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

[130CC]

Have to aggree with disco 3.9 efi. I would not worry about the computer bit as much as you read about people with faults there are a hundred more who don't see the problem or have faults. And if there was no advantage to the efi why are most manafacture all moving this way.
Adam

[worms]

While I am badly torn between the Tdi and the twin carb 3.5 V8 I don't agree with the thought that the EFi is a good option. If you are talking about remote parts of Africa (rather than just the relatively developed parts such as Southern Africa) you want the minimum of complexity in your engine. I've had bush mechanics (the sort who have had to borrow my tools!) strip and reassemble carbs - scary at the time but they've done a surprisingly good job. You have to weigh up the chances of something going wrong against the chances of repair. If you are supremely confident that the complex bits can't fail in a remote location then by all means accept them. But my attitude to risk is that if something can go wrong it probably will and I want to know that I can either fix it myself or I have with me the necessary tools and spares so that someone else can do it. So, to me, the simpler the engine the better for using in remote areas.

[Disco]

Yes Worms I agree with what you are saying and I considered the 3.5 carby option as a first choice as well, however, I suggested the efi based on what I would do if it was me that had posted the original question. Let's have a quick look at what the dilemma is all about (forget the diesel option as this now seems to be bypassed). The 3.5L (I believe the LPG idea is dead also), is less complicated in the "African safari" situation, but bear in mind that the vehicle is eventually (in the shorter term), going back to Scotland, and, as an every day driver, the 3.9 beats the 3.5.
Xpower, it is going back home with you isn't it?

[worms]

We are presuming that it survives to go home!

Once home, either V8 engine is more than competent (as long as the owner has his own oil well or the lpg conversion kit). I haven't looked up the data but since the Efi comes with additional emissions control baggage, does this not undo some of the benefits of the more powerful engine?

Actually there is a safety issue here, too. Survival prospects for a V8 were always lower than for any of the others options. Hope the brakes are going to be upgraded to suit and the weight placed on the roof is kept to a minimum, otherwise without a great deal of care its going to roll.

[xpower racer]

I'm in Scotland now. I'm after making my 90 into a vehicle that will be trust worthy doing a (say... 3month) expo accross dessert and the like and still be feasible for basic off roading that the UK and europe offers. (I've got a new car for the every day aspect of driving).

I'll be using the 90 to go around the uk and europe (to get to places to go off roading) so thats why I want it to be economical (V8 with LPG).

I've driven all over the Oman in a Army Tdi and it never let me down once.. But then I had the peice of mind of amazing back up facilities if it did ever go wrong. Also I wont be putting much on the roof.. I'll be using a military trailer. I much prefer that meathod and am very used to pulling trailer in hostile envoronments.. Also mean you can detatch the trailer and go do more serious off roading for fun.

[worms]

Glad to hear about the trailer!

Did you take the 90 out in the snow this morning?

[Disco]

Hey guys, what happened to the vote?

[xpower racer]

I was in Hamilton this morning.. Loads of snow

But I took the train up from Yorkshire (where I work) so was without Landrover

Then when I got down to Yorkshire expecting to go out and have some fun today there was no bloody snow

Anyway..

I've moved a stage further in my decision making.. Defo going for a V8. So I'm going to buy a cheap cast off Range Rover for about £500 (£800 tops) and that way I have the engine, Gear box (if its a 5 gear manual) and the axles so I have disks all round and the right ratio diffs,


So now its down to EFi or carb... Back to the floor gentlemen

[Disco]

You already have my opinion.

[Strazzman]

replace the manifold with one that has been machined to accept a 4 barrel weber or holley, more power and ecomony. One less carby to worry about http://landroversonly.com/forums/new...uote=1&p=7108#
http://landroversonly.com/forums/new...uote=1&p=7108#

[xpower racer]

Right. I've dont another 180 in my thinking. MY Landrover mech mate has convinced me to go for a TDi instead of V8. He tells me he can do a TDi for much cheaper than the V8 cos he insists the bulkhead would need too much work doing on it to make it fit.


SO... anyone know if its worth me keeping my LPG kit on the TDi or shal I get rid of it?

I know Diesels wont run %100 on LPG but I'm led to belive that they work in a mix and with the LPG you get %30 more power and an increase of about 8 or more MPG.. anyone know if this is true? if it is then its a very good argument for geting the TDi as I'll get a much extended range..

[TerryS]

When this question came up in January, I wasn't positive. Now I am, there is only one bulkhead (with punch out panel for clutch pedal, depending if it's used for auto or manual gearbox) So I'm pretty convinced your mechanic is blowing smoke up your, uh, nevermind. The difference is in some small sheet metal adapters, that fit on the cab side of the bulkhead, used to adapt the tunnel to the bulkhead. This was needed because of the difference in the TDi Vs V8 bellhousings. So, from the way I see it, as seen in the universal parts manual, that's all you would have needed to change.
All of that notwithstanding, I wouldn't go to a V8, since your engine mounts are already correct. As to the LPG, there was a kit, which I have not heard much about recently (I'm wondering if the gasoline companies had the feds squash it) that allowed you to connect a PROPANE line directly into the air inlet. Supply was from a standard bottle,such as that used on the grill. I heard people claim there was a huge increase in power on acceleration with pretty respectable fuel savings, though I don't know if they factored in the cost of the propane ($12.00 per 20 lb refill today)

[xpower racer]

A few people have said what you just said Terry. To be hoonest I only really wanted the V8 for the V8 factor of it. I know a TDi would be better for my needs.

About the LPG.. You can put any old gas in really. its all very simmilar and its alot cheaper to buy it in bottles for cooking than in a Car Gas station as its got no tax on it. It wouldnt be hard to to fit an adapter to the currently installed gass system to use bottles but you run the risk of being caught and charged with tax evaision (same as using plant (red) deisel in your car). If you found a way to empty a bottle into the gas tank on the vehicle there would be no way for the authourities to check. Its not like they can dip your tank looking for red die.. Not sure how you would do it cos the pressure would equalize between the two tanks so you would only ever be able to half fill it.

[TerryS]

It's universally true: The grass is always greener.....yadiyadiya
A TDi is an ultra desireable engine over here, even though Diesel is selling for more than premium unleaded.
I use home heating oil in my John Deere tractor, but no one cares what you use if it's not on the highway. I guess the UK and US use a similar dye system. I have nevere seen the DMV cops check a car for dyed diesel fuel, but that's small potatos to the truckers consumption which is where the taxman would really loose.
Pumping the propane is the way to fill the tank, there is a special pump( I think it's a vane pump) they use to pump LPG, not hard to find one from an industril supply catalog, but I suppose it's a matter of deminishing returns when you have to spend a pound to save a pint.
Ford makes a jumbo SUV called an Excursion. Somewhere between a Frigate and a Destroyer. The cost of the optional diesel, is paid for if you drive it about 100K ( that was before diesel went through the Ozone too)
Am I correct that the power gain in using propane injection in a diesel, apart from the fact that it is combustable, is to increase the air density the way an intercooler does?

[Disco]

You could try making your own Biodiesel. I'm thinking of joining a Biodiesel Association over here, as I would like to make some for my tractor. From what I have read, it's not difficult to make, and, I have actually seen a Discovery running on the stuff without any power loss.