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...
in.
