Eternal Dilema....V8, or not to V8

[xpower racer]

Right guys. here's the problem.

I have a 1985 Landrover 90 2.5 petrol. Feeble engine to say the least but the rest of it is mint and my local Landrover mechanic says I should do an engine transplant rather than buying a newer LR as most LRs 10 years younger than mine are in worse structual condition.

So. My options are a V8 or a 200/300TDI. I cant decide which. Here is a list of pros and cons for them both.

V8 Pros
Its a V8!!!!! the smell, the sound the "V8ness" of it is awsome
I have an LPG kit so fuel is half the cost of petrol/deisel
Cheap to buy the engine
cost is 12p per mile

V8 Cons
15 MPG
Can only get about 180 miles to a tank of gas
Bulk Head will need modifing to take it so its costly to fit
You cant buy LPG in places like africa where I will be taking it so I'll end up with a low milage and still costly vehicle.
Hard to waterproof, V8s hate wading

TDI Pros
Easy to fit, Bolts right in
Easy to water proof
25 mpg
Can get about 300 miles to a tank
Frees up my LPG kit to fit to the Ford Falcon V8 that I'm getting
Torque low down is better than the V8

TDI Cons
Expensive to Buy
Expensive to run Will cost about 14.4p per mile


So there we are.. What am I going to do.... V8 sounds so much better and is cheaper to run in the long run (as long as I'm about 100 miles from a garage that sells LPG) but the TDI is the more sound choice for serious trips into Africa and proper off roading.

I've got a feeling (if the users are mainly American) that you will say the V8.. but remember.. our Petrol is 4 times more expensive than yours and there are not that many places that Sell LPG up my end of the country. Means I'm filling up every day and planning trips very carefully..

[Disco]

You seem to be between a rock and a hard place. From the pros and cons, it difficult to figure out. You obviously have an "inner" preference, anyhow, here's my suggestion for FWIW.... Go with the V8 and hook up the LPG as a dual fuel setup.
BTW, you will find that the petrol engine is just as capable off-road as the diesel. in off-road situations, it usually comes down to driver ability.

[Robin Brown]

Can't see why the bulkhead will need modifying as some 90's and lots of 110's came standard with the V8. Engine mounting brackets on the chassis - yes they will probably need modifying.
In some situations off road the extra POWER will help, especially if you have to "attack" a steep climb with little run up.
V8 - only way to go!
Good luck & keep us posted.
Robin Brown

[TerryS]

Like Robin, I don't think you need to modify the bulkhead. There are different "Tunnel" adapter sections used in Defenders, depending upon which engine/gearbox is used, but I thought the bulkhead was the same for all. Perhaps I'm mistaken.

[xpower racer]

Every Landrover mechanic I have approached have said they really dont want to fit a V8 and becuase of the amount of work involved it would cost alot. They have been trying to turn me to TDi cos they can do it in a short time for very little charge..

[130CC]

When switching from a petrol engine to a deisel or a deisel to a petrol there are a lot of small things that can rear their ugly head and cause some headaches some times it is just easier to stay with the same fuel that you are already useing. Just my opinion though.
Adam

[xpower racer]

Go on 130cc... Tell me. I'm almost over to the TDi side now.. tell me the things that could be a problem with a fuel change..... I'd quite like an excuse to go for a V8..

[Disco]

Seems like we're narrowing down the options. I remember a little while ago reading about running a diesel on LPG, so I did a quick search. Here's a site you could look at that do such a conversion. I'm sure if you continue searching you will find more.
[URL=http://www.p-i-fuelsystems.com/powershot_diesel.htm

[130CC]

Things such as the glow plug wiring ( eventhough it's simple) can cause headaces fuel supply lines diamaters as well as the tanks. I know of one conversion on a tojo where the mechanic removed everything from the diesel rollover (donor vehicle) dash, ignition fuel lines tank fillerhose the works to install on to the petrol vehicle, after all of the work there were still problems with the power steering and cooling both easily fixed but it's the little details that can catch people up. But people who do conversions all the time or if the conversion is using a prefab kit they can be fine. But if I had an lpg already on a car even with the fuel on limited acces that's where I would stay. Pluss as you have stated my deisel even with a open exhaust does not even compare to to the rumble of a v8 the cool factor is definatly there.
One problem with the v8 though are not just wading carbs don't like big angles and can cause a stall at the worst time, if you have the cash an injection system will fix this problem.
The bigest mistake you could make is not going for the one you really won't, regret is one hell of a kicker.
Adam

[xpower racer]

This is doing my head in... I just cannot decide .. The pros and cons are increasing on both sides with your advice.


