4.6 or?

[Rick Carlisle]

I am starting to plan for an engine change. While the chip I purchased helps, the 90 is just to slow for me. I do lots of short drives (15 - 20 minutes) all day in heavy stop and go traffic. So the quickness is mainly what I am after.

I know ECR will install a 4.6 or larger motor. I have talked with them. But I would have to give them my Rover for a while and it is quiet expensive. I am looking for an alternative source for just the motor as I have someone locally who is going to help me install it.

I know about RPI. Has anyone purchased complete motors from them? Do they have a U.S. distributor? Are there other sources? And what size motor would you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[Doug]

Could go this route: 1. find a used 4.6 from a rangie or disco in a yard. Optional: 2. Install high perf cam, lifters.

DW

[Rick Carlisle]

What I really want is something like 340 hp. Know where I can get one of those??

[Doug]

www.tvrpower.co.uk

Have no idea what it'd cost, unless you stumble across one in a warehouse, that is. ;)

DW

[Rick Carlisle]

thanks

[tbmcneill]

For that kind of HP, take a look at Chevy small blocks unless you're just 'wanting' a Rover motor. They're a lot cheaper. It'll be moderately heavier, but no more than Tdi land.
T

[artm]

So, you want 340HP so you can go quick in stop and go traffic for 20 minutes a day.

What?!

Sounds like you'll be flooring it a lot. You'll be in the market for more than a motor if that's the plan.

[Rick Carlisle]

Art, before you get too excited, please understand that was somewhat of a joke with Doug since he just bought a 4.6 w/340 hp. I think he is de-tuning it some and the hp will be somewhat lower.

I do not have to have 340 hp however I do want a lot more power. Would I take a 4.6 w/340 hp like Doug found, apparently at a good price? Yes. And if I have to do other things to support that power, then I will do that. And it's all day driving 20 mins. at a time in stop and go traffic. I am not racing stop light to stop light but anyone who has driven a 97 automatic with the 4.0 engine in town will admit they are slow.

Troy I have thought about other motors but I think i will stay with a Rover.

[rvrsrvc]

My local salvage yard has an '03 Disco II that was totalled at 525 miles. Almost new 4.6 for around $3900. And, I'll bet they take offers!
I put a 4.6 with a distributor in my Discovery and have found it quite a bit different than my 150k mile 3.9! I have 4.10 gearing ordered and have fitted the GBR big caliper kits, so I 'll post my new 0 to 60 to 0 times as soon as that project is done!

[artm]

Rick, good joke.

I have a 97 and don't find the power lacking at all. Just adjust the kickdown cable to change the shift point and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Eric Siepmann]

Rick,

My 97 is actually quite lively and is great in stop and go traffic, so perhaps it's just your engine/overall set-up. I have a K&N and NRP exhaust, no chip stock tires and gearing. Try de-carbonizing your engine. The dealer charges around 175 for the service but the transformation is noticeable.

Hopping up your engine could get quite expensive and complicated to do right with the GEMS system. Go to www.rpiv8.com. They have some very interesting pages on the GEMS system. ECR has some info on the ECM as well. Another suggestion would be finding someone in your area with the ROVACOM system if you do swap. They might be able to get the programming right. There is a book on the rover engine. I forgot it's name, though. Supposed to be an in depth ode to performance manual.

www.aluminumv8.com D&D fabrications are dedicated to the rover/olds engines and have an extensive list of upgrades and are stateside here in the midwest - michigan i believe. could give them a call. But you still have to overcome the GEMS system itself, which may or may not recognize any improvement you decide to do...

Someone was selling the 5.0? installed by ECR on this site. Search the for sale section. They were doing a deisel swap and were asking a reasonable price for the engine. That will get you an awesome engine for your truck. Could also grab that ECM from them which was re-programmed by ECR to accept the mods as well.

Search the pirate4x4 board as well. I remember a thread about engine mods that was quite interesting. There were some other sites listed and a good overview of what people had done and what they're experiences were.


Hope that helps. You'll have to forgive my feable de-carbonioze your engine suggestion. It's all I got at the moment! Got to justify the 175 I spent :)

EwS

[Eric Siepmann]

Interceptor 5.2 for sale mentioned above...

http://www.d-90.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4279#post4279

Hard to pass up. Might have to go over the finances once more....

[Rick Carlisle]

Eric,

I remember the 5.2 being for sale now that you mention it. I will send the guy an email and see if he still has it. Also thanks for the other info. I will check them out as well.

Trevor, I may go the route of findng a wreck. just doing my homework right now. And that sounds like a good deal. I just have to check into the GEMS info Eric mentions. I don't want to pay for power that never gets to the ground. I have thought of the 4.10 gears but was discouraged locally by someone who said I would regret that if I ever took highway trips with the truck. How do you like yours on the highway?

