Freelander 1 L series freelander engine into a series 3 ?

Hi lads,
My friend Sid has a 1980 series 3 and an L series engine freelander has asked me to ask you guys if you think it would be possible to replace the series 3 engine with the L series engine out of his 2001 freelander ?

Never tried, there will be more knowledgeable folks here, but i would have thought the series wouldn't take kindly to the power increase

How dare he kill a Freelander to keep a Tratter running!

but... he might get info if he searches on repowering Tratters with Perkin Prima engines. This was a thing a bit back and the L Series is a development of the Prima.

The L Series from the Freelander though is controlled by the ECU - which requires the matched CCU and loom / networking - so there'll be quite a bit of electronicy stuff to do.

LR fitted an L series and kv6 into two 90's, in the early 90's. Trying to make lighter weight tratters.

Hippo said:

LR fitted an L series and kv6 into two 90's, in the early 90's. Trying to make lighter weight tratters.

Click to expand...

Isn't that a bit like trying to make the trains lighter by taking the 1st class stickers off the windows?

kermit_rr said:

Isn't that a bit like trying to make the trains lighter by taking the 1st class stickers off the windows?

Click to expand...

They made some other changes to make em lighter anorl. The project was shelved at some point. It was one of many idea's to improve things. Getting the weight down would give betterer mpg.

Hippo said:

They made some other changes to make em lighter anorl. The project was shelved at some point. It was one of many idea's to improve things. Getting the weight down would give betterer mpg.

Click to expand...

No free peanuts on the bar?

kermit_rr said:

No free peanuts on the bar?

Click to expand...

Peanuts?

Hippo said:

Peanuts?

Click to expand...

On the first class coach m

I think the heat is questioning my sanity

kermit_rr said:

Never tried, there will be more knowledgeable folks here, but i would have thought the series wouldn't take kindly to the power increase

Click to expand...

Plenty of people running Tdi’s, Rover V8’s and even Ford V6’s in Series vehicles.

ponythegringo said:

Hi lads,
My friend Sid has a 1980 series 3 and an L series engine freelander has asked me to ask you guys if you think it would be possible to replace the series 3 engine with the L series engine out of his 2001 freelander ?

Click to expand...

It should be possible in theory. The 2.0 litre T Series engine has been put into Series vehicles. And the L-Series should share the same bolt pattern.

I think it can be done, Iirc the issue is you need the flywheel housing from a rear wheel drive version.

kermit_rr said:

Isn't that a bit like trying to make the trains lighter by taking the 1st class stickers off the windows?

Click to expand...

The L series and KV6 aren't heavy engines, the L series is lighter than the standard 90 engine, and more powerful.
The KV6 isn't heavy either, it's all aluminium, which keeps it's weight about the same as the L series.
I can't see the point of putting a KV6 in a 90 though, as the engine has way too much power for the chassis. An L series 90 makes a lot of sense though, as that engine is both powerful and fuel efficient.

Nodge68 said:

The L series and KV6 aren't heavy engines, the L series is lighter than the standard 90 engine, and more powerful.
The KV6 isn't heavy either, it's all aluminium, which keeps it's weight about the same as the L series.
I can't see the point of putting a KV6 in a 90 though, as the engine has way too much power for the chassis. An L series 90 makes a lot of sense though, as that engine is both powerful and fuel efficient.

Click to expand...

Wtf. Have you actually been in a 90? There are companies retro fitting Chevy LS V8 engines, supercharged hemi V8, Jag V8’s and TDV6 transplants into 90’s. Anything from 200hp to 650hp!!!!! And we haven’t even got to the electric ones.

Even the “factory” fitted the 3.9 V8 and BMW 2.8 inline 6 in the 90. Both making more power than the KV6. And the current 70th Anni models rock with the 5.0 litre Jag V8 and 385hp direct from Land Rover.

Hippo said:

They made some other changes to make em lighter anorl. The project was shelved at some point. It was one of many idea's to improve things. Getting the weight down would give betterer mpg.

Click to expand...

You are meaning the LVC project. Which was not just the engines. But a unibody design. Personally I think they look great and would have been much better and truer as a ‘new’ Defender.

3 seats in the front and a column mounted shifter too.

300bhp/ton said:

You are meaning the LVC project. Which was not just the engines. But a unibody design. Personally I think they look great and would have been much better and truer as a ‘new’ Defender.

3 seats in the front and a column mounted shifter too.
View attachment 269722
View attachment 269723

Click to expand...

Yep thats the one. Got some pic's of the engine bay when i was there. Will look for them. Dunsfold collection has the L series engine tratter.

300bhp/ton said:

You are meaning the LVC project. Which was not just the engines. But a unibody design. Personally I think they look great and would have been much better and truer as a ‘new’ Defender.

3 seats in the front and a column mounted shifter too.
View attachment 269722
View attachment 269723

Click to expand...

I have never heard of or seen that before
Very interesting

lynall said:

I have never heard of or seen that before
Very interesting

Click to expand...

It used to be at Gaydon. very interesting vehicle IMO. You can clearly see it looks like a Defender/Land Rover. But 'fixes' most of the issues with the old in terms of panel fitment and aerodynamics. If LR had sold something like this, I'd have bought one instead of a new Jimny.

300bhp/ton said:

It used to be at Gaydon. very interesting vehicle IMO. You can clearly see it looks like a Defender/Land Rover. But 'fixes' most of the issues with the old in terms of panel fitment and aerodynamics. If LR had sold something like this, I'd have bought one instead of a new Jimny.

Click to expand...

Lets face it - that is something like what the 'new' Defender should have been, and the new Defender should have been a Discovery. And.... they should build something nearer a Jimny that is the Freelander.