When it comes to engine swaps, the 4.0-litre Barra inline-six from the Ford Falcon has become a favourite due to its robust nature, and the ease with which high power and torque numbers can be achieved.
Brendan McLaughlin‘s 1995 Land Rover Discovery in teal is a perfect example. And with a major twist: instead of the ZF6HP from the Falcon and Territory, it is paired up to an eight-speed 8HP70 from a rear-driven BMW.
Making this swap possible is a TurboLamik transmission controller, DomiWorks adapter plate, with shifter and steering wheel from an M3 – including paddle shifters. A lot of bespoke fabrication and craftsmanship appears to have gone into the conversion, which generates a colossal 662hp (493kW) and 1546Nm on the dyno.
In a video of the Disco getting dosed up the street, it’s amazing to hear the familiar roar of the Barra turbo six, with snappy gearshifts made in quicker succession. This would be a very fun conversion, and one we’d venture will pop up again in the not-too-distant-future.
The coolest part is that thanks to an extensive chassis upgrade, this beast still has full off-road capability. It would no doubt be a tonne of fun.
It’s a shame Ford never fitted this gearbox to the Falcon while it was in production, with the six-speed ZF becoming slightly anachronistic by the time the ol’ bird flew off its perch. In fact, for the final FG X series, Ford had to stockpile several thousand units of the ZF6HP as it had reached the end of production.
What do you think of Brendan’s Disco? Are you as enthused by it as us? Let us know in the comments below.
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