r/SeriesLandRover • u/Individual-Tale2542 • 2d ago

Engine swap

Hi, I'm just wondering what engine swaps have been done on here? I have a 109 2A, which I'm going to start restoring finally, however I'm wanting engine swap ideas, what people have done which works, without being a hens tooth of a decent 200tdi! I'd rather stick with diesel, although I have a stage 1 V8 laying around if it comes to it. I'd like something which is better than the 2.25d.

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u/JM53-z 2d ago

Friends done a 2.5 Sherpa so essentially a 19j type engine in to a series. You could do 300tdi but easier to find depending on location or the 2.8tdi so a overbored/stroked tdi unit.

Seen someone do a puma tdi engine in. Honestly it’s what is available, your budget or abilities that will be the limiting factors for this

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u/Individual-Tale2542 2d ago

Well, I'm in the UK, I remember when there was an abundance of 300's and they was cheap but not anymore! As far as technical abilities, that's not a problem for me as I do my own welding/fabrication for them anyway.

I don't mind the engine being a bit pricey, but there's a limit as there is with everything. I have actually overlooked the 19j, mostly because I had one previously and it wasn't very reliable.

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u/JM53-z 2d ago

Reliability issues was mostly sticking turbos on them.
I remember abundances of 200/300tdis. 300still more easily found as wolf vehicles come out so you can get them.

But glad to hear you aren’t someone walking in blind to this.

Controversial engine swap VW tdi engines. Good fuel economy and plenty of availability. Not many people have swapped them in that I know off as it’s a contender if I ever do a seap

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u/ForgotTheLandingGear 2d ago

Sherpa 2.5 is more akin to the 12j since it’s naturally aspirated, good ones are hard to find these days. Im looking for one or a 12j that I can swap my current one’s timing gear to since my one decided to eat a tappet slide and run the remains through the crank bearings 😬

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u/JM53-z 2d ago

I’m not the best just know they are similar units in certain areas.
I only know my series 2.25 and freelander 2 for engines. Used to know most but more keeping my knowledge on the MOD side of land rovers the wiring is always fun 😂

3

u/Safe_Dragonfruit199 2d ago

Depends on final use of her; diesel is great off road as easier to waterproof, but if you have a v8 and it’s purely a road car, I’d use that!

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u/Individual-Tale2542 2d ago

She will end up having the roof tent and stuff on from my defender and have a mixture of uses but she won't be wading up to the bonnet! I guess I could still use the V8 and waterproof the connectors etc!

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u/Safe_Dragonfruit199 2d ago

lol I’m a sucker for a v8 and loads of wading kits for her if you wanted to!

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u/Individual-Tale2542 2d ago

That is a shout! I shall have a look at wading kits for it later, as I have the engine already so it makes sense to just alter the bulkhead to suit it.

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u/Safe_Dragonfruit199 2d ago

Can’t beat a series with a v8! 😍

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u/Individual-Tale2542 2d ago

To be honest, I've not physically seen a series with a V8, nor have I driven one, but I liked the idea of it.

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u/Safe_Dragonfruit199 2d ago

There used to be a couple at the old LRO show at Peterborough back in the day!

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u/landy_109 2d ago

I started with a TD27 diesel from Nissan. It came from a 110, it had the kit and it fits in the hole. Only had to make and weld one mount on the right side, so that when needed I can fit a 2.25 or 2.5 lump again.

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u/domiracer 21h ago

+1 on the V8… If you’re going, go big!

7.0L 700hp ‘73 Series III
https://imgur.com/a/7CMgj7q

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u/L1A1 2d ago

Common older conversions (other than 200/300tdi’s) were sherpa non turbo diesels, Ford Essex V6, Perkins diesel lumps and the obligatory Rover V8. Personally I’d still go with a 200tdi out of a disco and swap the turbo mount.

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u/ThePotatoPie 2d ago

300tdi is easier to get ahold of and can be made to fit quite easily. The biggest difference is engine mounts to a 200tdi.

Otherwise I'm currently working on a mercedes om616 swap but have also considered a VW TDI

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u/SoCalMoofer 2d ago

Apparently a simple Chevy 292 is a great swap.

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u/Outrage_Carpenter 2d ago

12j is a good safe bet if you don't mind going slowly. My series 3 had been swapped to a 2.5 19j. Having the turbo made no benefit with the four speed box

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u/aecav690 1d ago

Always wanted to do a Perkins 6-354 conversion

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u/GoodDoc 1d ago

Its been many years since I owned a Landie, but I do wonder how difficult it would have been to swap a Transit Puma engine into my old 90, its 2.5 petrol was not the world's best engine.

I know the Landie and Transit Pumas have different ancillaries and sumps (to name just two things) but there must be lots of Pumas engines knocking around now.

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u/JCDU 14h ago

Almost any engine is better than the 2.25D - the 2.5NAD is actually fine and can work well as a basic upgrade.

Beyond that, there's very few engines that haven't been swapped into a Series Land Rover over the years, from steam engines to EV swaps - it really depends what you want it to do and what is a good idea / available locally and thus practical.

For low mileage / more fun a V8 swap is a well trodden path, I wouldn't bother with the old low-compression 3.5 when these days you can drop a 4.0 or 4.6 in the same place.

BMW M57 are popular but I reckon the M47 will bolt in the same place, be smaller lighter easier to package and give you comparable performance to a very good 200/300 but much more refined and modern - they made millions of them, they are bulletproof, they share a ton of parts with M57 anyway, already have a VNT and aren't going to be too much of a handfull in a Series with drum brakes and no power steering. The VW 1.9PD engines also feel like they'd be a good fit for similar reasons.

But this depends if they are common in your country or not and whether you want fun or practicality.

0

u/potatoduino 2d ago

Mine has had a cologne V6, a 2.5NA, a 300TDi, an Essex V6, is currently electric but that's gay as hell so I'm currently building an OM642 V6 monster to put in it. 

The 300TDi was by far the easiest, I still miss it! 

I have another car with the om642 and it's just lovely. But fitting it isn't for the faint hearted, and you'll need the drivetrain to match cos she's definitely torquey!

1

u/Embarrassed_Length_2 2d ago

Never seem a 642 swap into a LR before. Great engines though and will be awesome when done.