Range Rover engine conversion
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003 at 12:18
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Martyn (WA)
People,
I'm looking to convert my super economical 3.5 litre Rover engine with a chev engine of some description, I've spoken to Marks Adapters and sorted that bit out are there any other pitfalls I should be aware of, mines the 85 model with the slightly stronger transmission splines, I don't know what size Chev I'm loking at yet, I've already fitted the stronger springs in the front because of the cast iron engine weight. I'm interested to hear from people who have done the conversion themselves and learnt from their own experiences. Any help gratefully accepted, thanks to all up front. Keep the shiny side up
Reply By: Steve from Drive Systems Victoria - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003 at 16:33
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003 at 16:33
Having been there, done that, and if I had any inclination to play around with Rangies again, I'd go for the 5 Litre Holden. Marks adaptoers do a kit for Holden to Rangie, but I'd use the later EFI engine, fairly cheap from the wreckers and can be engineered with exhaust emission standards to run on unleaded. New 5 litre crate engines are around $4000 in the box. If you go Chev, then it will have to be Straight LPG, not very desirable if you need to tour a great distance from city centrs, as gas availability (and economy) is RS. The EFI Holden is very economical to run, around 20 mpg in a Rangie with parts availability at every corner Holden dealer.
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003 at 18:07
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003 at 18:07
Steve,
I'm interested, I have been offered a '86 350 Chev for the right price, I like to have a project in the shed to tinker with, the Rover engine is not economically viable so that's a "dead duck" as of last weekend, my interest is why do I have to go to gas? I was just going to run unleaded / ultimate petrol, it's an '86 so I assume it's unleaded friendly, I was going to ditch the fuel injection bit and fit a carby, I prefer this set up in the bush it's less electronics to get wet and cheaper to fix and maintain. I was more after the mods needed to fit the air con pump and the alternator and how that works after the tacho connection is buggered around with, things like that. Thanks for any help. Keep the shiny side up
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Follow Up By: Steve from Drive Systems Victoria - Sunday, Jul 20, 2003 at 15:03
Sunday, Jul 20, 2003 at 15:03
Martyn, yes without doubt the little, fiddly things take all the time with these sort of conversions. You have to give a lot of thought on designing brackets and hardware to mount the various accessories onto the donor engine. I don't know the road rules for engine conversions for WA, so you need to contact your registration board to see what they will allow/dissallow regarding exhaust emission standards. That is why in Victoria, no problems if it is on LPG. Here, they would not allow a EFI engine to be changed to carby because it would not meet the same emissions standards. Even keeping the EFI will require heaps of time,dollars, investment to get the engine "clean". If not clean, then NO rego for you!
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Sunday, Jul 20, 2003 at 19:55
Sunday, Jul 20, 2003 at 19:55
Steve,
I'll have to
check up on this, now I have the engine and I've done a bit of research
the block was cast on the 20th of June 1990, it's amazing what you can find out via the net. The inlet manifold has not been supplied with the engine it's missing, I have all the other stuff, alternator bracket and also the power steering pump so this makes things easier. The air con compressor will have to be fitted at some point in time, I'll just have to figure that out. We have a couple of Chev engine conversion mobs around here so they must have done a Rangie before I'll have a chat to them. I don't really want to fit gas, that wasn't in the plan. Grateful for the help thanks.Keep the shiny side up
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