I have a 1997 Disco I that is in the shop of my mechanic awaiting an engine replacement. I have been looking around and have found two potential replacement motors. They are:

1. The 1997 motor w/ 59K miles from RoverLand Parts in Tampa described here (http://www.roverlandparts.com/1996-1...y53kmiles.aspx) for $2,175 plus $200 for delivery

2. A 1995 motor w/ 106K miles from another member of the Florida Land Rover Club for $700 + $400 to pull the engine and deliver to my mechanic. Seller claims that the motor has had no problems and has not had any major work performed. I spoke with the seller and he seems like a knowledgeable stand-up guy, but you never know. I feel like this option is a bit riskier, but is significantly less expensive.

I would prefer the second, less expensive option. What would you do?

 

The 95 won't work because that is a distributor driven ignition engine, yours has a coil pack.
What is wrong with your's?

 

Thanks Mike!

My current motor was sending a BUNCH of coolant out of the tailpipe and running hot when I brought it into the shop. The mechanic I am using is a land rover specialist who I trust. They have diagnosed the problem as either a blown head gasket or a crack in one of the cylinder sleeves. They weren't sure which issue was the cause but gave me the options of either fixing the head gasket, which wouldn't solve the problem if there was a cracked cylinder sleeve, or replacing the motor.

The current engine has 198K miles on it, so I decided to swap the engine out. How can I confirm with the seller of the 1995 engine that it wouldn't work?

 

Johnny- you can make the 95' work but nor without a bunch more time and money than the other engine would ever be, especially if you are paying a shop to do the swap. See you would need the wireing harness, ECU and other stuff to make it work thus widdling away the savings. Then you have to do the trouble shooting of making it work and no manual will be able to help you.

There are other yards that have motors for your Disco, there are some good yards in N. California that are Rover dismantlers that will also have what you need. Other than that if you can wait you may find a wrecked one that someone is parting out.

 

The 95 has a drive gear for a distributor, if you don't swap the ECU and use the distributor, it will make your cam off balance. The 97 engine is a better choice. Oh, and FYI, the 95 will not have the carbon breaks on the valves unless the heads were re-done.

 

Thanks for all of the input! It sounds like the lower mileage 1997 motor is the right call for me. Are there any other suppliers I should look to prior to pulling the trigger on this one?

 

Roverland is the most reliable. They really inspect them before selling.

Ebay and rovercannibal have engines too, but I would be really leery of the rovercannibal. They are only 60 miles from me, but I still order from Tampa. Too many horror stories...

 

Cool, that is what my mechanic said as well. Roverland it is, thanks again for all of the help and insight!!

 

If you are in an area with emissions laws then the 95 engine will not be legal in your 97. The transplanted engine has to be from the same year or newer than the vehicle to be legal. That's the law everywhere that I know of with emissions laws.

 

www.autosportsunlimited.com also has used and rebuilt engines.