Nothing wrong with whatever power engine anyone puts in, but only if they also upgrade 'the rest' to suit, particularly tyres and brakes. What seems senseless to me is the 'I need 300BHP' people who have done literally nothing to the rest of the vehicle and expect it to stay together and running .. Adding a K&N smacks a lot of this to me. Only time I'd use a K&N is a feck-off large one on a wide, long inlet pipe in the back or roof of a racer, with a custom airbox and kept well out the way of water!

The shops and products don't help either .. 'buy me, I can add 10% power'

Having said that. I am seriously thinking of trying a boost pin just for that little bit extra off-road, currently the whole injection system is almost standard, no tweaks or additions, only an egr deletion and a straight through exhaust and my air inlet system is good, is standard with a snorkel, and works well.. On road there's plenty for cruising at 65-70 ish fully loaded (It actually goes well over 85+ but I don't like the noise, vibrations or the feeling of extreme tyres at higher speeds!)

Boost pin by all means. But on a diesel, it doesn't need increased airflow. Not like a petrol engine where increased fuel needs increased air.
 
Land rover brakes are fine outside of track use. They are designed for towing heavy loads and are adequate unless your lapping brands hatch.

Land Rover brakes are not designed for heavy towing, all trailers over 750kg have to have over-run brakes, so they are designed for a fully laden Land Rover + 750kg trailer. That could explain why faster classic range Rovers and some of the heavier Defenders have vented discs.
 
They are designed for heavy towing, hence why the brakes on a 2016 110 are barely any better than one from 1983... despite offering far more performance. They are more than adequate for stopping the Defender, even with twice the power.

I have driven many many vehicles both in the UK and abroad and can say with confidence that the Defenders brakes are perfectly adequate.

I am personally building a defender with the following specification.

Galvanised 110 V8 spec chassis
Chevrolet LS based 5.3 litre V8 offering in the region of 300hp mounted on Marks 4x4 bolt on mounts
4l80e electronically controlled 4 speed autobox mated to 1.2 ratio LT230 transfer box using off the shelf adaptor from Marks 4x4
A pair of NRC4306 front range rover springs with rubber isolators top and bottom
A pair of NRC6388 rear light duty springs with air helper bags
A pair of heavy duty terrafirma ARB's
Standard vented brakes

Ultimately I am aiming for effortless and refined driving with as close to range rover ride quality as possible.
 
They are designed for heavy towing, hence why the brakes on a 2016 110 are barely any better than one from 1983... despite offering far more performance. They are more than adequate for stopping the Defender, even with twice the power.

I have driven many many vehicles both in the UK and abroad and can say with confidence that the Defenders brakes are perfectly adequate.

I am personally building a defender with the following specification.

Galvanised 110 V8 spec chassis
Chevrolet LS based 5.3 litre V8 offering in the region of 300hp mounted on Marks 4x4 bolt on mounts
4l80e electronically controlled 4 speed autobox mated to 1.2 ratio LT230 transfer box using off the shelf adaptor from Marks 4x4
A pair of NRC4306 front range rover springs with rubber isolators top and bottom
A pair of NRC6388 rear light duty springs with air helper bags
A pair of heavy duty terrafirma ARB's
Standard vented brakes

Ultimately I am aiming for effortless and refined driving with as close to range rover ride quality as possible.

Sounds interesting, Pics of that would be welcome if you have time.
 
some great comments, would you guys suggest a small block chevvy engine over a supercharged jaguar engine? guess its less to go wrong?
 
some great comments, would you guys suggest a small block chevvy engine over a supercharged jaguar engine? guess its less to go wrong?

Small block is more tried and tested. Jag is later tech, but as you say, more to go wrong.

User preference, I would have thought. Me, I would go with the small block.
 
Small block is the better choice. There is no better supported engine on earth and can be purchased brand new as a standalone unit for very reasonable cost.

The list of aftermarket parts is endless, likewise compatibility with a wide range of quality gearboxes and if course a huge online community/knowledge base which is arguably the most important thing of all.
 
Land rover brakes are fine outside of track use. They are designed for towing heavy loads and are adequate unless your lapping brands hatch.

The fact remains the defender is underpowered for its weight.

300hp will give you a power to weight ratio if 150hp per ton which is a perfectly manegable amount. This will allow the defender to comfortably accelerate to motorway speads and hold steady on hills while towing.

A standard chevrolet small block will provide this level of performance without issue.

The reliability of the rest of the drivetrain will be down to the sympathies of the operator.

An auto box will be significantly kinder to the land rover axles as it has lower shock loading.
I just don't get it when people say they're Landy pulls like a train when towing. Mines slow as anything. Does it ok mind but not particularly impressive.
 
I just don't get it when people say they're Landy pulls like a train when towing. Mines slow as anything. Does it ok mind but not particularly impressive.

What they mean by like a train is the journey takes twice as long as expected, costs an arm and a leg and has a strong possibility of being completed in a bus.
 
I just don't get it when people say they're Landy pulls like a train when towing. Mines slow as anything. Does it ok mind but not particularly impressive.

It doesn't need to.

A train weighs hundreds of tons, and travels at speeds of up to a hundred mph.

A trailer weighs max 3500kg, and max speed 60mph. And a lot of the time you will be going far slower, especially with live animals in the back.
 
I gp
It doesn't need to.

A train weighs hundreds of tons, and travels at speeds of up to a hundred mph.

A trailer weighs max 3500kg, and max speed 60mph. And a lot of the time you will be going far slower, especially with live animals in the back.
I go as fast as I can when towing animals in the back. They're so fed up of being in there when you get to where you're going they just bolt straight out of the thing no need to do any prodding.
 
111bhp? My 300 is over that just by decatting , putting a k and n filter in and a boost pin. You sure it's not more?
It's not going to be more. When new out of the factory it was capable of producing 111bhp. I reckon I did a reasonable job of rebuilding it, but it's not going to be as good as new, which is why I said if I was lucky I might be somewhere close to 111bhp. I'm very happy with the way it's settling in though, so whatever it's producing will do me. :)
 
I gp

I go as fast as I can when towing animals in the back. They're so fed up of being in there when you get to where you're going they just bolt straight out of the thing no need to do any prodding.

Towing haltered show cattle is a bit different. The trailer is calming for them if you go slow and steady, and you want them as calm as possible before arrival.

I used to aim for 56mph cruising on the motorway or A roads, just like a limited cattle truck, which I was often driving in convoy with.

The slow speed, and everyone trying to arrive around the same time, meant that often people would convoy up miles from the showground, so you would be altogether with your colleagues in their trucks, or 4wd and trailers, as we all approached the showground.

That is a great feeling, dozens of showmen, and their beasts, ready for action and on the road together! :)
 
Towing haltered show cattle is a bit different. The trailer is calming for them if you go slow and steady, and you want them as calm as possible before arrival.

I used to aim for 56mph cruising on the motorway or A roads, just like a limited cattle truck, which I was often driving in convoy with.

The slow speed, and everyone trying to arrive around the same time, meant that often people would convoy up miles from the showground, so you would be altogether with your colleagues in their trucks, or 4wd and trailers, as we all approached the showground.

That is a great feeling, dozens of showmen, and their beasts, ready for action and on the road together! :)
Nah you've got it all wrong. Throw the buggers about a bit and they'll be all bruised and twnderised for the slaughterman. Lovely.
 

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