LS6 into a new defender....
Discussion
Somebody talk some sense into me…..
I keep toying with the idea of fitting a corvette LS6 engine into a brand new defender 90.
Thinking along the lines of a brand new pick up with the most basic spec I can get, and importing the engine from the states. I would try to design an adaptor plate to keep the transmission / props original. I know the box would struggle, but that could be solved I am sure. Could then sell the brand new td5 and wiring / ecu etc..
Just want to see the look on the dealers face when I took it in for some sort of warranty job!
Really think it would be very cool to have and compliment my current td5 super off roader very well.
What do you think. a 405bhp (standard) 90
Pete
I keep toying with the idea of fitting a corvette LS6 engine into a brand new defender 90.
Thinking along the lines of a brand new pick up with the most basic spec I can get, and importing the engine from the states. I would try to design an adaptor plate to keep the transmission / props original. I know the box would struggle, but that could be solved I am sure. Could then sell the brand new td5 and wiring / ecu etc..
Just want to see the look on the dealers face when I took it in for some sort of warranty job!
Really think it would be very cool to have and compliment my current td5 super off roader very well.
What do you think. a 405bhp (standard) 90
Pete
Hello Pete
Send a message to
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=18409 - he knows his RV8 / LSx engines
Send a message to
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=18409 - he knows his RV8 / LSx engines
I have been pondering along similar lines. It may be possible to spec a new Land Rover without the engine and gearbox via the Special Vehicles dept.
Quaife do uprated internals for the gearbox but my prefered route would be to use a GM box. A number of conversion plates are available to keep the standard transfer box (which would be strong enough).
The axles would probably be ok for road use, if not upgrades are readily available.
I have a early Range Rover pick up which had a Peter Knight built 383 Chevy in it, lots of smiles.
Quaife do uprated internals for the gearbox but my prefered route would be to use a GM box. A number of conversion plates are available to keep the standard transfer box (which would be strong enough).
The axles would probably be ok for road use, if not upgrades are readily available.
I have a early Range Rover pick up which had a Peter Knight built 383 Chevy in it, lots of smiles.
Richard,
Thanks for the pointer. I may well send him a message. He does indeed seem to know his engines!
Roop,
Freind of mine has a Wildcat, awesome bit of Kit!!
Ramthorne,
Thats not a bad suggestion re getting them to supply with no engine. Not too worried about the axles and as you say there are a ludicrous number of upgrades available. (have a fair selection on my current one!) (**Edited to add, it seems that it would be more expensive to get one without an engine than it would be to get a complete car!**)
Yam1,
I think it would cost an absoloute fortune to get special vehicles to do anything that they havent already done. I have a feeling they wont do it unless you pay for all the engineering thought behind the job, not just the job itself. Wouldnt really want Land Rover involved either I dont think. I would be happier using a simpler engine, with less computers / electronics. I think if I could justify Land Rovers involvment the new tdv8 would be the engine of choice!
Cheers
Pete
Thanks for the pointer. I may well send him a message. He does indeed seem to know his engines!
Roop,
Freind of mine has a Wildcat, awesome bit of Kit!!
Ramthorne,
Thats not a bad suggestion re getting them to supply with no engine. Not too worried about the axles and as you say there are a ludicrous number of upgrades available. (have a fair selection on my current one!) (**Edited to add, it seems that it would be more expensive to get one without an engine than it would be to get a complete car!**)
Yam1,
I think it would cost an absoloute fortune to get special vehicles to do anything that they havent already done. I have a feeling they wont do it unless you pay for all the engineering thought behind the job, not just the job itself. Wouldnt really want Land Rover involved either I dont think. I would be happier using a simpler engine, with less computers / electronics. I think if I could justify Land Rovers involvment the new tdv8 would be the engine of choice!
Cheers
Pete
Edited by Psimpson7 on Friday 14th July 08:43
I am thinking along similar lines,but as I have a spare TVR Griff 500 engine I was going to use that and put it into a 110 Hi-Cap with santana LT85 box.
I allready have a 90 with a 4.6 in it with a 4speed ZF auto that goes like a rocket,but I need more room in the back.I will be selling the 90 soon if anyone is interested
I allready have a 90 with a 4.6 in it with a 4speed ZF auto that goes like a rocket,but I need more room in the back.I will be selling the 90 soon if anyone is interested
topsparks said:
I am thinking along similar lines,but as I have a spare TVR Griff 500 engine I was going to use that and put it into a 110 Hi-Cap with santana LT85 box.
I allready have a 90 with a 4.6 in it with a 4speed ZF auto that goes like a rocket,but I need more room in the back.I will be selling the 90 soon if anyone is interested
I allready have a 90 with a 4.6 in it with a 4speed ZF auto that goes like a rocket,but I need more room in the back.I will be selling the 90 soon if anyone is interested
I know someone who had for a short period of time a 1995 Discovery with a 5.0 TVR engine in it. That was a serious piece of kit, 0-60 in about 7.5 secs iirc.
Maybe a TVR V8 would be simpler than an LSx?
You might want to start on my gearbox faq page to workout what GM autoboxes you can mate up into your LR
www.mez.co.uk/gearboxfaq.html
I'm running a turbocharged 5.7 with in excess of 400BHP (and more importantly, tons of torque) and confirm that performance is "Adequate Sir". 0-60 is sub 7 seconds (I got an indicated 71mph on the GPS after 7.1 seconds). Trans is GM 700r4, Transfer box is std LT230, 4 pin diffs, HD half shafts, 35" tyres.
