Cummins R2.8

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
people swap engines in OBD2 vehicles and get nailed when the ECU and VIN don't match at emission testing.. AZ and CA are probably the two worst states

So what happens if the ECU takes a dump? You have to replace it with some other ECU that won't match. I suppose a shop has to reflash the ECU and can include the VIN? Anyone know the correct procedure?
 

pdogg

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
1,216
29
Phoenix, AZ
I'm no expert.. my points are simply to highlight that it's not a trivial thing to swap an engine in the OBD2 world.
 

jymmiejamz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2004
6,008
361
35
Los Angeles, Ca
I’ve heard mixed reviews of it. If you just have to have diesel, then I guess it makes sense, but I think an LS is probably a much better option for the amount of work involved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Howski

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
For classic Land Rovers, the HS2.8 or 4BD1-T are the only diesel swaps I'd consider. More power and easy to fit, but still simple and mechanical, like the rest of the vehicle.
 
Last edited:

HiSPL

Well-known member
Aug 28, 2016
76
3
College Station , TX
A VW TDi motor makes the same or more power and will be 100 pounds lighter fully dressed. And they are proven to go 300-400k miles and get excellent MPG even in heavier trucks.

The only problem is they aren't packaged up in kits. You can even go full mechanical if that's your thing, but really the ECU has been figured out and tuning is easy and unlocks a ton of potential. A 2.0 liter BHM from a Passat would be my choice. All stock with a tune you would put out the same HP/Torque numbers as the Rover V8.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swedjen2

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
I'd go with the VW rather than a PRC diesel, where they throw everything into the smelter; tires, wrecked cars, old beds and pots and pans.
They must've hired the old foreman from Land Rover who was in charge of the last run of Rover v8 castings.