jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
theres not that much difference ,engines are basically the same apart from disco 2 has ecu control of ignition system which is better than the earlier and consequentially requires a more expensive lpg kit
GreenHornet
Well-Known Member
I had a '94 and '98 V8, the '94 was a manual and a '99 D2 V8 auto.
The D2 was always going to be more comfortable at motorway speeds and was more luxurious overall but was more cramped. In the old '94 D1 the engine was more grunty and willing to rev without it sounding like its being thrashed. The manual box helped Im sure.
The '98 D1 was an automatic so was tamer yet still seemed more eager. I brought the D2 V8 because i thought it would be the same but I felt ultimately dissappointed with the peformance.
For what its worth I would get the older one
The D2 was always going to be more comfortable at motorway speeds and was more luxurious overall but was more cramped. In the old '94 D1 the engine was more grunty and willing to rev without it sounding like its being thrashed. The manual box helped Im sure.
The '98 D1 was an automatic so was tamer yet still seemed more eager. I brought the D2 V8 because i thought it would be the same but I felt ultimately dissappointed with the peformance.
For what its worth I would get the older one
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
ive allways found 3.9s just as prone for cracking blocks as 4 litre especially early non serpentine belt type which cooled less efficiently on lhs
GreenHornet
Well-Known Member
The standard 3.5 was the best of the bunch. What you would expect from an American engine. It was designed by Buick in 1961. Unfortunately it was expensive to make and suffered, even then, with coolant issues compounded by the fact that there wasn't many descent antifreezes compatible with an aluminium engine so it clogged up the radiators.
The original engine was redesigned after Rover got a hold of it in 1964. It appeared in many English sports cars and even light aircraft believe or not. I even had on in a jet boat. As a side fact, the rover v8 from Buick was not Rovers first V8, they fell out with Frank Whittle during the development of the aero jet and went in with Rolls Royce taking over the V12 Meteor production. From this they developed the Rover Meteorite which was a smaller V8. This was known as the Rolls-Royce Meteorite and was found mainly in ships and boats.
As the capacity was stretched they used liners and longer stroke which basically messed with the squareness of the engine and restricted water flow etc.
As emissions came into play, they tried to manage it with dodgy ecu's developed by midland monkeys ( I am a midlander as well so no kicking off).
The old engine is still the best although better to replace with something more modern and all aluminium if you can. However it is still being cast today In an improved form by Coscast in Birmingham.
I want a V8 again now.
The original engine was redesigned after Rover got a hold of it in 1964. It appeared in many English sports cars and even light aircraft believe or not. I even had on in a jet boat. As a side fact, the rover v8 from Buick was not Rovers first V8, they fell out with Frank Whittle during the development of the aero jet and went in with Rolls Royce taking over the V12 Meteor production. From this they developed the Rover Meteorite which was a smaller V8. This was known as the Rolls-Royce Meteorite and was found mainly in ships and boats.
As the capacity was stretched they used liners and longer stroke which basically messed with the squareness of the engine and restricted water flow etc.
As emissions came into play, they tried to manage it with dodgy ecu's developed by midland monkeys ( I am a midlander as well so no kicking off).
The old engine is still the best although better to replace with something more modern and all aluminium if you can. However it is still being cast today In an improved form by Coscast in Birmingham.
I want a V8 again now.
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