Has anyone ever tried swapping out the engines for a 'merican motor. Besides engine mounts what would be the problems swapping one out? The intake and stuff on my '96 "looks" a lot like a 88 mustang 5.0 I had. Could you swap out a 5.0 for the rover motor. Also could you just have a custom torque converter to connect to the trani? I was thinking about all the old land cruisers that they dump 350's in, could we do something like that???
Engine swap
- Thread starter lynden
- Start date
If you have the time and the $$$ anything could be done. The question is why? 
If you want a Ford 350, buy a Bronco with a 350. It would be a lot cheaper.
If you want a Ford 350, buy a Bronco with a 350. It would be a lot cheaper.Well, in my case I have a '96 w/ 245/75's and the cheap bastard lift. I try to pull a 16 ft snowmobile trailer and sometimes feel like I'm going backwards. If you haven't noticed, there aren't a lot of performance modifications for the 4.0 motor. The whopping 188 hp put out by the motor is pretty pathetic when pulling something. I like the idea of the 4.6 w/ 220 hp but still would like a little more hp. At least a 302 or 350 has hundreds of parts you can slap on to get more hp from the motor. I like my rig and don't really want to buy a truck just to pull my trailer...
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IcePick
Guest
Dave Smith said:If you have the time and the $$$ anything could be done. The question is why?
Sigh......................Ford, 350?? LOL! iGnOrAnCe.
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Todd Nash
Guest
Chevy = 350
Dave,
That's the point. He was being a bit of a turd about it.
Ford doesn't classically make a 350. They did have the 351 in the Bronco. Or a 6 cylinder 300 cubic inch motor or a 400ci motor.
Chevy makes the famous 350.
Nash
Dave,
That's the point. He was being a bit of a turd about it.
Ford doesn't classically make a 350. They did have the 351 in the Bronco. Or a 6 cylinder 300 cubic inch motor or a 400ci motor.
Chevy makes the famous 350.
Nash
lynden said:
In addition to motor mounts, you'll need to swap radiator, transmission, transfer case, and axle shafts - they are all marginally capable of handling the heat, torque and power of the current motor.
well ask yourself this question, did you buy your disco to tow?lynden said:
IMO if your gonna tow, a larger truck such as a F250 or a 2500HD is in order, if you tow frequently
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Todd Nash
Guest
Disco Okay
I'm not sure about needing a huge truck to pull a snowmobile or two.
I tow my bass boat around and its no problem. A big-ass Dodge Ram Diesel would do it easier, but cripes. Lots of jokers tow boats and jetskis with normal cars. Nothing like an Impala dragging a boat with its muffler 1inch from the pavement.
Maybe they don't go 100mph, but they get it done.
Nash
I'm not sure about needing a huge truck to pull a snowmobile or two.
I tow my bass boat around and its no problem. A big-ass Dodge Ram Diesel would do it easier, but cripes. Lots of jokers tow boats and jetskis with normal cars. Nothing like an Impala dragging a boat with its muffler 1inch from the pavement.
Maybe they don't go 100mph, but they get it done.
Nash
true, but it seems like performance is an issue w/ him, and all i was saying is that when towing and wanting the best performance you should look at a large truck. besides, if he drops a ford or chevy motor/trans/tcase in it is it really a rover anymore?Todd Nash said:
Couldn't you just build the rover motor up and get 250-300 hp. you know bore it out new cam, different piston, chip all that stuff. seems like that would be easier than trying to mate a different motor and trans in. Probably cheaper? Just a thought
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ShaunP
Guest
Mark's adaptors here in OZ makes a kit to fit a Chev small block to Disco's and Rangie classic, mounts bellhousing, torque convertor adaptor etc. LS1 would be the go I reckon.
http://www.marks4wd.com/RR-Chevy-V6-V8.html
It looks like Advance adpators are the US dealer.
http://www.marks4wd.com/RR-Chevy-V6-V8.html
It looks like Advance adpators are the US dealer.
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Todd Nash
Guest
4.6L Conversion
The 4.6L conversion is straight forward. I know of a guy here in NC who has done several fairly cheaply. Let me know if you want his info.
There are several recent threads about this as well. I've not tried to coax out more HP, but it appears several people have already done the research.
Nash
The 4.6L conversion is straight forward. I know of a guy here in NC who has done several fairly cheaply. Let me know if you want his info.
There are several recent threads about this as well. I've not tried to coax out more HP, but it appears several people have already done the research.
Nash
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Kyle
Guest
Well I will start by sayuing that there are lenty of mods for the 4.0 and 3.9. Buy a crate engine and drop it off at any machinist that has plenty of experience and he can do whatever you want. You can have manifolds (Intake and exhaust) extrude honed as wella s the heads to free it up after the bottom end work has been done. There is plenty to be had there. Its just not main stream yet....
Kyle is right. Any modification that can be made to other mainstream US V-8s can be made to the 3.5, 3.9, & 4.0. There are also some guys up in Michigan (I think) called D&D who make a living breathing on these engines and lasting all the while. It is a popular engine to drop in an MGB. Crower Cams makes bump sticks and any body who plays with HP fuel injection mods can get you some horsepower there. It is not mainstream in the Rover (Disco) people, I think, becuase the engine is very relaible bone-stock and folks don't want to mess with that. Let's face it, you are not most likely going to be spinning 44"ers while mud-bogging your DII, so super high RPM and mega torque are not commonly needed. Remember what a series can do with that puny 2.25 and the right gearing!
So many things can be done before an engine swap
Change the Transfer box hi ratio from 1.2 to 1.4 or 1.6 (standard LR ratio)
Change the final drives to as much as 4.7 (4.1 max recommended)
put back the 235/70 tires.....
I've seen chevy 350 swaps and 283 swaps. Full of promise and problems getting one to fly.
Change the Transfer box hi ratio from 1.2 to 1.4 or 1.6 (standard LR ratio)
Change the final drives to as much as 4.7 (4.1 max recommended)
put back the 235/70 tires.....
I've seen chevy 350 swaps and 283 swaps. Full of promise and problems getting one to fly.
The biggest issue, besides trying to get past emissions police would be the weight. The Rover engine is Aluminum and a light weight compared to a small block chevy. So not only do you have tramsmisson mating issues, but your front suspension would have to be changed too.
Yep - rather than go with a 350 or something like that - why not go with the 5.x TVR engine - its relatively speaking a straight swap (both Rover and TVR are buick based).
But to tow a couple of snow machines ???? We used to tow a race car with a 2.0 Ford Transit Van - and on occasion towed it with a 1.6 ford escort or a Vauxhall Astra diesel. And I know for damn sure that the car we towed was a hell of alot more than a couple of snowmobiles.
JMHO
Jeff
But to tow a couple of snow machines ???? We used to tow a race car with a 2.0 Ford Transit Van - and on occasion towed it with a 1.6 ford escort or a Vauxhall Astra diesel. And I know for damn sure that the car we towed was a hell of alot more than a couple of snowmobiles.
JMHO
Jeff