Vehicle & Technical > Range Rover

3.5 vs 3.9

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Bowie:
Air suspension was only from ~1992...

But my suspicions are that the electrics are a lot more complex, and more destined to go wrong on the later vehicles  :lol:

Guardian.:
just had a new 3.9 in defender replacing the 3.5, and the 3.9 has heaps more power, totally different truck to drive now.
the 3.9 has my origional carbs fitted non of that efi stuff!

Range Rover Blues:
On paper the 3.9 is about 15 BHP better IIRC.

A lot of that is down to the naughtier cam and bigger bore exhaust. particulary the downpipes.

Yes the 3.5 exhaust is less prone to damage as it goos above the gearbox crossmember, that said the crossmemebr is lower than the 3.9 exhaust.  Swings and roundabouts.  If you are worried then fit a 3.5 sports pie and manifold, that's what I've done :)

Hot wire is way better than flapper, I can't see why anyone would replace it with carbs.

3.9s are slightly more prone to block cracking because there is less metal round them, but the odds are it's not a problem.  Some have had it but then many havn't.  You could buy a S/H 3.9 for a few hunder quid now.

If you want an offroader pure and simple then whilst the air suspension is very capable the travel is limited and you can't fit longer shocks.

Spend a few hundred quid though and they can do this.

Another thing to remember is that all but the late 3.5s are visible hinge, I'm still looking for a decent set of doors.  The concealed hinge cars are easier to get spare panels for now and the doors gaps are closer, the whloe reason for the facelift was to get the RR sold in the USA.  The general build and spec of the car was focused on exports at this time, so a 3.9 had the new interior, better EFi (emissions, diagnostics etc) and better bodyshell.

A post '91 vogue should have more choice of interior colours, more toys (including EAS) but the same 3.9 engine, although with CATS.  The ignition timing is different so there is slightly less power.

The nicest of all bar the LSE was the autobiography model, available with the 4.2 engine but weighing less than a LSE.  The fastest showroom RRC made IFAIK.  Not one to trash off-road though [-X

SebastianW:
But of course the timing on the newer ones can be changed to bring back that lost few horses couldnt it?

Range Rover Blues:
I think the timing is altered because of the fuel mix, I'm not sure.  If you were that bothered then the ECU can be re-programmed by swapping one resitor in the wiring loom too.

But something in the back of my brain is telling me the reason Catalytic equiped cars had less advance is because 4 star was no-longer available and unleaded is 95 RON, about 3 star.

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