Outer Limits 4x4 Board

So posed with trip of a lifetime travelling around australia towing 1.5t of cravan i have a modest budget of anywhere between 20k to 30k.

If possible i would like to do up my land rover disovery 3.9 petrol/gas but i am finding it very sluggish even with a recent engine rebuild and cant imagine what it will be like with a van on the back.

So i have this money what should i do.... i dont want any smart arse one liners like buy a cruiser hah hah hah..

When i dont have the van attached i want the car to really get up and boogie but still return reasonable fuel figures. Oh and my idea of reasonable fuel figures are around 20l per 100kms or better but not worse.

I have occasional thoughts of a turbo tb42 or something silly like that but not sure if that would be feasable to tow a van. It cant be straight gas either as alot of places i will be going wont have gas.

I have researched nearly every conversion for the disco from 350 fuel injected chevs to 6.5 litre chev diesels.

any opinions would be greatly appreciated and i know im more than likely gonna have to sell my rover but i would like it if i didnt have to..

Marc

i know you said you didnt wanna hear it. But id be looking for a turbo diesel patrol or cruiser. Preferably auto.

How recently was the engine rebuild? Maybe it's still just tight???

If you're doing the around Oz trip, why are you in such a hurry? I always thought the idea was to take it slow and enjoy the JOUrNEY, not just the destinations?

Oh dont get me wrong im not wanting to do australia in 10 mins i do wanna take my time but i like to have power on tap. I will take my time but when the situation calls for rooster tails of sand on a beach i wanna be able to do it.


Marc

u thought bout the new ford f-trucks.. they're goin down in price.. and im not sure.. but there MAY be a few for around 30k..

holden suburban?

or a project of your own to make your tourer the best tow rig by throwin a few dollars at it for an engine conversion perhaps??

TOM

why not supercharge the 3.9 ? im sure there would be lots of places in the uk and prob some in aus that have a kit. you would get great low down torque(ideal for the van) and also good gain in hp.
cookie monster

You can also stroke out the land rover... should at least be able to get another half a litre out of the engine that way.

Supercharging sounds like a good option too - but may be an issue with low fuel quality in remote locations.

You might also look at getting aftermarket fuel injection and significantly retuning it.

what ever you do, for towing, the longer the wheelbase the better, Just ask family bus what a swb patrol its like at towing.

you can stroke the 3.9 to a 5L. supposedly more fuel economic and bucket loads more horsies and torque!! that'll be you cheapest option if you like the disco.

Best option would be supercharger as you have a fresh strong motor. Another would be an aftermarket computer and fuel injection to go along with the supercharger. Custom 4 inch snorkel or twins to get the air in.

LudaCris

if you going around australia you dont want anything to modified out back it can be hard to get parts cruisers are the most popular out there and parts are readily aveable dont go big tyres as they cost a fortune and take several weeks to get in. just a thought when modify vehicles for around aus travel

have you looked at the V8 100 series? i know the prices have droped considerable on the east coast.

Mine get 25l/100km towing 3.4t car trailer and 14l/100km unladenaround town with heaps of power.

STIKA wrote:have you looked at the V8 100 series? i know the prices have droped considerable on the east coast.

Mine get 25l/100km towing 3.4t car trailer and 14l/100km unladenaround town with heaps of power.

YEAH RIGHT mate, are u would be lucky to get those figures in a diesel?


have u thought of a 80 series, ot even a GU diesel, or even something smaller like a pardo or pajero? once u are away from the major cities the LPG gets pricy & not really even worth running