Army head to civilian head?

[army2a]

Hey guys, just looking for some opinions on changing the lower compression 2.25 army head in my 2a to a civilian 2.25. Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to get a little more power out of the engine? Any opinions would be great.

[drifter]

Are you talking about the difference between the 7:1 and the 8:1 heads?

Not all civilian engines had the 8:1 heads. The only real visible clue is the number 8 stamped on the head - if the number isn't there, it's a 7:1 ....



.... unless the head has been planed. I understand that planing a certain amount off the 7:1 head will do the same job. Don't know how much you have to take off, though, but I do recall it has been mentioned here before in a thread.

If you can load the attached pic, the place where the 8 is stamped can be seen to the right of the 5th stud from the front. If the tab doesn't exist, it is also a 7:1 head.

[JDNSW]

There is no civilian/military difference between heads on Australian 2a Landrovers. Early 2/2a heads were 7:1. Later heads, identified by a raised boss cast on the top of the head between the carburetter and the rocker cover, came in either 8:1 or 7:1. The 8:1 had an 8 stamped on the boss, the 7:1 had 7 or nothing. The heads are interchangeable, and the later head can be planed to increase the compression to 8:1 or above, although be careful - it may already have been planed and not marked. The earlier head can be planed but you may run out of metal if you try to go over about 7.5:1.

All Australian army 2as were 7:1 as far as I know, but so were the vast majority of civilian ones, possibly all locally built ones. 8:1 is more common with Series 3, but even here, 7:1 seems to be common. Of course, at this stage many Landrovers do not have the original engine - just because it is a 2a does not mean it does not have a Series 3 engine!

John

[d@rk51d3]

The only difference i can see between the 2 heads i have, is that the mil head doesn't have the little 3 bolt temp sensor at the front passenger side.

[dandlandyman]

Later Series 3 engines don't have that switch or the holes to fit it either.

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4 (still in disguise), 68 2B FC pet6 (still dozing), plus others, and more to come soon.

[army2a]

ok, thanks a lot guys for your help, much appreciated

[JDNSW]

The only difference i can see between the 2 heads i have, is that the mil head doesn't have the little 3 bolt temp sensor at the front passenger side.

Again, not a civilian/military difference. As far as I know the choke switch thermostat was fitted to all Series 2a as well as early Series 3. Certainly fitted to my ex-army 2a, which is definitely fitted with the engine that it had when it left the army.

John

[d@rk51d3]

Again, not a civilian/military difference. As far as I know the choke switch thermostat was fitted to all Series 2a as well as early Series 3. Certainly fitted to my ex-army 2a, which is definitely fitted with the engine that it had when it left the army.

John

I guess that means my early(ish) 2a army motor has been fitted sometime with a late S3 2.25 head.

Cheers. ;)

[JDNSW]

I guess that means my early(ish) 2a army motor has been fitted sometime with a late S3 2.25 head.

Cheers. ;)

Yes. See my post #3!

John