So after I got the R380 back, I tore it down for inspection. Everything looked great. (for what I know!)

Just want to chime in to say congrats on this.

I have wondered for a long time why no one had done this particular swap.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Thanks! maybe someone reading this will be motivated and we can start a movement. LONG LIVE THE OM61X Engines! In whatever chassis it may be!

Well that shined up nicely

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Ok, Adapter time. Heart and soul of this whole thing!

So, by careful measurements of both the Engine and Trans, I plotted everything on sketch up to help visualize how everything was going to work with each other. (Clutch, Pressure plate to throwout bearing.. etc) I found that a 3/4" adapter would push things to far away, and 1/4" steel would have everything jammed up. 3/8" Steel however was nearly perfect allowing the clutch to ride in the splines of the input shaft, ample support and protrusion for the input shaft into the pilot bearing..etc. This is so I can use factory Benz, or Land Rover parts, so replacement parts if needed, will always be available.

So knowing what my material needed to be, I then needed to make a template for cutting it out. I know there are many ways to accomplish this, and maybe even better ways, but this is how I did it. It seemed to work out great.

First, I bought some bolts that fit into the back of the engine, and ground them down to a sharp point.

Then I found a bearing that had the outside diameter the inside diameter of the crank bore, and the inside diameter of the bearing the same outside diameter of the R380 pilot shaft. (hope that makes sense!.. it will in a sec)

Then I found a pipe that is the same diameter of the pilot shaft and used it as a guide.

Using a piece of wood I drilled out a hole in the center to slide over that shaft as a guide and pressed the wood against the pointed bolts. I then could use them as reference to the stock Benz adapter and drill out all the holes needed while still having my center reference hole.

Then (sorry no pictures of this) I took my wooden template and slipped it on the pilot shaft of the transmission. (the shaft protrudes about 1/4" from the plane of the bell housing.. so it will sit and hang on the shaft when pressed against the bell housing) Then I could mark the holes for the bell housing on the piece of wood along with the outline. Then, I have centered everything perfectly between the trans and the engine.

After everything was drilled, I took my Oxy/Act and cut the adapter around my o

Then bolted the bell housing up to test to make sure everything is centered and true.. perfect!

Throw on some paint

Bolt up flywheel and starter... done! Ready to go!

Pictures Below!

Can't wait to see how it all goes together.

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General George - 1967 Land Rover 2a SWB 1983 OM617 Turbo

Nicely done.

After everything was together, I threw her on a pallet and cranked her over:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-__x4mFO34

Started up right away. Great oil pressure and ran smooth.

Sounds fantastic! Great job!

Now we pull that ole` tired 3.9 / Auto / BW all out in one swoop!

I drilled out the spot welds to have good access to everything. Doing so, the removal of everything only took around 4-5 hours. I was able to rig up the Engine / Trans / Transfer Case and lift it high enough, all I had to do was roll the rover back. Set it down on a furniture cart. Voila!

Was the motor in the Range Rover bad?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Ironically, Land Rover did offer a diesel outside North America. No idea if those were any good.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Are you going to have access holes for the starter bolts when this thing is mounted? From the way it looks, you'll be removing the engine to swap starters. Doesn't sound like fun.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Won't be fun, but it will be do - able. I put a little window in the bell housing for access. I also have a access and grommet on the very bottom of the bell housing for inspection purposes as well.

Why not weld two nuts on the transmission side of the adapter plate and bolt the starter from the outside of it?

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General George - 1967 Land Rover 2a SWB 1983 OM617 Turbo