Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I am thinking of pulling my efi 3.5 out of my rangie and putting a p76 in what are peoples views on this engine would I be gaining much power and what parts can I use of my 3.5 im running a zf with high tough axles in the rear thanks for any feedback

do a search on here and also on aulro.com there are lots of threads

Hi i have a cheap motor and box with a new hd clutch too if your interested

rrc350c wrote:I am thinking of pulling my efi 3.5 out of my rangie and putting a p76 in what are peoples views on this engine would I be gaining much power and what parts can I use of my 3.5 im running a zf with high tough axles in the rear thanks for any feedback

Plenty of thread on it in the archives if you search but having owned a number of these over the years I offer the following opinion:

1. 4.4's produce quite a bit more power than the 3.5's with no weight gain so the car remains nicely balanced
2. 4.4's need to be balanced so they can comfortably rev to 5000 rpm otherwise they can be course and change the smoothness of the driving experience. With 3.54 diff ratios you need a motor that is comfortable to rev smoothly to at least 4000 rpm but 5000 is better.
3. Every 4.4 installation I have seen has been different and therefore had different success levels.
4. You need to consider carby choice or efi as the wrong carb limits them off road
5. Dizzy choice or regraphing as the 3.5 dizzy can/will lead to overheating issues so get a 4.4 dizzy and rebuild it to suit the motor don't just stick in a 3.5 dizzy
6. The 4.4 motors are all old and most are buggered which can lead to a number of issues but specifically cooling. I know of reputable "specialists" who do conversions such as 4.4's into Stags and MG V8's etc and they xray each block before using it because the corrode and lose material around the cylinder walls. This results in hot spots and overheating issues as well. I recall a few years ago they told me they use 2 out of 10 blocks they xray.

There are a number of other issues as well and to be honest I would recommend you get a later 4.6 block and build the motor from there as I would think you would have a far better result for the same sort of money. In fact it might be cheaper.

The issue of rear axles and diffs are another topic altogether.

Cheers

[quote="Simo63"]There are a number of other issues as well and to be honest I would recommend you get a later 4.6 block and build the motor from there as I would think you would have a far better result for the same sort of money. In fact it might be cheaper.

Cheers[/quote]

I also was looking for a 4.4 to replace my 3.5 but due to some of the issues you raised I have decided against it. The problem is that 4.6s rarely seem to come up and when they do they are quite expensive given that most will require a rebuild. I thought I had lucked in on ebay last week where a 4.6 was advertised for a good price but on checking the engine number it was an early 4.0. It came out of a late 2001 4.6 P38 so I would the original 4.6 failed and was replaced by the 4.0.

I have been watching for months for a 4.6 with no luck but 4.4s are there all the time - beginning to think about the jag or bmw V8s fitted to later landrovers - even more power again but not easy to fit.