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Assorted Chev=>LandRover conversion info, not yet integrated to the main page... ==========================================================
I don't know if you're still maintaining this site:
but I have some info for you if you still need it. The source you mentioned
for high torque Chevy mini starters is actually Tilton, not Tilden. There
are probably at least a dozen companies that make mini starters for these
engines. The cheapest place to buy them is either www.jegs.com
or
www.summitracing.com.
Average price is probably $150. That's a good source
for practically any part related to these engines.
I would recommend the HT383 crate engine that GM Performance Parts sells
(same division of GM that sells the Ramjet350) for $3900. This engine is
externally the same dimension as any other smallblock Chevy. It puts out 444
ft-lbs of torque at 3400 rpm. Peak hp is 338 at 4,400. This engine is being
marketed as a high torque truck engine so it would be perfect for this sort
of work. There's an outstanding article about it in the March 2002 issue of
Hot Rod. They spent another $1500 on parts and got 503 ft-lbs of torque at
4,200 rpm and 463 hp at 5,600 rpm. I'm sure the engine could be safely rev'd
to atleast 6000 rpm.
If a person really wanted to do this swap on the cheap then I would get a
hold of a used Camaro or Corvette L98 350 with the Tuned Port Injection
(TPI) EFI setup. They were manufactured from '85 to '92. Although these
engines were installed in sportscars they're really ideally suited for
trucks. They make tons of low end torque (roughly 250 hp peak and 300
ft-lbs). The stock TPI's ECU and harness would not be too difficult to adapt
from a donor car. There are several sources for stand-alone systems as well:
A really good source for TPI information is the 3rd generation Camaro site
www.thirdgen.org and
the Corvette forum www.corvetteforum.com.
I'm a Land Rover Disco fan and I'd really like to see one with more power.
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