Swapping motor.

your pal

Well-known member
Changing from a 4 belt 3.9 to a surpentine 3.9 in my D90. This isn't for fun but because Piston rod broke and cracked block. Have available to me a surpentine 3.9. Just wondering what all I may need to get for the swap. Will the hoses match-up/radiator hoses, power steering lines, Oil lines ect. I just want to make sure I have all the parts or at least most of them so that it will go smooth. Any advice if welcome.

Thanks
Rico
 
The power steering lines will be different, The oil Cooler lines are different. The rad hoses will work, you may need a different fan shroud and I'm not sure they are still available.

Power steering lines from a '97 D90 should work, as should the oil cooler lines. If the oil cooler lines don't, let me know and I can build you a set using the old fittings from your vee-belt engine.
 

carlosz

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
581
0
Annandale,Va
I have done v to serp conversion you will need all starting with timing cover as water pumps are different, then all the brakets involved for the mounting of the rotating ancillaries.. definively the newer p/s pump and a/c compressor as an idler, the serp
harmonic balancer, tensioner.. you may be able to reuse the v alt with the serp pulley.
it relocates from left to center thou.
dont forget the fan and clutch assy. as for the cooler lines I went from rr to rr so all matched. rad is the same, shroud is not.
i dont remember if i changed the p/s hoses or not.
I may be wrong but I have not located a serp belt for a non a/c rover so even if you dont have a/c you will need the compresor just as an idler to run the belt.
 

carlosz

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
581
0
Annandale,Va
95 disco is a good donor take all rotating parts including the p/s and a/c.. all brackets w/p, front cover, alt and tensioner as well as harmonic balancer...
then go to town and have fun dont forget the serp fan turns oposite of the crank.
I have done so on a 87 rangie with a 4.6 convrsion

this is from a prior post I answered back in june
 

your pal

Well-known member
I will be getting the motor out of a 1995 disco. It has everything minus the water pump and alt.
Will I have to find a different shroud? And if so then what one would I need?
The only reason I am doing this is because I had a piston rod broke and it cracked the block.
I also just came across another 1995 3.9 V belt motor that has less than 40,000 miles on it. I can get either motor for about the same price by the time I get done with everything.
So now I'm trying to decide if it's worth the hassle to swap everything over or just drop the v motor in.
Also my truck is a 1995 D90 #001 and I had several people say I should keep the original type motor if possible. I don't plan on ever getting rid of it so I don't think it's a big concern.

Thanks
Rico
 

92rrrandall

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2004
316
0
69
Cary NC
There are so many advantages to going with the serp system that you could not even list them all.

It is very easy to eliminate the A/C compressor from a serp belted RoverV8. All you need is the correct length belt. There is even a Rover part# for that belt and Rover also made power steering dummy pulleys if you want to remove the PS pump from a serp system. The third photo shows an engine I built with no AC or PS.
IM000994.jpg

IM000966.jpg

IM000148.jpg
 

92rrrandall

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2004
316
0
69
Cary NC
One of the long list of serp belt advantages is that you can carry just 1 spare belt. It only takes 1 minute to replace it if you have 15mm wrench.

Also oil hoses were mentioned at a possible pitfall to converting to the serp version of the RV8. You do not even need oil cooler hoses. They can be removed any time, temporarily or permanently. Just plug the holes with the appropriate 20 x 1.5 thread.

The best strategy for converting to serpentine is to get, or have access to every possible part that connects the engine to the rest of the car. If you have access to all the parts then there will be only a few plumbing or wiring customizations required to complete this conversion.

Randall