Looking for a referral for someone to swap out the engine on my 2004 D2 in the Atlanta metro area. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advanc.

 

The SHOP is there in Atlanta and is well regarded

 

Thanks! Had a hard time getting a hold of someone to talk about doing the engine replacement, but finally got in touch with Luke and he gave me a lot of his time talking about what I wanted. I'm definitely having them swap the engine out. Now my only problem is choosing between a Turner, Atlantic British, or an LS swap.

 

My ‘03 has an AB 4.6 and it runs great. No complaints. However, Turner is by far the gold standard for remanufactured Rover V8’s. Here’s my unsolicited opinion just because I enjoy these types of discussions…

if it was my money, I’d go Turner. The LS swap is appealing but you’ll end up spending a very similar amount of $’s (If you’re an experienced DIY mechanic then LS swap could be more affordable, but you still need to buy the kit and all the bits to make it work, plus a motor you trust) but with the potential to spend way more doing the LS swap - are you going to trust a junkyard motor? If you’re rebuilding the motor then that’s great but changes the equation a lot.

The Turner motor is a known quantity. Freshly rebuilt, solid reputation, no modifications required to the vehicle. LS swap introduces a lot of variables

If you’re paying a shop to do the swap, find one who has a track record with that specific swap. If you’re doing it yourself prepare for lots of fiddling around (which can be really fun but tedious and time consuming).

Again, if it were my money I’d go all out on a Turner 4.6 with the gas flowed heads and the Kent camshaft.

Another engine shop option is “The Wedge Shop” they’re a triumph specialist in the North East that builds performance Rover V8’s. They have lots of big power builds on their YouTube channel that are super cool. They’re probably more expensive than Turner though.

 

I've come to the same conclusion about the ls swap. It's designed for someone that can rebuild an engine and install it, or someone that's interested in the performance/power gains an ls makes possible. The mechanic from "The Shop" said he's in line for one an ls swap (which really got me wondering), but he wants it for highway performance reasons. Personally, I don't care two licks about overtaking on the interstate with my hefty and ancient Disco. I'll stick with the middle lane and drive like an old lady. Saves on gas anyways...

I agree with the Turner engine as the premium choice, my only problem will be them having a long block available. They seem to be sold out of their gas flowed heads. I might as well just contact them and "get in line" at this point though. If the wait is too long, Maybe I'll end up ordering a short block and have the shop swap in my 3,000 mile old heads from my current engine.

The Wedge Shop is a great find, thanks! There's a lot of crossover between them and Atlantic British. Maybe they're the one's that actually do the rebuilds on the disco engines out of AB.

Reliability and engine noise (or lack thereof) are my chief concerns, not performance in the slightest. That being said, would you still wait for a Turner engine, or just go with an AB engine?

 

The AB option comes with a one year warranty. There are some horror stories about them on the internet, but I’ve yet to read a thread where AB didn’t remedy whatever the issue was or at least cooperate. Also you can find any negative information on the internet if you look hard enough.

I’d consider contacting The Wedge Shop to see what their pricing looks like - I’m not sure if they are the ones who reman them AB motors but it’s possible.

I’m sure the AB options is likely the least expensive. I’d personally wait for the Turner if I had the time and the means - especially if you can get a long block.

Not sure if that’s helpful. I’ve sent the wedge shop and Instagram message in the past and they were very responsive.

 

It's a no go with Turner. I'd need to provide the block, since they don't have any available and don't expect to get one anytime soon. The Wedge Shop on the other hand is a definite yes. I talked with them a while today about details and delivery times. They're true specialists and they do the work themselves, unlike AB. I'll probably opt for the upgraded heads, camshaft, and ECU. Thanks again for recommending them. I'll keep this post updated with my progress.

 

I would also call Mark at D&D Fabrications; request a quote and just chat for awhile because they have alot of knowledge on the Buick 215. They did a helluva good job on my block and the rebuild is now at 50K trouble-free miles.

 

Thanks! I'll be sure to give him a call.

 

The guys out of FL have a waiting list for the LS swap kits currently as i'm starting to gather my parts for this swap

nick