Point taken about carbs and angle. So am I right in thinking.. The EFI V8 engines are a better match to the TDi engines with the only draw back being the range I can get on a tank of fuel?


If so then I think I may be decided on a 3.9 EFi V8 with my current LPG kit. There isnt too much ECU mumbo jumbo on the EFi is there? I dont want an engine any more advanced than the 300TDi.

[smigger]

Originally Posted by xpower racer

Right guys. here's the problem.

I have a 1985 Landrover 90 2.5 petrol. Feeble engine to say the least but the rest of it is mint and my local Landrover mechanic says I should do an engine transplant rather than buying a newer LR as most LRs 10 years younger than mine are in worse structual condition.

So. My options are a V8 or a 200/300TDI. I cant decide which. Here is a list of pros and cons for them both.

V8 Pros
Its a V8!!!!! the smell, the sound the "V8ness" of it is awsome
I have an LPG kit so fuel is half the cost of petrol/deisel
Cheap to buy the engine
cost is 12p per mile

V8 Cons
15 MPG
Can only get about 180 miles to a tank of gas
Bulk Head will need modifing to take it so its costly to fit
You cant buy LPG in places like africa where I will be taking it so I'll end up with a low milage and still costly vehicle.
Hard to waterproof, V8s hate wading

TDI Pros
Easy to fit, Bolts right in
Easy to water proof
25 mpg
Can get about 300 miles to a tank
Frees up my LPG kit to fit to the Ford Falcon V8 that I'm getting
Torque low down is better than the V8

TDI Cons
Expensive to Buy
Expensive to run Will cost about 14.4p per mile


So there we are.. What am I going to do.... V8 sounds so much better and is cheaper to run in the long run (as long as I'm about 100 miles from a garage that sells LPG) but the TDI is the more sound choice for serious trips into Africa and proper off roading.

I've got a feeling (if the users are mainly American) that you will say the V8.. but remember.. our Petrol is 4 times more expensive than yours and there are not that many places that Sell LPG up my end of the country. Means I'm filling up every day and planning trips very carefully..

Hi - Like the sound of the V8 thing - what did you decide ? I would love to fit a v8 growler to my 200 tdi - but the existing engine is mint - how expensive is it to get a v8 fitted - do you know ??

Cheers

[xpower racer]

What I would do If I got he V8 route is buy a doner Rangerover Classic for about £500 (seen them advertised every day) and use the V8 and both axles off it.. Salvage anything else I can off it then give it away if the shell is in good nick.... otherwise skip it...

My LR mech mate will do all the labour for about £300 so I'm looking at less than £1000 (lets include leeway for problems) for the whole engine conversion including new axles (my front one is in tatters) with disk brakes all round.

The TDi route it totally unknown to me... Other than he will fit it for nearly nothing and he has spare axles I can buy off him for not alot to sort the brakes out.

Anyone got any idea how much a 200/300 tdi engine with ansils costs?

[worms]

Interesting dilemma. I’ve had a standard petrol 90, a V8 110 and a Tdi 110 in both Africa and Scotland so I am aware of some of the issues that you are juggling.

If you go for a V8, get an old one without any fancy Efi crap. Don’t go for any extra power by boring it out or anything, the old standard V8 has so much in reserve it is virtually bomb-proof. Fit a luminition kit and waterproof that (I’ve had the bow wave break over the bonnet and it keep running in that set up). Fit a 110 petrol tank under the rear and a side tank under each seat. Fit K&N filters. Low rev torque for dirt road hills and engine braking for steep descents is way better with the V8 than the Tdi. (Learn how to lift the carburettor piston with one hand and a long screwdriver while you turn the ignition key with the other so that you can get it to start above 40 Centigrade).

The Tdi will do the job (add the extra tanks anyway!). No dramas, no excitement, chug on day after day, no worries about how long the fuel is gong to last, no V8 burble, no barbecuing breakfast between the cylinder heads…

Tough choice

[xpower racer]

this is getting hard by the day. can we have a vote (with a brief reason)


All those who think I should get a 3.5 twin carb V8
All those who think I should get a 3.9 EFi
All those who think I should get a 2.5 TDi

[Disco]

The 3.9 efi would be my choice, because after you have done the Africa bit, you will have a reliable motor with sufficient power. The 3.5 carby would be my next choice.