Engine Conversion Kit

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
What is the best engine for a DI?

An RV8!

Keep in mind the RV8 is a Yank engine
While I agree on the engine being the correct engine. It was explained to me that Rover was in Detroit meeting with GM for some reason and saw that GM was scrapping the 262 V8. They bought the equipment and saved it from the scrap pile.
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
While I agree on the engine being the correct engine. It was explained to me that Rover was in Detroit meeting with GM for some reason and saw that GM was scrapping the 262 V8. They bought the equipment and saved it from the scrap pile.
Close. This is a good source on how it came to be:
 
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4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
So this is going to sound way more snarky than I mean it too. But when Land Rover releases a batch of full restored old school Defenders, they all have motors that never came in Rovers. Not a 3.9,4.0, or 4.6 in the bunch. From a company that should clearly have access to the best of those parts. For me I think the argument could be made that an engine swap should be done due to a lack of quality parts to rebuild the factory units, especially the 4.6. Again , I mean no disrespect to the people that feel differently, just something I noticed when reading about the JLR releases of the prior versions of Defenders.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
1996 Disco 1, 4.0 Litre

I am just starting to look into the conversion of my old Landy to the Chevy engine.
There seems to be several vendors with the conversion kits.
What is the best one for a Disco 1 ?
I have done 3 engine changes so far and this one is not going to last so it may be time to put it a Yank Tank engine.

TNX
Roy


View attachment 63363
If I was going to convert a diesel into a Disco1 I would be looking for a conversion kit from your military. I’ve seen a very impressive Defender with an Isuzu engine.
I was told that the Australian military was converting the diesel Defenders to the Isuzu engine. That truck had no problem doing anything.
 

modernbeat

Member
Aug 19, 2017
18
4
Dallas, TX
An ax15 shifter ends up in the right spot using the RW kit

The AX15 shifter position works fine for a Defender, but it ends up where the transfer case shifter should be for a RRC/D1.
And the TR4050/NV4500 shifter ends up under the dash.
That's from my measurements and RW-Engineering Marks comments.
If you have proof that it fits, I'd like to see photos.

Marks reply to my question about the AX15 and RRC:

#198 · Jun 2, 2022

modernbeat said:
How does the AX15 shifter position work out?
Making brackets to hold the LT230 shifter?

It looks like you add a thick clocking ring to your adapter for use with the AX15.

I'm considering the AX15 swap for my RRC and as far as I can tell the AX15 shifter will be coming up through the console where the current transfer case shifter is.
That would be OK if I could squeeze the transfer case shifter behind it.
The ax15/nv4500... Shifter will land under the dash. No manual solution for D1/D2/RRC other than R380.
 
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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,485
375
4.6, 53229 camshaft, done
The camshaft is what am undecided about for my engine. As mine is GEMS, does it matter that the 53229 has a gear to drive the distributor?

Edit… assuming it had a distributor gear from the picture on Summit’s webpage. Does it actually have a distributor gear?
 
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robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,778
354
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The camshaft is what am undecided about for my engine. As mine is GEMS, does it matter that the 53229 has a gear to drive the distributor?

Edit… assuming it had a distributor gear from the picture on Summit’s webpage. Does it actually have a distributor gear?
50229 is for distributor, 53229 is for non distributor.

dont do the 53228. Ive got cam regret on one of my 4.6 d1s cause of that
 
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