Hi all
I am interested in the possibility of mating a jaguar straight six to the LT77 in my 1991 Defender 90.
I have just put the vehicle back on the road after a chassis change and my mind has started wandering.
I know the LT77 was designed for Rover and Jaguar cars back in the day. Does it follow that I just need a Jag bellhousing and maybe input shift- or is it not that simple?
I do appreciate the old 200TDI but I would prefer 'grace & pace' over tinnitus...

never seen it but think a 4.2 with triple carbs would be superb. I often thought about a Jeep 4.0 litre straight six, there was a good posting in here somewhere about jeep transplant. i love the 4.0 pushrod lump. Easiest straight six would obviously be BMW

Why not just stick a V8 in it...buy a scrap Disco and you've got everything...

Shippers said:

Why not just stick a V8 in it...buy a scrap Disco and you've got everything...

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Standard V8 just turns fuel into strange rumbling sound and very little power lol

adrian hogg said:

Standard V8 just turns fuel into strange rumbling sound and very little power lol

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Who said anything about standard..my 101 howls due to it's simple standard exhaust system not quick due to gearing but 90 will be the same on standard gearing...

@Paul in Sussex , have you fitted a 6cylinder Jaguar engine before? Do you know their size and how heavy? Enginewise, I can but recommended you install the RV8 of your choice and an R380 gearbox...it's so much easier, both near drop straight in with excellent power output/torque and have been running in Land Rovers in all forms. And first rate parts supply.

Re Jaguar engine they're very long engines and will add more understeer than any Land Rover can handle. Unless heavily breathed on they offer poor performance and your fuel figures will drop to single figures.

Apart from that...great idea.

Hi all
Thanks for your replies.
The whole point of this project is to do something different. I'm not looking for an easy way to do what has been done a million times with entirely predictable results.

Some time ago I read an article about a 109 with a Jaguar 6 cyl engine which looked like a fine piece of work. The builder had used the older type rounded and polished cam covers which looked good. I don't however remember the details around gearbox etc...

The reason for fitting a Jaguar engine as against a Rover V8 is simply that I have had plenty of Rover V8's - they are good as far as they go and of course spares are 'off the shelf' items.
The Rover V8 as I am sure you all know is derived from a cooking Buick engine, it's OK but not a classic engine. The Jaguar 6 cyl engine is something of a work of art, a classic piece of engineering - I've had a couple of those too. As well as the aesthetic aspect I am looking for bottom end torque for driveability rather than top end performance.

The LT77 was designed around the Rover and Jag engines so for my purposes it will be fine, maybe not for weekend warriors but that isn't me. In the summer I gently green-lane my way to work and back which is all the off-road excitement I need.

Regarding size and weight distribution yes it is a long and heavy engine but when changing my chassis I couldn't help but notice how much room exists between the 200TDI's short bellhousing and the radiator support. The vehicle doesn't have any added weight on the front, no winch fitted and no spare tyre on the bonnet so I think it will be OK for my purposes.

What I want to know is whether a manual Jaguar bellhousing will bolt up to my LT77 and whether I need a different input shaft. I guess I could ask Ashcroft, I have used their rebuild kits in the past so they might give me some time to talk it through.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.
Paul

Look forward to seeing finished Land-Rover-Jaguar...see what I did there? If certain of no more RV8's, what Jaguar lump will you use? And have you seen the price of polished cam covers these days...?

Re' LT77, it's logically better to use an R380 [the clue's in the name]. Neither box is a straight fit so you'll need an adaptor plate made + clutch rethink + spigot + main shaft + starter motor +flywheel/ring gear to match. It would be worth talking to Ashcroft, but this is not a common type conversion. Of course, the real issue is not the engine...it's retaining the 4WD function via a transfer box.

You could go really radical and go electric...a pile of Tesla batteries and 2x motors, a controller unit and...job jobbed. This sort of thing would get you to work across the fields and green lanes...

Rover 3.9 had 182 bhp and 230lb/ft. E type 4.2 had 261bhp and 283. I agree that V8 would be easier to fit but the engines as you say are chalk and cheese. If you have the skill set and access to a nice 4.2. GO FOR IT. Years ago I helped install a Jag into a Reliant Scimitar, the result was awesome

I really fancy something different. The thought of all that low end grunt would make a few complications well worthwhile. I have a spare LT77, maybe I should just get a bellhousing and see if it fits the box. If it does all the clutch/ flywheel bits should be stock Jaguar bits. I was wondering if the front of an LT77 destined for a Land Rover might have been drilled differently? Only one way to find out...

No straight six E-Type had those bhp figures, William Lyons was renowned for massaging output figures. If going for 4.2ltr try and secure a Series III with 1 7/8th exhaust valves.

@Paul in Sussex , highly recommend the following two books if not already on your bookshelves.

Jaguar XK Engines by Dave Pollard and How To Power Tune XK Engines by Des Hammill. Combined they provide very detailed data on how to rebuild/set-up XK/XJ engines.

All Land Rovers should have a stock option Land Rover engine fitted to it and thats my opinion...





But to be honest my 110 with a Jap import Nissan 3ltr non turbo fitted was fantastic drove superbly silky smooth loads of power back and forth to Portugal wonderfull.lol...

I wonder if your insurance co. will share your enthusiasm for an old 4x4 converted to a guided missile

The insurance co' is least of worries. I'd be more worried about ~220-250bhp cranked through an LT77 and with 1.85 tonnes. Ever heard an LT77 shred its internals

I've been thinking about other non v8 engines tonight and thought of the 3ltr Nissan engine, but also a v34/v54 turbo charged 2.5ltr Subaru engine. Super light weight, compact, super tough with a few modifications, 300-350bhp an mahoosive torque through a super strong R380. Now that would give the insurance co's something to think about.

Oh, and a full de-cat unequal length Haward & Scott. It would sound sublime...

Eta, one great advantage with the Subaru engine would be a highly efficient heater. These flats have uber efficient heat up and heaters. No more Chinese diesel heaters needed. The world is flat

v8250 said:

and thought of the 3ltr Nissan engine,

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The one I had I bought from a work mate that got it in part exchange for a building job he did couldn't get it running so sold it to me...new 24v glow plugs and starter fitted and dual battery charging system sorted...drop into 3rd and hit the pedal and it was quick and in top lovely and quiet and smooth a joy driving to Portugal.and by the looks of it a straight drop in with an adapter plate....wish I still have it...

Paul, I been looking in to doing the same thing for a few years. The LT77 gearbox is a jaguar gear box and was fitted in some manual Jag XJ series 3 cars with the 4.2. I think this set up was quite rare most used the Getrag manual Box. I have seen the parts for sale but i missed out on buying them. I also own Jags and have spare engines. I was thinking of using a J60 (ex army jag engine). I now thinking to build one with the AJ6 3.6