Hi Everyone, My 1997 stock V8 Defender Petrol Engine is getting tired so I want to replace it with a V8 Turbo Diesel Engine. I want an engine that is a bit more powerful with more torque that will not cause problems with my gearbox or transfer Box Does anyone have any suggestions for something that is reliable and easy to install? Thanks for your help. Ray

I seem to remember there being a trend for people converting Defenders to run with a GMC 6.2 V8 Diesel. Have no idea what's involved in the conversion mind you. Might be a starting point?

Then again, just found this thread on here- so might not be too viable. . .


http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f16/6-2l-gmc-v8-diesel-engined-defender-115367.html

What you suggest does not exist . The gmc is not a realistic option , to heavy and agricultural , esp after a petrol V8 .
I have been looking for options to replace my V8 , in my 110 , basically comes down to either 4 cyl 300tdi/Hs2.8 . If you are fairly up to speed on vehicle electrics a TD5 . If you want to go a bit further but not what i call easy and prepared to pay for it to be done then BMW 6cyl TD will enable V8 performance. This is the engine option I have pretty well settled on , but I am able to do so myself , with a little bit of specialist help HTSH

Nissan 3.5 lump.

Thank you for your replies I appreciate them very much. I have also been thinking that what i want does not exist but I don't understand why, what I want seems to be a good solution for many vehicles. I keep thinking there must be a small v8 turbo diesel somewhere in the developed world. I definitely need more power and torque and speed than I have now. I live in an area with an altitude of about 3000 meters. I don't want a big heavy super-powerful engine but I need something that will give me the ability to pass another car when driving on a mountain road. I keep reading articles about new Ford and GM diesel engines but I never see anything saying when they will be sold. I assume that my V8 petrol engine has more power and torque than the TD5 is that correct? I read something about a v8 turbo diesel made in Brazil but I also read that they stopped making it. I need something that would be fairly easy to change. I would appreciate any suggestions.

How much money do you have?
If you have loads, by a rr sport with a tdv8, kill it for the engine and box then pay simtek more money for a stand alone ecu and loom .
Bell auto servives stuck a tdv6 in a defender that seems to have worked well

Fix your v8 end tune it to how you want it take in to acount your alTitute factors. it all depends to where you live but bare in mind any modern'ish diesel is ridlled with electronic gizmos. Tired v8=tired trannie etc.Alltghough i am adiesel fun (ie)200 tdi, the rover v8 its not nown for it's lac of speed/torque.

Thank you for your replies, I am learning a lot about defenders here. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of money so my options are limited. My V8 has 200,000 miles on it and I have never owned a defender with a new V8 so I am not sure how much power it had when it was new and how much more power I would have if I rebuilt my V8. I have read many articles about defenders being sluggish even with a V8. Diesel fuel here is very cheap, the cost difference between diesel and petrol could easily make up the cost of my engine swap if i could find a good diesel V8. It appears by reading your comments I may have no other choice, I may need to rebuild my v8 or replace it with a V8 that is a little more powerful. If I did rebuild it I would want to do whatever I could do without major modifications to make it more powerful however I live in Ecuador and there is not many engine rebuild experts here. It would be easier to do an easy engine swap than a rebuild here. If there is no diesel replacement option I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on which v8 would be more powerful, about the same weight or a little more and an easy swap. I don't want a huge monster engine, just something a little more powerful and about the same weight or a little more, I don't want problems with my transmission or transfer box.

Why a V8 diesel? There are plenty of Jap diesels knocking around that will do the job. Personally I'd be looking at Toyota, Izuzu, or Nissan for donors. Source a diesel engine that is plentiful in your location with good access to spare parts as otherwise any savings you make on fuel will be eaten up in exotic and hard to find parts when things go wrong.

Or rebuild your engine. Rebore, new pistons, and bottom end shells. Jet the carbs for altitude and you'll be good to go.