So I daily drive a 2019 Ranger - the first one my dealership sold and I love this truck. I've done many overlanding and engine mods, but still have kept it reasonable as a daily driver. An opportunity has come up to grab a 1997 Disco 1 from a buddy sans engine and transmission, and I can build this thing into a dedicated overlander/4 wheeler and not DD it. Since I love my ranger drivetrain so much I think I'm going to buy a crate 2.3L Ecoboost to drop into the land rover. The power output exceeds the original V8, weight is similar and packaging should be fairly easy, and far easier than most LS swaps people do. I have the added bonus of if I have any questions I can reference my ranger's driveline.

The big question I have is regarding transmission. I'm going to do a manual transmission, but there aren't that many adapters to the Land Rover's bullet proof LT230. I could adapt the 2.3L ecoboost to the Jeep AX15 transmission and adapt that to the transfer case but then I'm looking at ~150lbs of just adapters.

I have found a 6R80 adapter to the LT230 - but are there any bolt-up transmissions to the 2.3L Ecoboost that share the output bolt pattern to a 6R80? Any thoughts on using the MTI550 out of a modern Bronco? Or go old school with a M5R2?


Pic of the soon-to-be mine Disco 1 for attention.

 

I know you say you want a manual trans but given how integrated powertrain control is with these modern vehicles I suspect it would be significantly easier to simply use a complete ecoboost engine/trans/transfer case combo. Even with that there are hurdles to overcome with PATS and how interconnected powertrain control is with everything else in these vehicles.

 

Yeah that's a good point. Maybe find a wrecked Bronco with a manual transmission and pull the whole drivetrain.