land rover 90 Chrysler 360 v8 project
- Thread starter KING727
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Posts
- 4,474
Is that your introduction ?
v8250
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 6,872
- Location
- Deepest Darkest...
Introductions aside, why would anyone want to fit such an aged heavy lump cast iron block V8 into any conversion...and all for 230-250bhp? Then there's the transmission to block conversion to think of + physical install + wiring + ECU if injection 
Best advisory, if you want a LR V8...install an RV8 of any size you want. It's all been done before and there's a mass of technical help available both here and on v8forum.co.uk an RV8 can have the life tuned out of it, spares are readily available and they're such easy engines to maintain and repair. And...mated to a strong R380 which is available straight out of many a box.
If I had a 360 V8 in the garage I'd sell it and buy the best 4.6ltr RV8 I could find and tune for 250-300 bhp. If you want to go big power then an LS is the way forward.
Best advisory, if you want a LR V8...install an RV8 of any size you want. It's all been done before and there's a mass of technical help available both here and on v8forum.co.uk an RV8 can have the life tuned out of it, spares are readily available and they're such easy engines to maintain and repair. And...mated to a strong R380 which is available straight out of many a box.
If I had a 360 V8 in the garage I'd sell it and buy the best 4.6ltr RV8 I could find and tune for 250-300 bhp. If you want to go big power then an LS is the way forward.
The thing is IV got a 360 and torque flight which came out off a 1975 Dodge 4x4 truck and also a early range rover torque flight which came with the convention to the lt230,So the transmission is done.
The rover v8 was a option but just to small to get any power out,
Shirley someone has put a Mopar v8 in a defender before?
The rover v8 was a option but just to small to get any power out,
Shirley someone has put a Mopar v8 in a defender before?
l am sure someone somewhere has, and anything can be done if you really want to.
l once saw a Defender with a ruddy great straight six truck engine in it.
Doesn't look like you'll find one on here though. As already said, the Rover 4.2 V8 fits easily (Land Rover fitted the 3.5 version as an option to the 90) and can be tuned for all the power and torque you would ever want in an old Land Rover
l once saw a Defender with a ruddy great straight six truck engine in it.
Doesn't look like you'll find one on here though. As already said, the Rover 4.2 V8 fits easily (Land Rover fitted the 3.5 version as an option to the 90) and can be tuned for all the power and torque you would ever want in an old Land Rover
If I wasn't happy with the power I could easily get from a Rover V8 (I am running a meagre 3.9 one, so my next step would be a 4.6 - but a top hat 4.6 does command a premium. But as mine is factory V8, I will stay Rover), I'd be going modern chevy LS V8, not a 1975 chrysler.
They can be picked up for not much money, especially if you go for a more conservative one rather than the top spec - the LS engines are such a leap from the old SBC (and old fords, chryslers and so fort) that a top spec one that commands a premium is often not necessary.
And remember that the heads are ALWAYS a massive limiting factor on these old design motors (inc both Chrysler & Rover V8). I have a 9.3 litre big block chevy on one project and for the same bore and stroke, by putting some proper heads on it (matched to the cam, intake & exhaust package - but they were the cheap bits), I almost doubled the horsepower. In fact, I could easily have actually doubled the horsepower for the same £, but I wanted a nice idle and gobs of torque
So by all means do it for kicks - I've done many projects just because I can (I am putting a NA Audi V8 engine in my Ultima Spyder just because I can), but be realistic about your expecations of it, if real power is what you want, I'd go in a different direction.
And remember, it's more aggro having to order spares from RockAuto & Summit, too.
And if you do do it, please post pics! Always interesting to see an off-beat project.
They can be picked up for not much money, especially if you go for a more conservative one rather than the top spec - the LS engines are such a leap from the old SBC (and old fords, chryslers and so fort) that a top spec one that commands a premium is often not necessary.
And remember that the heads are ALWAYS a massive limiting factor on these old design motors (inc both Chrysler & Rover V8). I have a 9.3 litre big block chevy on one project and for the same bore and stroke, by putting some proper heads on it (matched to the cam, intake & exhaust package - but they were the cheap bits), I almost doubled the horsepower. In fact, I could easily have actually doubled the horsepower for the same £, but I wanted a nice idle and gobs of torque
So by all means do it for kicks - I've done many projects just because I can (I am putting a NA Audi V8 engine in my Ultima Spyder just because I can), but be realistic about your expecations of it, if real power is what you want, I'd go in a different direction.
And remember, it's more aggro having to order spares from RockAuto & Summit, too.
And if you do do it, please post pics! Always interesting to see an off-beat project.
Last edited:
v8250
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 6,872
- Location
- Deepest Darkest...
If you want to go with this because you already have an engine and gearbox then just do it. But it's still an aged heavy asthmatic lump.
Re' RV8 engines and suggesting they're too small for any real power, suggest you talk with the ex-TWR team, J.E. Developments and Wildcat Engineering. A carefully modified twin turbo charged 4.6ltr to 5.3ltr RV8 will blow the socks off most other conversations. Even in n/a form they are quite formidable, reliable and above all...a compact and light engine package. In my experience there's only one reason a person does not follow the tried, tested and proven RV8 conversion route and that's cash...they cannot afford to complete the conversion properly so chooses a half-cocked route resulting in a poor quality, poorly executed and underwhelming V8 project.
