V6 auto to manual ??

[chromiumuk]

I know nothing about this but if the V6 & Td4 auto both run the superb JATCO then could the Td4 manual gearbox not be somehow adapted. Probably not I realise but seems the only viable route to explore. As for the V6 being Rovers best engine, the V8 (you know the Buick one) boys might have something to say about that & the Td4 (you know the BMW one) also fitted to the Rover 75 guys might also rightly argue. Strange how these two good engines were bought in. Rover did to be fair develop some reasonable/ok engines but you won't find too many supporters of the V6 or 4 pot K-Series on here.
Wish you luck with your conversion & am definitely interested in how you solve it.

 

[autotecsheffield]

In theory you could by swapping the bell-housing of the gearbox casing actually, as the starter motor locations are in totally different places and the bolt-pattern is off, but the main casing is the same AFAIK so should swap over.

Taking apart Jatco's is never fun though!

 

[Nodge68]

If you wanted to uprate the Di, the best way is to get a later electronic-pump engine from a 25/45 but use your original injectors. This gives the same gains as effectively having a remap, but you will need the matching ECU and do a small bit of re-wiring, or adapt the 25/45 engine loom to fit.

If you source a 115 MG ZR/ZS engine and ECU set and fit your injectors and have a remap after that your really laughing. 150hp on the stock turbo is possible. Google L-series diesel forum and join up.

The 1.8t is a good prospect, done a couple of conversions in other MG's/Rover's using this engine. The engine will bolt up to your box set-up so you could retain 4WD, use a modded rover 25/MGF auto ECU and a tiny bit or wiring work and they are an easy 150/160hp unstressed.

It seems the only way to manual a KV6 in the FL is to go strictly FWD. Depends what plans you have in mind with what you are going to do with it.

I love the sound of the V6 and the way it pulls through the rev range!! A friend has a ZS Diesel running at 155 horses but even at that power he just can't keep with my 180!! There just is no substitute for CC's!! Unless you hook it up to an awful auto!! I'm with you on Vag too i'v done 3 cams on 1.9 PD motors over the last 6 months!! And apparently there is no problem with the engines ??

 

[Nodge68]

As for the V6 being Rovers best engine, the V8 (you know the Buick one) boys might have something to say about that & the Td4 (you know the BMW one) also fitted to the Rover 75 guys might also rightly argue. Strange how these two good engines were bought in. Rover did to be fair develop some reasonable/ok engines but you won't find too many supporters of the V6 or 4 pot K-Series on here.
Wish you luck with your conversion & am definitely interested in how you solve it.

If the V8 guys put as much effort into developing the V6 as was spent on the V8 then it would be as well used and respected. Don't forget that the V6 makes more power with better economy out of it's 2.5 ltrs than than the V8 at 3.5ltrs could only dream about The K 4 was and still is the most advanced production engine ever made!! As for anything BMW any respect for them or there products I had went the moment they closed down Mg Rover!!

 

[chromiumuk]

I thought BMW sold MG/Rover back in 2000 to the Phoenix Consortium. I also thought MG/Rover closed in 2005. Also thought that even under the Phoenix boys MG/Rover never made a profit which is surprising considering they had such a technological gem of an engine as you claim. Makes you wonder why every 4x4 isn't running one in their stable eh?

 

[Nodge68]

True BMW did sell Rover Group in 2000 but the made sure the company was going to stay unprofitable first!! They took with them the bits of value (New Mini) and sold Landrover to Ford. The whole aim for BMW was to remove a bit of the competition while making a profit. Mg Rover Group had some of the best designers in the industry (the New Mini included) with some of the most advanced manufacturing processes at the time. But sadly, as in most British industrys the accountants made the cars
The K4 is a really clever design but it was ruined by cost cutting. It was also fitted into one of the best selling 4x4's (Freelander) the 1.8k selling the best for several years!! Which makes it pretty good in my book. The only flaw was it wasn't designed to power a car as large as the FL so it failed early as a result! Although all the failings can now be overcome

 

[JonFre]

True BMW did sell Rover Group in 2000 but the made sure the company was going to stay unprofitable first!! They took with them the bits of value (New Mini) and sold Landrover to Ford. The whole aim for BMW was to remove a bit of the competition while making a profit. Mg Rover Group had some of the best designers in the industry (the New Mini included) with some of the most advanced manufacturing processes at the time. But sadly, as in most British industrys the accountants made the cars
The K4 is a really clever design but it was ruined by cost cutting. It was also fitted into one of the best selling 4x4's (Freelander) the 1.8k selling the best for several years!! Which makes it pretty good in my book. The only flaw was it wasn't designed to power a car as large as the FL so it failed early as a result! Although all the failings can now be overcome

The Freelander was certainly the best selling 4x4 until it's reliability image was ruined by the failure of it's petrol engine,the warranty work must have cost a fortune. I wonder what the accountants thought of the engineers when the bills were coming in! It certainly helped Honda and Toyota 4x4 sales as people gave up on Freelanders.

