Thoughts on the 12J engine?

JaxonWyatt · Apr 3, 2020

I've found what appears to be a good deal on a 84 110 with the 2.5L 12J engine. All whopping 68 hp of it. Now, I live in a mountain community in North America at high altitude. Will this engine be able to gain mountain passes at a reasonable speed (45+ mph on an interstate)? Thoughts on the engine in general? Can it sustain 65 mph on flats? I plan to turn it into a light camper, so there will be some in back.

Shimsteriom · Apr 3, 2020

Hello

RangeRoller dt · Apr 3, 2020

Welcome to LandyZone

Huddy84 · Apr 3, 2020

Welcome, check out the 2.5na part of the forum and have a read through. Plenty of opinions.

One example; https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/2-5-good-or-bad.213450/

300bhp/ton · Apr 3, 2020

JaxonWyatt said:
I've found what appears to be a good deal on a 84 110 with the 2.5L 12J engine. All whopping 68 hp of it. Now, I live in a mountain community in North America at high altitude. Will this engine be able to gain mountain passes at a reasonable speed (45+ mph on an interstate)? Thoughts on the engine in general? Can it sustain 65 mph on flats? I plan to turn it into a light camper, so there will be some in back.

I suspect you will find it way too slow. And 45mph might be highly optimistic on some steep high altitude hills. But it should get there none the less.

What I would say is, engine swaps are very easy. Get yourself a 3.9/4.0/4.6 Rover V8 from a Range Rover or Discovery. It will bolt straight up to the gearbox/transmission. You'll need engine mounts and some pipe work. But an easy conversion. And it'll run way better. If you live in N. America where fuel is a lot cheaper than here in the UK. There is no reason to run ANY of the Land Rover diesel engines in a Defender. The V8 beats them all hands down. Or you could look at a Chevy V8 conversion, but that is a fair bit more work.

Jonmlb748 · Apr 3, 2020

You will hate it after one week, it’s not an engine for this century especially on your shores with cheap gas prices ,I remember tackling steep hills with a line of traffic behind me ,still gives me the shivers .
like the man said stick a v8 in it.

norseman · Apr 3, 2020

What happened to your country's saying ''there ain't no substitute for cubes'' ?
Four cylinders & 68 bhp? you're having a laugh, surely

I love my old RangeRover classic, but if your motor industry had designed it (God forbid) the entry level engine would have been a 289cu in, not a puny 215 designed for a compact car

Rougharse Racing · Apr 4, 2020

I had one in an ex army 110, you have to drive it flat out everywhere, they don't like any sort of hill and they won't do 65mph on the flat.
Here in the UK large goods vehicles are physically limited to 56mph and I used to struggle to keep up with them on the motorway (freeway).
I used mine to tow a trailer loaded with a scrap Discovery and found myself in low ratio 1st gear at one point on a hilly rural road.
As said above, if you have set your heart on that particular Land Rover and local regulations allow, the engine AND gearbox from an early Range Rover or Discovery will fit with minor modifications. The Power Steering from these also fits the 110. The chassis on the 110 and Range Rover/Discovery are identical in the important areas.

Zed. · Apr 4, 2020

if you're in the US then a Cummins 6bt conversion?

no issues with hill then

Rich. (wanting to do this to our '86 ninety tul,ffw)

norseman · Apr 4, 2020

What's wrong with a V8 110 ?
Ok they are no ball of fire, but from '86 had an extra 20 bhp (wow!) plus the RV8 has a reputation for being very tunable.

Hippo · Apr 6, 2020

Welcome to the forum

Thoughts on the 12J engine?

JaxonWyatt

New Member

Shimsteriom

Master Procrastinator

RangeRoller dt

Well-Sprung Member

Huddy84

Well-Known Member

300bhp/ton

Well-Known Member

Jonmlb748

Well-Known Member

norseman

Well-Known Member

Rougharse Racing

Well-Known Member

Zed.

Well-Known Member

norseman

Well-Known Member

Hippo

Lord Hippo

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