I don't think there is anything wrong with my 97. It's just me and my style of driving and what I do daily. I'm sure for many, the power is fine on the 97/auto. I am just looking for something quicker/more responsive.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Rick

[lrnasd90]

I sold the 5.2, but I have to tell all you guys it was not that great....well off the line that is. That engine was set up for high rpm power. It certainly had that, at about 65mph it had break neck acceleration, but who wants to go 100mph in there d90....especially with a 2.5" lift and big tires! I would go with a 4.6 set up with a lower rpm torque range. I have had a 290hp 4.6 and I like it allot more than the 5.2. All of the work was done by JE Engineering in the UK. They did a great job. The 4.6 would keep up with the 5.2 until about 65mph at which time the 5.2 would go off and leave it. The 5.2 was not that great for off roading as you had to really get it spinning to get any hp out of it. That is just my take on the above, since I have had the pleasure to own both.

[Rick Carlisle]

This is good information Jeromy. I have no desire, as well, to go 100 mph in my D-90.
Maybe that is why when I contacted ECR they immediately steered me away from the 5.2 They highly recommended the 4.6 to solve my acceleration issues.

[mhansen]

I have a 97 and don't find the power lacking at all. Just adjust the kickdown cable to change the shift point and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Where is the adjustment? Can you take a picture of where it is?

Thanks

[artm]

Go here for details:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244983

I did this last year and it works for me.

[Roadsiderob]

My Brother in law and I recently completed a 4.6 swap into his 1994 Range Rover. We used a 4.6 short block out of a DII along with a Crane Cam (P/N 900531), roller timing set and lifters from Summit Racing. The performance is very good with a noticable seat of the pants difference. It is basically a bolt in swap. We did have the heads machined to take the recommended dual valve spring combination. The only other concerns are making a spacer for the crankshaft and making sure the oil pan has adequate clearance for the new crank throws. In your case I'd probably stick with the factory cam...we had to change it to accomodate the distributor drive. 340HP may be a little much for the stock driveline to handle in the long run.
Cheers,
Rob Dassler

[Red90]

Buy a sports car.

[Rick Carlisle]

Thanks for the input Rob.

[Angocat]

Hi Rick

Look here http://www.lanocharacing.com/range_rover.html

You can also get a 5.2 from www.rpiv8.com with an high torque camshaft and not a high rpm/hp camshaft like the one jeromy got from ECR.

[Rick Carlisle]

Thanks Anders. The engines pictured on the Lanocha site are very nice.

[dmarchand]

I have to agree on the kickdown adjustment. The factory spec for it is way too conservative. Adjust that sucker first to see what it nets you. I think you'll be surprised by the results.

[rvrsrvc]

I am content with the 4.6 and stock gearing on 32+" tyres, but I miss the mid range power for highway long hill climbs. As the Disco would be on-highway mostly to get off-highway, I'm eager to fit the 4.10's and would be willing to put up with the increased rpm, possibly decreased fuel economy. I say possibly because I can't help thinking that if the engine was in the power band, it may not have to work as hard, therefore developing better economy!?

[KeithD]

You asked if anyone has a complete Rpi engine. My 3.5 is. Its runs pretty well now but to start with it was little short of disasterous. The ignition system (Mallory) and timing was all over the place. It ran very badly. I gavce up with points altogether and fitted a pertronix unit. I am sure Rpi would have put it straight had I lived within driving distance of their (absolutely crummy) factory/garage but from calgary....a bit far. What I dont need is more power. even the 3.5 pulls well, revs for ever, and has more powr than the drivetrain can handle. It doesnt start well on angles or in extreme (I mean extreme) cold. much to do with the edelbrock 500 carb I suspect. I have seen 100mph in it - very scarey. I guess more torque is always nice though....

[Rick Carlisle]

I'm going to try this kickdown adjustment to see how that works for sure.

[rvrsrvc]

Rick,
Trevor Combs has the 4.10's, a 4.6 GEMS, 36" Michelins on his daily driver 97. He can almost keep up with my 3.54/4.6/32.654" set-up at reasonable hiway speeds. Feel free to contact him, about his experiences. tcombs@sicusa.com

[flippedrover]

Wish i could keep up with you at "reasonable highway speeds" :)

[rvrsrvc]

I spent enough time following a group at 50 mph on a 65 mph highway (and there were no series rovers around)and the accordian effect that often results. can't stand that . I figure that at my pace, as long as you can still see the next guy in your mirror, you haven't lost anybody!

[evilfij]

My stock 94 happily bumps off the rev limiter (getting 4.2 or 3.9 disco chip very soon) and my 96 disco would happily go 100+. The bigest difference I saw was between auto and manual.

I would first try to adjust the trans in the 97, if that is not sufficient, then go to the 4.6 swap.

Ron