700r4's dont like lots of power, weight, big wheels - Ive spent considerable money on making it last. 4l80e is a better bet for high power - but its big & heavy (Like most things American)
I'm at Billing next sunday, if you want to chat. It will parked next to a Disco on 39" swampers and the Orange S1 on swampers & portals close to the main arena.
www.mez.co.uk/gearboxfaq.html
I'm running a turbocharged 5.7 with in excess of 400BHP (and more importantly, tons of torque) and confirm that performance is "Adequate Sir". 0-60 is sub 7 seconds (I got an indicated 71mph on the GPS after 7.1 seconds). Trans is GM 700r4, Transfer box is std LT230, 4 pin diffs, HD half shafts, 35" tyres.
700r4's dont like lots of power, weight, big wheels - Ive spent considerable money on making it last. 4l80e is a better bet for high power - but its big & heavy (Like most things American)
I'm at Billing next sunday, if you want to chat. It will parked next to a Disco on 39" swampers and the Orange S1 on swampers & portals close to the main arena.
Edited by eliot on Sunday 16th July 07:15
Edited by eliot on Sunday 16th July 07:16
topsparks said:
Eliot,great site,see you have some pics of my twin plenum I sold on ebay!,this should now be on a Cobra in Scotland.Ls6 seems the way to go my mate Jon has one in his Chim and that goes like stink,what gearbox would you recommend?.
If you want something big, heavy and bullet proof - then 4l80e - needs the electronic controller. One sold on ebay this week (very rare sight in the UK) for £720 - expect to pay at least twice that to bring a std one in from states. Takes well over 400Bhp in stock form and can be built to take 1000bhp. Was used in Bentley, AstonDB7 and Hummer H1.
I'm currently running a "fully built" which 700r4, which seems to be holding up ok at the moment. The modern version of that box is the 4l60 and more latterly the 4l60e (which was made for the ls2 engines) it has things like the 5 pinion planetaries inside already and many revisions (which ive back ported into my 700r4). But a box standard one may not live very long under severe duty. The 3-4 clutch pack is weak and needs an 8 plate clutch with full thickness steels (9 plate with thin steels doesn't work, toasted that after 500 miles) and a shift kit to bring line pressures up and reduce slip between changes.
Elliot,
I would like to use the standard Rover R380 out of a current 90 as opposed to a different manual. This is mainly because the ratios are more suitable. I have just been looking into it and bearing in mind the fastest it would ever go is 130 I dont need the 200mph capacity!
If I fitted a totally standard defender r380 running on 255/85r16 tyres my in gear speeds at 6.5k would be as follows.
1st 34
2nd 59
3rd 91
4th 128
5th 164
If I fitted a defender r380 along with disco 2 transfer gears running on 255/85r16 tyres my in gear speeds at 6.5k would be as follows.
1st 39
2nd 70
3rd 104
4th 148
5th 190
Either of these would be ok. I dont want an automatic really.
Anyway to the point! I would need to make an adaptor plate to mate the engine to the box. Do you know if drawings are available of the back of the ls6 block? and if so where I could get a set!
Rgds
Pete
I would like to use the standard Rover R380 out of a current 90 as opposed to a different manual. This is mainly because the ratios are more suitable. I have just been looking into it and bearing in mind the fastest it would ever go is 130 I dont need the 200mph capacity!
If I fitted a totally standard defender r380 running on 255/85r16 tyres my in gear speeds at 6.5k would be as follows.
1st 34
2nd 59
3rd 91
4th 128
5th 164
If I fitted a defender r380 along with disco 2 transfer gears running on 255/85r16 tyres my in gear speeds at 6.5k would be as follows.
1st 39
2nd 70
3rd 104
4th 148
5th 190
Either of these would be ok. I dont want an automatic really.
Anyway to the point! I would need to make an adaptor plate to mate the engine to the box. Do you know if drawings are available of the back of the ls6 block? and if so where I could get a set!
Rgds
Pete
I would think Boosted LS1 would be your best source, even if it was only a block to measure or make up a template.
When looking at gear ratios on my latest conversion I based them on 5.5k revs. In reality I found, even when racing, I was shifting shorter than this and had to change the transfer gears. I guess the LS6 would be a more free reving engine than a torque biased 383 though.
Are you planning to modify the R380 or drive carefully?
When looking at gear ratios on my latest conversion I based them on 5.5k revs. In reality I found, even when racing, I was shifting shorter than this and had to change the transfer gears. I guess the LS6 would be a more free reving engine than a torque biased 383 though.
Are you planning to modify the R380 or drive carefully?
Ramthorne,
Thanks for the reply. What is your latest project? It sounds interesting? what do you race?
I have sent boosted an email so will see what he suggests.
I am planning on driving carefully!! at least to start with. I am not sure the r380 is quite as weak as people think although I, to start with at least, would not drive it like a clown! As I am hoping to fit it to a brand new defender at least I will know the transmission hasnt been abused prior to me getting it.
Pete
Thanks for the reply. What is your latest project? It sounds interesting? what do you race?
I have sent boosted an email so will see what he suggests.
I am planning on driving carefully!! at least to start with. I am not sure the r380 is quite as weak as people think although I, to start with at least, would not drive it like a clown! As I am hoping to fit it to a brand new defender at least I will know the transmission hasnt been abused prior to me getting it.
Pete
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