110 3.5 V8 Power gains?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Burtie2904

Burtie2904

Active Member
Posts
117
Location
Winchester, Hampshire
Hello all,
So I haven't been on LZ for a long time as I have been busy with boarding school, but I have got a new garage for my beast and a been fiddling around with interior work.
So as the title suggests I am not really very happy with the power being produced my 3.5.
And yes I know they never really do produce much power but I just want it to produce more than it currently does.
I was wondering what they best ways of improving the power, at the moment they only mod in the engine bay is electric fans, otherwise completely stock 1988 3.5 v8. So far I know that a new cam would help, as its got 94,000 on the clock and hasn't been changed. Also EFI would greatly help and I will defiantly be doing that as it has other benefits too.
I wont be doing any modifications immediately but I am planning for my gap year and what I will be doing to my Landy.
Info about the car:
1988 110,
94,000 miles
Stock engine,
As far as I know no major part replacement
and it is tuned (had it done quite recently)

Burtie
 
If it is oe 110v8, it will be low compression 8.13:1 (stamped on block below n/s exhaust header) and rather pedestrian. It would be OK at 10:1 with 95ron
 
What do you want? 0 - 60 in the blink of an eye? Top end of 120+? If yes to both sell the defender and buy a 3 litre X Type, 4x4 and fast [and VERY cheap]...................... Your standard V8 is perfectly suited to the vehicle it's in, lots of low down grunt - stick it in low, lock your diff and pull down a house! Loads of fun! No matter how much you spend, or how much POWER!!!!!!! you manage to get out of it you'll still be pushing a big brick along the road - lower MPG will be the main result..................... Go LPG and enjoy what you've got just cheaper
 
waldamar said:
What do you want? 0 - 60 in the blink of an eye? Top end of 120+? If yes to both sell the defender and buy a 3 litre X Type, 4x4 and fast [and VERY cheap]...................... Your standard V8 is perfectly suited to the vehicle it's in, lots of low down grunt - stick it in low, lock your diff and pull down a house! Loads of fun! No matter how much you spend, or how much POWER!!!!!!! you manage to get out of it you'll still be pushing a big brick along the road - lower MPG will be the main result..................... Go LPG and enjoy what you've got just cheaper
Click to expand...


soo boring..and wrong .(except for lpg..i love lpg)


and well you must be in your 70's...and not a student..(no offense, but not helpful to poster)

you have it covered..higher compression, new cam,lifters rockers and rocker arms, new timing chain..
efi and prehaps some decent headers.that will raise it from your sub 100hp to about 170..and better mpg too..and better torque too..
 
My 110 also has a rather gutless 8.13:1 engine in it. I had been planning to upgrade the cam (once I can get the cash together). My main concern is that my engine just doesn't pull well up long hills in fifth or even tow a trailer happily. I'd like to gain torque between 1500 and 3000rpm.
Would any of the aftermarket cams make much impression on the low comp motor? I'm using a decent set of headers and exhaust already. The motor has just over 100k on it but has good compression, it also runs exclusively on lpg.
 
Last edited:
to be honest..no..

lpg allows one to run really high cr...so why not stick some 9.75 rover pistons in??later heads steel gaskets..or just early rover 10.5 cr pistons?

ie i rum 10.5cr with boost on gas.it loves it!!

but on petrol then i HAVE to run shell nitro gizmo silly price fuel..but lpg no problems..
 
It all comes down to cost really. I just can't afford to do all that work on the motor for the moment. It's food for thought though!
I'm going to replace the SU set up shortly with an efi plenum (without electronics) and a blos, so I will get a chance to inspect the cam for wear. Maybe a good standard cam and tune up will give me something.
 
You need more cr to get the best out of gas John.

So how's it going on the efi top end? Have you advanced the dizzy from where you had it with dual fuel?
 
These engine mods sound expensive / Would it be cheaper to buy a running vehicle with later engine and fit that ? Lots of bits left over to sell and scrap.
 
zen said:
soo boring..and wrong .(except for lpg..i love lpg)


and well you must be in your 70's...and not a student..(no offense, but not helpful to poster)

you have it covered..higher compression, new cam,lifters rockers and rocker arms, new timing chain..
efi and prehaps some decent headers.that will raise it from your sub 100hp to about 170..and better mpg too..and better torque too..
Click to expand...
Why the hell would he want to do all that? It would be much cheaper to buy a 2nd hand 3.9 from a knackered Discovery and drop it in. Immediate improvement to 180bhp, with a lot less buggering about.
 
Thanks guys for all the replies, I'm am thinking of just dropping a 3.9 in and then putting efi on that (mainly for fuel efficiency). I am a long way off all of this but I'm just planning. :D
 
Burtie2904 said:
Thanks guys for all the replies, I'm am thinking of just dropping a 3.9 in and then putting efi on that (mainly for fuel efficiency). I am a long way off all of this but I'm just planning. :D
Click to expand...

I'd check with your insurers first if I were you, the 'commercial' application of RV8's were de-tuned for a reason & you are talking about a huge power increase.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
WHICH CARB FEEDS WHICH CYLINFER ON A 3,5 v8 WITH SU's
Replies
2
Views
712
lrjohn
L
R
Discovery 3.9 v8 - rebuilds, reliability, options….
3 4 5
Replies
98
Views
8K
LetsHopeItFits
L
MalcolminSpain
To a TD5 from a V8
Replies
10
Views
966
MJI
MJI
Becks Bear
Defender V8 3.9EFI manual to automatic
Replies
6
Views
1K
discool
discool
K
Series 3 1972 SIII Rebuild with RVR 3.5 V8
Replies
0
Views
704
kenixster
K
Back
Top