V8 Freebie

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The Mad Hat Man

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Anyone got any ideas wots required to shoehorn the rover V8 lump into a Freebie. I realise it aint tranverse and will need lots of work - but actually wot work wd be required?
 
not a clue lol, to use the v8 gearbox you would have to fit it inline due to the length, but with the freelander body not having a transmission tunnel , making it fit may be very difficult,

not sure if any specialists like overfinch or kahn could supply any further details
 
Surely that wud just?! be a case of fitting in the LR transmission tunnel and lots of welding. I am more concerned about ecu's etc - mechanical stuff is surely just lots of cutting, welding and swearing?:eek:
 
seen it done with a feelander body on a shortened range rover classic chassis, not a straight forward job and lots of mods and strengthening required, dont try and squeeze it in the stock freelander body, it'll never take the torque, the chassis crack with a k-series so a V8 will kill it!!!

Ecu's and wiring will be the least of your worries, if anything that'll be the easy bit!

Take it from someone who's fitted V8's to a fair few cars (i know my ****!!)

If you are serious about this, you will need to make a full chassis, so basically all you'll use will be the freelander outer skin which will sit on top or channelled over, then make the floor, tubs, tunnel etc, thats if you want to keep it looking like a freelander. doing it this way will be better and the finished item will be way cool.

There are other things to take into consideration, axle(s), brakes, steering, suspesion, none of the freelander stuff will be good enough and this will all need to be thought out when building the chassis

the other way would be to bolt/weld the body to a disco or rr chassis but it will look like a freelander on a rr chassis (not very nice)

Enjoy, it'll be a long and expensive haul but a fun vehicle will be had in the end
 
Bugger!
Looks like I am lumbered with this V6 C**p!

nm - will have to play with my toy - not the wifes!;) :p
 

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There's still a lot of scope for development of the Freelander without resorting to an engine and transmission swap or rebuilding it as a mule.

Just look at www.reads4x4.com to see what can be done with a 1.8-engined Freelander. With chipping, tuning, intercooler, exhaust, etc, etc modifications as appropriate, you can totally change the characteristics of the vehicle without resorting to wholescale chopping and changing.

Cheers

Blippie
 
LOL!

A lot of people try do swaps, but generally speaking this sort of project is more for fun than reliability. Shoe horning a V8 into a Freelander would only be worth doing for the craic, but not to create a practical car.

I suspect that if you want a reliable Freelander, then it would be best either to replace the engine with a reconditioned K-series engine (either the 1.8 or another KV8 should be fairly simple) or, easiest of all, part exchange the vehicle with a second hand Freelander TD4.

It's not a very fun way of doing it, but it will save a fortune in time and money!

Cheers

Blippie
 
yeah! tried that - 5K for my V6 - "no-one wants em mate!" and 10K for a TD4 of the same age! :(
Beginning to think "MUG" is tattood across my forehead. :mad:
Intending to keep vehicle for 5 or so years so wud rather resolve the issues - just worried that they dont get resolved. Heard of guys with 1.8's that have had 3 HG failures in as many years:eek: ! I dont think that mounting a "V" engine transversely is a wise engineering move, cos of imbalance of air flow causing unbalanced heat distribution. Mind you - also heard of Vauxhall V6's that yu cant change the plugs on the rear bank 'cos of the bulkhead.:rolleyes:
yu wud 've thort that Automotive engineering mite 've progressed in the last 100 years! Give me a Triumph Herald any day;) !
 
Blippie said:
LOL!

easiest of all, part exchange the vehicle with a second hand Freelander TD4.

It's not a very fun way of doing it, but it will save a fortune in time and money!

Cheers

Blippie

wot makes you think changing this for another one wud give me reliability?
 
I bet the owner dont get as many probs as I have. Not sure I like this fad for dayglo orange - prefer something a bit less obvious - but yeah - its one mean machine!

Do yu think they wud do a swap?

wud it take my kayak? lol
 
Mad Hat... you don't have to spend £10K on a TD4... depending on the age and spec you want you can get one a lot cheaper at a Landy auction (either BCA or Manheim come recmmended.)

For example, I picked up a jet black 2002 ES Station Wagon in immaculate condition last week, with FSH and about 50K on the clock for just £7450. I've just sold the bull bar, bonnet protector and side rails for about £350 on Ebay... so effectively I've got an as new ES for £7100 and just need to stick a new CV boot on it to get it up to scratch.

At the same auction, a 53 plate GS Station Wagon with 60K on the clock and FSh went for £4750. But I'd already bought mine...

You have more come-back with an auction than you do with private buyer and you should save more than enough to buy a Warranty Direct extended warranty, if you're bothered about a warranty.

I've bought loads of cars from auction and as long as you go with a reputable auction and avoid private sellers (stick to ex lease/fleet cars) you should do fine.
 
Whilst browsing through Ebay today under a Freelander search I did notice a few 2.5 petrol engines up for auction. When the HG went on my MGF it cost just under £1300 to get it sorted and those engines on Ebay didn't seem that much more expensive. Of course the new engine could have all the same problems as the old one, but having 2 engines would mean one can be fully sorted in your own time while running the other.

Just a thought.

Steve :)
 
Blippie said:
There's still a lot of scope for development of the Freelander without resorting to an engine and transmission swap or rebuilding it as a mule.

Just look at www.reads4x4.com to see what can be done with a 1.8-engined Freelander. With chipping, tuning, intercooler, exhaust, etc, etc modifications as appropriate, you can totally change the characteristics of the vehicle without resorting to wholescale chopping and changing.

Cheers

Blippie
But surely this ain't the ideal engine to start messing with.I have a freelander with a supposedly modified block (It stops the liners slipping and therefore cures the head gasket problem.......wouldn't bank on it though) but I still would not chance any mods.Still,maybe someone knows something that I don't......flyboy2
 
mondo said:
This wot yer after mad
p16434n2er9.jpg


I know I've posted it before, but i think its The dog bollox!
Where might I buy one of these.......might even px my 1.8 (with some cash in my favour of course):D
 
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