Engine rebuild/replacement/upgrade for '95 Disco 3.9l

[skrufy]

HI-

as to how /where my Disco engine now goes "clank" is another story- towed home last night at midnight over the pass at 8500", freezing temps- by a JEEP.....

question: the forum archives really don't have a lot of threads on this one, and/or maybe I'm not asking the search engine the right question.... haven't dropped the pan yet or valve covers, but am expecting the worst, and frankly don't have the time right now to even think about fooling with it- need to get it up and running asap....

anyway- what are the thoughts out there on rebuilt engines- upgrades, more horsepower, where to buy, long vs short block, etc.... don't think 3.9l mix with 4.0l- I think there were too many changes between the 95 and 96/later Discos- don't know that to be true personally, just snippets of info gathered here and there..... I am a LR gearhead with lots of tools( always looking for an excuse to buy more....)- but really don't need this right now- not that anybody else ever needs it either..... will most likely take it to a local shop that has always proven to be very honest/reliable- so if there are any improvements to be done, the time/$$ would be now.....

thanks-
Tim

as usual, many thanks for the help and thoughts

 

[robertf]

4.0 fits fine where a 3.9 used to be

you need a crank spacer ,timing gear with the teeth ground off works fine


don't buy from rover cannibal, unless you like missing dowel pins and cosmoline instead of assembly lube

 

[skrufy]

Robertf-

thanks for the input-

-what kind of crank spacer is needed for the 4.0 engine, and how much/why do the teeth need to be ground down on the timing gear.....?

-I would like have just to have a drop in long block crate engine, and as such would the timing gear need to be modified in such a case? does the fuel injection bolt on as well..?

-besides the slightly larger displacement of the 4.0 engine, are there any performance advantages with the 4.0? like specifically more HP? a little more horsepower in the mountains where I live would be nice, because the 3.9 is such a pig sometimes.....

-I know all kinds of mods can be done with engines- the wonders that can be done with a small block Chevy- but then you get into the ECM stuff and trying to mod all that- or do you really need to?

if you care to, send me a private email with a phone # and I can call you.....

thanks-

Tim

 

[robertf]

3.9 and 4.0 are the same size

 

[Robbie]

4.2 from a RRC LWB is a direct swap. changed out a 3.9 to a 4.2 block in my '95 Disco.

 

[Yadranco]

I remmember somebody once asked about available engines for swap in Discovery.I was looking into it and found these guys in Canada, I belive in Halifax.They instal International diesel engines.I have no afiliation with them, this is just for let every one know.But I am curious though.

http://www.obwcanada.com/gallery/index.php

 

[Disco Jo]

hell go for the 4.6

 

[rover4x4]

4.2

 

[Roverdoc]

Ben Little has a newly rebuilt from the ground up for sale in the for sale section. Save yourself the hassle and drop this one in. Plug and play.

 

[ptschram]

As this is a '95, the 4.0 shouldn't even need the spacer as the existing front over has the crank-driven oil pump. Same with a 4.6.

Non-serpentine engines can be swapped in if either the front cover is swapped, or the truck is converted to non-serpentine. It's not that big of a deal.

Don't even consider a diesel or other manufacturer's engine unless your wallet is bottomless. I'm currently working up a quotation to put a M/B diesel into a Classic and it's getting expensive quickly.