V8....do I or don't I?

Hi Gents, I'm looking for some advice and banter (of course) I am a very proud owner of a 1988 Land Rover 90 2.5 petrol/LPG pictures of which are in the introduce yourself section. I'm now at the 'mods' & 'tweaks' stage and I'm seriously thinking of replacing the 2.5 petrol engine with a V8 as I love that sweet sound it produces and also just that bit more power for offloading etc. Do you guys think this would be a worth while conversion and how much work would be involved in doing so? Many thanks in advance, Wayne.

Sorry can't help you but wow, I would love to do the same but couldn't afford the fuel costs.

Have you done the sums - buying a V8 vehicle v a full conversion of yours to a V8? With fuel costs as they are, now might be a good time to wave cash at a V8 owner. Or do you fancy the conversion as a fun project?

Conversion , it is not that hard to convert a 90 2.5 to V8. Just need me rad, new engine mounts. Go the whole hog and get an auto from a Rangie and put that in too

I would do it to your truck as better the devil you know rather than buying something you know nothing about. Also a factory fit v8 90 would be hard to find and expensive and would be a lot more than you would get for yours

I had a 2.5 petrol and they are thirsty and powerless. So it will be cheaper to run with a V8 in it and go a lot better. After all the 5 gear in the 2.5 is like a brake so at least you will get a chance to use it

I've heard that the V8's don't like off road because they overheat and don't like getting wet? I'm not talking from experience but this is what I hear! Also there's the obvious problem of immense fuel consumption

reads90 said:

Conversion , it is not that hard to convert a 90 2.5 to V8. Just need me rad, new engine mounts. Go the whole hog and get an auto from a Rangie and put that in too

I would do it to your truck as better the devil you know rather than buying something you know nothing about. Also a factory fit v8 90 would be hard to find and expensive and would be a lot more than you would get for yours

I had a 2.5 petrol and they are thirsty and powerless. So it will be cheaper to run with a V8 in it and go a lot better. After all the 5 gear in the 2.5 is like a brake so at least you will get a chance to use it

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Cheers for all your replies lads, very much appreciated! I will be honest and I'm with what reads90 posted above. My 90 is pretty sweet right through so I really wouldn't want to chop her in for another vehicle, yes I'm sad but I'm very attached to the old girl! So a V8 conversion is most deffo on the cards, I did consider a 300tdi conversion as I also have an auto P reg Disco ES which could be a donor but with this bloody LEZ law in London I didn't want to go through all the bother of attempting to change the V5 etc as my 90 was registered as a light utility vehicle. Looking forward to making this happen

If you plan on wading or anything that involves to much water, you will have to water proof EVERYTHING, spark plaus the lot. Just so you know, totally agree with you on the sound they make!

JNEC said:

If you plan on wading or anything that involves to much water, you will have to water proof EVERYTHING, spark plaus the lot. Just so you know, totally agree with you on the sound they make!

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Cheers JNEC, I have been trying to gather as much info as poss so I get this right with no mishaps or corners cut so all input is much appreciated!

Yeah the noise they produce is naughty to say the least, very sweet indeed!

been there done it and got an empty bank account to prove it
sold a 300 tdi fender and got a 4.2v8 bobtail rr

great noise great power great offroad but **** in water without mods and mine was doin 8mpg
a p+p day would cost me £70 in fuel in the disco bobtail i got now £30

wiltshire landyman said:

been there done it and got an empty bank account to prove it
sold a 300 tdi fender and got a 4.2v8 bobtail rr

great noise great power great offroad but **** in water without mods and mine was doin 8mpg
a p+p day would cost me £70 in fuel in the disco bobtail i got now £30

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Holy ****e 8 MPG!!!!!

From what I found on here and other sites I thought 14 MPG was achievable hahaha how wrong am I

I only get 14 mpg in my 2.5 petrol.

I'm getting around 16-18 on both LPG and petrol on my 2.5

Wayneboy77 said:

I'm getting around 16-18 on both LPG and petrol on my 2.5

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As said you spend the money and fuels and don't have the power. In 1990 I had a 2.5 soft top 90 and went to an event in Farnbough and the scrountier took the **** out of me for spending the same on fuel as a V8 but not having the power.

Dave90 said:

I've heard that the V8's don't like off road because they overheat and don't like getting wet? I'm not talking from experience but this is what I hear! Also there's the obvious problem of immense fuel consumption

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Blah overheat

I have a Rangie v8 here in Brisbane and was thrashing it off road in 40 degreas with no problems with over heating.

As for water had a Rangie in the uk that was great for water. The secret is lucas leads and dizzy caps ( as after market dizzy caps just don't fit right and that causes a lot of problems with the water) and give the car a regular service that also helps.

reads90 said:

As said you spend the money and fuels and don't have the power. In 1990 I had a 2.5 soft top 90 and went to an event in Farnbough and the scrountier took the **** out of me for spending the same on fuel as a V8 but not having the power.

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This is my point, I have all the expense of a V8 but without that power. To be honest it's a done deal, I would be a fool not too! I will having this done ASAP, I just need to find someone suitable for the job somewhere in the Kent area....oh and of course the money to fund it

don't worry about petrol consumption i get 16mpg from my 3.5 v8
i offroad and have been through deepish water with no problems and no mods
secret is to keep the old girl regularly serviced and use good quality parts
no over heating issues but i have twin kenlowe fans fitted
i used to have a turbo alfa v6 and on a good day 12mpg was achievable but what a drive
so its the same with the old v8 bank balance nil but great fun

reads90 said:

Blah overheat

I have a Rangie v8 here in Brisbane and was thrashing it off road in 40 degreas with no problems with over heating.

As for water had a Rangie in the uk that was great for water. The secret is lucas leads and dizzy caps ( as after market dizzy caps just don't fit right and that causes a lot of problems with the water) and give the car a regular service that also helps.

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its condensation that kills the dizzy cap most of the time hot engine meeting cold water it dont like it

to get doozil performance in water there is only one tried and tested fool proof solution and thats megasquirt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP29tqQcgMY

I'm in the process of converting mine from 200tdi to a 3.9 v8. I can't say what it's like yet as I'm long way off finishing it. But Make sure u buy a 3.9 serpentine, later one with the cross bolted heads would ideal as said to be of better design and less likely for the heads to go. With mine I brought a disco for 350 quid, I've put the axles under it, Pulled the whole drive train out so now has a auto, and 1.2 transfer box. I cut the engine mounts of the disco, and used the front prop and centre cross member

When coming to fit the whole lot in, there is two ways to do it, one is to mount it the box and everything so you keep your props and everything the same, or to mount the box with the mounts of the disco and will require a shorter rear prop, obviously engine mounts need to be welded on etc.

Oh I didn't mention mega squirting it either, no problems with water then and you can play with maps for fuel economy of more power.