 

[Nodge68]

I totally agree that the un-reliablity of the K1.8 wasn't good for the image of FL and must have has some owners running to the likes of Toyota and Honda! The problem was the accountants had there way and so the design, cutting edge as it was, was doomed to fail by production cost cutting But it must have as you say cost a fortune to replace tens of thousands of engines!! If they spent another £50 or so at the production stage things would likely be different !!

 

[JonFre]

I totally agree that the un-reliablity of the K1.8 wasn't good for the image of FL and must have some owners running to Toyota and Honda! The problem was the accountants had there way and so the design was doomed to fail by production cost cutting But it must have as you say cost a fortune to replace tens of thousands of engines!! If they spent another £50 or so at the production stage things would be different !!

Penny pinching that ends up costing a fortune!

 

[chromiumuk]

Penny pinching that ends up costing a fortune!

It is a shame because if they'd had a decent petrol engine then that's what I'd have been driving now. I still believe like you guys that the Freelander is a superb vehicle & it's ride/handling still amaze me considering it's a small 4x4. I also had a couple of mk1 Ravs in my time & although they handled ok-ish their ride was a bit crashy.

 

[autotecsheffield]

In theory you could by swapping the bell-housing of the gearbox casing actually, as the starter motor locations are in totally different places and the bolt-pattern is off, but the main casing is the same AFAIK so should swap over.

Taking apart Jatco's is never fun though!

Just realised I was talking **** with that comment as the manual is a Getrag box and the auto is a Jatco, which is why I didn't mention it as an option in the first place.

 

[Nodge68]

It is a shame because if they'd had a decent petrol engine then that's what I'd have been driving now. I still believe like you guys that the Freelander is a superb vehicle & it's ride/handling still amaze me considering it's a small 4x4. I also had a couple of mk1 Ravs in my time & although they handled ok-ish their ride was a bit crashy.

The LR engineers did a good job with the chassis on the FL!! Considering the FL was based on the Maestro floor pan complete with it's front suspension!! (more cost cutting?) The ride is good. Firmish with minimal body roll but soft enough to use off road without causing to much discomfort!! It was even good off road compared to it's rivals of the day!! In all not a bad 4x4!!

 

[Nodge68]

I doubt it !
I'd be saving the money for your next head gasket.
Saying that, the time and money it would cost you could probably get a td4 manual anyway lol

Funny you should say that is i'm getting symptoms of HG failure, again (I'm hoping it's just short trips) Although the long turm plan is still to do a manual conversion!!

 

[Nodge68]

I have done a lot of research and measuring for this and i'm pretty sure the L series box fits the KV6! The bell housing appears to be the same Which would make the conversion pretty straight forward

 

[Hippo]

I have done a lot of research and measuring for this and i'm pretty sure the L series box fits the KV6! The bell housing appears to be the same Which would make the conversion pretty straight forward

Will the gearing and extra power be ok?

 

[Nodge68]

Will the gearing and extra power be ok?

The L series box is a High Torque box so strength is'nt an issue, as for gearing, I could leave it as is or fit the gear set out of the 1.8 or the ZS 180 box has a good gear set, but I reckon the IRD should drop it enough to be ok!!

 

[Diesel Do]

Nodge. Did you ever get anywhere with this?

 

[Nodge68]

Nodge. Did you ever get anywhere with this?

No. I sold the V6 to the mother in law and bought a D3. I had that for a couple of years before changing back to a FL1, an 05 TD auto this time
After living with the auto V6 for 2 years, I decided the FL1 actually drove so well as an auto, I canned the manual conversion idea.

 

[Hippo]

LR once made a small number of kv6 Freelander 1's with a manual gearbox for development testing. Don't know which gearbox. I would gues they were either feasibility testing for use in the FL1, part of the general testing they do for new idea's across the model range, or a follow on from the weight loss program which started in the 90's. Like the kv6 tratter from 1997 which looks to be a manual as it has 3 pedals. They never built a manual kv6 FL1's int production though.

 

[Diesel Do]

I’ve got a project in mind over the next few months to get ahead as there’s a few catching up with me. Let’s just say blue it getting a major rework. Launching a load of exhausts so it’ll be promoting them. Looking at 200bhp and if I can manual V6. Gotta get back in LRO.