V8 or 300tdi

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since1875

Active Member
Posts
267
Location
Hawick
Im starting me rebuild of a V8 disco but not sure to stick with the V8 love the power and grunt or to stick my 300tdi from my other everyday disco as there is so much rust on the daily runner but the engine is sound. Iv had the 300tdi for 5 years now and know it well and trust it, I know very little about the V8. So far Iv only got the body off and cleaning up the chassis but any advice on what plant to go with will be great.

Want the V8 power but love the 300tdi simplicity and reliability! what do I do?
 
I've had a number of series 1 V8's over the years, been without a landy for 8 months now and reluctantly going for a diesel as 12 mpg just ain't funny these days :(
 
Without question the diesel is a bit of a slug. But then, it's a Disco... how fast do you really want to go?
I've had my old V8 up to 90mph and I've had the current 300tdi up to 75ish.

Pulling away at junctions you're better off in the V8 and similarly if you want to overtake something the V8 is better. But for just bumbling around there's nothing in it really. The diesel makes a row when you put your foot down - but it will it's a diesel but then it's got the fuel economy benefits that a V8 can't quite match even with LPG.

Ultimately I think you probably know what you want to do. If you don't sleep on it.

I don't think it's a bad decision either way in all honesty. If I could have my time over again and got to pick between the two I think I'd just go for whatever car came up in the best condition. As to which I'd pick to restore... I'd have to sleep on it. ;)
 
Hi,
Had 2 V8s now, latest is LPG, seriously thought about swapping to Diesel until I had a test drive !!
I know V8 is thirsty even with LPG but I love the performance not to mention the sound.
You can do all sorts to the diesels to improve performance but to me it defeats the object ???
Tough decision, sorry ifade deciding worse.
Cheers
Mike
 
Ive just bought a V8i after owning 3 Tdi's over the years- I can only say I find the V8 tons better on and off road, and never bother listening to radio anymore cos the engine sounds great too! The mpg is pretty horrendous, if I'm lucky I can get 280 miles per tank, but you'd never buy or install a V8 with fuel economy in mind!!
 
I bought my very first disco in October.

It was a Disco 1 V8 with LPG and I absolutely love. There are little jobs to sort on it but I've done nearly 5000 miles so far, with another 1000 to come this week.

Now I've sorted the exhaust downpipe gaskets it's quiet when cruising but a lovely noise when you want to go.

If I had the choice again, I'd still get a V8 :)
 
I do fancy the V8 but its not just the MPG im bothered about. I can handle that for what I do sand it would be nice to be able to overtake having the power to do so safely.
But from what I see the V8 engine parts are so much more expensive to that of the 300tdi. And if I am doing a rebuild I want everything to be perfact and its going to get expensive.
My other thought is to stick with the V8 giving it a just a service and then if and when its becoming an issue swap it for the 300tdi.

BUT how easy is it to change the V8 for a 300tdi? Obviously it would be easier to just go with the diesel knowing I it will last and easy and cheap to repair. But how much hasstle is it to change a V8 for 300tdi? Wiring loom, fuel lines, engine mounts - all things that are easier to sort out with my bare chassis wondering what power plant im going to put on her!
 
since1875 said:
I do fancy the V8 but its not just the MPG im bothered about. I can handle that for what I do sand it would be nice to be able to overtake having the power to do so safely.
But from what I see the V8 engine parts are so much more expensive to that of the 300tdi. And if I am doing a rebuild I want everything to be perfact and its going to get expensive.
My other thought is to stick with the V8 giving it a just a service and then if and when its becoming an issue swap it for the 300tdi.

BUT how easy is it to change the V8 for a 300tdi? Obviously it would be easier to just go with the diesel knowing I it will last and easy and cheap to repair. But how much hasstle is it to change a V8 for 300tdi? Wiring loom, fuel lines, engine mounts - all things that are easier to sort out with my bare chassis wondering what power plant im going to put on her!
Click to expand...

What engine parts would that be? I can't think of any thing similar so how are u compairing parts.
 
eightinavee said:
A quick tart up may be £400 with cheapo bits,but way more if you actually do a proper build....
Click to expand...

