Gents and Ladies-
I have a '95 3.9L/auto Discovery that we have owned since new. We live in the mountains at 8100 feet in the middle of a national forest. All our vehicles are 4WD- Ford Excusion, Dodge Dakota, and my restored '52 M38A1 Willys Army Jeep. By far, the Disco is the best offroad vehicle of the lot- no big surprise there. The Disco is in great shape, with the leather seats near perfect as they have been covered with OEM LR setcovers that I bought at HR Owens in NW London nearly since Day 1 of this Disco's life....
Without boring the forum of how I got into this unenviable position, I find myself in the situation of needing BOTH a new engine and transmission . I will add that the local shop responsible, the one not sticking with me in this, has lost a good customer forever...... The Disco is now at another shop that gives me much greater confidence...... Always looking for another excuse to visit the Snap-On truck, mechanic wise, I am in my -gasp!- 40th year of turning wrenches on my Porsche 911s. I don't have a lift or the time to start yanking the Disco apart
So, trying to research this forum gathers all sorts of opinions and options, so I guess this might start to be a thread that others can go to as well for information..... Some need an engine, some a gearbox, but probably not many needing both.....
As I see it for my Disco that only has a Kelly Blue Book value of $2800-3000 or so, I have 4 immediate options- and we want to keep the Disco:
1) rebuild both the existing 3.9 and the auto gearbox- possibly the cheapest option?
2) buy a new/ rebuilt 3.9 short/long block, same for the tranny.....
3) buy a 300 Tdi and matching manual gearbox from some of the importers- do the conversion......
4) using Marks 4WD Down Under, drop in a Small Block Chevy/GM w/ associated gearbox and be done
with struggling up the mountains around here forever.....
I know the idea of dropping in a SBC will offend some, but everyone has their opinion...... I have a unique opportunity to change everything. If this unique situation has been covered before in these forums, I apoligize- I didn't find the thread.....
The Disco has about 165k miles on the chassis. The original engine grenaded/threw a rod w/o warning/symptoms at about 115k miles. The present engine had about 70k miles on it when it was put in, for a total of about 120k miles on it now, and the gearbox only has about 13-14k miles on it.
I would appreciate any/all comments and advice. 300 Tdi or SBC wise, if someone has a list of all the parts needed and pitfalls of such a conversion, please chime in for the masses.... Checking ebay, Chevy crate engines cost anywhere from $700-800 to $4-5k for some horse power monster.... If I were to go SBC/GM
route, I want one as stock as possible. I don't need/want my Disco to be a street rocketship. The Porsches fill that square just fine.....
Thanks- Tim
I have a '95 3.9L/auto Discovery that we have owned since new. We live in the mountains at 8100 feet in the middle of a national forest. All our vehicles are 4WD- Ford Excusion, Dodge Dakota, and my restored '52 M38A1 Willys Army Jeep. By far, the Disco is the best offroad vehicle of the lot- no big surprise there. The Disco is in great shape, with the leather seats near perfect as they have been covered with OEM LR setcovers that I bought at HR Owens in NW London nearly since Day 1 of this Disco's life....
Without boring the forum of how I got into this unenviable position, I find myself in the situation of needing BOTH a new engine and transmission . I will add that the local shop responsible, the one not sticking with me in this, has lost a good customer forever...... The Disco is now at another shop that gives me much greater confidence...... Always looking for another excuse to visit the Snap-On truck, mechanic wise, I am in my -gasp!- 40th year of turning wrenches on my Porsche 911s. I don't have a lift or the time to start yanking the Disco apart
So, trying to research this forum gathers all sorts of opinions and options, so I guess this might start to be a thread that others can go to as well for information..... Some need an engine, some a gearbox, but probably not many needing both.....
As I see it for my Disco that only has a Kelly Blue Book value of $2800-3000 or so, I have 4 immediate options- and we want to keep the Disco:
1) rebuild both the existing 3.9 and the auto gearbox- possibly the cheapest option?
2) buy a new/ rebuilt 3.9 short/long block, same for the tranny.....
3) buy a 300 Tdi and matching manual gearbox from some of the importers- do the conversion......
4) using Marks 4WD Down Under, drop in a Small Block Chevy/GM w/ associated gearbox and be done
with struggling up the mountains around here forever.....
I know the idea of dropping in a SBC will offend some, but everyone has their opinion...... I have a unique opportunity to change everything. If this unique situation has been covered before in these forums, I apoligize- I didn't find the thread.....
The Disco has about 165k miles on the chassis. The original engine grenaded/threw a rod w/o warning/symptoms at about 115k miles. The present engine had about 70k miles on it when it was put in, for a total of about 120k miles on it now, and the gearbox only has about 13-14k miles on it.
I would appreciate any/all comments and advice. 300 Tdi or SBC wise, if someone has a list of all the parts needed and pitfalls of such a conversion, please chime in for the masses.... Checking ebay, Chevy crate engines cost anywhere from $700-800 to $4-5k for some horse power monster.... If I were to go SBC/GM
route, I want one as stock as possible. I don't need/want my Disco to be a street rocketship. The Porsches fill that square just fine.....
Thanks- Tim