Land Rover Repair/engine swap

Advertisement

Expert: John Elder Robison - 6/24/2009


Question
I am helping my son change the engine in his 1995 Discovery. It has a 3.9 with a distributor ignition. We bought a discovery engine. 4.0 that has coil packs and no distributor. will this engine require a different computer to run this ignition? Can I change the waterpump housing and use the distributor? will the end of the camshaft fit the drive gear for the distributor? I don't have a service manual that shows this ignition system.What is the best way to do this?
Thanks
Jim

Answer
You need a different front cover and cam to use the 4.0 block in the older vehicle.  If i were you, I'd buy a brand new timing chain and gear set, and new cam and lifters.  You will also need intake gaskets and valve cover gaskets as those have to be stripped to remove the cam.  You can transfer the front cover and crank pulleys and accessories from the old motor.

Land Rover Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

John Elder Robison

Expertise

I own J E Robison Service in Springfield, MA. We are Bosch Car Service for Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes, and other European lines. I can answer most questions about Land Rover service or repair. I'm known as a car enthusiast, machine aficianado, photographer, writer, and speaker. I've been around Land Rovers and British cars most of my life. Visit me at my car business, www.robisonservice.com or my author website, www.johnrobison.com. Check out my autism and writing blog at jerobison.blogspot.com or my photos on www.pbase.com/robisonphoto John Elder Robison

Experience

I have been a Land Rover service manager since Land Rover returned to North America in 1987. My company is a four-star Bosch Car Service facility, known nationwide for Land Rover service, overhaul, customization, and restoration. We're a dealer and service agent for APCO, backer of the Land Rover Assured and Certified dealer service contracts and Easycare independent service contracts. In addition to Land Rover our company services BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls_Royce, and Bentley motorcars. We have factory-plus-level service capability for all makes. Visit my company online at www.robisonservice.com > service > land rover Also visit my blog at robisonservice.blogspot.com

Organizations
ASA IATN NPPA PPA

Publications
In the Land Rover world, my writing can be found in Land Rover Lifestyle, Land Rover Monthly, The Rover News, The Rover Log, The Rover Reference. In the wider publishing world, my work is published by 20 publishers in over 50 countries. Look Me in the Eye is a New York Times bestseller and an international bestseller.

Education/Credentials
I am ASE certified, Bosch Trained, and trained by Omnitec/T4 and Autologic on their Land Rover test systems.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.