I just picked up a $1,000 Disco II after years of wanting one. There's oil in the coolant, ticking sound when warm, and it seems to be running on less than 8 cylinders. I have no interest in rebuilding the Rover motor so it will be getting a Volkswagen TDI engine since I have been hankering for an engine swap project. I would like to retain the 4HP24 automatic tranny with the swap since this will be a vehicle that everyone in my family will drive from time to time. The electrical side is no problem - there are standalone transmission controllers that can take over from the Disco's transmission ECU.

After reading over many forums, I cannot find anybody with measurements for the bolt pattern from the Rover V8 to the ZF bellhousing - needed for machining the adapter plate. I have not yet pulled the motor so I can't measure myself, and I am really hoping for a factory drawing or some other reference that's better than I can measure myself. Where I've gotten so far is that the bolts in a circular pattern, diameter ~370mm, which is the same pattern as the old Buick 215 V8. Can anybody confirm this? And does anyone have more accurate information on the dowel pin locations relative to one another and the input shaft?

Bonus question -- what's the lowest-stall torque converter that works with the 4HP24? All of the D2's I've driven before seem to have a really high stall speed and don't lock the TCC until cruising in 4th. I can solve the latter problem, but is there a diesel converter that will perform better with a motor that makes appropriate torque at 1500-2000 rpm? Or is there a standard spec for the input shaft that I can use to shop around on equivalents?

Thanks so much, y'all! I'll keep everyone updated as the project progresses.

 

Check the UK boards there are lots of diesel D2's that automatics over there, but I think they are all 4hp22's

 

The ZF transmissions in our LR’s lock up in 3rd and 4th. I think that is pretty common in other vehicles as well.

 

The TD5 Diesel DIsco 2's get "upgraded" to V8 torque converters to get the stall speed down lower, particularly when the TD5 is tuned.

You probably need to have one custom made or a special version from someone like Ashcrafts to get the stall soeed any lower.