110 V8 conversion to 300TDI

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SPLRover

SPLRover

Member
Posts
34
Location
North East Scotland
Hi All,

I have a chance to buy a (rough been sitting for years) project matching numbers 1988 110 V8 which I believe requires a chassis and bulkhead.

Whilst enquiring about a replacement chassis I have been informed that the V8 chassis is particular to the engine, is this correct?

My reason for asking is I believe that fuel consumption on the V8 is horrendous and from what I read barely into teen MPG. With this in mind, I had thought of possibly swapping out the V8 for a 300TDI, does anyone have any experience of doing this and what is involved? (gearbox compatibility etc..)

If I were to keep the V8 what is reliability like, I am also being told of carb issues and that some parts are hard to come by etc, basically a local Defender specialist has advised strongly against taking on the project.
 
It depends what you plan on doing with the vehicle?
If you want an investment, then a genuine vehicle will be worth more.
If your going to do some miles in it, then 300 tdi
If it is low miles and just for fun, then a v8 sounds good. So is it worth about twice the price in fuel for that?
And of course the real question - will you have the time and inclination to complete this?
 
Hi V8bob,

Thanks for the response. It won't be a daily driver, more of a weekend vehicle for the odd off road day and camping trips.

I did think of the investment and there seems to be huge variance in pricing for the V8's more so than any of the other variants. And there is of course the crazy money that the bespoke high end Defender restoration companies charge north of £100k..

Timewise, I'm not in a rush to complete, inclination....you have a point!!! My local Defender specialist reckons I will curse taking it on and has said I should just buy a Puma as the money spent to get it in shape will add up to equivalent cost.....

I note your profile name, do you have one?
 
If I found an original v8 station wagon for reasonable money, and had the budget to do it I would deffo get it and galv chassis and galv bulkhead it.
Original v8s will be ££££££ in future imo

also you can get 300tdi for ten a penny tbh that will need less work
 
Hi,
Yes I have a V8 Land Rover 127.
But I have always had a magnet drawing me to V8s.
Still own the Land Rover a Daimler and a Dodge, all V8s
Have owned an Aston, 50s Ford, Jensen and another Dodge, all V8s
Plus drove a lot of Company cars, mainly focused on V8s.

But, I do (or did), get pretty bored cleaning up rusty vehicles. I now much prefer finding something sound but incomplete or needing parts or mechanical work.
Months of cleaning and making a mess in my garage isn’t for me.
 
I've had a few V8's and must say I've loved every minute of driving them, BUT, being now retired and living in a big country, I moved to diesel.

One big difference for me, starting out in a V8, always check the fuel gauge, in a 200Tdi check the gauge when I think of it.
 
110 V8's are becoming extremely rare, it's 30 years since factory output ceased & this is reflected in the price of good ones.
200/300 tdi's though not necessarily cheap, are plentiful by comparison.
But each to his own :rolleyes:
 
@SPLRover , as the guys above have said - original V8's are sought after and it makes no sense swapping out a V8 for a boggo' 300tdi. Plenty of 300tdi's out there to buy. If I had the extra space I'd buy the V8 and restore for the pleasure and keep for a rainy day/add to pension fund. If really concerned for fuel consumption it's probably not the vehicle for you.

Or, remove the original V8 and install a RR V8 with injection...but you're still only going to get 24-27mpg.

Re' reliability, they're tough as old nails and when correctly maintained will go on for years, and the carburettor parts are readily available at all good carb' suppliers. Re' local Defender 'specialist'...I'd change garagiste as he's talking bollocks.
 
SPLRover said:
Hi All,

I have a chance to buy a (rough been sitting for years) project matching numbers 1988 110 V8 which I believe requires a chassis and bulkhead.

Whilst enquiring about a replacement chassis I have been informed that the V8 chassis is particular to the engine, is this correct?

My reason for asking is I believe that fuel consumption on the V8 is horrendous and from what I read barely into teen MPG. With this in mind, I had thought of possibly swapping out the V8 for a 300TDI, does anyone have any experience of doing this and what is involved? (gearbox compatibility etc..)

If I were to keep the V8 what is reliability like, I am also being told of carb issues and that some parts are hard to come by etc, basically a local Defender specialist has advised strongly against taking on the project.
Click to expand...
If you can't do the work yourself. A rebuild is unlikely to be financial sense tbh.

The V8 is a very good engine. Used in RR's and Disco's too, as well as many other cars like TVR's, Morgans, Marcus and others.

MPG wise would probably be 12-17mpg general use. With 19-21mpg on a run. Tdi's are more like 23-25mpg with a high of about 28mpg. But a Tdi is a lot less refined and makes a lot more noise.

A low compression 3.5 V8 on twin carbs are not the most powerful. But still match/exceed a standard Tdi. For a rebuild a 3.9/4.0 or 4.6 EFI unit would make much more sense and just stick the original engine under a sheet in the corner.

And yes the chassis is different for a V8.
 
300bhp/ton said:
If you can't do the work yourself. A rebuild is unlikely to be financial sense tbh.

The V8 is a very good engine. Used in RR's and Disco's too, as well as many other cars like TVR's, Morgans, Marcus and others.

MPG wise would probably be 12-17mpg general use. With 19-21mpg on a run. Tdi's are more like 23-25mpg with a high of about 28mpg. But a Tdi is a lot less refined and makes a lot more noise.

A low compression 3.5 V8 on twin carbs are not the most powerful. But still match/exceed a standard Tdi. For a rebuild a 3.9/4.0 or 4.6 EFI unit would make much more sense and just stick the original engine under a sheet in the corner.

And yes the chassis is different for a V8.
Click to expand...
EFI?
 
300bhp/ton said:
If you can't do the work yourself. A rebuild is unlikely to be financial sense tbh.

The V8 is a very good engine. Used in RR's and Disco's too, as well as many other cars like TVR's, Morgans, Marcus and others.

MPG wise would probably be 12-17mpg general use. With 19-21mpg on a run. Tdi's are more like 23-25mpg with a high of about 28mpg. But a Tdi is a lot less refined and makes a lot more noise.

A low compression 3.5 V8 on twin carbs are not the most powerful. But still match/exceed a standard Tdi. For a rebuild a 3.9/4.0 or 4.6 EFI unit would make much more sense and just stick the original engine under a sheet in the corner.

And yes the chassis is different for a V8.
Click to expand...
Where do we find these “3.9/4.0 or 4.6 EFI unit”s? Thank you.
 
Discoverys or Range rover, for the 4.6 its only in the range rover although I believe rare export models had the 4.6 in the disco.

J
 
I doubt it.
But it really would depend on your left foot ;).

Oh and really the 3.9 & 4.0 are 1 and the same engine. think it changed when they went to EFI.

J
 
marjon said:
I doubt it.
But it really would depend on your left foot ;).

Oh and really the 3.9 & 4.0 are 1 and the same engine. think it changed when they went to EFI.

J
Click to expand...

Only the earlier versions depending upon 14 or 10 bolt heads :)

@Richardv8i , if after an RV8 they're readily available on eBay and the v8forum.co.uk + if you're going the RV8 route I can really recommend this book...the oracle on std and mid-tuned RV8 engines. It's also just a really good technical read and provides proper knowledge of the RV8's in nearly all their forms ;)

how-to-power-tune-rover-v8-engines-for-road-track.jpg
 
Def90man said:
Do you keep your left foot on the brake pedal? :vb-weyes:
Click to expand...

Nope.
I blank out the milometer and just fuel in when it needs it. You only live once, if you don’t do it the tax man will have ya money anyway so why not enjoy it:).

J
 
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