Looking into a Rover to swap in an Isuzu 4bd1t

[1speedlos]

Considering selling my TJ for something that I can carry more than a 6 pack in in.
I have always liked Rovers, and came across a mention that the Australian military used an Isuzu 4bd1t diesel in some of their 110 and 130s.
Apparently, there's an Australian outfit producing shifter kits to mate the Isuzu engine and transmission to a Rover t-case.
So, is there a better year range that I should be looking for a Rover with a dead or dieing drivetrain?
I did find an '87 RRC nearby for $1k, thinking that might be a good starting place!

Thanks,
Los

 

[Storz]

Can't answer your questions but an RRC with a 4bt is pretty much my dream vehicle

 

[Wander]

Obviously you'll want to find the cleanest LR you can-something like a DI or DII with a blown engine should be pretty inexpensive. How do you want to use it? That will help narrow the choices down.

 

[DividingCreek]

Robert Davis in Va has a RRC with an Isuzu transplant-thing is awesome. He also has a couple of zuzu engines that he imported to swap into defenders.
His email is rdavisinva@yahoo

He's also working on a kit to put the 5cyl mercedes td engine in defenders,discos and rrc's. Those engines ae everywhere cheap and are highly tunable.

 

[ArmyRover]

I wouldn't even consider a DII for all the electrical crap you'd have to sort out. I think a RRC would be the perfect choice due to lack of control modules and being a much better looking truck than a Disco

 

[Storz]

He's also working on a kit to put the 5cyl mercedes td engine in defenders,discos and rrc's. Those engines ae everywhere cheap and are highly tunable.

That is awesome :smiley_drive:

 

[Viggen]

Robert Davis in Va has a RRC with an Isuzu transplant-thing is awesome. He also has a couple of zuzu engines that he imported to swap into defenders.
His email is rdavisinva@yahoo

He's also working on a kit to put the 5cyl mercedes td engine in defenders,discos and rrc's. Those engines ae everywhere cheap and are highly tunable.

Check for the thread on Pirate for updates on his OM617 to ZF auto swap kit. You will still need an auto that will work with a diesel for better shifts and drivability. The Isuzu he used was the smaller 2.8 4JB1T motor. Thats what I would use and you can get a kit that includes everything from M&D in England to swap that motor, or the 3.1 4JG1T, into the Rover. Stick with earlier trucks so you wont have to worry about OBD issues. I dont understand the 4BT in everything fad. Its heavy, loud, vibrates like crazy and will break stock, or even upgraded running gear in a Rover. The 4BD1T is supposed to be a smoother motor but its still not a smooth, modern turbo diesel.

 

[jrose609]

I think a RRC would be the perfect choice due to lack of control modules and being a much better looking truck than a Disco

:costumed-smiley-007

 

[brushogger]

Yeahh Baby! Here you go. Clean 1987 RRC needs motor $800 in Tenn.
http://tricities.craigslist.org/cto/2169709827.html

 

[Rovertrader]

easiest is definately pre '96 and pre '92 RRCs to avoid ABS. The first 110 I built from scratch was this motor mated to a ZF with the adaptor kit from the UK. Pretty straightforward. Robt Davis is the go to person for sure, and highly recommend his new kit when it is done for the MB, soon to be released I believe. Check with Pendy if doing Rover Tdis. And lastly, start looking for a lhd pedal box now if going manual tranny

 

[DividingCreek]

Check for the thread on Pirate for updates on his OM617 to ZF auto swap kit. You will still need an auto that will work with a diesel for better shifts and drivability. The Isuzu he used was the smaller 2.8 4JB1T motor. Thats what I would use and you can get a kit that includes everything from M&D in England to swap that motor, or the 3.1 4JG1T, into the Rover. Stick with earlier trucks so you wont have to worry about OBD issues. I dont understand the 4BT in everything fad. Its heavy, loud, vibrates like crazy and will break stock, or even upgraded running gear in a Rover. The 4BD1T is supposed to be a smoother motor but its still not a smooth, modern turbo diesel.

Don't need to check Pirate, have been to his place twice in the past 10 days.
Yes the large 4 liter motor is very agrarian in comparison to the 2.8 which is the ideal Izuzu engine for these applications. I have riden in the lwb he has the 2.8 in. It's faster than a lwb with a 4.2 v8. He has several of these engines ready to transplant and he's here not 3300 miles away with shipping and customs duty already dealt with. The Isuzu kits commercialy available have some flaws like the flex plate isn't strong enough. He has had heavier components made to correct these short comings. Another point would be that M&D's kits are new and fairly expensive engines that make the conversion cost to repower an rrc or disco 1 out of the reach of most ( I could import you a tdi defender for that kind of price tag). Robert has good used units available that he'll warranty.
As far as the transmission goes he has the torque converter and replacement governor for the 4hp22 to make a v8 truck tranny work smoothly with the diesel. The abs,tc, etc all work.
The one thing he doesn't have working on his own test truck is the ac, only because the lines have to be custom made.

The mercedes kit he has nearly $30k invested in machinist time and foundry set up fee's for adapter plates and unique two part oil pan that will clear the rover front axle. This is something this fellow does as a hobby not a proffession.
His enthusiasum and passion immediately are apparent. He has 40 years of experience wrenching on land rovers-starting in high school working @ a LR Dealership in the 1970's. His day job is as a computer programer. Personally, I think its pretty cool one of my friends has taken it upon himself to develop a diy kit for folks to repower aging high mileage discos and rangies with affordable Mercedes engines available pretty much everywhere. His kit will also work to mate one up to a manual in Defenders. I have a spare 110 5 door stashed in my barn and am thinking about it...

 

[Storz]

Really interested to see how the Mercedes kit prices out, I'd sell my DII and pick up a DI in a heartbeat to do that. Which merc diesel do they use, what donor cars have them?

 

[DividingCreek]

Really interested to see how the Mercedes kit prices out, I'd sell my DII and pick up a DI in a heartbeat to do that. Which merc diesel do they use, what donor cars have them?

You should check him out he's in Chesapeake Va just across the Carolina line. There are dozens of Rovers @ his place- I keep delivering imported Defenders so the count is growing.

 

[Storz]

You should check him out he's in Chesapeake Va just across the Carolina line. There are dozens of Rovers @ his place- I keep delivering imported Defenders so the count is growing.

I'll have to do that, my folks live in the OBX which is pretty close to Chesapeake.

 

[Wander]

Really interested to see how the Mercedes kit prices out, I'd sell my DII and pick up a DI in a heartbeat to do that. Which merc diesel do they use, what donor cars have them?

If it's the turbo inline 5 3 liter than it would be the 300D's and 300SD's from the 70's, 80's until the early 90's I think.