EFI 3.9 HEADS ONTO A P76 IS IT WORTH IT? AND WHATS INVOLVED?

[Ye Olde Rangie]

Hi ive got a 4.4 p76 engine in a 1982 range rover and might have the chance of a damaged 3.9 efi motor and have heard of people putting the efi heads onto the P76 and just wondered what is involved and how difficult it is? but most of all is it worth it??

[Hobie18]

Hey Tim, this is my understanding - Even if you put the rover efi heads on the p76 motor you'll still require the p76 manifold or spacers and rover manifold as the p76 has a wider V - longer stroke or something like that

There are two types of spacers that used to be available, the first uses longer bolts which just bolt straight through the manifold and spacer into the head, the second have a countersunk bolt which bolt the spacer to the head and then the manifold is bolted to the spacer. There have been lots of people with leaking issues, obviously not everyone. You'd need 2 gaskets with the spacers also.

[bigbad]

The difficult part is the oil feed for the rockers, the block needs drilling to reach the oil gallery. Not hard but you need to be accurate and hope the block is okay, one I have done leaked to the water jacket so was scrap.
I wouldnt like to do it without dismantling the engine. The alternative would be an external plumbing system.

Personally I doubt it is worth it unless your heads are totally worn out or you are building a new engine.

[Loanrangie]

You can just bolt the rover heads on without drilling the oil hole, i have heard from guys that have had long life with a 4.4 without the mod. Any rover V8 heads from about 82 up (hi comp ) have larger valves so dont pay more for EFI heads if you dont need to.

[lokka]

So in doing this without drilling the oil holes and just relying on the lifters and push rods to pump up the oil is enough as i have a set of recoed rover heads and would love to stick them on the newer 4.4 i have coming as like you said the later hi comp heads have the bigger valves which will make it breath much beta and have the extra holes for the original brackets also

[Ye Olde Rangie]

so i can just swap the heads and the injection system straight over wothout any serious head or block drilling? Idont mind doing the hard work if its gonna be worth it but if its not necessary then i wont.

[bigbad]

I guess rocker arms and shafts are easy enough to swap when they wear out anyway.

[Hobie18]

so i can just swap the heads and the injection system straight over wothout any serious head or block drilling? Idont mind doing the hard work if its gonna be worth it but if its not necessary then i wont.

The P76 block is wider - so spacers will be required

[Rick269]

The P76 block is wider - so spacers will be required

Slight correction - The P76 has a taller deck height (from the 3.5" stroke), so you will need spacers to fit the Rover intake manifold.

Personally, I don't think it's worth it.
1) You are fitting second-hand Rover heads which are the same as the P76 heads, except they have the extra head bolt holes along the bottom of the head. Not that you would want to fit them though as apparently that's what causes the blown head gaskets in the early motors.
2) Then there could be a problem with head heights if they have been machined before, making it hard to fit the intake manifold back on (sometimes the exhaust as well).
3) Then there's the rocker and oiling problem, and personally I think the P76 rocker arrangement is better and they don't have the No. 7 lack-of-oil problem like Rovers.
4) You have to buy a top gasket set which means less money for beer.

If you are going to fit the EFI system, there's a lot of stuffing around to fit the original Rover system for little gain. Better to spend the money on the balance of an LPG conversion. At least it will make you money in the long run, and LPG is good offroad.

[Ye Olde Rangie]

Yeah i understand that its alot of work for little gain but surelly the injection system is worth it? I just dont like the hesitating of the carby this is my first car with a carb and i dislike it already i like the car and the power but getting p@#sed off with the hill and starting issues

[cloughy]

Fit some fuggin LPG already

[lokka]

What cloughy said or find someone who can sort the holly mine works sweet if ya need some help pm me and il tell ya what to do to it