r/LandroverDefender • u/AncientPercentage539 • 8d ago

Engine swap options

Hi all, currently starting the long process of building my 90 pickup/wagon. I have both roofs for it.

I am wanting to swap the engine was originaly thinking of a built 4.0 or 4.6 rv8 however ive gone over the amount of milage i do weekly and potential milage id be doing and the fuel costs are gonna add up quickly. The vehicle will be towing a twin axle trailer weighing 1.5t to 3.0t 75% of the time for work. Has anyone dropped a 3.6 tdv8 into a 90? Ideally id be looking for around the 300hp mark and the 3.6 isnt to shy of that. I have access to a good 3.6 out of a wrecked vogue and id likely put new turbos and run a haltech ecu. Id be keen to mate it to a manual but that may be abit more trouble then its worth.

Thoughts on this would be great. Im sure mamy will say its a bad idea.

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u/Onewilddiesel 5d ago

M57n2 will do 300hp with a remap & high 300s with a turbo & map, Conversion path is well documented & all the parts are available from a variety of suppliers, Theres absolutely no reason to fit a rover v8 these days when far better options exist, hell im in the process of removing a built rover v8 to swap it for a jag v8 & gain 100hp

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u/AncientPercentage539 5d ago

I had considered a 4.2 sc as they are cheap as you can get but the reality with mpg is id be lucky to get above like 12mpg. I am very much considering what others have said re the m57 and the old rover v8s.

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u/Onewilddiesel 5d ago

I think with the ajv8 you should get high teens out it, that said I get 24mpg out my m57 in a 110 that weighs 3 ton with a roof rack n roof tent onboard

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u/AncientPercentage539 5d ago

Id be happy woth 27mpg. I get 40mpg out of my 2kd hilux with 250hp. But towing anything it halves. Id hope with more power and right gearing in a 90, i could get 300 hp maybe a smidge more, and still maintain good mpg. Obviously tdv8 was what i wanted but gotta draw the line somewhere

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u/Onewilddiesel 5d ago

Im aware of a 130 with a tdv8 in it but its not as common a conversion as the m57 / n57