Yes you can go out and spend £1200 on a set of omega forged pistons etc etc if you like but for something that's just going to chug round a field what more do you need beyond some new decent bearings, new cam, lifters, timing gear a bit of machining and glaze busting.
You'd be very surprised what Rover V8 stock internals will take. You can chuck 400bhp worth of nitrous through it if you like with decent head gaskets.
I would concede that it'd be a great idea to stretch the budget to a new distributor and £100 worth of ARP fasteners but where do you draw the line?
 
I'd go V8. I have gone v8. 3 times. Same car. The first engine was damaged by misuse when she was lent out (grr) and the second engine was fine just a bit small)

A diesel will have a more stable idle usually but it won't sound or feel like a bent eight.
 
MGBGTV8 said:
Yes you can go out and spend £1200 on a set of omega forged pistons etc etc if you like but for something that's just going to chug round a field what more do you need beyond some new decent bearings, new cam, lifters, timing gear a bit of machining and glaze busting.
You'd be very surprised what Rover V8 stock internals will take. You can chuck 400bhp worth of nitrous through it if you like with decent head gaskets.
I would concede that it'd be a great idea to stretch the budget to a new distributor and £100 worth of ARP fasteners but where do you draw the line?
Click to expand...
I'm not talking about upgrades like forged pistons,I'm just making the point that you cannot do a decent rebuild with parts of a reasonable quality for £400.For that sum of money you may be able to repair or do a freshen up of a worn,but basically undamaged engine.
If you put a figure of £400 into peoples minds that's what "rebuild" costs - Few people have the skills to even measure or decide what needs machining or replacing to do the job properly.It just makes a mockery of anyone trying to do the job properly.
 
eightinavee said:
I'm not talking about upgrades like forged pistons,I'm just making the point that you cannot do a decent rebuild with parts of a reasonable quality for £400.For that sum of money you may be able to repair or do a freshen up of a worn,but basically undamaged engine.
If you put a figure of £400 into peoples minds that's what "rebuild" costs - Few people have the skills to even measure or decide what needs machining or replacing to do the job properly.It just makes a mockery of anyone trying to do the job properly.
Click to expand...

Well if you're shelling out for labour that's a bit different isn't it?

If the individual can be bothered to educate themselves by reading a few books, own the appropriate tools, have an appreciation of good engineering practices and the wherewithal to build an engine then I'd absolutely stick by my figures. A rebuild is just that - a rebuild take your running core and make good back to factory fresh. If you want to play semantics and write "freshen up" then that's fine but it doesn't detract from the point.
If you want to start making more grunt then there are a few cheap and cheerful tricks you can try first, but certainly expenses are going to go up. Similarly if you want to put more into machine work - balancing and weight matching components is always a great idea but it does push the price up. But then that's not "stock" is it? It's modified - albeit subtly.
 
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I have said nothing about upgrades,but any Rover v8,(Esp 94mm bore ones) that has done the equivalent of 70,000m work or more is going to need cam bearings,possibly head skims,bore hones,valve guide,valve and seat machining.Not many home workshops can do all that to a standard that will get it back to a factory fresh state.BTW the term "freshen up" is a well used trade term for engines which come apart more often than road used engines.
Few Rover v8's get serviced well enough in their first life and are often in very poor condition.The cooling systems are often in a very poor state,with head gaskets leaking all over the place.But to assume the coolant loss is just a weeping gasket is folly.Anyone rebuilding a 94mm bore Rover,(Esp if its a unit they have just bought) is taking a big risk if they don't hot pressure test the block thoroughly first.
I suppose it depends on your background and how much time and money you want to spend on kit.For most people its cheaper and better to farm out certain jobs during an engine build.
 
Im more than capable to do all the work myself thats not a problem. Iv only looked at a few parts Distributer is £100 straight away, love to improve the engine power and efficiency with a high lift cam but that’s out the question at £200. I really want to go for the V8 and probably will I think its just Iv had the 300tdi for a long time and know my way about it and for what I would spend on the V8 would leave a lot in my budget to really take care of the old diesel and more for other mods etc.
Iv had another look for parts for the V8 big end bearings and gasket kit all seem ok, thankfully my heads are good but not knowing the history of the car I would like to improve as much as possible. Iv done rebuilds before and I know your never quite get it finished there is always a bit of tweeking but im hoping this is going to be my family car for the next while and get rid of the over complicated D3!
 
Why don't you keep the diesel and treat it to a vnt turbo, full width intercooler, port the manifolds, De cat it and tweek the pump. That way you can get the best of both worlds! The parts will always have a resale value if you get sick of the diesel.
 
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