L series engine in freelander 1

Hi to every one.
Vehicle is a Freelander series 1 with the L series 2ltr Rover engine fitted. Has anyone ever fitted the L series engine from the Rover car?
If so are there any issues with mating the Freelander g/box to the car block?

As you probably guessed, I've fitted the engine but don't seem to be able to bolt the g/box up.

I ran out of light but intend to make a template from the gearbox and see if it will actually mate up,,,,hope so but I'm not holding my breath.

Stefan

Does the L-series have a cast-in or bolt on bell housing? If the former I'd be surprised if they are different. The Rover L-Series - the only non-Honda engine Honda ever fitted to one of their cars! ;-)

PS do they actually mate up? Perhaps the clutch (and/or flywheel) is different meaning different splines. In which case fit the flywheel and clutch off your old engine.

Hi Steve, thanks for your reply. The bell housing is cast in, it's part of the gearbox. I also thought their might be a difference with the clutch, so before I offered the g/box up I changed the complete clutch from the original engine.

I'm 100% it's a block to bell housing problem.WhenI offered gearbox to engine, the box slid in perfectly, I just couldn't match any bolt holes up. When I took the engine out again, offering the box up on the ground, it was miles out of lineing any holes up. I'm amazed the block from the Rover is different to the Freelander one. I was assured by a mechanic from a Rover dealership they went straight in. Someone on here replied to me and said their is an adapter plate to fit. Unfortunately I've got rid of the car the engine came from, so I'm currently looking for this adapter plate.

Stefan

Given how stingy Rover were budget wise I'm stunned that they have different castings! You live and learn!

surely the adapter plate is on your old engine.

No Adapter plate either on the freelander engine or the rover engine. I gues it must have been on the rover box but, like most other people I never for a minute thought they would have different blocks for what is essentially the same engine so, unfortunately I didn't look at the Rover box when I took the engine out. Needless to say the car with g/box went as soon as the engine came out.

StefanA said:

No Adapter plate either on the freelander engine or the rover engine. I gues it must have been on the rover box but, like most other people I never for a minute thought they would have different blocks for what is essentially the same engine so, unfortunately I didn't look at the Rover box when I took the engine out. Needless to say the car with g/box went as soon as the engine came out.

Click to expand...

plate on engine where bell housing bolts to are different but it can be changed, also the pipe is different so that will need changing