Putting a Chevy Engine in my Discovery II
#1
08-01-2014, 09:07 PM
Putting a Chevy Engine in my Discovery II
Well I decided to get going with the project in which I purchased a Chevy 4.3L V8 which were only made for 2 or 3 years for the mid 90’s Caprice.
I only have 6 months a year since I live in Florida during the Winter. The displacement is close to the original Rover 4.0 and since my engine is junk. My Rover is a 1999 and was only on the road for 3 years before being stored inside. Has less than 100K and still has that new car smell.
I already worked out the electrical and computer controlled stuff like shifting, timing and other functions last fall.
I will use Chevy items such as A/C Compressor, Alternator, Starter, Fuel Injection, etc. I will use the Rovers ignition system and also fabricate its power steering and air pump to the left side of the engine.
Once mounted I want to use those Chrome plated Chevy exhaust manifolds.
Also plan to adapt the Rovers cooling system and will make this a dependable every day driver.
The first step was to remove the old engine and get some measurements. The Chevy engine which I purchased last Fall only has a few thousand miles on it so I cleaned it up real good.
No sense in overhauling a low mile engine so I simply changed a few items and painted it. Also didn’t want to work on the floor or have it swinging around on an engine crane so I made a contraption where I can easily work on the back end at bench height.
The Rover torque converter pilot shaft is a bit smaller than the back of chevy crank so I had a spacer made for installation alignment. Even though the crank, converter and spacer all move together, I don’t want the spacer sliding back on the shaft while running so I secured it with a couple of set screws with thread lock.
With holes drilled into the chevy flywheel and torque converter in place, I need some additional clearance to accommodate the Marks adapter plates I am ordering. To accomplish this you need a shorter torque converter.
Since going out and finding one looks to be a hassle, I’m having the bell housing milled a few thousandths on each end.
Will keep the info and photos coming as I progress. Any question I will be happy to answer but I may have a few myself.
The last photo shows the Chevy engine with the Rover Torque Converter installed
I only have 6 months a year since I live in Florida during the Winter. The displacement is close to the original Rover 4.0 and since my engine is junk. My Rover is a 1999 and was only on the road for 3 years before being stored inside. Has less than 100K and still has that new car smell.
I already worked out the electrical and computer controlled stuff like shifting, timing and other functions last fall.
I will use Chevy items such as A/C Compressor, Alternator, Starter, Fuel Injection, etc. I will use the Rovers ignition system and also fabricate its power steering and air pump to the left side of the engine.
Once mounted I want to use those Chrome plated Chevy exhaust manifolds.
Also plan to adapt the Rovers cooling system and will make this a dependable every day driver.
The first step was to remove the old engine and get some measurements. The Chevy engine which I purchased last Fall only has a few thousand miles on it so I cleaned it up real good.
No sense in overhauling a low mile engine so I simply changed a few items and painted it. Also didn’t want to work on the floor or have it swinging around on an engine crane so I made a contraption where I can easily work on the back end at bench height.
The Rover torque converter pilot shaft is a bit smaller than the back of chevy crank so I had a spacer made for installation alignment. Even though the crank, converter and spacer all move together, I don’t want the spacer sliding back on the shaft while running so I secured it with a couple of set screws with thread lock.
With holes drilled into the chevy flywheel and torque converter in place, I need some additional clearance to accommodate the Marks adapter plates I am ordering. To accomplish this you need a shorter torque converter.
Since going out and finding one looks to be a hassle, I’m having the bell housing milled a few thousandths on each end.
Will keep the info and photos coming as I progress. Any question I will be happy to answer but I may have a few myself.
The last photo shows the Chevy engine with the Rover Torque Converter installed
#4
08-02-2014, 08:48 AM
It's rebuild time on the forum and it makes for some great Threads. There are some very good and very different rebuilds going on. We shall see who's build takes first place in due time. Keep up the good work fellas.
-We've got a 4.0 to 4.6 conversion and rebuild from- RSPTex
-A diesel swap from - RoverMaster
-And now a Chevy implant from- Captain
-We've got a 4.0 to 4.6 conversion and rebuild from- RSPTex
-A diesel swap from - RoverMaster
-And now a Chevy implant from- Captain
#6
08-02-2014, 09:23 AM
Recovery Vehicle
#7
08-02-2014, 10:48 AM
#8
08-02-2014, 11:10 AM
#9
08-02-2014, 12:01 PM
#10
08-02-2014, 01:36 PM
Overlanding
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: white bear lake mn
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just to clarify the 4.3l hes installing is a v8 and the more common 4.3l that came in blazers and s10s is a v6. its a smaller displacement and predecessor of the Chevy 350 and the still in production 4.3l v6 is the same bore and stroke as a 350 with two less cylinders. so really if he makes this work it will also be a tutorial of how to swap any small block chevy to a rover (which would be awesome since i have a 465hp one sitting on a stand ive been toying with the idea of swapping myself) but the external block of a 4.3v8-302(called 305)-327-350-400 will all fit provided you use a chevy bellhousing and not a bop one (buck olds pontiac) but then again youd just need a differnt adapter