Keep the petrol... diesel is horrible :)

Just to let everyone know the project is not dead. I have everything I think I will need, but am having a tough time finding a gearbox. Trying to avoid importing one from the states, but might have to at this rate. Mocked the jeep engine in the Defender this morning and it's an almost perfect...

Insurance will likely be cheaper if you buy an older V8 land rover and get it insured on a classic policy. My 110 V8 costs me 80 quid a year fully comp.

You will need to buy a petrol powered Defender. An old v8 will be fine.

The independent front suspension on the land cruiser will always give a better ride on rough roads. However when it comes to offroading the twin solid axles of the Defender will always be superior. It's why Toyota offer the Land cruiser with optional solid front axle.

Bit of an update. Looks like I can't use the grand cherokee ECU as it has a built in anti-theft system which can't be bypassed. So I need to sort an ECU from from a wrangler or cherokee, preferably manual as there will be no gearbox signal and wont cause it to throw a fault code

I'm having a hard time tracking down a gearbox in the UK and would rather not import from the USA if I can help it. Can anyone suggest a good gearbox retailer who might have a 4l80e in stock? Cheers

Update... Compushift ECU kit ordered from Trutech Transmissions in the USA. £788.52 GBP Total spend so far = £1815.02 Still to acquire. 4l80e gearbox

Dirt cheap as well... plenty of good sub 100,000 miles motors on ebay for a few hundred quid. Okay status update. Engine = Free Transfer case adaptor ordered from marks adaptors in Australia. Total Cost including shipping and import tax = £611.64 GBP Engine to Gearbox adaptor...

It is indeed heavy, but people have fitted far larger, heavier engines. It's thirsty and does not maker very good top end power, but is a very tractable low end chugger and most importantly IMO... it's very smooth and quiet. Besides... it's something a bit different :D

There are quite a large selection of shifter options... but because the 4l80e is electronically controlled, it is compatible with a paddle shifter setup. As for the TD5 question?... no thanks, not a fan :)

Okay A quick update to this thread. After doing a lot of research I have come to the following setup as the best way forward. Retain the stock Land Rover Transfer Case Buy an transfer case/gearbox adapter from Marks Adapters in Australia Use a GM 4l80E automatic gearbox (with compushift...

DG series engines were popular conversions in the 90's. They came in 2.5 or 2.8 litre variants and we're fitted in the Daihatsu fourtrac. My 110 had a 2.5 fitted which I eventually removed and replaced with a 200tdi. They are good strong engines with no timing belt to worry about. They...

One thing that concerns me a little is the handbrake... The Jeep is braked at the rear wheels... the defender, at the transfer case.

Jeep transfer case is offset and very similar in dimension to the LT-230. Popped the bonnet on the Jeep this morning and took some measurements. Engine should fit between land rover frame rails easily and no turbo to worry about.

sounds pretty good with the right exhaust :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qVGTVVbu4 or even just a straight pipe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs4SI_CqIZo

You are thinking of a different engine Chrysler Hemi-6 Engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Jeep 4.0 is based on the old AMC straight 6 family which Chrysler inherited when it bought AMC back in the 80's AMC straight-6 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Landy is already apart and sitting as a rolling chassis. Currently has a 200tdi mocked up in it, but really don't want to use a diesel engine after driving the Jeep for so long. Fuel economy is not an issue, but if it were to become one I would fit LPG as these engines are very friendly...

A quick check shows the jeep to use a 3.55 ratio axle diff, which looks pretty damn close to the defender's 3.54 Looking good so far :)

Seriously thinking I will just rip the whole engine/gearbox and transfer box assembly out of the Jeep and drop it into the land rover chassis. The transfer case is nearly brand new and has less than 2000 miles on it, so seems common sense to keep it. Thanks for the address steveworks. Will...