Rover V8 for expeditions?

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cartoonhead

cartoonhead

Active Member
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503
Location
Bucks
I have purchased a RRC which I intend to use as my expedition vehicle, the defender will still be my daily driver and off road toy :)

It's a 89 so pre EAS and ABS and all that rubbish, it has the original 3.5 EFI V8 fitted which I was originally planning to swap out for a trusty 300tdi and manual box..... However.... I have fallen in love with the V8 now :D

Is it stupid to stay with the V8, does anyone run one in a expedition vehicle? I have a overdrive fitted and I am open to a LPG conversion if its actually going to save money and be available where I want to go.
 
The only downside is the fuel consumption , lpg means a tank, and the usage rate is even higher than petrol, but the cost is lower. Availability means that it takes up space being empty a lot of the time. My 110 was a factory V8 CSW , but fuel was a lot cheaper when I went to Australia. Since returning to UK i have converted to a BMW 3L TDi M57 . A change to 300tdi would be more logical than the V8. I found that I needed all 3 tanks with the V8 in , 170litres . and that was only just over 550miles!!! less in bad terrain . HTSH
 
Mum and stepdad run a V8 RRC and took it to Algeria - no problems whatsoever with the V8. Great for low revving cruising with the V8 noise which never gets boring :)
 
Good to know :) as much as I love the rover V8 I have decided to drop a 300tdi in.. God knows i'm gunna miss that sound though!
 
Noooo don't do it! You want to keep the V8... You'll regret changing it!

Also its a lot of fuss to change it, you know deep down you can't be bothered. Will be slightly cheaper to insure as its not modified. Sounds better as well! But you already know about that. ;)

(I'm just trying to say anything to get you to keep the V8!)
 
Good move

I have to fill up 3 times to go from melbourne to the farm 600km the diesels on the farm can do there and most of the way back on 1 tank

Petrol in remote areas is a pain in the ass
 
Stay with the V8 make sure you add a few extra tanks and jerrycans just inn case, also make shore the V8 it tuned well, go for LPG as well. As others have said you will regret changing it to a 300 and will cost a lot and you will find it VERY hard to change.
 
i changed my V8 to a 300tdi, yes the sound isnt as good but its soooo much better on fuel + i dont have to worry about setting it up, no points/plugs/dizzy etc etc










just saying
 
What is there to worry about?

- Who even runs points anymore, electronics ignition is where its at!
- Buying the correct spark plugs is not expensive and gapping them correctly certainly isn't hard either. A spare set really doesn't take up that much space if you want to be careful.
- A decent distributor will last you a long time and generally doesn't go wrong unless you do something to it or if its quite old.
- You definitely shouldn't have any problems if you run with genuine HT leads, distributor cap and rotor arm.

At the end of the day its simple maintenance!







Next! :p
 
marccleave said:
What is there to worry about?

- Who even runs points anymore, electronics ignition is where its at!
- Buying the correct spark plugs is not expensive and gapping them correctly certainly isn't hard either. A spare set really doesn't take up that much space if you want to be careful.
- A decent distributor will last you a long time and generally doesn't go wrong unless you do something to it or if its quite old.
- You definitely shouldn't have any problems if you run with genuine HT leads, distributor cap and rotor arm.

At the end of the day its simple maintenance!







Next! :p
Click to expand...


Economy is a massive problem. I know all too well. I live in the outback ;)
 
Well.. The V8 is staying for now, I am going to build the car up to expedition spec and leave the engine until everything else is finished.

I do love that V8 burble :D
 
cartoonhead said:
I have purchased a RRC which I intend to use as my expedition vehicle, the defender will still be my daily driver and off road toy :)

It's a 89 so pre EAS and ABS and all that rubbish, it has the original 3.5 EFI V8 fitted which I was originally planning to swap out for a trusty 300tdi and manual box..... However.... I have fallen in love with the V8 now :D

Is it stupid to stay with the V8, does anyone run one in a expedition vehicle? I have a overdrive fitted and I am open to a LPG conversion if its actually going to save money and be available where I want to go.
Click to expand...

LPG is available all through Russia and China not sure about Mongolia tho
 
What type of annual mileage do you expect to do? I would guess your answer to be fairly low therefore stick with the V8. Especially as you have the more reliable 3.5 litre.
 
cartoonhead said:
Good to know :) as much as I love the rover V8 I have decided to drop a 300tdi in.. God knows i'm gunna miss that sound though!
Click to expand...

Solution - If you buy fit bluetooth stereo you can buy that gismo that you plug into the 12V socket, connect to your stereo via bluetooth then you can pretend you are driving whatever you want - holden 427, TVR griffith500, AC Cobra - brilliant piece of kit.

Australian too - so it goes backwards in the scrum
 
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