L200 V6 3.8 Conversion

[mackadaddy01]

Hi guys,
Just bought a good nick 97 L200 4x4 that was supposed to have an excellent pajero 3.0L engine swap just done.... Only to find it has a few doozey dead spots in its rev range and is struggles its way up most hills on the road at 80kms, so couldnt pass even if i rang the pants off it.

So being a newbie at most things mechanical and forums, but learning quick has anyone done a engine conversion on these to a 3.8? and if so what would i need to do the job from start to finish.
Can the engines be run off the mitsi gearbox or holden needed etc. will it fit?
i have seen a ton of these grunty engines for sale lately and are cheap as chips close to home.
wish i could say the same for the original engine...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Crash bandicoot]

mmmm transfer case is on the wrong side i think to be using an isuzu transfer/holden auto combination.

for what it is worth what year pajero did the 3.0 in your L200 come from.?

have you had a diagnosis run on your engine...it may be something as simple as a crook maf/cas or knock sensor.

[mackadaddy01]

previous owner didnt say what age paj engine was just had done 120000 in nov when he swapped it. nah havn't had it diagnosed. fear or the worst case scenario i guess that its poked .... also reading some of the forums commenting on how sluggish the engines are in general, wondered if it was easier just to throw in a bigger more bulletproof one. Whats it cost these days to have diag. tests run?

[Crash bandicoot]

previous owner didnt say what age paj engine was just had done 120000 in nov when he swapped it. nah havn't had it diagnosed. fear or the worst case scenario i guess that its poked .... also reading some of the forums commenting on how sluggish the engines are in general, wondered if it was easier just to throw in a bigger more bulletproof one. Whats it cost these days to have diag. tests run?

So im right in saying that it is a 3.0 litre V6 petrol aye, i had a 1994 5 door and it wasn't anything near sluggish...back then apart from a v8 land cruiser or 4.2 patrol they were the last word in sand dune climbing when it came to 5 door SUV's. actually probably better as they are lighter then the other two.

I'd say you have an electrical issue.

unless it is blowing white smoke it isn't poked. they are bad for valve stem seals failing, dumping oil into the cylinders at idle... but apart from that i never managed to kill mine even after drowning it.

[mudlva]

get the motor looked at cause it should go like a scolded cat, ive been around plenty and they are no way as sluggish as you describe

[Ant]

+1 for the 3.0 pajero engine. the 3.5 had its issues but both had plenty of go. get it looked at or post a detailed description of what its doing and see if anyone here has come accross the problems before. I would say a conversion to holden v6 would cost you more than rebuilding the current engine for very little gain

[Ashohman]

you'll get gains if you go the ecotec but it doesn't come cheap.

[mackadaddy01]

Hmmm. Definately think it needs going over.
yep v6 petrol 3l
As for detailed description i will do my best...
After its morning warm up it looses it knocks. hard acceleration is out of the question. im more of a cruiser. i currently drive kms to work everyday and none of which is flat. im finding when the truck gets to 100kms it sits nice on the short flat sections. but when i come to a hill. it drops rapidly to 90kms and continues down towards 80km. if i plant the foot same still applys even after changing down. it will hold 80kms instead of accelerate in forth but ring its ears if i try to attempt to hook third to give it a hand. and changing up once it got some speed up (still on the way up) will start to make its decline back down the rpms again.
from a stand still it has a bit of a slutter and will shake the truck if u hold the throttle at about 1400 rpm then has another splutter every 800 rpm or so. of course if u flog it will go, even throught the spluttering spots but you shouldnt have to..

hopefully this may make sense to someone.

[Crash bandicoot]

Hmmm. Definately think it needs going over.
yep v6 petrol 3l
As for detailed description i will do my best...
After its morning warm up it looses it knocks. hard acceleration is out of the question. im more of a cruiser. i currently drive kms to work everyday and none of which is flat. im finding when the truck gets to 100kms it sits nice on the short flat sections. but when i come to a hill. it drops rapidly to 90kms and continues down towards 80km. if i plant the foot same still applys even after changing down. it will hold 80kms instead of accelerate in forth but ring its ears if i try to attempt to hook third to give it a hand. and changing up once it got some speed up (still on the way up) will start to make its decline back down the rpms again.
from a stand still it has a bit of a slutter and will shake the truck if u hold the throttle at about 1400 rpm then has another splutter every 800 rpm or so. of course if u flog it will go, even throught the spluttering spots but you shouldnt have to..

hopefully this may make sense to someone.

throttle position sensor and air flow meter are a good start. and

[Petemcc]

Probably a bit too easy but check plugs leads and firing order. I take it these have a distributer? Whip the cap off and check that too