Setup for an expedition Series III

[stevied_007]

My dream for quite some time now has to travel Australia, living out of my Land Rover Series III. Basically living like a drifter, hopefully getting work along the way, just going where the roads happen to take me, with no deadlines, timelines or an itinerary.

I originally I brought the 1974 Series III for a couple of hundred bucks, just to use around my mates property in the Otways. It wasn't long before I fell in love with it and couldn't bare let it get ruffed up.

It's got the 2.25 litre 3 bearing petrol, which I planned just do a small overhaul on. I wasn't really concerned about the performance of the thing because I just wanted to 4wd around the local area.

Now looking to do some travel, I'm planning to set it up as a vehicle for self sufficient travel.
I had planned to keep the 2.25 litre petrol but I'm not sure it's up to the task. Having only driven it on a test drive when I brought it, I haven't really experienced the inconvenience, or the charm of the lack of power. I do understand driving a Landy isn’t like driving your modern 4wd, noise, heat and heavy handling, etc.

I've always been a lot more confident with petrol motors, and don't really like diesels, but now I'm considering long distance travel and possibly in some remote areas, I’m thinking the reduced fuel consumption, fuel availability and better wading ability, makes a diesel a better choice.

Call me silly, but I don’t really like to bastardise cars with other manufactures parts so would like to avoid a foreign motor swap.

Basically, my options as I see them are:


2.25l Petrol, rebuilt. Possibly with some mild work done ported/polished, extractors, cam, unleaded head work.

2.25l Diesel, rebuilt.

200tdi/200di rebuilt.

Overdrive? (Although i did want to run the ex-army PTO which I have.)



I don’t really want to modernise the series much, as I would like to keep it pretty true to the Landy expedition experience.

So first am I crazy? and realistically what power plant suitable for travelling modern Australia?

[steveG]

Great dream, and I'm sure its one shared by many others. If you've got the opportunity to do it then go for it.

Can't help specifically with your question, but will offer a slightly alternative suggestion (albeit I'm a bit biased)...
What about picking up one of the ex-army Isuzu powered landies.
You'd no longer have to worry about anything engine wise, probably nearly as agricultural as your series III and you'd leave yours in its virgin state.

Steve

[Mick_Marsh]

I know of a fellow who has a Series III set up for travel. I think he has a six in it.
I'll see if I can get further information.

The Isuzu powered Landy is a great idea though. Some Series III's had the Isuzu motor in them.

[Chops]

Ohh, what a "Top Plan" :D (We'll be doing the same, but with a much newer version ;))

I used to have a S3 - SWB Ute with the 2.25 Petrol. It went remarkably well, even when fairly heavily loaded. They cruise along quite well between 90-100, and the noise never actually worried me.
I broke my front diff whilst in a comp early in my ownership of her, and put AMV (??) free-wheeling hubs on. Wow, what a difference that made to everything. Steering of course was the obvious winner, but so was fuel consumption and power.
Another comp, got a gut full of sandy mud into the airfilter,,, good excuse to rebuild the motor :D. So once that was done, the vehicle was very trustworthy, and had several people comment on how well it went when pushed.
I did think about putting a Fairy Overdrive into it, but decided against it as I was just happy to cruise. Theres something about lobbing along in an old girl :D.

There are a couple of threads here somewhere that show some Old Girls done up as touring rigs, maybe if you can find them, they will give you some ideas, although,, touring is touring, regardless of which vehicle your driving.

[jerryd]

It's my dream too :) but not sure if and when it will happen. I'll be putting a 300tdi defender unit into mine and keeping the series gearbox.
A 200tdi motor will drop straight in with very little alteration and there are a few sites that cover this subject.

Colin and Rose did it in their Series vehicle and didn't have too many dramas, I even get a mention half way down the page :D

colroseoldagetravellers (http://colroseoldagetravellers.blogspot.com.au/)

Good luck with it ;)

[stevied_007]

Thanks all, I feel I would be crazier not to try it, as I’m not tied down by family, work, kids and a wifey etc.

Yep, ex-army Isuzu is probably the most practical of solution, but I have the tendency to do things a*** about. eg. Brought Landy first, worked out what to do with the Landy afterwards.

I suppose you could say it’s still in in it’s virgin state, it started it’s life in pieces right? :angel: Not to mention some parts are trying to back into the earth from which they came from (She’s a little rusty, not that will be a problem for me). Therefore I’m a bit reluctant to start from scratch with a completely different car as having nowhere to leave it, it would probably only good for parts for someone.

The 200tdi/di is sort of my last choice/resort, I’ve read about the reliability and much the information on conversion and it’s seems like a reasonable swap. I guess you could say I have trust issues with alloy heads and timing belts, even though it isn’t a really issue on the 200, as far as I can tell.

I have a bit more faith in the petrol 2.25 as comments like Chops seem to reflect the general consensus on the motor. Still I’ve been searching all over the web, trying to get an idea of how the 2.25 petrol and diesel compare, and haven’t quite got a grasp on it.

I guess what I want to know is what will I miss or gain from picking one over the other?
I know this topic has been done before but without having driven both the petrol and diesel, the statistics and facts of both of the engines are hard to actually get a grasp on actual real world drivability.

The way I understand it so far:

Diesel:

Slower.
More economical.
Larger range.
Less performance enhancements available.
Performance can be upgrade to approximately to stock petrol levels.

Petrol:

Faster. (Well, you know what I mean) :)
Less economical compared to diesel.
Shorter range.
More performance enhancements available.
Performance can be upgraded beyond enhanced diesel performance levels.

The main criteria I’m having trouble judging is long distance road travel, so does the performance advantage of the petrol outweigh the economy of the diesel?

Would I be constantly struggling to maintain a consistent speed under average highway conditions (mainly flat road slight rises an falls, dips and overpasses) with the diesel?
Is 90kmh average obtainable with diesel? Even with the slight tweaks possible?
Under average highway conditions (as above) which is able to maintain speed better during climbs?

I know that drivability is a matter of opinion, but I’m trying to make a decision based on the closet thing I can get to facts.

Thanks jerryd spotted you nice setup on that blog, hope you get a chance to get it out and about, doing what it was made for.

[stevied_007]

Ok I think it's final, I'm going to stay with the 2.25l petrol, at least until I've got the rest of the landy sorted. Hopefully I'll fix it up, get it going with the petrol and then think about it if I'm not satisfied.
I kind of wanted to do it once, do it properly sort of thing, but till I get to drive it around and get to know it better I'll leave it setup for petrol.

I know I was asking a very common question, one with no clear answer, mostly based on personal opinion, but with a bit of encouragement from the replies I feel I might just be crazy enough to try it.

Thanks.

[Chops]

Ok I think it's final, I'm going to stay with the 2.25l petrol, at least until I've got the rest of the landy sorted. Hopefully I'll fix it up, get it going with the petrol and then think about it if I'm not satisfied.
I kind of wanted to do it once, do it properly sort of thing, but till I get to drive it around and get to know it better I'll leave it setup for petrol.

I know I was asking a very common question, one with no clear answer, mostly based on personal opinion, but with a bit of encouragement from the replies I feel I might just be crazy enough to try it.

Thanks.

Dont "just try",,, just go and do it, and enjoy the experience of it all :D

[marting]

Great idea all round!
Stick with the petrol. They are a rugged, very reliable engine and well suited to the gearing and intended use of a landrover. Electronic ignition is IMHO a must though. This will improve starting, economy etc.
The 200 Tdi (or Di) will give you better economy but being a direct injection diesel is lot harsher/noisier than the petrol.
Cheers, Martin