Starter motor wont come out - time for a V8

Disco 200tdi in my 90, been a fantastic runner its been left outside for several years and I have now got it back on the road has been starting but starter has been very rough, finally it has given up. went to remove it then remembered I had welded the exhaust on, cut that off after taking the intake manifold off to get to the starter. anyway to cut a long story short it wont come out from below, and I don't want the hassle and fiddle of getting the entire turbo back on so I have decided to remove the engine. Have been thinking of V8 for a long time, so wanted opinions on the easiest to get hold of, cheapest but still solid with a manual box that will fit into a 90?

and to see if anyone would be interested in the challenge of sourcing and fitting it, would be happy to do it myself but I don't have the time. I have cash available for the job to be done.

I have a 3.9efi disco engine in my fender (to sneak it round the LEZ). Once i got it running properly it's been amazing. I matched it to an LT85 with a disco transfer box, which makes it brilliant on the highways, and on lpg it's really quite frugal. Through a special exhaust it really sounds dirty too. I avoided the larger capacity engines for fear over slipped liners and the like, and spoke to a lot of people about reliability before settling on the 3.9. They're also quite easy and cheap to get hold of, and for parts.

Unfortunately i don't have the time myself to help you with your project, but good luck with it! The 'It's a V8 Mate' section of the forum is also a brilliant place to ask these questions.

That's great info, thanks Steve. Does it go straight on to an lt85?

Hi,

Yeah, mine did: all the parts are the same as the 3.5 fitted to some fenders, so it's a straight swap. I went for the LT85 because of the extra strength, although there are more refined gearbox choices (R380 with a V8 bellhousing would fit).

I have an R380 V8 bellhousing here if wanted

cheers Steve, Dr evil I might be in touch - thanks

Do R380 boxes have the same mountings as Lt77 and lt85??

not sure about 85 but they're different to the 77

ok thanks

Mine was originally a lt77, so i guess the lt85 mountings are different to r380, as my mountings are original i think.

so we are saying the 77 and 85 are the same mountings?

and also Steve how did you match yours to the 85? just the 3.5 bell housing? if i can get away with keeping my 77 in there i think i will try.

The 85 is V8 only.....

You could leave the 77 in there. Use the series adaptor plate for the V8 and run a 300tdi HD clutch set up on a drilled 3.5 flywheel. I have one here too

In which case engine just drops in and you weld on new engine mounts or extend the block ones back to the 200 chassis position