You've stated the problem exactly. There are very few "reputable engine builders" left on this side of the Atlantic. Even then, they're having to repurpose an ever reducing supply of engine blocks.

Charlie, DG, perhaps a conf call is in order? I'm more than happy to pay a "licensing fee" for the BOM for the kit to save on replicating r&d. I was going to setup shop building LS D2's in Seattle. I don't see any competition here only upside that hopefully there could be a stateswide network of indie shops fully versed in this swap, with a good supply of parts and adapters.

 

Thank you Charlie for the co-sign.

Robert, If you want, pm me and Charlie your information. We got pages of information.

Everyone else, you are all entitled to your opinions.
That being said, there was a point when the 3 amigos meant you were in for a very expensive modulator replacement, if you were to go against anything Disco Mike said, you would be banned (Ask me how I know) and the inline mod was looked down upon like it was the plague.......and dont get me started on the Alex_M mods. Got nothing against them, you do great work brother, but the old days, you would have been drawn, quartered, shot and remains would have been burnt.

There is a progression, albeit slow around here, but there is a progression. If you want to keep your original equipment or massaged Buick 215 engines, your choice.

But don't try to change our minds on ditching ours.

 

I don't really massage any of my 3.9, 4.0 (GEMS) or 4.0 (Bosch). The 4.6L is the engine LR didn't care about and the one that needs serious massages. 227K on an all original 02 D2 4.0L and it idles and runs smoother than my 2014 work van!

I'm all for the LS 4.8L or 5.3L LS3 (All Aluminum V8) being stuck into a D2. It's still a V8 and it's got GM heritage just like the Buick 215. If and when one of my lovely 4.0L's kicks the bucket and it's beyond help yep I'd rather take the time to upgrade my LR vs just settle for a junkyard motor in unknown condition for around 1.5 to 2.0k..

I've just owned a lot of LR's and all the 4.6L's were delicate while the 4.0L's just keep going.

 

There's a misnomer surrounding where innovation can originate. It's true that a large budget and an engineering staff can absolutely innovate and bring something to market. However, history is full of advances coming from a single inventer small startup.

longtall you said you were a motorcycle guy ? Go check out the Britten. That bike smoked everyone, including some large factory efforts. closer to home, Turner engineering is a sole proprietor company in the U.K. famous for their Rover v8 engines, or ashcroft transmissions, owned, again by one guy.

Neither the ZF transmission (German) or the Rover v8 (American) were designed to work together. The pieces were available and engineers figured out how to make it work.

charlie, dg I'll drop you a PM in the morning. (Putting sick kids to bed)

 

I've been gone for awhile! I had my Disco II inspected Friday and it had only 1700 more miles than last year. A pity. But yesterday I threw caution to wind and used it for some real offloading worthy of youtube (but I was in the rover clenching teeth and hands, hoping I wouldn't roll over, slide into a tree, or break something... rather than videoing, and I know "it didn't happen without video". But it happened) while checking out some real estate. And while my tired old engine did the job, I have been thinking about this Chevy swap every minute since I got home.

Has anyone tried it?

Is there a kit or does Trailhead have to do it?

I riddled this project for months with friends, here and elsewhere, and finally gave up, hoping someone else would figure it out and spoon feed me. So please, spoon feed me. Please!

Best,

Charlie V

 

Recently saw an ad with photos for a D2 with a LS1 in it for $13,000AUD. I'll try to find the ad and maybe you could get in touch with the guy.

Cheers

 

Welcome back!

I've talked with Eric at Trailhead 4x4 about a week ago (really nice guy) and he explained to me the detail of the conversion. Right now, he is only doing them in-house. There is, as imaginable, a lot to the conversion. Price is north of $10k with SAI. He uses the Bosch ECU by putting a custom camshaft into the LS engine since the LS has a different firing order than the Rover (4-7 swap). The custom cam is a big part of the cost.

I don't really think he is going to be selling the kits for a while. There is a lot of lead time waiting for the custom brackets and parts.

I'd love to have one, but I really don't want to send mine up to Ohio. In my mind too, I'd rather just run a Chevy standalone harness to run the LS natural firing order, which is supposedly smoother. There are so many custom wiring harnesses and standalone computers for the LS, it would be the easy way. Then run the Rover crankshaft position sensor on a timing wheel, throttle position sensor, coolant temp, oil pressure to the bosch to keep the transmission happy and the lights off the dash.

This guy apparently has made it work:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery...nto-my-d2.html

This guy did a Ford 5.0 in a P38:
P38 HSE: Powered by Ford

Another P38, there's a longer post on rangeroverforums:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...nge-rover.html

I too looked at this for a long time. I just rebuilt my 4.6 to buy me some more time. I have an LS 5.3 sitting in the garage from an old project, I'd love to run that in the D2. I just need to find someone to build the plate between the engine and trans and fab some motor mounts. I can figure out the wiring, that's part of what I do for my day job.

 

Haha, that is the truth. We'll say that I'm not exactly disappointed that there was very little overlap between myself joining and the Disco Mike days. I think the two of us would not have gotten along.

I think I'm only just popping into this thread. I have a real love hate relationship with the Buick engine. I want my current Disco to keep one, but I have little doubt my next will get some kind of engine swap. Love seeing new innovation like this, especially by small business or individuals.

And also... Charlie, welcome back, brother! Been a while!

 

Hey Charlie! Its been months. Good to see youre back. I hope you got your truck down from the stands. Lol.

 

Found the ad but the car has been sold so I can't get any info.

This might be useful: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery...nto-my-d2.html.

Cheers