But hey, what do I know...I've only been building modified engines for 28 years
Re' RV8 engines and suggesting they're too small for any real power, suggest you talk with the ex-TWR team, J.E. Developments and Wildcat Engineering. A carefully modified twin turbo charged 4.6ltr to 5.3ltr RV8 will blow the socks off most other conversations. Even in n/a form they are quite formidable, reliable and above all...a compact and light engine package. In my experience there's only one reason a person does not follow the tried, tested and proven RV8 conversion route and that's cash...they cannot afford to complete the conversion properly so chooses a half-cocked route resulting in a poor quality, poorly executed and underwhelming V8 project.
But hey, what do I know...I've only been building modified engines for 28 years
v8250
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 6,872
- Location
- Deepest Darkest...
If you want to go with this because you already have an engine and gearbox then just do it. But it's still an aged heavy asthmatic lump.
Re' RV8 engines and suggesting they're too small for any real power, suggest you talk with the ex-TWR team, J.E. Developments and Wildcat Engineering. A carefully modified twin turbo charged 4.6ltr to 5.3ltr RV8 will blow the socks off most other conversations. Even in n/a form they are quite formidable, reliable and above all...a compact and light engine package. In my experience there's only one reason a person does not follow the tried, tested and proven RV8 conversion route and that's cash...they cannot afford to complete the conversion properly so chooses a half-cocked route resulting in a poor quality, poorly executed and underwhelming V8 project.
But hey, what do I know...I've only been building modified engines for 28 years
And if you're in Berkshire, I bet you know Dave/Wiggy @ Safari Engineering in Yateley? Before the internet, I spent many Saturday mornings there buying bits. My current wagon actually came via him, my Stage 1 V8 had died a few years earlier (and was worthless back then), so I popped over one Saturday to buy a bit for my mothers discovery when I said "Hey, do you happen to know anyone with a V8 90 they want to sell". It just happened he did - from a bloke nicknamed "Jesus", who looked just like.....
Anyway, the 3.5 motor in it was toast, so I replaced that with a tidy 3.9....and here we are....
Last edited:
Happy to - but won't sidetrack this thread any more with it.That's an interesting choice, which model engine? And we need pics...
Members vehicle projects fred is not limited to landys, I would enjoy seeing it progress too as I am sure would many others
.Back to the original idea.
Its all doable and as the OP has an engine+ box+ adaptors + LT230 then why not. Being an oldskool engine probably wouldn't take much to wire up either.
Is it tuneable for grunt without to much hassle? yes. would it be enough for a 90? I would thinks so, as is any V8
Admittedly most would go the route of an Rv8 if they were starting from scratch but as OP has a big chuck of what's needed why not?
Downside is sourcing bits or having to make/alter stuff, over being able to use readily available parts from LR.
If you are handy enough and doing the work yourself then go for it, why not, it will be fun they said
I have the stroked SBC in the Range rover but that's another story
.J
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 5,002
- Location
- Near MK
Not disputing the above, but in fairness it probably is a lot easier and cheaper to get power from the 360 than an RV8. Not that it is any more tunable in a bhp/litre kind of thing, but you are starting with a lot more displacement.If you want to go with this because you already have an engine and gearbox then just do it. But it's still an aged heavy asthmatic lump.
Re' RV8 engines and suggesting they're too small for any real power, suggest you talk with the ex-TWR team, J.E. Developments and Wildcat Engineering. A carefully modified twin turbo charged 4.6ltr to 5.3ltr RV8 will blow the socks off most other conversations. Even in n/a form they are quite formidable, reliable and above all...a compact and light engine package. In my experience there's only one reason a person does not follow the tried, tested and proven RV8 conversion route and that's cash...they cannot afford to complete the conversion properly so chooses a half-cocked route resulting in a poor quality, poorly executed and underwhelming V8 project.
But hey, what do I know...I've only been building modified engines for 28 years
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 5,002
- Location
- Near MK
What are you actually wanting? Any such conversion will be 100% bespoke, so you won't be buying conversion bits off the shelf. And it would only need to be slightly different in application to mean anything anyone else has done might not apply to your install.
How much does the 360 weigh compared to the original diesel or the rover v8? other than the bespoke nature that would be one of my concerns of weighting done the front end unnecessarily.
As its the box that came with the engine, yes
they are apparently very strong boxes.And yes the yank sound is different
Nice though.J
l thought that. The RV8 had an alloy block, l would imagine the Chrysler is cast iron?
v8250
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 6,872
- Location
- Deepest Darkest...
I'm glad someone raised this Q? Answer, both dry weight without ancillaries 360 5.9ltr 250kg [550lbs], RV8 140-170kg. Any extra nominal power/torque will be wasted hoiking around the 80kg. Plus, the 360 ancillaries are all heavier than an RV8...I'd gauge an additional 20kg all in.
In fairness to the OP, the 360/Mopar units do sound good...
Surprisingly not really as much in it as you would think from what I can find.
RPI list the 4.6 dressed all up at 230kg =507lbs
from what I can find the chrysler would come in at 550 - 620lbs. depending where you look.
So certainly not to difficult to compensate for that
.J
