in a D2?

Or are there any drivetrains better suited.

Any advice appreciated.

Terry, I ran across a Toyota dealership mechanic which had a 94 D1 steam engine who installed the D1 body on a complete 5.7 4 x 4 Toyota PU frame. Modified frame to fit D1 body onto which he has been very happy with. Reliable as hell, no failures, runs great plus cheaper parts should it ever fail. Failures and Toyota's do not go together as Land Rover already has that part of the market cornered.
.....~~=o&o>........
 
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afchiefw

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Following...

I have an 01 D2, roughly 135,000 miles. Still running good. Did a head gasket job and tune up around 120,000, but no real engine work. That being said, I repeatedly/sporadically get a SERVICE ENGINE light that points to an issue with Cylinder 8. I was able to pass the "Kalifornia" smog test (while the engine light was off by it's own accord, which was good because if light is on, it's an auto failure, which also would mean I couldn't drive/license). I have wised up and left CA for FL (no smog test among a plethora of other reasons)... however have always wondered about a different engine that would get more than the 15mpg and under powered performance.

Anyway, have had my Disco for over a decade and has served me well, including many a trip into the Rocky Mt's all by myself and Rover Dealership trips and always eager to see what ideas are out there since many of the after market shops (Atlantic British or what ever they are now) are slowly running out of things for Disco's...
 

BeemerNut

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afchiefw, i'm amazed any 3.9, 4.0 or 4.6 has gone 132K with the factory cam, lifters and timing gear set as these Rovers have all these parts worn out by 60K miles. A slow death hence you not noticing the slow power reduction from new. Your still ahead by double the mileage of the newer "high tech 5.0s" with failing timing chain clanking noises plus chain slippers wearing out problems not counting their $9K dealership repair bills posted.
I can pull my friends boat and trailer which weighs 2,700 pounds and still pull away from his boat towing 99 Discovery from a dead stop. Can tach out at 4,400 rpms in 5th with 255/65-16 tyres, mph top end?
Took ownership of the 95 D1 in January 2000, first thoughts that 3.9 had to go but waited until late 2001 before the 7yr/100K extended warranty expired, the 3.9 expired first hence the 4.6 factory new shortblock installed under warranty. While waiting for shortblock to arrive at dealership I snatched the heads, intake and exhaust manifolds. Light valve job, port matched intake, heads and exhaust manifolds plus some mild porting. Aftermarket cam, lifters, plus true roller timing set, cam advanced 2 1/2 degrees. Mark Adams chip, high flow cats with Borla cat back exhaust plus 4 hole spray pattern injectors (balanced set). Cold ram air intake. Went from a slow D1 I hated it a GEO would blow me away to a fun vehicle that also gained 2 1/2 mpg. Didn't buy this D1 because of their great gas mileage. My 1905, 1925, 1928 and 1936 houses are still standing here in sunny Calif. as I have a big fear of a tornado striking plus I hate the high humidity Florida has to offer. Best of luck with your LR beast.....
 

nasdisco

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Plenty of reasons to work up and make sure what you have is running 100%.
 

BeemerNut

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Plenty of reasons to work up and make sure what you have is running 100%.

The question is, for how long in hours or minutes and miles driven having all systems functioning at 100%? It's a test owning anything British and unique that draws us to ownership. I like a good challenge and I got one, so far i'm winning.
 

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