Mercedes ( M117 ) V8 Engine in a Defender 90 ?

Even though I've already purchased a Holley carb, which means I am already pretty much committed to using a Rover V8 in my Defender 90, I am still very curious about other V8 options, given the less than enviable track record of all Rover V8's larger than the 3.5 liter.

There has been talk over at the Land Rover Owner website forum about the Mercedes 5.6 liter Model M117 v8 engine. This phenomenally powerful motor is apparently one of the more bullet-proof designs out there, and it dates back to 1991, when it was installed in the Mercedes 560 series cars.

Well, a link to the Mercedes discussion forum was posted at the other Landy site, and since I am getting a bit impatient waiting for a response to the barrage of PM questions I sent to the guy who claimed to have performed this transplant in the Merc forum, I thought I'd ask here if anyone is familiar with this transplant of a Merc M117 v8 into a Defender. Below is the link to the Merc column in which a passing reference is made to the transplant that I have now begun to obsess over.

S600 M120 engine - could I transplant it? - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

Any information on this surgery would be great. Thanks.

Thats the best idea ,i said that years ago......do it...

I've been considering ditching my 3.5 as I'm not happy with it
of all the boxes the lt85 and 95 are the strongest and seem to survive larger v8's
also you want a cross drilled input gear for lt230 transfer box.

The santana ps10 early ones use a lt85 and i'm guessing a different bell housing to mate an iveco lump.
I considered a 167 hp 2.8 16valve common rail iveco diesel as an option in mine.
All other diesel engines are chuggers and isuzu lumps eat gearboxes.

from my investigation the lt85 is good for 400nm max, quad cam lexus lump another option.

mega squirt or similar to map it if the engine requires auto box ecu to run

I've asked for other engine section,
i've considered a certain engine, but 400hp is excessive, but for the money you'd spend tuning a rv8 it looks bargain