Good evening to everyone, please forgive this intrusion by (as yet) a non-owner but I have a slightly unusual query that I am hoping someone here may be able to help with. I have spent a little while now searching the net for the physical external dimensions of the AJ16 engine (or the AJ6, which I presume is pretty close at least in terms of length) ....... and failed.
It has been enlightening, the developement of the AJ6, Ford's 'stop gap' improvement and so on, not all wasted, but still a failure of the main mission.
Why? well I have a 'vintage' Range Rover 2 door that I need to adapt to automatic transmission (my feet) and as the engine is already 'non-original' , actually a diesel 300tdi from a later model, I am planning to change the engine and transmission together.
Sooo ,... in looking for suitable candidates, there are a few obvious candidates in the Land-Rover stable, but frankly nothing that appeals, then I came across an advert for a low mileage x300 4 litre ''breaker'', and that set me on this quest. The transmission is I believe zf 4hp24, which Land Rover use and I can easily adapt into the 4x4 drivetrain, the $64,000 question, (or in this case £250) is will the engine fit?
As big engines here in Ireland are expensive to tax, (4 litres is €1809!) there are not very many older Jaguars around locally and the advert in question is across the border in the North about 3.5hrs drive away so not easy (even ignoring Covid) to just pop round and measure. (N.B. as a vintage vehicle the Range Rover benefits from €56 tax regardless of engine, but subject to insurance based mileage restrictions)
On the net the only engine conversions seem to be those replacing XK or AJ6 engines, which may be a clue that they are simply too long, but never the less it would be nice to find out.
So if anyone has the detail, or just a tape measure to hand I would be very grateful to have a dimension from the block/bellhousing interface to the front of the fan please. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Anything will fit in an old Rangie, even an old Series can fit a six with room to spare. I’ll go grab the measuring tape regardless. The three below have been swapped and are fairly long.

BMW V12 - 29.5in long

Chevy 250 - 30.5 with fan

BMW M50 - 28.5

The AJ16 swap does make a lot of sense. Way more hp/torque and more reliable than a 4.6 could ever be and it’ll hook up to the LT230. Would be kind of weird to not hear the little V8 but anything is better than a 300tdi lol.

 

The AJ16 certainly appeals in the torque department, and I am a lover of the sound of a 'six', hence the appeal. We've had a six cylinder S3 back in the early 70's, and yes it fits but the bulkhead was non standard and the scuttle height is much taller, so it is hard to be certain. Plus those BMW engines are pretty compact lumps?.... still hopeful though.

 

Here’s an MB OM606 being swallowed in the engine bay. One guy wanted to swap this into an X300 as it’s about the same length but turned out to be way too tall and wide. If you use the 200tdi mounting location like this person did I have no doubt the AJ16 will fit.

 

AJ16 has electric fans, but nose of the waterpump to the bellhousing flange is 33".

I was measuring an XJR engine, which has an adapter plate for the GM automatic transmission, I am not sure what the normally aspirated has, if the bolt pattern for the ZF transmission is in the bell housing, or if there is an adapter plate as well.

 

Many thanks to xalty and Jagboi64 for your input, I'll put a tape on the engine bay tomorrow.... 33" will be just doable I think

 

Don't forget to leave space for the rad and fans too.

 

based on jaguar classic parts the bolt pattern is via adapter to both transmissions. (which is good if one would want to adapt something else to AJ16 than the original ZF or 4l80E)

 

Just been out to check the RR, .... 33" leaves about 1.5" clear of the existing rad, really very close to the existing installation. Existing rad is nearly 4" deep in itself, and pretty tall, so there is plenty of scope to juggle if I need it I think,...... good news , my thanks to all, I'll post here when I actually get hold of this breaker just in case it is of interest.

 

Modern radiators are quite a bit thinner, same with electric fans, so you have room to juggle things by the sounds of it.

 

I went out to my driveway and measured the AJ16 length. Approximately 33-33.5 inches from the front of the harmonic balancer to the mating surface where the trans bolts on to the engine. On a P38 range rover it's the same distance from the mating surface where the engine meets the trans to the front surface of the radiator. I looked into swapping an AJ16 into a P38 range rover and decided that a GM aluminum v8 is a much better fit. The v8 engines are short and wide and the AJ16 is long and mid-width (I wouldn't call it narrow, in my book Jeep inline six is narrow). If you are deling with a range rover classic, just get a GM 5.3 LS engine and a GM transmission. Adapters to bolt LT230 to GM transmission are available off the shelf, the only thing you would need to fabricate would be the engine and transmission mounts. GM LS engine swaps are so ubiquitous these days that you can even buy a standalone wiring harness from multiple sources.

 

Thanks, it's great to have the dimension confirmed, though the decision to go with plan A has already been taken. I appreciate the advice over engine choice, sadly LS engines are like hens teeth (rare) this side of the pond, there are a couple of readily available V8 candidates not least of which the Buick/Rover variations on a theme; but for me there has always been something about a silky smooth six that appeals, and this is as much about what will please me as how straightforward or not it may be.
Unfortunately the 'breaker' vehicle that put the idea into my head has been sold in the meantime but I am checking all the likely sites for another and hope to pick up another suitable candidate in the near future.

 

@BlancoI have a similar idea of using the AJ-16 engine as a “transplant”, so found your thread both interesting and informative.

I do not know from where the following company sources the AJ-16 engines they refurbish and supply, but I might be worth your while getting in touch with them?!

Best wishes for the installation . . .

New AJ16 4.0 Engine - West Riding Race & Restoration

 

That does look tidy, but I suspect the budget would be quickly gobbled up. I plan to try the concept at least with a good running used engine first, and if it needed a rebuild there would be more interest in doing that myself. I have learned that 4 litre cars are thinner on the ground and I am still looking, None essential travel will be easier soon and I am sure something will turn up within reach.

 

I clicked the link in post #13 and it does, indeed purport to offer AJ16's...but....pssst...that's an AJ-6 they've chosen to feature in their picture.

 

I am pretty sure the non Supercharged AJ16 engines bolt on to the Discovery 2 transmission, the transfer box outputs are on the wrong side for a classic, so Disco 2 axles or Disco 1 transfer box?

 

the discovery 2 has the lt230 with outputs on the same side