Which V8 for Series3 Stage1?

Evenin' all!

only just registered so please make allowances!
My Daughter has a 1980 Series3 Stage1 V8 with a knackered (original) engine (can I say that?). She is looking for a replacement and wants something with more pulling power. The performance of the existing one is very disappointing.
The series 3 SWB 2.25 petrol that we had for 10 yrs. would pull her 14ft. trailer with 2tons of whatever up these Welsh hills with no problem. This Stage 1 V8 that she bought about 4 months ago won't even pull the same load out of one of the Quarries we use! She has fallen for the idea of the 4.6 engine, but some people have warned her off, saying that engines over 4 ltrs. have been bored out too far and are therefore unreliable. (Porous bores and cracks and stuff!). Other folks have said that these problems have been overcome with cross-over bolts and Top hats and things (I think!) so don't write them off.
We've also been told that you can't use the 4.6 in her Stage 1 because it's a Carb. version and the 4.6 isn't made to use with Carbs. and Distributor, but I'm sure I read somewhere that you can use the Distributor by changing the Camshaft. And someone said that you can change the heads to use Carbs.
Can she use a 4.6 in her Stage 1? Are they unreliable now? Can the 4.6 be adapted to use Carbs. and a Distributor?
Any info. would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

VL1500

most of the 4.6 are auto alot of hassle stick to v8 plenty of power take out the carb restrictors good luck

Have you checked out the engine for compressions/timing/carb tune? I've never driven a Stage One but all the reports/tests I've read over the years indicate that it should have no problem seeing off a 2.25. If the V8 turns out to be knackered, don't get involved with any of the larger blocks but stick to a 3.5. Car derived units like the SD1 have a lot more power but are tuned differently, LR110 or RR (carb) versions might be a better choice.

Cheers loguot, yes, the restrictors were removed shortly after buying the Vehicle.

Hi norsman,
the timing, carb tuning etc. were all checked by our local Garage (they know their stuff with V8s, 12s, Ferraris, Astons and whatever comes their way!). They also put right the LPG conversion that my Daughter had had done, but had been playing up. To find what was wrong they took the heads off and called us to come and have a look. All the internals of the engine where covered with a sort of thick black velvet, which they said was known as "black death". The camshaft was so worn that they couldn't understand how the thing had ever run at all! Anyway, they put a new camshaft (and the bits that go with it!) in and cleaned out the engine & sump and and at least it's now usable. (They asked her if she wanted them to do this work to try and save her paying out for nothing, but she said she's got to have it on the road so go ahead!) They told her the "black death" showed complete lack of maintenance and far too few oil changes, and advised an oil change at least every 2000 miles. If she can find a decent engine they will do the transplant for her. We have noted your comments on the bigger engines, and are still trying to piece together all the opinions from different sources. A couple of people have said that the 4.0 ltr. is a good'un?

Thanks Guys, any more info. would be appreciated!

Tony.

The 4.0 is the same bore as the 4.6, the larger engine has a longer stroke crankshaft.

As has already been said, a 3.5 should eat a 2.25, even if the V8 had restrictors fitted still.

There are plenty of 3.5 engines around, but not many folks that can deal properly with carb setting up etc.

If it was me, I'd try and get a definitive reason why the existing engine is not performing, once that's sorted out you can go further by either replacing it of getting the valves and rings done etc.

Peter

Hi Tony - All Rover V8's, other than the original 3.5, can (& often do) suffer from slipped liners following LR's dubious decision in to bore the block to 94mm. There are a great many thoughts as to the various causes, far too many to list here, but although the 4.6 seems to be the chief culprit, the other capacities are not immune to this weakness which invariably results in the need for block replacement. Bearing in mind that you are running an all-drum brake set-up on the S1 I'd either rebuild your own lump or replace it with another 3.5, depending on the cost implications.

Much obliged Lister & Norsman! It seems that the compression is way down and oil pressure low, and a transplant is definitely advised. From what you are both saying it points more & more to a thumbs down for the bigger engines! One more try before we give up, we saw somewhere a 4.2 ltr. engine called a "Coscast" which is supposed to cure all the porous problems and cylinder cracks etc. Any views on these at all?

Thanks.

VL1500 said:

we saw somewhere a 4.2 ltr. engine called a "Coscast" which is supposed to cure all the porous problems and cylinder cracks etc. Any views on these at all?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

there not cheap
Coscast V8 Engine Block P38 Land Range Rover 4.0 & 4.6 on eBay (end time 02-Feb-10 16:07:55 GMT)

get a decent 3.5 rotted out range rover if you want cheap v8, have the head gaskets and shells replaced 3.5 v8 do slip liners (I've had one do it and there are some on ebay same)
I believe the 3.5 suffered less because as smaller bore and more metal-further to this they were running rich relatively.
I'm of the personal opinion that LPG exacerbates liner slip if there is head gasket failure or overheating.

Have you considered an engine conversion to a 200tdi or similar, unless you recon a 3.5-everything else is expensive

Quote from Fanatic: 3.5 v8 do slip liners (I've had one do it and there are some on ebay same)
I believe the 3.5 suffered less because as smaller bore and more metal-further to this they were running rich relatively.
I'm of the personal opinion that LPG exacerbates liner slip if there is head gasket failure or overheating.

Have you considered an engine conversion to a 200tdi or similar, unless you recon a 3.5-everything else is expensive[/quote]

3.5 liner slip: first I've heard that, sus. something drastic to cause it?
LPG: full agreement, sus. higher combustion chamber temp. than with petrol?
200tdi in a Stage One: no comment

Thanks lads for all the input, much appreciated!
I can understand the reasoning behind converting to a 200tdi or similar, but for years my Daughters ambition was to own something with a V8 in it. She's just hooked on the sound of a V8!! She sold her R reg. Discovery last year just so she could buy this 1980 Stage 1. Misted up windows when it rains, soaking wet front seat and floor whenever there's a cloud in the sky, virtually non-existent heating in the cold weather, free body-building workouts with the steering wheel whenever you try to turn a corner at low speeds, and a knackered engine! But she loves it! When we can sort out an engine for her she'll be on cloud nine. So there's no way she wants to go back to a diesel engine over a V8!

regards,


Tony.